Road Tripper

At the recent Shanghai Auto Show, BMW’s all-new Concept CS was unveiled which the automaker says the concept car is a “unique combination never seen before”. The concept car is a portent of a forthcoming premium luxury sport coupe. CS is a concept car BMW underlines, but with the latest knowledge of coming models we are sure, it is more than just a concept car.

The BMW Concept CS corresponds to its entry in to the hot upmarket four-passenger luxury coupe segment and will compete against the likes of the Porsche Panamera, Aston Martin Rapide and the high-end versions of the Mercedes-Benz CLS.

The Concept CS dons a sporty impression, heavily swirled in elegance and sculptured designs. The styling elements set the groundwork for future generation of BMW models. A production version of the Concept CS is expected to be based on revamped keystones from the next-generation 7 Series.

In the BMW scope, there is also likely to be an M version. BMW has never done an M version of the 7 Series before so this car will permit the automaker to bring out an M version above the M5. The engine bay’s powertrain partsfor the car would be a 6.0-liter V12 cylinder which would be an M5 engine with two extra cylinders added.

Adrian van Hooydonk, BMW chief designer, called the BMW Concept CS as “a step forward from today’s look’. We wanted to do a big, sporty car without making it appear heavy.” The lustrous and trimmed car is sizable at just about 201 inches long, 78 inches wide and 53.5 inches high on a 120-inch wheelbase measurement.

The BMW Concept CS also harbors innovative BMW parts featuring a dashboard that consists of a newly developed metal structure and tech-heavy ceramics for the controls and instruments.

What’s new with BMW? Here’s what’s new: BMW has proclaimed its sponsorship of the TED.com website which is completely redesigned to promote the free exchange of ideas and diatribes from great minds and doers.

The new site features brilliant talks made famous by the TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) Conference held in Monterey, California annually. “We are extremely pleased to be partnering with TED again on a venture that falls so perfectly in line with BMW’s commitment to technology, sustainability, passion and the profound experiences that the power of ideas can deliver,” said Jack Pitney, Vice President of Marketing, BMW of North America.

The new TED.com offers an array of rare content and technological contributions that enhance the user’s experience. BMW’s sponsorship of the new TED.com provides visitors a chance to slot in an idea of a post-carbon future by presenting a front-page “Ideas from our Sponsor” video by Dr. Klaus Topfer, former UN Director for Environmental Policy.

The BMW Hydrogen 7 was a featured automobile at TED 2007 the attention of much dialogue among the conference’s bigwigs and speakers. BMW has focused on liquid hydrogen as the suitable source of energy for the automobile. Hydrogen has very different combustion characteristics, with a much faster, hotter and more aggressive burn. The internal-combustion engine represents available and well-understood technology.

The BMW is smooth, polished and poised on the road. Of course, with the BMW 7 Series, the BMW Hydrogen 7 is powered by a 260 horsepower running on a twelve-cylinder engine with top speed blasting off from zero to 60 mph in 9.3 seconds.

The BMW 7 Series has a range of features in its auto body parts which include a dual-mode internal combustion engine that switches at the push of a button from hydrogen to gasoline. The hydrogen filler hose simply locks in place on the fitting. The car and the filling station then communicate electronically to check the system and transfer fuel.

BMW will unveil the BMW Hydrogen 7 in the Fall of 2007 to promote public interest and awareness for the development of a practical hydrogen infrastructure. Now thanks to TED.com in supporting the strategy of building extensive acceptance of hydrogen as replacement of fossil fuels, insights and interaction will be well received for BMW.