Road Tripper

BMW is promoting their latest automotive innovation by delivering a message through the rear wing of their F1 racing machine, the BMW Sauber F1.07. Right. During the practice at the Circuit de Catalunya in preparation for the upcoming 2007 Spanish Grand Prix, the BMW Sauber F1.07 will have the text “www.active-steering.com” instead of the “BMW Power”, which is the company’s F1 motto.

So what exactly is Active Steering? Well, it is the latest and innovative road car technology from BMW. Check out how Dr. Klaus Draeger, member of the BMW AG Board of Management described this new technology:

“In Formula One the focus is on guiding the car quickly and precisely around the track, which is why F1 cars have extremely direct steering. Road cars, however, have to meet additional demands. In order to achieve the same level of agility as a racing car, series-produced models require variable ratio steering. And that is where BMW Active Steering comes in.”

“This system adjusts its responses constantly to the speed of the car. BMW Active Steering breaks new ground by combining excellent stability at higher speeds with flexibility under heavy steering. Precise directional stability and assured steering movements maximise roadholding and take the strain off the driver. And reliable steering feedback also enhances driving pleasure at high speeds.”

Torsten Muller-Otvos, Director of Central Marketing and BMW Brand Management, added: “As a globally high-profile and widely familiar platform for technical innovation, Formula One represents for us an ideal communication tool for the BMW technology campaign. Since we became involved in Formula One, technology transfer has enabled us to generate significant added value both for our production cars and for the Formula One vehicles. Integrating our technology campaign in our Formula One communications is a valid and logical step through which we can show our customers how varying technologies are implemented in road cars and in Formula One, and where the similarities lie.”
I apologize to you guys coz I cant really explain how the BMW Active Steering works. Just visit the website at www.active-steering.com for you to find out. Maybe I’ll just explain how Mercedes wiper blade works if you prefer.

First, forget about the typical luxurious and high-performance BMW models you can find in markets today. As you can see, most of the entries that I have posted in this blog features new BMW models ranging from luxury sedans, coupes, convertible, etc. and tuned up BMW vehicles.

This time, let me give you something different. Check out the technical specs of the BMW Sauber F1 team’s F1.07. This BMW racing machine made BMW Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld to obtained the 4th place at the recent 2007 Bahrain Grand Prix.

During the official launch of the BMW Sauber F1.07, Willy Rampf, Technical Director of the BMW Sauber F1 Team commented: “We have channelled our experience with the F1.06 into the new car, but at the same time focused on the new challenges presented by the 2007 regulations. It’s clear that the cars are going to slide around more. It was therefore important for us to build a car that is easy to drive and that our drivers can trust sufficiently to go on the attack. We should also expect the cars to run with rather greater down force as a rule, in order to make up for the loss of grip.”

Meanwhile, here are the technical specs of the BMW Sauber F1.07

DIMENSIONS
Length: 4,580 mm
Qidth: 1,800 mm
Height 1,000 mm
Track width, front: 1,470 mm
Track width, rear: 1,410 mm
Wheelbase: 3,110 mm
Weight: 605 kg (incl. driver, ready to drive, tank empty)

BODY
Chassis: carbon-fibre monocoque
Suspension: upper and lower wishbones (front and rear), inboard springs (probably Eibach springs) and dampers, actuated by pushrods (Sachs Race Engineering)
Brakes: six-piston callipers (Brembo), carbon pads and discs (Brembo, Carbone Industrie)
Chassis electronics: BMW
Steering wheel: BMW Sauber F1 Team
Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza
Wheels: OZ

POWERTRAIN
Engine: BMW P86/7
Transmission: 7-speed quick shift gearbox, longitudinally mounted, carbon-fibre clutch (AP)

BMW P86/7 Technical Specs

Type: normally aspirated V8
Bank angle: 90 degrees
Displacement: 2,400 cc
Valves: four per cylinder
Valve train: pneumatic
Engine block: aluminium
Cylinder head: aluminium
Crankshaft: steel
Oil system: dry sump lubrication
Engine management: BMW
Spark plugs: NGK
Pistons: aluminium
Connecting rods: titanium
Dimensions: length: 518 mm
Width: 555 mm
Height: 595 mm (overall)
Weight: 95 kg