BMW TO DESIGN THE NEXT GENERATION OF SAN FRANCISCO BART
DesignworksUSA, BMW’s in-house design subsidiary, has been chosen to dream up the next batch of train cars for the San Francisco Bay Area’s BART, the fifth largest light-rail train system in the U.S. These new train cars, called “The Fleet of the Future,” will replace the existing cars in service since BART’s inception in 1972. DesignworksUSA believes that its experience in the transportation field will help it bring a premium ridership experience to BART when the trains go online in 2017. “We are passionate about creating innovative solutions for mobility in increasingly dense urban centers such as the Bay Area, and we are excited as our collaborative partnership with BART gets underway,” says Laurenz Schaffer, president of BMW Group DesignworksUSA
DesignworksUSA will be in charge of styling the interior and exterior of the train cars, which it says will incorporate a unique style and shape. The firm will also be charged with designing the operator’s cab, a task that requires a balance of styling and ergonomics when considering the placement of the train’s controls. Since BART’s mission is to provide a practical alternative to driving – an alternative that’s currently utilized by 350,000 people a day – DesignworksUSA believes it can help attract new riders with its expertise in designing in the train, aviation, and automotive categories.
As BART currently operates the oldest fleet of trains in the U.S., the cars could definitely use an update. Given DesignworksUSA’s extensive transportation portfolio, designing BART’s “Fleet of the Future” should be a walk in the park for the nearly-40-year-old firm. No word yet on what company is actually building the rolling stock, but seeing as Siemens and DesignworksUSA have previously partnered on another subway/ light rail vehicle project, we wouldn’t be shocked if the two firms are pairing for this project.
While it seems weird to consider we may soon be riding on “BMW-designed subways” in the future, the assignment is nothing that unusual for BMW’s design wing. DesignworksUSA has also lent its unique styling touch to many other things over the years, both within and outside the transportation field. Here are five of our favorites from the famed design company.
AVX400 Wind Turbine – Contracted by AeroVironment, a developer of green energy solutions, DesignworksUSA was tasked with drafting an aesthetically pleasing wind turbine with a design that would allow it to be placed atop a building without it looking too out of place. The result is the sleek, clean energy-generating windmills you see here. With plenty of curves, the firm says its design is meant to be seen, but still effortlessly blends into whatever building it’s placed on.
BMW-Sauber F1 Hospitality Suite – Before pulling out of Formula 1 competition in 2009, BMW asked its design wing to create a new brand identity for its F1 team, formerly BMW-Sauber F1, while also maintaining the glamorous image the top-tier motorsport series is famous for. Open to VIPs and F1 officials, this mobile hospitality suite traveled with the team to race venues around the world, wowing all who stepped inside with its vast open spaces and elegantly arranged rooms.
BMW G 650 Xcountry – Few two-wheeled vehicles can keep our attention like BMW’s extreme dual-sport, the G 650 Xcountry. DesignworksUSA took the concept of the scrambler, a trend popular in the ‘50s and ‘60s that essentially took a street bike and converted it for off-road use, and brought it into the modern age while also simplifying it down to its most basic elements. The look is classic and sporty, while still giving the impression of off-road capability, which is an area where the Xcountry is also more than competent.
Intermarine 55 Yacht – Having styled land-going yachts like the BMW 7 Series, DesignworksUSA took to the waves with its talents and conceived the Intermarine 55. With a streamlined, bullet-like hull design, this yacht certainly looked the part of a multi-million-dollar designer boat. Inside, the large, rectangular windows make the already cavernous interior feel even more spacious. The cabin’s master bedroom is also suitably large for a floating palace, and comes complete with a king-size bed.
Sirena Espresso Machine – Partnering with Starbucks Coffee, BMW’s design wing took on the challenge of bringing the coffee house experience to a home appliance. Drawing inspiration from art deco styling and also incorporating elements of early espresso machines, DesignworksUSA produced a coffee maker few would have a problem displaying on their countertops. While most coffee connoisseurs might not care how good the appliance that brews their favorite blend looks, it’s an added bonus to be able to say your espresso machine was penned by the same hands that designed the BMW Z4.
Source: BMW
DesignworksUSA will be in charge of styling the interior and exterior of the train cars, which it says will incorporate a unique style and shape. The firm will also be charged with designing the operator’s cab, a task that requires a balance of styling and ergonomics when considering the placement of the train’s controls. Since BART’s mission is to provide a practical alternative to driving – an alternative that’s currently utilized by 350,000 people a day – DesignworksUSA believes it can help attract new riders with its expertise in designing in the train, aviation, and automotive categories.
As BART currently operates the oldest fleet of trains in the U.S., the cars could definitely use an update. Given DesignworksUSA’s extensive transportation portfolio, designing BART’s “Fleet of the Future” should be a walk in the park for the nearly-40-year-old firm. No word yet on what company is actually building the rolling stock, but seeing as Siemens and DesignworksUSA have previously partnered on another subway/ light rail vehicle project, we wouldn’t be shocked if the two firms are pairing for this project.
While it seems weird to consider we may soon be riding on “BMW-designed subways” in the future, the assignment is nothing that unusual for BMW’s design wing. DesignworksUSA has also lent its unique styling touch to many other things over the years, both within and outside the transportation field. Here are five of our favorites from the famed design company.
AVX400 Wind Turbine – Contracted by AeroVironment, a developer of green energy solutions, DesignworksUSA was tasked with drafting an aesthetically pleasing wind turbine with a design that would allow it to be placed atop a building without it looking too out of place. The result is the sleek, clean energy-generating windmills you see here. With plenty of curves, the firm says its design is meant to be seen, but still effortlessly blends into whatever building it’s placed on.
BMW-Sauber F1 Hospitality Suite – Before pulling out of Formula 1 competition in 2009, BMW asked its design wing to create a new brand identity for its F1 team, formerly BMW-Sauber F1, while also maintaining the glamorous image the top-tier motorsport series is famous for. Open to VIPs and F1 officials, this mobile hospitality suite traveled with the team to race venues around the world, wowing all who stepped inside with its vast open spaces and elegantly arranged rooms.
BMW G 650 Xcountry – Few two-wheeled vehicles can keep our attention like BMW’s extreme dual-sport, the G 650 Xcountry. DesignworksUSA took the concept of the scrambler, a trend popular in the ‘50s and ‘60s that essentially took a street bike and converted it for off-road use, and brought it into the modern age while also simplifying it down to its most basic elements. The look is classic and sporty, while still giving the impression of off-road capability, which is an area where the Xcountry is also more than competent.
Intermarine 55 Yacht – Having styled land-going yachts like the BMW 7 Series, DesignworksUSA took to the waves with its talents and conceived the Intermarine 55. With a streamlined, bullet-like hull design, this yacht certainly looked the part of a multi-million-dollar designer boat. Inside, the large, rectangular windows make the already cavernous interior feel even more spacious. The cabin’s master bedroom is also suitably large for a floating palace, and comes complete with a king-size bed.
Sirena Espresso Machine – Partnering with Starbucks Coffee, BMW’s design wing took on the challenge of bringing the coffee house experience to a home appliance. Drawing inspiration from art deco styling and also incorporating elements of early espresso machines, DesignworksUSA produced a coffee maker few would have a problem displaying on their countertops. While most coffee connoisseurs might not care how good the appliance that brews their favorite blend looks, it’s an added bonus to be able to say your espresso machine was penned by the same hands that designed the BMW Z4.
Source: BMW
1 Series Offers Stiff Competition to Audi
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) is rolling out a bigger 1-Series compact car to reclaim the top spot from Audi for the first time since 2008 in the competition for younger customers purchasing entry-level luxury autos.
Bavarian Motor Works smallest model will add more than 3 inches in length and about 1 inch in width, allowing for a roomier interior and more trunk space, the carmaker said. The vehicle’s starting price will be 23,850 euros ($33,480) in Germany, 900 euros more than its predecessor, and hit European showrooms in September.
“The 1-Series has considerable strategic value for Bavarian Motor Works” said Juergen Pieper, a Frankfurt-based Bankhaus Metzler analyst who recommends selling the shares. “It’s the gateway” for customers in their 30s, he said.
German luxury carmakers are revamping their smallest cars and adding compact models to entice buyers to sample their brands. The redesigned 1-Series will compete with Audi’s A3 and a rebuilt Mercedes-Benz B-Class coming to market this year.
The 1-Series will be the top global seller for luxury compact vehicles in 2011 with deliveries of 210,500, compared with 179,000 of the A3 and 114,000 of the B-Class, according to research firm IHS Automotive. Audi, which sold 208,000 A3s in 2010, has held the top spot in the past two years. BMW delivered 195,000 of the 1-Series last year.
“We’re delighted with the ability to bring new customers to the company with the development of the 1-Series,” sales chief Ian Robertson said at a presentation of the model in Berlin late yesterday. “This car has the youngest age profile within the BMW group. It’s a car that’s appealing to a much broader audience, a much younger audience.”
Fending Off Audi Lifting 1-Series sales is part of a broader strategy at the Munich-based carmaker to sell more than 2 million cars by 2020 and fend off advances by Audi, which aims to pass BMW as the world’s largest maker of luxury vehicles by 2015. Ingolstadt, Germany-based Audi has outsold Mercedes this year, claiming the No. 2 position. BMW last week raised its 2011 sales outlook to more than 1.6 million autos.
Audi’s A3 compact, which starts at 20,950 euros, continues to benefit from “sturdy” demand and there’s no definitive date yet for an overhaul, spokesman Moritz Drechsel said. The Volkswagen AG (VOW) unit’s original A3 was introduced in 1996 and the current second generation came to market in 2003.
Daimler AG (DAI) will pep up Mercedes’ small-car lineup with the overhauled B-Class and three other new models. Mercedes is replacing the boxy A-Class with a sporty hatchback and is considering a small coupe and sport-utility vehicle. The Stuttgart, Germany-based automaker is building an 800 million- euro Hungarian factory and investing 600 million euros to upgrade a German plant to expand production of the models.
New to Brand Bavarian Motor Works has sold 1.22 million 1-Series since its 2004 introduction, with 400,000 of those deliveries in Germany, Robertson said. More than 70 percent of the vehicle’s owners are new to the auto makers brand, he added. The car will be shown at the Frankfurt auto show in September, Robertson said.
Luxury-car makers are also boosting their compact offerings as regulators mandate vehicles with lower emissions. The new 1- Series, which relies on four-cylinder engines, burns up to 20 percent less fuel than the predecessor, said Dietmar Zimmerhackl, the 1-Series project leader. BMW would potentially face fines for violating CO2 emission limits without the benefit of its smallest model, Pieper said. The new 1-Series emits between 114 and 137 grams per kilometer.
The revamped 1-Series may be the last version with rear- wheel powertrains before BMW switches to front-wheel-drive technology as part of its efforts to expand compact vehicle offerings, said Tim Schuldt, a Frankfurt-based analyst at Equinet AG who recommends holding BMW stock.
“The 1-Series has an unmentionable bearing on BMW’s profit margin but it certainly is a boon to their efforts to complying with fleet emission standards,” Schuldt said.
Bavarian Motor Works smallest model will add more than 3 inches in length and about 1 inch in width, allowing for a roomier interior and more trunk space, the carmaker said. The vehicle’s starting price will be 23,850 euros ($33,480) in Germany, 900 euros more than its predecessor, and hit European showrooms in September.
“The 1-Series has considerable strategic value for Bavarian Motor Works” said Juergen Pieper, a Frankfurt-based Bankhaus Metzler analyst who recommends selling the shares. “It’s the gateway” for customers in their 30s, he said.
German luxury carmakers are revamping their smallest cars and adding compact models to entice buyers to sample their brands. The redesigned 1-Series will compete with Audi’s A3 and a rebuilt Mercedes-Benz B-Class coming to market this year.
The 1-Series will be the top global seller for luxury compact vehicles in 2011 with deliveries of 210,500, compared with 179,000 of the A3 and 114,000 of the B-Class, according to research firm IHS Automotive. Audi, which sold 208,000 A3s in 2010, has held the top spot in the past two years. BMW delivered 195,000 of the 1-Series last year.
“We’re delighted with the ability to bring new customers to the company with the development of the 1-Series,” sales chief Ian Robertson said at a presentation of the model in Berlin late yesterday. “This car has the youngest age profile within the BMW group. It’s a car that’s appealing to a much broader audience, a much younger audience.”
Fending Off Audi Lifting 1-Series sales is part of a broader strategy at the Munich-based carmaker to sell more than 2 million cars by 2020 and fend off advances by Audi, which aims to pass BMW as the world’s largest maker of luxury vehicles by 2015. Ingolstadt, Germany-based Audi has outsold Mercedes this year, claiming the No. 2 position. BMW last week raised its 2011 sales outlook to more than 1.6 million autos.
Audi’s A3 compact, which starts at 20,950 euros, continues to benefit from “sturdy” demand and there’s no definitive date yet for an overhaul, spokesman Moritz Drechsel said. The Volkswagen AG (VOW) unit’s original A3 was introduced in 1996 and the current second generation came to market in 2003.
Daimler AG (DAI) will pep up Mercedes’ small-car lineup with the overhauled B-Class and three other new models. Mercedes is replacing the boxy A-Class with a sporty hatchback and is considering a small coupe and sport-utility vehicle. The Stuttgart, Germany-based automaker is building an 800 million- euro Hungarian factory and investing 600 million euros to upgrade a German plant to expand production of the models.
New to Brand Bavarian Motor Works has sold 1.22 million 1-Series since its 2004 introduction, with 400,000 of those deliveries in Germany, Robertson said. More than 70 percent of the vehicle’s owners are new to the auto makers brand, he added. The car will be shown at the Frankfurt auto show in September, Robertson said.
Luxury-car makers are also boosting their compact offerings as regulators mandate vehicles with lower emissions. The new 1- Series, which relies on four-cylinder engines, burns up to 20 percent less fuel than the predecessor, said Dietmar Zimmerhackl, the 1-Series project leader. BMW would potentially face fines for violating CO2 emission limits without the benefit of its smallest model, Pieper said. The new 1-Series emits between 114 and 137 grams per kilometer.
The revamped 1-Series may be the last version with rear- wheel powertrains before BMW switches to front-wheel-drive technology as part of its efforts to expand compact vehicle offerings, said Tim Schuldt, a Frankfurt-based analyst at Equinet AG who recommends holding BMW stock.
“The 1-Series has an unmentionable bearing on BMW’s profit margin but it certainly is a boon to their efforts to complying with fleet emission standards,” Schuldt said.
Sales Roar in June
Remarkable sale of X3 SAV BMW X3 SAV that was launched in January 2010 remained the best selling brand in June 2011 and sales of 12,725 X3 vehicles was recorded for June 2011 as compare to sales of 3,439 for June 2010. This tremendous 270% increase in sales of X3 SAV reflects that it has become the most popular of it's models in U.S.A.
Record sales of 5 Series has been increased by 13% as compare to last year; in the first 6 months of 2010, 15,846 vehicles of BMW 5 Series were sold whereas 25,287 models of the 5 Series has been sold in the first half of 2011 which means it experienced 60% increase in sale till June 2011.
Sales Record Used vehicles for June 2011 was 12,801 which is 4.8% less as compare to June 2010 i.e. 13,445 pre-owned BMW vehicles were sold in June 2010.
Sales Record of MINI Brand In June 2011, 5,228 units of MINI were sold in U.S.A., on the other side 4,149 vehicles of MINI were sold in June 2011 it means sales of MINI Brand has been increased by 26%. Overall, sales of MINI vehicle in the first half of 2010 was recorded as 20,953 and for the first half of 2011 it has been recorded as 29,816 i.e. 42.3% increase in volume as compare to last year.
Vice President of MINI, Jim McDowell said “Fuel prices have moderated in the last month or so but we are still seeing an increase in MINI sales. It’s not just the new Countryman that’s popular but the entry hardtop as well, telling me that more Americans are embracing small cars as a rational choice.”
Record sales of 5 Series has been increased by 13% as compare to last year; in the first 6 months of 2010, 15,846 vehicles of BMW 5 Series were sold whereas 25,287 models of the 5 Series has been sold in the first half of 2011 which means it experienced 60% increase in sale till June 2011.
Sales Record Used vehicles for June 2011 was 12,801 which is 4.8% less as compare to June 2010 i.e. 13,445 pre-owned BMW vehicles were sold in June 2010.
Sales Record of MINI Brand In June 2011, 5,228 units of MINI were sold in U.S.A., on the other side 4,149 vehicles of MINI were sold in June 2011 it means sales of MINI Brand has been increased by 26%. Overall, sales of MINI vehicle in the first half of 2010 was recorded as 20,953 and for the first half of 2011 it has been recorded as 29,816 i.e. 42.3% increase in volume as compare to last year.
Vice President of MINI, Jim McDowell said “Fuel prices have moderated in the last month or so but we are still seeing an increase in MINI sales. It’s not just the new Countryman that’s popular but the entry hardtop as well, telling me that more Americans are embracing small cars as a rational choice.”
BMW Goes Green in London!
BMW's 2012 Olympic vehicles are displayed in London.
To showcase it's new green technology. BMW, the main auto sponsor for the 2012 Olympic games has revealed an array of electric vehicles and bikes.
Some 4,000 BMW vehicles will roam the streets of the UK capital next summer, with many of them electric or petrol-electric hybrids.
In addition, conventional diesel-powered cars will be used, BMW said.
Unveiling the largest car that will be used, a BMW 520d that can travel 63 miles on a gallon of diesel whilst emitting just 119 g/km carbon dioxide, Ian Robertson, BMW Group's global sales and marketing director, insisted the company has "driven our carbon dioxide emissions down more than any other car company, particularly in the premium sector".
BMW has reduced its average emissions by 5.1% in the last year alone, versus 3.4% for Audi and 3.3% for Mercedes. The Dow Jones Sustainability Index has named BMW Group the "most sustainable automobile company worldwide" six years in a row.
This, Mr Robertson pointed out, helped BMW to win the Olympics contract, as the company complied with London's demand for a fleet of low emission vehicles.
It should also be a distinct competitive advantage that could help it to boost sales from 1.6 million cars this year and to two million by 2020, he predicted.
Sometimes, bicycles are better than cars for getting around cities, BMW said "Just like safety was part of premium in the 1970s, sustainability is part of premium today," Mr Robertson said.
In Europe, where there is a greater focus on emissions than elsewhere in the world, average carbon dioxide emissions from the BMW fleet have fallen to 146g/km, though this belies the company's reliance on sales of larger and considerably thirstier models in the markets where growth is the strongest, such as Asia and the US.
Indeed, while putting considerable effort into making low emission models, BMW is also clinging to its image as a producer of high-performance cars with big, powerful - and thus thirsty - engines.
Such apparently conflicting values are likely to result in further "brand separation" in the future, where the company adopts different marketing strategies for, for instance, its electric sub-brand BMW i and its high performance, and far from green, sub-brand BMW M.
Bikes and scooters BMW is also moving beyond its core activities of building cars and motorcycles, and working on different products.
In cities in particular, cars may not always be the best vehicles to get around, so the company is working to develop both different vehicles and new services.
BMW is eager to highlight the environmental credentials of its cars To encourage them, BMW has created a $100m venture capital fund, named BMW i Ventures, that will invest in small start-up companies.
BMW sees the Olympics as a prime opportunity to launch products in new market segments. It is adding a pedelec - or an electric bicycle - to its range of bikes, and is launching a range of scooters.
"The scooter market around the world has been growing dramatically in recent years, particularly in urban environments," Mr Robertson said, pointing to how small motorcycle and scooter sales have doubled to about 40 million a year in recent years, while large bike sales have dropped in the past five years from about 1.5 million to about 750,000.
Some 200 electric Mini and BMW cars will also be part of the 2012 Olympic fleet.
"Electric vehicles are definitely part of the future solutions," Mr Robertson said, though he forecast that conventional petrol and diesel engines would remain the dominant technology for several decades yet.
'Mobility solutions' The range of new services, as opposed to products, is still being developed. Many of them have been dreamt up by partners operating outside the motor industry, Mr Robertson said.
So far, the fund has invested in a project called MyCityWay, which allows people to look at live traffic cameras on their smartphones to help them chose whether to drive, take the tube or ride a bike to where they are going.
It has also invested in ParkatmyHouse, which makes more parking available for drivers while earning home owners a crust.
With about a third of drivers in cities looking for a place to park at any one time, this should help improve traffic flow and thus cut overall emissions, Mr Robertson reasoned.
"Mobility solutions of the future have become an integral part of the car industry, so either you get onboard or you're in real trouble," he said.
To showcase it's new green technology. BMW, the main auto sponsor for the 2012 Olympic games has revealed an array of electric vehicles and bikes.
Some 4,000 BMW vehicles will roam the streets of the UK capital next summer, with many of them electric or petrol-electric hybrids.
In addition, conventional diesel-powered cars will be used, BMW said.
Unveiling the largest car that will be used, a BMW 520d that can travel 63 miles on a gallon of diesel whilst emitting just 119 g/km carbon dioxide, Ian Robertson, BMW Group's global sales and marketing director, insisted the company has "driven our carbon dioxide emissions down more than any other car company, particularly in the premium sector".
BMW has reduced its average emissions by 5.1% in the last year alone, versus 3.4% for Audi and 3.3% for Mercedes. The Dow Jones Sustainability Index has named BMW Group the "most sustainable automobile company worldwide" six years in a row.
This, Mr Robertson pointed out, helped BMW to win the Olympics contract, as the company complied with London's demand for a fleet of low emission vehicles.
It should also be a distinct competitive advantage that could help it to boost sales from 1.6 million cars this year and to two million by 2020, he predicted.
Sometimes, bicycles are better than cars for getting around cities, BMW said "Just like safety was part of premium in the 1970s, sustainability is part of premium today," Mr Robertson said.
In Europe, where there is a greater focus on emissions than elsewhere in the world, average carbon dioxide emissions from the BMW fleet have fallen to 146g/km, though this belies the company's reliance on sales of larger and considerably thirstier models in the markets where growth is the strongest, such as Asia and the US.
Indeed, while putting considerable effort into making low emission models, BMW is also clinging to its image as a producer of high-performance cars with big, powerful - and thus thirsty - engines.
Such apparently conflicting values are likely to result in further "brand separation" in the future, where the company adopts different marketing strategies for, for instance, its electric sub-brand BMW i and its high performance, and far from green, sub-brand BMW M.
Bikes and scooters BMW is also moving beyond its core activities of building cars and motorcycles, and working on different products.
In cities in particular, cars may not always be the best vehicles to get around, so the company is working to develop both different vehicles and new services.
BMW is eager to highlight the environmental credentials of its cars To encourage them, BMW has created a $100m venture capital fund, named BMW i Ventures, that will invest in small start-up companies.
BMW sees the Olympics as a prime opportunity to launch products in new market segments. It is adding a pedelec - or an electric bicycle - to its range of bikes, and is launching a range of scooters.
"The scooter market around the world has been growing dramatically in recent years, particularly in urban environments," Mr Robertson said, pointing to how small motorcycle and scooter sales have doubled to about 40 million a year in recent years, while large bike sales have dropped in the past five years from about 1.5 million to about 750,000.
Some 200 electric Mini and BMW cars will also be part of the 2012 Olympic fleet.
"Electric vehicles are definitely part of the future solutions," Mr Robertson said, though he forecast that conventional petrol and diesel engines would remain the dominant technology for several decades yet.
'Mobility solutions' The range of new services, as opposed to products, is still being developed. Many of them have been dreamt up by partners operating outside the motor industry, Mr Robertson said.
So far, the fund has invested in a project called MyCityWay, which allows people to look at live traffic cameras on their smartphones to help them chose whether to drive, take the tube or ride a bike to where they are going.
It has also invested in ParkatmyHouse, which makes more parking available for drivers while earning home owners a crust.
With about a third of drivers in cities looking for a place to park at any one time, this should help improve traffic flow and thus cut overall emissions, Mr Robertson reasoned.
"Mobility solutions of the future have become an integral part of the car industry, so either you get onboard or you're in real trouble," he said.
So Cal Top BMW Dealer sells Franchise
Announced earlier today the Penske Automotive Group purchased Crevier BMW / Mini of Santa Ana CA: July 14, 2011
It has been 40 years since Crevier owned their BMW franchise.
“We feel very confident about their ability to embrace what we have worked so hard to develop since 1971,” said Donnie Crevier, former owner of Crevier BMW/MINI.
Penske Automotive agreed to retain the name Crevier BMW/MINI as part of the acquisition. The dealership plans to keep Al Parajeckas as the general manager, as well as other key management staff and employees.
“Mr Crevier felt it was extremely important to make sure his employees whom he worked with for many years were taken care of,” a spokesperson for Crevier told OC METRO.
“Due to the great nucleus and synergy of the people within our company, we have had the good fortune of enjoying a reputation of excellence, not only in how we have served our clients, but with the community,” said Crevier. “It has been a personal joy to work alongside our wonderful team members who have volunteered countless hours to support scores of local charities, schools and nonprofit organizations.”
Parajeckas was recently honored as BMW’s second top general manager worldwide. A spokesperson for the company says Parajeckas attributes his success to the Crevier family, which for years has given back to the community.
The Crevier family will now focus their efforts on Crevier Classic Cars – a sales, storage and events venue located in Costa Mesa.
It has been 40 years since Crevier owned their BMW franchise.
“We feel very confident about their ability to embrace what we have worked so hard to develop since 1971,” said Donnie Crevier, former owner of Crevier BMW/MINI.
Penske Automotive agreed to retain the name Crevier BMW/MINI as part of the acquisition. The dealership plans to keep Al Parajeckas as the general manager, as well as other key management staff and employees.
“Mr Crevier felt it was extremely important to make sure his employees whom he worked with for many years were taken care of,” a spokesperson for Crevier told OC METRO.
“Due to the great nucleus and synergy of the people within our company, we have had the good fortune of enjoying a reputation of excellence, not only in how we have served our clients, but with the community,” said Crevier. “It has been a personal joy to work alongside our wonderful team members who have volunteered countless hours to support scores of local charities, schools and nonprofit organizations.”
Parajeckas was recently honored as BMW’s second top general manager worldwide. A spokesperson for the company says Parajeckas attributes his success to the Crevier family, which for years has given back to the community.
The Crevier family will now focus their efforts on Crevier Classic Cars – a sales, storage and events venue located in Costa Mesa.
BMW has just unveiled its latest addition to the M3 family and this could finally be the one that Goldilocks has been waiting for. If the standard M3 is too soft and the M3 GTS too hard, then say hello to the M3 CRT sedan, which combines the best attributes from both its siblings. CRT stands for Carbon Racing Technology. And like the name implies, BMW has put its carbon-weaving skills to good use, much like it has been doing with recent concepts (e.g. the 328 Hommage) and special edition models (e.g. the M3 Carbon Edition in China). For the M3 CRT, BMW recycled carbon fiber scraps from the i3 and i8 concept vehicles into new carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) sheets, which is then molded to create the unique hood, body kit, and other associated parts. The composite material contributes to the M3 CRT’s weight of 3,546 pounds; 204 more than the GTS, but 154 less than the standard M3.
And while we definitely appreciate the effort put into weight loss, we were even more pleased with what BMW has decided to stuff under the hood. Last April’s rumor that the CRT’s power output would be somewhere between the standard M3 and the GTS has turned out to be false. Instead of tweaking and fussing with engines, Bimmer just decided to go with the GTS’ larger 4.4-liter V8 engine rated at 444-hp, 324 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to M Dual Clutch transmission (no manual available) and the auto maker claims it’ll go from 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds, the same time it takes for the GTS.
What the CRT doesn’t share with the GTS, however, is its gutted interior (i.e. no rear seats, climate control, audio system and noise-deadening material). Instead, the cabin is lightweight twist on the comfy confines of the standard M3 with CFRP-shelled leather seats (two separate seats in the rear) and trim with an aluminum fiber appearance.
How can you get your hands on this mostly hand built M3? For starters, you have to live in Europe. Second, be prepared to fork over 130,000 Euros ($184,132). And don’t be surprised if you can’t get your hands on one, because the auto maker is only building 67 copies of this über-limited M3.
Source: BMW
And while we definitely appreciate the effort put into weight loss, we were even more pleased with what BMW has decided to stuff under the hood. Last April’s rumor that the CRT’s power output would be somewhere between the standard M3 and the GTS has turned out to be false. Instead of tweaking and fussing with engines, Bimmer just decided to go with the GTS’ larger 4.4-liter V8 engine rated at 444-hp, 324 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to M Dual Clutch transmission (no manual available) and the auto maker claims it’ll go from 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds, the same time it takes for the GTS.
What the CRT doesn’t share with the GTS, however, is its gutted interior (i.e. no rear seats, climate control, audio system and noise-deadening material). Instead, the cabin is lightweight twist on the comfy confines of the standard M3 with CFRP-shelled leather seats (two separate seats in the rear) and trim with an aluminum fiber appearance.
How can you get your hands on this mostly hand built M3? For starters, you have to live in Europe. Second, be prepared to fork over 130,000 Euros ($184,132). And don’t be surprised if you can’t get your hands on one, because the auto maker is only building 67 copies of this über-limited M3.
Source: BMW
