Aussie BMW motorcycle club turns 50

BMW is a brand of fascination, innovation and passion, and ever since the first BMW club was established in Düsseldorf, Germany, in 1928, owners have gathered together to share in the enjoyment of BMW motorcycles and cars.From the small beginnings in Germany only five years after the launch of the legendary R 32, BMW clubs are now established in all continents and are recognised by BMW through the International Council of BMW Clubs. In Australia the BMW Motorcycle Club of Queensland recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with a spectacular public display at Brisbane’s Southbank Cultural Forecourt. The Southbank area on the banks of the Brisbane River was alive with BMW motorcycles, showcasing the growth of the brand in the 50 years since the club was formed in 1958.Under a clear and sunny Queensland sky, over 120 selected motorcycles were stretched out across the impressive display area. The oldest was a 1950 R 51/2 which was the first BMW Boxer produced after WWII – one of the models that provided the impetus for riders to get together to form the club back in 1958. The range of BMW motorcycles in the display covered all eras, with some beautifully restored classics like the R 69 S and R 90 S, and other examples of motorcycles that have provided their owners with many years of ‘sheer riding pleasure’ without undergoing any serious work. In addition, there were sidecars, trikes and other motorcycles that had been modified to suit their owners’ personal requirements. The crowd favourite however was a stunning R 75/5 Café Racer, a beautiful interpretation of a style of motorcycle that was all about elegancy, simplicity and functionality.BMW Motorrad dealer Morgan and Wacker enthusiastically supported the event and used it to launch the new F 650 GS onto the Australian market. There was also a comprehensive display of all the current models in the 2008 line-up. The Queensland Police Force – equipped with the Authorities R 1200 RT-P – was there promoting safe riding and road safety, something of vital importance to the BMW Motorcycle Club of Queensland.The club (www.bmwmcq.org.au) now has over 800 members and President Trevor Pedwell was delighted with the success of the event: “It gave the general public a chance to look at some fantastic BMW motorcycles as well as members and former members the opportunity to get together and remember the past – and importantly, look forward to an exciting future for the club and BMW Motorrad”.

Get your kicks: avant-garde scrambling with the BMW G 650 Xcountry.

Almost too good-looking to take out on the track. Too refined to park in the city. Too good for a short run. Yet you still have to do it, simply because this bike is everything –faithful companion, avant-garde queen of the scene and muscular athlete. Refined, generous chassis components surround a high-performance single-cylinder engine which has what it takes. Reliable, powerful and thanks to EU-3 catalytic converter and state-of-the-art engine management with the very lowest fuel consumption and exhaust emission levels: this bike will put many a larger machine behind it. And that applies both on the road and off. The BMW G 650 Xcountry is a genuine scrambler. As well as being a BMW through and through: high-quality, durable, suitable for everyday use, with long maintenance intervals and the reliability which is characteristic of the brand. The best of both worlds makes this BMW G 650 Xcountry unique. So be sure to get dressed up for the test ride ...

BMW X3 Models

Segala jalan. Setiap saat.
Kecepatan dan flexibilitas, inovatif dan estetika, tenaga dan daya tarik – pengemudi masa kini mengharap banyak dari mobil mereka. Spontanitas jadi sangat penting: kita semua ingin untuk bisa mewujudkan rencana kita dengan cepat. BMW X3 merupakan kendaraan ideal bagi mereka yang menikmati kebebasan. Merupakan Sports Activity Vehicle pertama yang menggunakan xDrive all-wheel drive sistem dan interior yang fleksibel, tanda keunggulan keahlian teknik BMW dan ketajaman citarasa rancangan yang praktis dan gaya.

Long Way Down" R 1200 GS Adventure at The Legend of the Motorcycle

The following is a press release from The Legend of the Motorcycle concerning a special exhibit of photography from the "Long Way Down" expedition of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman on BMW R 1200 GS Adventures. In addition, Charley's motorcycle from the trip will be on display at The Legend of the Motorcycle. BMW Motorrad USA is the official motorcycle sponsor of the exhibition and a significant number of BMW's including one-off racing bikes will be on display as well.
Exclusive "Long Way Down" Exhibit at The Legend of the Motorcycle: International Concours d'Elegance Saturday, May 3, 2008, Half Moon Bay, California
In keeping with the spirit of adventure, the celebration of motorcycling and the acknowledgment of its legends, Legend of the Motorcycle is proud to announce a limited engagement photo exhibit of the epic motorcycle journey the Long Way Down, by friends Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, created exclusively for display at the Legend of the Motorcycle Concours d'Elegance by renowned celebrity photographer Timothy White.Scottish actor Ewan McGregor (Star Wars: Episodes I, II & III, Moulin Rouge and The Island) and English actor Charley Boorman (Deliverance, The Emerald Forest and Excalibur), both die-hard motorcyclists, first undertook a 19,000-mile around-the-world ride known as the Long Way Round in 2004. Then, this past summer, they completed another grueling three month-long adventure, the Long Way Down, riding from the northernmost top of Scotland to southernmost bottom of South Africa. Traveling off the beaten path through dozens of countries, the daring partnership experienced the countless hardships and wonders of Africa, all documented by live and still footage.
Photos from this incredible journey, provided by Long Way Down producers David Alexanian and Russ Malkin, are being curated by celebrated New York City-based photographer and motorcyclist Timothy White (recipient of numerous awards including 2004 International Photographer of the Year) into a special exhibit exclusively for Legend of the Motorcycle. Of his collaboration in the project, White says "My interest in motorcycling combined with photography, traveling, and my fascination with the art of the exhibition has attracted me to this work. Charley and Ewan's trek has inspired many of us and these pictures will reach even more like-minded people. Motorcycling is such a sensory experience, and this photography has a visual impact that makes the viewer feel like we were along for the ride. You cannot look at these pictures without feeling like you were there...or want to go". The photo exhibit will be accompanied by video footage as well as Boorman's actual expedition motorcycle, a BMW R1200 GS Adventure.
All three men - McGregor, Boorman and White - have been past participants in Legend of the Motorcycle. McGregor presented the Steve McQueen Award along with Peter Fonda in 2006, Boorman presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Willie G. Davidson of Harley-Davidson in 2007, and White showcased a special exhibit of portraits from his book Indian Larry last year.
Says Boorman, "Both Ewan and I really enjoyed our time at Legend of the Motorcycle and I think it's great they have organized this exhibition of our Long Way Down. We had an incredible adventure through these places and, as much as people think it's a potentially dangerous place, it (Africa) is a beautiful and safe continent and these pictures are a few examples of our time there."
Sponsored by BMW Motorrad USA, the Legend of the Motorcycle's Long Way Down Exhibit will be open to attendees of the Saturday, May 3rd event, which takes place at the ocean-side Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay, California (just south of San Francisco). For tickets and more information on this world affair, go to www.LegendoftheMotorcycle.com.
For comprehensive details on the Long Way Down, visit LongWayDown.com. For more information on Timothy White's extensive work, go to TimothyWhite.com.

BMW 1 Series

Kegembiraan yang menjalar.BMW Seri 1Bermula saat Anda memasukinya, meningkat ketika Anda menjalankan mesinnya seiring dengan naiknya detak jantung pada setiap kilometer Anda mengendarainya: kesenangan berada dalam BMW Seri satu baru. Terletak pada temperamen mobil dan konsep berkendara BMW, membuatnya lincah dan gesit. Diperkuat dengan tampilan estetisnya, akan membuat semua yang berkendara tersenyum. Ditambah pula dengan sensasi berkendara yang tiada banding yang berlangsung terus menerus: dalam tarikan lurus yang panjang, dalam lengkungan sempit dan dengan 7 hari kesenangan berkendara dalam seminggu

Volvo seats get top scores in 2008 Thatcham Whiplash Tests

http://www.car-news.co.uk
Volvo continues to be on top in whiplash safety after achieving high scores across its model range in the latest whiplash ratings by the UK's Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre, Thatcham¹.

In fact, Volvo was one of only three manufacturers to achieve an 'All Good' rating, with top 'Good' scores for every model tested² thanks to its supportive seats which have a fixed head restraint position to ensure they are always in the correct position to offer the best support and WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System).
Matthew Avery, Crash Laboratory Manager at Thatcham said: "Volvo has shown a continuing commitment to safety, and their seats once again performed very well in our tests. This is supported by real world injury data which confirms that these seats do produce a significant reduction in whiplash injuries - Volvo continues to be the trend setter in this area."
All models in the Volvo range feature WHIPS as standard. WHIPS reduces acceleration forces on the neck during a rear-end accident by about a half. In the event of an accident, the entire backrest moves rearwards to reduce the strain on the occupant's back and neck. Then, when their back has been safely restrained by the backrest, it inclines backwards in order to reduce the force that would otherwise throw their head forwards.

Volvo's traffic accident research team compared real-life whiplash injuries from Volvos with and without WHIPS, and the results point to a clear conclusion: WHIPS reduced short-term and long-term (of more than a year) injuries by 33 per cent and 54 per cent respectively, while whiplash injuries in women were reduced by as much as 50 per cent and 75 per cent, respectively.

New Passat R36 makes debut

http://www.car-news.co.uk

The most powerful Passat ever produced is now on sale.
The new Passat R36, available in either saloon or estate bodystyles, is equipped with a naturally-aspirated 3.6-litre V6 engine developing 300 PS and 258 lbs ft of torque. Drive is channelled via a six-speed DSG gearbox through a 4MOTION all-wheel drive system capable of diverting torque to either axle depending on the grip available. As a result the saloon is capable of accelerating from rest to 62 mph in 5.6 seconds while the estate takes 5.8 seconds. Both models have limiters in place to restrict the top speed to 155 mph.

A set of 18-inch wheels housing Volkswagen 'R' blue brake callipers and a ride height lowered by 20 mm help distinguish the Passat R36 from the conventional vehicle. A new front bumper featuring a trio of deep airdams is joined by the distinctive chrome grille section inset into which is the 'R36 badge'. A set of Bi-Xenon headlight units complete the changes. At the rear a set of twin tailpipes, routed to either side of the bumper, compliment a subtle lip spoiler. The only badging comprises a simple 'R36' logo and the Volkswagen roundel.

The changes continue to the vehicle's interior. Unique front seats designed to offer greater lateral support are placed behind a sculpted sports steering wheel integrated into which are paddles for the DSG gearbox. A set of recalibrated 'R' dials are fitted alongside turned aluminium dashboard highlights, alloy pedals and sill plates bearing the 'R' logo.

Prices for new Passat R36 start at £30,990 on-the-road for the saloon and £32,150 for the estate model. Options include a choice of four colours ranging from silver to black, blue and grey. A further option of 19-inch wheels will also be offered at a later date.

As with the Golf R32 and Touareg R50 the Passat R36 was designed, engineered and developed by Volkswagen Individual. Established in 2003 and based in Wolfsburg, Individual is assigned with producing bespoke and highly focused vehicles such as the 'R' line-up as well as the BlueMotion range. The Passat R36 represents the fastest accelerating vehicle currently produced by Individual and Volkswagen.