BMW Forschung und Technik GmbH celebrates its 25th Anniversary.
The BMW Group owes its status as the world’s most successful manufacturer of premium automobiles to an outstanding development team that operate within all areas relevant to driving pleasure, sustainability and safety. This division, calledBMW Forschung und Technik GmbH, operates as a subsidiary of BMW Group. To celebrate its 25th anniversary BMW has decided to unveil its best kept secrets; some of the most unusual concept vehicles ever created over the last quarter of a century. Established in 1985 as “BMW Technik”, the subsidiary went into business with a mission to develop innovative, future-oriented ‘concept’ vehicles. Researchers operated within the framework of this “think tank” to develop concepts for individual mobility in tomorrow’s world. As a result this division has been responsible for some of the most successful BMW vehicles ever produced. The company was re-branded in 2003 as BMW Forschung und Technik GmbH, to reflect both research and technology sides of the business. The focus was shifted to developing technologies as well as concepts that encompassed all types of BMW vehicles not just its concept vehicles.
BMW Z1
One of the first projects to be launched by the company was the prototype BMW Z1 Coupé developed in 1988. With its plastic body, vertical sliding doors and fascinating handling properties, the BMW Z1 was not simply the first milestone in the history of BMW Technik GmbH – it also made its mark as an exceptional phenomenon on the road. Created within the framework of a concept, the BMW Z1 later paved the way for the BMW Z3, Z4, and Z8 sports cars that went into production.
BMW E1
Recognizing the importance of alternative fuel sources perhaps one of the most advanced and exciting concepts to come out of BMW Technik nearly 20 years ago. The BMW E1 created in 1991, had an electric motor mounted in the rear. Today, the BMW E1 is regarded as the launch pad for holistic development of electro-mobility concepts in the BMW Group.
BMW Z18
The yearning to explore off-road terrain and the pleasure of mobility under the open skies was explored in 1995 for the first time on four wheels through the BMW Z18 concept. This was the first off-road roadster developed by BMW and was an eight-cylinder engine, four-wheel drive, which had elevated seating that characterized the innovative driving experience in the robust roadster.
BMW Z18 or Just 4/2
Another prototype that offered the prospect of driving fun while having previously been confined to motorcycles captivated the driving public as early as 1995 a body that abandoned roof and windscreen, and a rear-mounted four-cylinder engine packing 100hp. The two seater accelerated from a standing start to 100 km/h in around 6 seconds and notched up a top speed of 180 km/h.
BMW Z22
The BMW Z22 was among the most sophisticated technology platforms that BMW Technik GmbH has ever created. Presented in 1999, and it combined 70 innovations and 61 registered inventions in areas ranging across body concept, lightweight construction, power unit, safety, mechanical systems and controls. Power steering, an electromechanical braking system, cameras instead of wing and rear mirrors enabled this prototype to offer a futuristic view of technologies that would later become a standard in the “Series” vehicles.
BMW Z29
Two years later, the BMW Z29, the prototype of a two-seater sports car was completed by BMW Technik GmbH and represented the culmination of cooperation with another world leading subsidiary of the BMW Group – BMW M GmbH. The passenger cell of the vehicle was manufactured from carbon-fibre reinforced plastic while the rear axle and front and rear module were designed in aluminum. Perhaps the most important result of this combination was the weight-to-power ratio of 3.4 kg/hp and an acceleration ratio of 4.4 seconds for the sprint from a standing start to 100 km/h.
BMW H2R
By 2004 BMW Technick Gmbh had added “Forschung” to its name which gave birth to the awesome BMW H2R vehicle powered by a twelvecylinder engine. This concept vehicle added nine international records for hydrogen-powered vehicles with a piston engine. The car achieved a top speed of more than 300 km/h. This enabled BMW Forschung und Technik GmbH to pave the way to make significant progresses not just vehicle concepts but also progressing another area of increasing importance for BMW Group – its Efficient Dynamics strategy.
December 6th, 2011 at 5:37 am
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