Thursday, April 19, 2007

2007 Shanghai Motor Show: BMW Concept CS

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PRESS RELEASE:
Entering a New Dimension: The BMW Concept CS.
BMW Concept CS
Introducing the BMW Concept CS, Germany's leading manufacturerof premium automobiles is presenting the vision of a unique four-door car which combines the exclusivity of a genuine luxury Gran Turismo with the fascinating thrill of a high-performance sports car. This unique combination never seen before offers the perspective to enjoy sheer driving pleasure in a dimension quite unprecedented in the world of motoring. Indeed, the BMW Concept CS is a new definition of design culture. Concentrating on powerful, expressive design, materials of the highest quality, and quality of finish in perfection, this unique new model offers a completely new understanding of premium quality.
And within its interior, the BMW Concept CS combines stylish luxury with the most uncompromising ambience full of class and value. Through its design alone, the BMW Concept CS underlines the supreme skill and competence of the BMW brand in developing the most sporting and dynamic cars offering ample space for more than two occupants. The most spectacular rendition of this heritage at BMW is the BMW M5, which established a brand-new segment in the world of motoring more than two decades ago and is acknowledged to this day as the benchmark in high-performance saloon motoring. BMW Concept CS side
Now the know-how BMW has acquired over the years and decadescomes together with the world wide fame of the company as amanufacturer of premium automobiles, the BMW Concept CS thus offering the best of both worlds.
BMW is using the skills and competence established over such a long time to combine the most fascinating highlights of sporting performance and sophisticated luxury in an unprecedented new concept. Hence, the BMW Concept CS impressively proves how the successful strategy of the sporting four-door may be carried over consistently into the luxury performance segment.
Exterior design: where qualities typical of BMW all come together.
More than any other saloon in the past, the BMW Concept CS bears out all the highlights of optimum performance through the design of its body alone. The low-slung, dynamically stretched silhouette, the long engine compartment lid and stylish lines and contours accentuating rear-wheel drive technology simply perfect for sports motoring, all set clear standards for supreme dynamics in a new dimension of outstanding vehicles. Through its supreme presence, stylish elegance, and challenging dynamism, the BMW Concept CS, in a nutshell, offerstruly unique design language with highly individual aesthetic features never seen before.
Precisely this explains why all the elementary values of the BMW brand are concentrated in the BMW Concept CS, superior dynamics and sophisticated elegance all being borne out together through the authentic style and design of the car. Clearly, therefore,the BMW Concept CS is the pacemaker leading into a new category of values typical and characteristic of the BMW brand.
Design culture and dynamics of the highest standard.
Offering a synthesis of features unique to the BMW brand, the BMW Concept CS introduces new, tempting highlights in a particularly demanding segment of the market. This unique model combines the qualities of a luxury saloon and a high-performance sports car in one, raising this superiority to a new, unprecedented level. As a result, the BMW Concept CS adds an unparalleled touch of sporting dynamism to the conventional culture of a saloon, offering the driver and passengers the complete dynamic potential of such unique power on four full-sized single seats.
While the conventional saloon focuses primarily on driving comfort, the BMW Concept CS sends out a clear message of active, dynamic motoring. A message which reaches all the car's occupants, with the generous feeling of space in this four-door being supplemented by a sporting and low seating position enjoyed not only by the driver and front passenger, but also by the passengers at the rear on their own single seats. For this reason alone, the BMW Concept CS is, not least, the vision of a sports car for the ambitious driver offering the passengers the same experience of sporting performance and luxurious pleasure. BMW Concept CS side 2
Individual style meets exclusive class.
The innovative, unique driving experience offered by the BMW Concept CS is appropriately reflected by all the car's interior features, the design of the interior and the various technical innovation sinteracting perfectly with one another. The ambience of the interior is indeed just as unique as the character and body design of this one-offsporting four-seater, offering all the occupants a brand-new experience of aesthetic style and design. And it almost goes without saying that within the car the occupants enjoy such unique exclusivity in particular style on four single seats.
The innovative design and finish of both the surfaces and controls is further accentuated by the use of top-quality materials and quality of finish enhanced to perfection. Unnecessary opulence is replaced by highly focused luxury, together with an exemplary standard of detail and elegance. The precision that has gone into the development and production of all components is obvious at very first sight, clearly expressing BMW's dedication to supreme performance in every respect.
Style and unique aesthetics of BMW.
Measuring 5.10 metres or 200.8 inches in length, the BMW Concept CS is dominated by dynamically flowing lines. From the BMW kidney grille standing out powerfully to the front, the eyes of the beholder move back along the low-slung and sleek engine compartment lid, subsequently meandering along the side-line and roof-line all the way to the deliberately short rear-end with its clear-cut air flow spoiler.
The dynamically stretched silhouette of the car proudly boasts a wide range of features typical of the character of a particularly sporting, avantgarde automobile. All of these features clearly bear testimony to excellent aerodynamics as well as a low centre of gravity helping top romote superior agility on the road. And at the same time the carefully modelled transitions between the body sections are a clear symbol of the car's nimble character and performance, despite its size.
Four doors with a unique, sporting and low body line.
The sporting, low-slung silhouette of the car is further accentuated by body height of just 1.36 metres or 53.5 inches. A further important feature is the gentle taper of the roof-line at the rear serving again tosmoothly stretch the proportions of the entire car.
The re-interpreted contour line, as seen from the side, serves to emphasise the technical concept of rear-wheel drive so crucial to dynamic performance on the road. Subdividing the silhouette of thecar into various sections, the contour line stretches from the beginningof the A-pillar in a gentle, rising movement all the way up above thefront door, gradually petering out beneath the rear side window. Thenthe contour line starts again in the lower section of the rear door,first running parallel to the wheel cut-out in a powerful arch. From therethe rear contour line is continued as a straight line also rising slightlyup to the rear end of the car.
The roof-line likewise tapering out gently to the rear also provides abrand-new effect when looking at the car from the side, adding a touchnever seen before on a saloon. The striking contour of the C-pillar,in turn, provides an additional visual highlight of attractive clarity, thetransition of the C-pillar into the rear section of the car tapering outat a lower angle than the steeper rear window rising up from its basepoint. This creates a unique expression of classic notchback designhighly individualised and varying according to your angle of vision.At the bottom, the C-pillar offers a new, enhanced interpretation ofthe reverse line sweeping to the front known by tradition as the"Hofmeister kick". And last but not least, a gentle and extremelyattractive light-edge stands out above the side window preciselywhere the C-pillar merges into the roof-line. BMW Concept CS rear close
Characteristic front-end design consistently enhanced.
The front-end design of the BMW Concept CS is a particularly strikingexample of the consistent enhancement of BMW's design language. Here the BMW kidney grille stands out as a powerful element typical ofthe BMW brand and naturally a famous icon of body design, givingthe car its unique look and emphasising the flow of air into the engine. Indeed, the kidney grille is not only the central, but also the dominatingelement in the design of the entire front end.
Through its dimensions alone, as well as its position slightly inclinedto the front, the kidney grille establishes a clear link to classic BMW sports cars. All further elements at the front end of the car areangled in the direction of travel and designed as a genuine sculpturearound the kidney grille, with all directly adjacent surfaces beingmodelled in concave design.
Significant functional features add further meaning to this special lookof the car, with the BMW kidney grille serving as the primary supplyof air to the engine. The two recesses in the front side panels, in turn,help to cool the brakes on the car. And since a power unit befittingthe dynamic character of such a sports saloon most probably requiresan ample flow of cooling air, the need for an extra-large kidney grilleis obvious at first sight.
Applying the philosophy that "form follows function", the contourson the engine compartment typical of a BMW have developedinto a genuine sign of distinction born out of technical needs andrequirements. On the BMW Concept CS, the powerdome as afurther highlight in design extends over the power unit as a particularlylarge, almost awe-inspiring design feature.
The engine compartment lid is supported at either side by headlightunits merging flush into the design of the car and resting flat on the sidepanels, extending far back into the front wings. The slender spacethus left over above the extra-large wheel arches underlies the agilityand, accordingly, the athletic performance of the car.
Innovative headlight technology.
Within the dynamic, low-slung headlight units featured in the BMW Concept CS, particularly innovative technology serves togenerate a powerful and consistent light beam: Innovative LED reverseprojectionlights bundle their light on a reflection area from where thebeam is conveyed smoothly, consistently and with utmost precision tothe road ahead. This provides a particularly homogenous area ofillumination without the slightest dazzling effect, since the oncomingmotorist does not look directly at the projectors.
The short front overhang of the body creates yet another signconfirming the sporting concept of the car, showing the connoisseurclearly that the engine may be placed behind the front wheelsuspension. Obviously, such arrangement of the engine serves onceagain to make the car particularly agile and dynamic on the road. The extra-large wheel arches offer space for big 21-inch wheels –again exceptional proportions alluding clearly to an extremely highstandard of steering precision and tracking stability. And the rear wheelarches are powerfully chiselled to perfection even more than the wheel arches at the front, with the car growing wider towards therear end, again accentuating the transmission of power to the rearwheels so typical of BMW.
Dynamic roof-line guiding your eyes – and the air flowing by.
The sculptural design language so characteristic of the BMW Concept CS in its body design allows unique interplay ofconcave and convex surfaces, reflecting and guiding the light on andaround the car in exactly the right way. One example in this contextis the exterior mirrors on this unique car blending harmoniously with theside-view, the mirrors through their design alone repeating the overalllook and lines of the car. The door handlers are integrated into theflanks of the BMW Concept CS even more discreetly: Housed within achrome-bar running to the rear at the height of the contour line, thedoor handlers controlled by sensors move out only when really needed.
Yet another innovation in the design of this saloon is the centrepiecealong the roof line of the BMW Concept CS slightly drawn in atthe rear. This exceptional contour design visible only from behind but nevertheless unusually powerful in its look optimises the flow of airin and around the roof area. The aerodynamic touch established in thisway underlines the overall sporting impression of the car and servesat the same time as yet another feature of sculptural design andperfection. BMW Concept CS rear
Sculptural design for truly unique style.
Given all these features, the BMW Concept CS is a modern counterpartto the conventional notchback design of a "regular" four-door. Indeed,never before on a saloon have the individual body sections merged sosmoothly into one another, creating a low-slung and stretched appearance. And this impression of all-round perfection with supremeharmony of looks from every angle is further enhanced when admiringthe transitions modelled with extreme care and diligence, providing additional light effects, for example, around the C-pillar. Features ofthis standard alone clearly confirm BMW's philosophy to expresssupreme design culture through perfect precision and style in everyrespect.
The much lower flow of the C-pillars compared with the position of therear window again serves to emphasis the flowing transitions fromone body section to the next. Seen from the side, the entire car has thelightness of a coupé – but then all you have to do is change yourperspective only slightly in order to perceive and appreciate all thestyle of a classic four-door. Given the short body overhang at the rear,the size of the separate luggage compartment is hard to appreciate tobegin with. Instead, the rear end is dominated by other design featuresemphasising both the wide track and the aerodynamically optimisedrear look of the car.
Moving up at the rear, we see that the two tailpipe rings are integratedin the rear air *** In its night design, in turn, the BMW Concept CS ischaracterised by slender rear lights emitting a homogeneous, low-slungand therefore strikingly harmonious lighting effect.
With its design language absolutely authentic and convincing to thelast detail, the BMW Concept CS offers all the fascinating thrill of newdesign culture. The particular impact of this sporting four-door, in turn,results not only from individual highlights, but also from the overall lookof the car accentuating its complete character so convincingly. Thecar's dynamic potential is indeed expressed both by its proportionsand lines symbolising both power and a dynamic, forward-moving urge. And last but certainly not least, the BMW Concept CS boastsparticularly sophisticated elegance through the great care and diligenceapplied in turning innovative design culture into reality.
The interior: an outstanding driving experience on all four seats.
The interior of the BMW Concept CS also offers dynamism of acompletely new standard borne out by the combination of exclusiveelegance and sophisticated refinement. In designing the interior, theinnovative technique of layering the individual surfaces and componentsprovides an unprecedented combination of function and stylishreduction to the essential. The appropriate use of joints and seams,together with layered surfaces, creates new options in the arrangementof functional elements for both ventilation and illumination. And atthe same time the layering concept offers new possibilities to clearlyexpress the class and value of the materials used as well as theprecise design of the car's interior through contrasting colours andthe structure of different materials.
Featuring height-adjustable collar elements directly integrated in theseats, the four full-sized sports seats meet all the needs of personalisedentertainment and communication, thus raising the experience ofquality within the interior to an unprecedented standard. More than everbefore, this highlights the sheer value of the materials used, the lovefor all details, and quality of finish now enhanced to perfection. BMW Concept CS rear
Interaction of innovative design and exclusive materials, togetherwith the use of a highly expressive colour scheme, gives the interior of the BMW Concept CS a unique touch of luxury based not on simpleopulence, but rather on perfect quality.
The design of the interior clearly reveals the truly outstanding drivingexperience in a unique ambience. A brand-new concept for subdividingthe cockpit into various sections, as well as unparalleled standardsin the choice of materials and in the quality of finish, create an unprecedentedflair of exclusivity and individual style. And added to this thereis a clear pledge to sportiness expressed both by the arrangementand finish of the four single sports seats and the design of the controlsand instruments.
An invitation to active motoring.
The driver-oriented cockpit immediately shows the motorist that heor she is in control of everything happening at the wheel. Just like thearrangement of all controls and instruments, the design and layoutof the cockpit is an invitation to active motoring. A very clear exampleof this straightforward philosophy is the short distance between thesteering wheel and the shift lever, while in their design the sports seatscombine a touch of lightness with the sporting elegance of the finestleather. The low-slung seating position and the clear structure ofthe instruments likewise evoke the wish to really experience and savourthe dynamic potential of this unique car.
Lots of space, lots of support: sports seats also at the rear. The BMW Concept CS presents the vision of an automobile proudlyoffering all its qualities to the driver. The unique thrill of driving the car isobviously borne out most by taking your position at the wheel, whilethe sheer driving pleasure offered in the process is shared out among allthe occupants: Just like the front-seat passenger, the passengers onthe single seats at the rear will also appreciate and cherish the sportingand active driving experience offered by the BMW Concept CS.
Precisely this is ensured by the contours of the rear seats with theirperfect side support tailored to the contours and design of the frontsports seats. And thanks to the single seat concept, elbow freedom onthe rear seats is just as good as on the front passenger's seat.
The centre console flows back smoothly all the way to the rear, servingas a comfortable armrest and at the same time offering additionalstorage space. In all, therefore, the passengers sitting at the rear enjoy abrand-new, truly innovative ambience standing out clearly from theconventional style of a "regular" four-door model.
Cultivating the flow of joints and seams: layering the interior design.
The combination of features previously regarded as incompatiblewithin the BMW Concept CS represents a complete departure fromconventional standards. Indeed, the BMW Concept CS opens up anew era in many areas, the unique combination of sporting performanceand stylish elegance also coming out clearly in the design of the interior. BMW Concept CS interior
The BMW Concept CS is therefore no more and no less than a newmilestone in refined interior design, applying an innovative layeringtechnique developed by BMW to provide unprecedented interplay ofthe various interior elements. Instead of large surfaces and connectionswith their transitions nearly always characterised by a change inmaterials and colours, the layering technique stratifies the varioussurfaces flowing into one another, with clearly defined seams takingon a functional role, for example in the arrangement of light sourcesand venting nozzles. The result is a very refined effect of light and shademaking a significant contribution to the exclusive overall look andimpression of the interior.
Contrary to the design of the body incorporating flowing lines, generoussurfaces and harmonious interplay of concave and convex elements inorder to capitalise above all on light effects, the layering concept appliedwithin the interior mainly uses shade effects and changes in structure.Wherever individual surfaces in the structure of the cockpit do not meeton the same level, we find separate zones kept away from the directflow of light – and precisely these zones provide the right space for theinconspicuous arrangement of various functions. The recesses andsuperimposed surfaces provided in this way offer appropriate space forambient illumination as well as the arrangement of air vents. Dazzlefreeinterior lighting and discreet shade effects upgrade the entire flairof the interior and create a kind of light, hovering effect.
This layering philosophy is continued in the design of the instrumentsthemselves, the displays in the instrument cluster presenting variousfunctions and items of information on different optical levels. This againcreates the impression of superimposed surfaces serving, first, toclearly structure the information offered and, second, to generate animpression of three-dimensionality.
Colour design rich in contrasts, high-quality materials. BMW's designers have also created unmistakable highlights throughthe choice of materials and colours: Powerful colour contrasts generatea dynamic ambience full of vitality appropriately reflecting the dynamicdriving experience on the four seats of the BMW Concept CS. Highquality,refined leather in sophisticated brown forms a powerful contrastto surfaces in elegant off-white. Finished in matt tan, this brownleather is indeed to be admired not only on the seats, but also on theinstrument panel, the upper doorsills, and the outer edges of the rooflining. Around the armrests and in the door panels themselves, thischange in colours accentuates the dynamic lines of the interior createdby the particular design and shape of individual elements. And finally,the leather trim on the dashboard continues in a slender band extendingharmoniously into the door linings.
As a further innovative highlight, the roof lining in the BMW Concept CS is accentuated not only through a contrasting colour scheme, butalso by finishing the outer flanks of the roof lining likewise in leather. Ambient light bands stretching out along the entire length between thewindscreen and rear window, finally, add yet a further touch of luxuryinside the car. BMW Concept CS interior 2
Reflecting the particular style of the exterior, the flowing structure of theinterior surfaces shows special care and diligence in the transitions fromone section to another. As an example, the leather trim on the centreconsole and the door entry area extends far down into the footwells.The dashboard also uses a newly developed metal structure literally"embracing" the various surface elements. This material particularlyattractive in its structure as well as its cool colour and feeling surroundsthe circular instruments in the cockpit, together with the other featuresand elements.
Yet another supreme innovation is the use of high-tech ceramics forthe controls and instruments. And as a symbol of solidity and value, the BMW iDrive Controller is also made of a special ceramic material.Unparalleled and typical of BMW: the BMW Concept CS.
The unique flair pampering both the driver and his passengers withinthe BMW Concept CS is an equally clear expression of both a newculture in body design. Both outside and inside, the BMW Concept CS therefore conveys the same message, telling the world that theexperience of driving a saloon now comes in an entirely new rendition.So in presenting this new Concept Car, BMW is not only entering abrand-new segment of the market never occupied before, but is alsosetting the milestone with a brand-new type of car: The four-doorluxury Gran Turismo enters a new dimension of motoring in new styleand with new features.
A new experience of dynamics and the ambience around us, exemplaryquality in design and finish, extreme precision in the dimensions of thecar, and concentrated luxury within the interior – these are the featuresthat characterise the BMW Concept CS. And at the same time allthis bears clear testimony to the superior know-how and competenceof BMW's engineers and designers in creating such truly emotionalautomobiles.
The sum total of such qualities in the BMW Concept CS can be createdonly on a sound foundation of firmly defined values: innovative power,sporting performance, aesthetic design, an open frame of mind, andfull awareness of quality. Precisely these are the values BMW has beenapplying consistently for decades in the development of particularlyoutstanding saloons and fascinating, truly dynamic sports cars. Andnow these values are concentrated even more than before in anunprecedented manner in the BMW Concept CS.
Source: BMW