BMW M Models 2007 News

While Andretti's comments were motor racing-related they conversely were relevant to road car technology. Sitting in the lagoon restaurant of the Marriott Hotel at Surfers Paradise, Andretti was having a good old natter about whether driving skill has been taken away in this age of electronic overload. “I look at the computer as a tool and I've said it a thousand times, a tool to advance your knowledge.” The 1978 F1 world champion qualified his opinion by saying “a computer does not do the work for you — it gives you information. “But you have to ask the computer what you want to know therefore it's not a substitute for what you know.” That conversation was recalled when a letter to the editor in an issue of Forbes magazine in March appeared where a reader proclaimed his horror at electronic advances in cars. He wrote: “Allowing software unfettered control of our automobiles removes one of our chief assets; human decision making.” Well thanks for coming and don't mind us because for all the fancy pants technology there isn't a car you can buy that does the driving for you. The letter writer suggested if a child stood in the middle of the road and a car was programmed not to swerve into another car then it may instead swerve towards the child and put it at risk of being run over. One car which ranks as a gold medallist in terms of electronic wizardry, if not complexity, is BMW's M6 convertible. For $296,000 there are a trillion things you can program it to do — but you can't program it to run over a human. The M6 soft top possesses the same complex and sometimes awkward SMG Drivelogic 7-speed transmission attached to the 5-litre V10 engine as the hell-raising M5. But the real trickery is in the spider's web framework of M car's software. The driver has an arsenal of tricks from which to chose, depending on mood, road conditions or whether you can hire a track for a day to let the full complement of the M6's considerable athletic juices flow. There are a welter of different settings to suit your taste with the EDC (Electronic Damper Control) smoothing, or firming, ride in three distinct settings. The SMG gearbox is good for 11 different driving programs — six for manual S mode and five in automatic or D mode. Most are plain useless and make you wonder why BMW don't simplify the whole deal and cut the number of settings to normal, sporty, and hyper performance, for example. In sequential mode, the pure driving program is position six and this can only be activated if Dynamic Stability Control is switched off. The magic button to cut all the nonsensical steps you have to take to personalise the settings is M on the steering wheel. Press M (the “magic button”) and it lights everything up like a pinball machine. It gives you an instant extra 100bhp to lift maximum grunt to a neat 500bhp or 373kW, it firms up the dampers to their hardest setting and it gives you the maximum position of the Drivelogic gearbox. Whammo, everything is instantly maxxed out for a red-hot launch. All this smart-alec stuff is no gimmick. The personna of the M6 softtop changes from a little old woman shuffling down the street to a manic pole dancer on an endless prescription of No-Doz. Trying to convey the extent of the grip levels, the integrity of the rebound damping and the quality of the meaty steering feel of this convertible in words seems impossible. You need to taste the real thing to fully understand how the ragtop M6 can transfer all of its considerable energy on to the road with prodigious ease. In fact the dare is to find a road where you can explore the car's limits and the truth is they are few and far between. What helps harness all the brutality is the tricky M differential lock that keeps torque nice and balanced while it feeds varying amounts of torque to the rear driven wheels. That is one of the main reasons why the M6 convertible is such a traction attraction. Flaws in rigidity are always the issue with softtops but flex and shake here is negligible and you really need to be a test engineer who knows how to lap the Nordschleife blindfolded to detect any weakness. The M6 fires from 0-100km/h in less than 5sec but it does not lose marks when it comes to changing direction. Blip the right peg and the induction note and exhaust note coming from the four barrels sticking out the rear spoiler are infectious. This ballistic convertible is simply a car for all seasons, all conditions. It is as comfortable trucking along the city grind as it is in the spaghetti twists. Every now and then you need to glance at the head-up display that beams a colourful graphic of revs, speed and gear selection on to the windscreen. Of course all this silky performance is backed up by a braking package that can bring the M6 convertible to a stop from 100km/h in 36 metres. The two-stage brake lighting display is handy in stop-go traffic particularly if you need to give the pedal a serious nudge in a hurry which is when the area of brake lights grows more intense. Removing the carbon fibre roof that defines the M6 coupe has lost little in the way of dynamics. This V10 is a weapon and like many supercars these days, they are engineered to be driven way above what is socially acceptable on public roads. Expect to clock up the fly-buy points big-time at the petrol bowser as this is a demon on the drink and shows no respect for premium petrol prices heading towards $1.50 a litre. This test car averaged 19-litres/100km on a 450km drive that comprised 300km of 110km/h running and the rest in stop/start weekday traffic. Separately, a spirited run on fast winding back roads lifted the guzzle-rate to well over 20litres/100km. The M6 convertible is not a car for everyone, the price alone backing up that statement. But it is a car you need to spend a lot of time in if you are to have any chance of becoming intimate with the performance and electronic gadgetry. You need to tell it what to do in order for you to extract the best from the experience and learn what particular settings work best in particular environments. And for that, the BMW M6 convertible is truly gifted.

But those big accidents, they'll always happen to someone else, not me. And as much as I hate to admit it, I think I had fallen into this mindset. That was before I attended an advanced driver training course this week.When learning how to drive, we are simply taught to get our licence, as my instructor at the BMW Young Driver Training course, Derek Walls, told us."With every other form of vehicle — motorbikes, heavy vehicles, light vans — you have to go further," he says."But basically, when it comes to a car licence, that's it. You get your licence and don't have to do anything else."And it's true. In most cases, you're not taught how to avoid an accident, how dangerous travelling too close to the car in front can really be or the importance of wide vision.I arrived at the course to find I was on the older side of young drivers. My six fellow motorists were on their P-plates.And while they were all keen on driving a brand new 3 Series BMW for the day and hitting the racetrack, it seemed they were all there because of the initiative of parents or relatives. Some had first-hand accident stories, others told of friends who were lucky to have escaped some sticky situations.But it became clear from the start that we all shared that optimism in our abilities. So it was off to the classroom for a reality check.After some theory, we were off to put it into practice. Braking, the correct steering technique and swerving to avoid an accident were first on the list. There were some tangled arms as we tried to adjust to new hand positioning, burnt rubber as we learned the benefit of ABS and how to control a car without this technology, and quite a few witches hats taken out along the way.And while it was heaps of fun and most of the exercises were done with smiles on our faces, as well as a few butterflies in our stomachs, we all absorbed a wealth of knowledge we had previously taken for granted.After lunch it was off for some more theory and practical exercises and then came time for what most of the boys had been waiting for, hitting the track. Our 110km/h felt considerably fast, but to finish the day off, we saw real speed in action. Our instructors took us for some hot laps in their BMW M3s.Some people may criticise these courses for encouraging unsafe driving behaviour. But as Walls says, advanced driver training courses show young people their limits and encourage them to work within them.His motto is simple: "Speed that thrills is speed that kills." If you're getting excited by your driving, you're outside your comfort zone.The treat of some hot laps at the end of the day demonstrated just how much technique and experience is required to carry off such speeds with precision. We were all pretty much agreed that we were yet to possess the experience required to execute such a task."Let them experience and they will go away and make their own decision, but you have to give them the correct tools to make accurate decisions," Walls says.While most courses require you to bring your own car, this one had us all drive the same BMWs. Walls warns that some courses may not be as qualified as you think, so people should do some research before booking one.Back on the road, I've noticed I'm putting all my new skills into practice. I'm now much more alert, I'm giving extra room between my car and the car in front and I'm practising and mastering my turning technique.Experiencing actions such as braking or swerving suddenly at 80km/h shows just how hard these tasks are, something you can't quite comprehend until you experience it.I know I'd rather this on the track than in real driving conditions. With the disastrous effects of over-confident young drivers continually in the news, a driver training course could just be the wake-up call they need.How to drive safelyVision If there's one thing we're not good at, it is looking far enough ahead. In most cases we just don't do this and fail to focus far enough ahead. Keep your head up and always be aware of what is going on around you. Look out to see what's coming next. Good observation really is the key.Braking Early is better. The bottom line is if you think you need to brake, then you do. Leave two to three seconds between yourself and the car ahead. A car travelling 100km/h takes 80m to stop with reaction time. Incredibly, that's nearly as long as a football field.Seating positionYou should be in a comfortable position, but your legs must not be straight or too cramped. You should be able to fit only four fingers above your head before reaching the roof. You should be comfortable and in control in all situations. Your leg can't become locked under braking.Peer pressureThere's always peer pressure, which is especially true for young blokes. Don't cave in to these demands. "Speed that thrills is speed that kills." If you're getting excited, then you're driving outside your comfort zone.

Members of the P1 performance club get the pick of some of the world's hottest and most expensive supercars, including brands such as Ferrari, Aston Martin and Lamborghini. P1 Australia director Peter Dempsey says the club has 12 cars and plans to add one new car for every extra five members."With our collection they can take any car out that suits them," he says. The cars are divided into five categories, the top one featuring the most expensive cars, such as a Ferrari F430 Spider and soon a Scaglietti, an Aston Martin DB9 Volante and Vanquish and a Lamborghini Murcielago.Other cars in the mix include a Bentley Continental GT, a Ferrari F430, Aston Martin V8 Vantage and various Porsches. The lower categories might not be quite as impressive, but they'll still turn heads. A BMW M5 and Z4 M Coupe, a Range Rover Sport and a Lotus Exige S2, add to the list.Dempsey says a Hummer H2 will be next to arrive, dressed with a leather package. He is also expecting the arrival of the Audi R8. But getting to drive your dream cars doesn't come cheap."There's a joining fee of $5000 and then there are three different levels of membership, $27,000, $32,000 or $36,500," Dempsey says.Top-end members have a possible 70 driving days a year, with the cheaper membership offering 50 days a year.The company originated in England six years ago, and was co-founded by former Formula One world champion Damon Hill.After two months of operation, the Sydney branch has 50 members. "In Sydney, we cap it at 150 members," Dempsey says. "That's a reflection of the sizeof commercial property that is available to store the cars."The founding British club has 74 cars, including a Ford GT and an Aerial Atom. But Dempsey says they haven't been able to bring these models, as the Atom isn't road legal in Australia and customs won't allow the GT in as it is a left-hand drive. "(But) we're the only ones doing it with the supercars, brand new cars," he says.And it seems that it's not just the usual suspects, the wealthy bankers, lawyers and financiers, who are getting on board.Dempsey says members come from all walks of life and include a greengrocer and a professional golfer. Doctors, dentists, solicitors and barristers are also taking up the chance to get behind the wheel of some amazing cars.The youngest member is a 22-year-old refrigeration engineer from western Sydney.The club takes care of all insurance, maintenance and storage fees and Dempsey says one of the main benefits is that members don't have to worry about huge depreciation on the vehicles."With high taxation, people understand that they're better off putting half a million dollars in an investment and getting to play the field (with) the cars," he says.And while the majority of those taking up the membership are male, Dempsey says women are also driving them as a memberships include two names as drivers."Often guys show the interest and then bring their wives on board as the second name driver," he says.The cars can be taken out for as little as a day, or it can run into months -- depending on members' wants and needs.Dempsey says the weather often forecasts what vehicles will be popular, with the convertibles a hit on the sunny weekends.A second British branch of the club opened in 2004 in Manchester.The Australian section will expand in March, when a Melbourne club is opened, with Formula One driver Mark Weber in attendance again. And Dempsey says that P1 International is also looking towards expanding into Dubai and Hong Kong.

Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, BMW, Bentley, Jaguar and Audi will display new models, many for their first showing in Australia.BMW is holding the international unveiling of its 3-Series convertible in Detroit today, then will rush a car to the Brisbane show. It will go on sale in March, to be priced about $100,000.BMW also will have its just-released M6 convertible, with a Formula One-inspired V10 engine, $295,000 and six-month waiting list.Rival Audi will bring an early example of its new high-performance R8 coupe. Deliveries of the $300,000 car will not begin until September.Brisbane has scored a coup by attracting displays from upmarket marques Jaguar and Lamborghini, which bypassed the Sydney Motor Show late last year.At the top of the exotic list — and likely to be the most expensive car in the show — will be Lamborghini's $659,000 Murcielago LP640 coupe, making its Australian debut.The Italian-made V12-powered LP640, a new-generation replacement for the original Murcielago, has a larger engine and more aggressive styling. It is claimed to be capable of 340 km/h, and can reach 100km/h in 3.4 seconds.The show also will have the Australian unveiling of the production version of a smaller Lamborghini convertible, the Gallardo Spyder. Top speed 314km/h. Price $439,000.Other high-speed Italians will include the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano ($574,000, V12 engine, 0-100km/h 3.7sec, top speed 330km/h), Maserati's two-door $248,500 GranSport and four-door $258,000 Quattroporte.The 10-day show, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, will open on February 2. Adult tickets will be $16.

And the orders and interest in prestige and luxury brands has continued with stand managers claiming an increase in figures, despite a slight decline in overall attendance.The Mercedes SL500 was bought by a customer who was part of a group of VIP guests and has since sold four more models."We're generally generating around 45 to 50 leads of interest every single day during the motor show," Mercedes Benz spokesman Peter Fadeyev said.The new Bentley GT Continental Convertible has also generated a lot of interest with its first appearance at the Darling Harbour event.Bentley spokesman David Jackson said up to six orders have already been taken for the $400,000 car."We generate a huge proportion of enquiries from the motor show and we sell a lot of cars as a result of it," he said yesterday.Two Ferrari 599 GTBs, worth $700,000 each, have been sold while on display in Australia for the first time.Audi spokeswoman Anna Burgdorf said there has been a lot of interest in its R8, with 10 strong leads and major interest in the much-anticipated new TT model.BMW has already sold two cars from its stand and has generated a lot of interest in the coupes and M6. What's on today* The third nightly fashion parade features Sydney designer Nicola Finetti, noted for high fashion and cocktail wear. There will be two shows at the Saab stand at 6.30pm and 7.30pm.* When: 10am-10pm* Where: Darling Harbour Exhibition Centre* Tickets: Adults $17, 5-16 $10.50, under 5 free, family (2 adults and 3 children) $42* Follow the show online at the official Australian Motor Show website

The 2006 Australian International Motor Show heralded the opening of open-top motoring season, and summer could not then have been celebrated in a better way than with a hefty V10-engined super-cabrio, a stylish sultry Italian, some topless European flair and some ‘home-grown’ hotties.Many flocked to the BMW stand to spend what will be a rare moment with the new BMW M6 Convertible.The wild Chris Bangle styling of the 6 Convertible is matched to the German marque’s phenomenal five-litre V10 engine.With 373kW and a sprint time of 4.8 seconds from 0-100km/h (just 0.2 behind the more aerodynamically-friendly Coupe), there is nothing soft about this soft-top.Unfortunately for those interested parties with a spare $295,000 to spend, the global allocation of the M6 Convertible for 2006 was completely sold out.Fifty additional Limited Edition M6 models made for the infamous Nieman Marcus Christmas Catalogue in the USA recently sold out in 1.5 seconds of the magazine’s online release. Another eagerly-anticipated convertible is the new Alfa Romeo Spider.Born of the beautiful new Brera coupe, the Spider misses out on the Coupe’s sublime behind and its two (compromised) rear seats, but strikes an equally imposing, aggressive stance with the roof down.The Spider was launched at the show in two engine and drive layouts - but for the moment transmission choice is manual only.This is a move that has proved disastrous for convertibles in the past (most recently, the Holden Tigra), but automatic transmissions should follow in 2007.The 2.2-litre petrol will set you back $76,950, but the flagship 3.2-litre V6 AWD strikes six figures at $100,950.The Eos is the next big thing from Volkswagen, and while it may be based on an old favourite, the trick folding roof is a completely new concept, it looks hot, and comes with a choice of two-litre turbo petrol or diesel drivetrains. It almost makes up for the Beetle convertible. Almost…Sharing much of the platform and DNA of VWs biggest seller, the Golf, it actually commandeers the suspension of the larger Passat sedan and wagon to carry the weight of the five-piece retractable hardtop.The first cutaway section acts as a sunroof when only a hint of UV is required, but folds a further four times into the boot like a deftly dealt deck of cards in a decent 25 seconds.The innovative roof, called a CSC or ‘convertible sliding coupe’ roof, still leaves room for luggage, while the design is resolved and solid with or without the roof down in coupe or convertible guise.The retractable hard top (RHT) is the emerging trend in the burgeoning convertible market. Even the second-gen Volvo C70 Convertible drops its traditional cloth roof in preference of the retractable hard top; the new version of Holden’s best selling Astra Convertible, the Astra TwinTop, does the same.Both the new TwinTop and opposition Ford’s new cabrio, the Ford Focus RHT (due here mid-2007), are designed and built in Europe where the trend obviously fired up – in a region of vastly fluctuating weather through the seasons, it makes sense to take the top off or completely shut out the cold.But for now, with these exciting new models coming to or on the Aussie market, we can all take the chance to enjoy a little ray of sunshine. And with a RHT, it seems that style does not go out with the seasons…

The Volkswagen Eos, BMW's M6 Convertible, Volvo's second-generation C70 and the Alfa Romeo Spider all debuted at the Show."Australia's deepening love affair with convertibles reflects the strong growth of the market segment," says FCAI chief executive Peter Sturrock."The Australian International Motor Show is the perfect forum for the latest convertibles to hit our shores - to showcase to the public their individual advances in technology, styling and performance," he said.Volkswagen is setting a world first with its new Eos - a four-seater with a five-section CSC hardtop convertible roof.Together with its length and height, the vehicle's width lends the Eos a powerful stance that contributes to the car's extra agility and safe handling.Another four-seater to be revealed at the motor show is BMW's M6 Convertible, featuring its internationally acclaimed five-litre V10 engine.Producing a massive 373kW, the M6 engine accelerates from 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds.The M6 Convertible has the same performance package as its coupe counterpart in addition to the styling cues that clearly identify it as the work of BMW.Volvo's much anticipated second-generation C70 convertible, to be unveiled for the first time in Australia at the motor show, features a three-piece folding hardtop, which converts the car from coupe to convertible in less than 30 seconds.The new C70 offers comfortable interior space and world-first safety for four passengers.The motor show will also see the return of the Alfa Romeo Spider in a new-generation form.The rear of the new version of the classic two-seater sports car has been redesigned to focus attention on its open-top character.