Regensburg. With the introduction of an autonomous transport vehicle at its press plant, BMW Group Plant Regensburg is driving forward with digitalisation and automation of its manufacturing processes: The company is thus taking a further step towards the digital and intelligently connected BMW iFACTORY. The driverless platform truck, with its electric drive train, will handle the internal transport of press tools and steel blanks for the press lines autonomously, with a payload of up to 55 tonnes. Using state-of-the-art sensor technology, the transport system navigates accurately and fully autonomously through the production facilities of the Regensburg press plant at a speed of four kilometres per hour – without a driver. The solution is one of a kind and currently exists nowhere else in the world.
“We see tremendous potential in the rollout of autonomous logistics solutions. The emission-free electric vehicle will allow us to make manufacturing processes at our press plant even more efficient and more flexible, as well as reducing transport journeys and lead times. This will not only boost productivity, but also save energy and improve occupational safety for our employees,” says Tobias Müller, press plant maintenance manager at BMW Group Plant Regensburg.
BMW M Motorsport experienced the full range of emotions that this legendary event has to offer during its comeback in the top class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA) after 25 years. After a turbulent race under challenging weather conditions, Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (INA), and Darren Leung (GBR) in the Team WRT #31 BMW M4 GT3...
BMW M Motorsport experienced the full range of emotions that this legendary event has to offer during its comeback in the top class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA) after 25 years. After a turbulent race under challenging weather conditions, Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (INA), and Darren Leung (GBR) in the Team WRT #31 BMW M4 GT3 celebrated second place on the LMGT3 podium.
Le Mans. BMW M Motorsport experienced the full range of emotions that this legendary event has to offer during its comeback in the top class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA) after 25 years. After a turbulent race under challenging weather conditions, Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (INA), and Darren Leung (GBR) in the Team WRT #31 BMW M4 GT3 celebrated second place on the LMGT3 podium. It was the first time since 2011 that a BMW crew has celebrated on the podium at Le Mans. In the Hypercar class, the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 and the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car had strong pace but were – like the #46 BMW M4 GT3 – taken out of the race by accidents .
Video: Statements from Andreas Roos, Vincent Vosse, and the #31 drivers: https://b.mw/Le_Mans_Interviews (secure connection failed at the time of publishing this article)
BMW M Motorsport celebrated its return to the mecca of endurance racing with an extensive programme for fans and guests. The focus was on the 20th BMW Art Car, the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 designed by artist Julie Mehretu, and on the sporting performance of BMW M Team WRT, which is fielding two Hypercars and two LMGT3 cars at Le Mans and throughout the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) season.
A spectacular week began with scrutineering in the city centre and ended on Sunday after 24 turbulent racing hours with a podium for the #31 BMW M4 GT3 in the LMGT3 category. Farfus, Gelael, and Leung maintained their composure despite adverse weather conditions including occasional heavy rain showers that even led to a multi-hour safety car period during the night. They made no mistakes and were rewarded with second place. The trio, which won the 6 Hours of Imola (ITA) earlier this season, is the first BMW crew since 2011 to make it onto the podium at Le Mans. The sister #46 car, driven by Maxime Martin (BEL), Valentino Rossi (ITA), and Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA), was very well placed in the race for the LMGT3 victory before Al Harthy slid into the track barrier on a wet track during the night.
In the Hypercar class, both car crews, after strong pace in all sessions, could not fulfill hopes for top places. The #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, which had made it to Hyperpole thanks to Dries Vanthoor's (BEL) fastest qualifying time, retired after a severe accident on Saturday evening. Vanthoor was pushed off the track by a Ferrari at around 300 km/h on the straight and hit the track barrier hard. Fortunately, Vanthoor was unharmed, but the race was over for the car, which had been making its way back into the top ten after an early spin. The #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car had also fought its way into the top ten from 16th on the grid when Robin Frijns (NED) lost control and crashed into the tyre barriers. To honour the Art Car project and reward the WRT team for their hard work, the car returned to the track shortly before the end after a long repair break and crossed the finish line.
Comments after the 24 Hours of Le Mans:
First an impressive performance in qualifying, then a slip in the Hyperpole: Dries Vanthoor (BEL) secured sixth place on the grid for the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 in the battle for pole position at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA).
Le Mans. First an impressive performance in qualifying, then a slip in the Hyperpole: Dries Vanthoor (BEL) secured...
First an impressive performance in qualifying, then a slip in the Hyperpole: Dries Vanthoor (BEL) secured sixth place on the grid for the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 in the battle for pole position at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA).
Le Mans. First an impressive performance in qualifying, then a slip in the Hyperpole: Dries Vanthoor (BEL) secured sixth place on the grid for the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 in the battle for pole position at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA). With first place and the fastest time after an outstanding lap on Wednesday, Vanthoor exceeded all expectations. On Thursday, he was fast again in the Hyperpole but had a slip into the tyre barriers that ended his time chase. Nonetheless, he put himself and his driving colleagues Raffaele Marciello (SUI) and Marco Wittmann (GER) in a good starting position for the race.
Video Interviews: Current statements from Andreas Roos, Vincent Vosse, and Dries Vanthoor on qualifying: https://b.mw/Le_Mans_Interviews (link fails secure connection at the time of publishing this article)
While Vanthoor managed to qualify the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 for the Hyperpole, the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car will start the race from the 16th position on the grid. In the LMGT3 category, the #46 BMW M4 GT3 qualified in twelfth place, while the #31 BMW M4 GT3 took the 15th spot.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans begin on Saturday at 16:00 CEST. On Friday afternoon, the famous drivers' parade will take place in the city center of Le Mans.
Comments on the qualifying for the 24 Hours of Le Mans:
Setting out its stall as a textbook purveyor of driving pleasure for the purist, the new BMW M2 (fuel consumption, combined: 9.8 – 9.6 l/ 100 km [28.8 – 29.4 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions, combined: 223 – 218 g/km in the WLTP cycle, CO2 class: G) raises the bar for compact high-performance sports cars in the premium segment. Indeed, it elevates the...
Setting out its stall as a textbook purveyor of driving pleasure for the purist, the new BMW M2 (fuel consumption, combined: 9.8 – 9.6 l/ 100 km [28.8 – 29.4 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions, combined: 223 – 218 g/km in the WLTP cycle, CO2 class: G) raises the bar for compact high-performance sports cars in the premium segment. Indeed, it elevates the performance experience in this vehicle class to a whole new level. The new BMW M2 lines up with even more power, greater visual impact than ever and innovative equipment features. Front and centre of this fresh round of updates to the car is the 15 kW/20 hp added to its output: the high-revving six-cylinder in-line petrol engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology now tops out at 353 kW/480 hp. And then there are the new design accents for the exterior, an updated interior and the introduction of BMW Operating System 8.5 to underpin the latest generation of BMW iDrive.
- View all photos in the gallery: The New BMW M2
Setting out its stall as a textbook purveyor of driving pleasure for the purist, the new BMW M2 (fuel consumption, combined: 9.8 – 9.6 l/ 100 km [28.8 – 29.4 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions, combined: 223 – 218 g/km in the WLTP cycle, CO2 class: G) raises the bar for compact high-performance sports cars in the premium segment. Indeed, it elevates the performance experience in this vehicle class to a whole new level. The new BMW M2 lines up with even more power, greater visual impact than ever and innovative equipment features. Front and centre of this fresh round of updates to the car is the 15 kW/20 hp added to its output: the high-revving six-cylinder in-line petrol engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology now tops out at 353 kW/480 hp. And then there are the new design accents for the exterior, an updated interior and the introduction of BMW Operating System 8.5 to underpin the latest generation of BMW iDrive.
The package of updates for the elite compact sports car makes the first step into the world of high-performance models at BMW M GmbH even more attractive. The new BMW M2 takes its drive concept of a straight-six engine, six-speed manual gearbox (optional) and classical rear-wheel drive – a unique proposition among its rivals – to a new stage of evolution. In combination with its compact dimensions, chassis technology tuned perfectly for both everyday road driving and track use, and a state-of-the-art operating concept allowing individualisation of the car setup, this makes the new M2 ideally equipped to write the next chapter in the BMW M brand’s history of success in this segment.
The new BMW M2 will be built alongside the new BMW 2 Series Coupé at BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosí in Mexico. It will be launched worldwide with a production phase-in from August 2024. More than 40 per cent of total sales will be recorded in Europe. The most important single market will be the USA, followed by Germany, China, Great Britain and Japan.
In our BMW M Motorsport News, we regularly offer you a selection of photos as well as a compact and informative overview of the racing action in various championships worldwide and the successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams.
Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:
"Over the past weeks, we had many successes of the...
In our BMW M Motorsport News, we regularly offer you a selection of photos as well as a compact and informative overview of the racing action in various championships worldwide and the successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams.
Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:
"Over the past weeks, we had many successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams and drivers to celebrate at the 24h Nürburgring as well as in renowned GT series such as the DTM, ADAC GT Masters, and ADAC GT4 Germany. There was also plenty of reason for joy in numerous other racing series worldwide. The BMW Italia Ceccato Racing team impressively continued its successful streak in the Italian GT Championship with the BMW M4 GT3. In North America, things did not go as well as usual, but we were able to witness strong results of the BMW M4 GT4 in Asia and Australia. I congratulate all participants! Off the racetrack, our highlight was the presentation of the EVO models of the BMW M4 GT3 and BMW M4 GT4 at the Nürburgring. We look forward to being able to provide more details about the new BMW M4 GT4 model in just a few weeks on the sidelines of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps."
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