BMW
BMW or Bayerische Motoren Werke, ( Bavarian Motor Works) is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. The circular blue and white BMW logo or roundel is portrayed by BMW as the rotation of an aircrafts propeller, that signifies the white blades cutting through the blue sky and also when combined, these two colours represent the flag of Bavaria, Germany.
BMW entered its existence as a business entity following a restructuring of the Rapp Motorenwerke aircraft engine manufacturing firm in 1917. At the end of World War 2, in 1918, BMW was forced to cease aircraft engine production. By 1959, the automotive division of BMW was at a financial loss. It was only until the year 1992, when BMW acquired a large stake in California based company Designworks USA that it notably realigned itself financially.
In 1994, BMW bought the British Rover Group which it only owned for six years. By 2000, Rover was making huge losses and again BMW found itself in a financial predicament and then decided to sell the combined company. BMW then retained all rights to build the new Mini, which was launched in 2001. In 2006, the BMW group (including Mini and Rolls-Royce franchises) produced 1,366,837 cars, which were manufactured in five countries around the globe.
It has been reported that about 56 per cent of the BMW brand vehicles produced are powered by petrol engines and the remaining 44 per cent are powered by diesel engines. Of those petrol vehicles, about 27 per cent are four cylinder models and about nine per cent are eight-cylinder models.
BMW's full sized flagship executive sedans are the 7 series family car. Typically, BMW introduces many of their innovations first in the 7 Series. The 7 Series Hydrogen vehicle, featuring one of the world's first hydrogen fueled internal combustion engines, is fueled by liquid hydrogen and emits only clean water vapor, something BMW is working to improve its stakes as a global warming conscious company.
BMW only really got going in the world markets with the release of the BMW E21 in the wake of the1973 oil crisis and was found, attracting customers seeking both prestige and economy and with it almost doubling BMW's worldwide auto sales figures in three years, and winning numerous automotive global car makers awards and honors for their efforts.
Three decades later, the BMW 3 Series is still the best-selling car in its class. There have been 5 generations of the 3 Series car, and their respective chassis codes depicted as follows:
- BMW E21 – (1975–1983) 3 Series
- BMW E30 – (1983–1991) 3 Series
- BMW E36 – (1991–2000) 3 Series
- BMW E46 – (1998–2005) 3 Series
- BMW E90 – (2005/ 2006) 3 Series saloon
- BMW E91 – (2005/EUR, 2006/US) 3 Series Touring
- BMW E92 – (2007–current) 3 Series Coupe
- BMW E93 – (2007–current) 3 Series Convertible
In racing the BMW Team UK won the ETCC in 2004, and continued the winning form in WTCC in 2005 in an E46 3-series race car, while the E90 3 series repeated this feat in the years 2006 and 2007. The E36 320D won the 24 Hour Nurburgring in 1998. The 3-Series' rear wheel drive layout and design have both been attributed to its victory in each and every class of motor racing.
The M Models are race-ready production vehicles. Since its debut, the M3 is heralded in enthusiast circles, in large part due to its unique geometry and award winning engines. The latest V8 powered platform became available in 2008 for the South African market with the release of the all new E92, and later the cabriolet E93, and E90. The M6 is the M division's version of the 6 Series, and shares its engine and gearbox drivetrain with the M5.
BMW now has a reputable history of success in Formula One Racing. BMW powered cars have won 20 races and in 2006 BMW took over the Sauber Racing team to become Formula One Racing car constructors. BMW was an engine supplier to Williams, Benetton, Brabham and Arrows teams.
BMW won Le Mans 24 Hour endurance race in 1999 with the BMW V12 LMR car designed by Team Williams Grand Prix Engineering. BMW won the 24 Hours Nurburgring 18 times and the 1000km Nurburgring twice in1976 and 1981. BMW won the Daytona 24 Hour Race 2 times in1976 and 2011.
With its increased commitment to production car racing, BMW has returned to back to its roots showcasing that the race track is the perfect place to demonstrate the impressive sporting characteristics of BMW vehicles, against our core competitors in a high powered environment of racing circles in a worldwide class of its own.
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