Automotive Addicts |
- 2012 BMW M5 “Green Hell” Fly & Drive 2011 Highlight Video
- Want To Drive Sebastian Vettel’s Infiniti FX?
- BMW Pioneers The Next Advance In Lighting: Laser Headlights
| 2012 BMW M5 “Green Hell” Fly & Drive 2011 Highlight Video Posted: 01 Sep 2011 10:16 AM PDT
Six lucky bastards recently got the chance to experience and test drive the new 2012 BMW M5 at the Nurburgring (nicknamed Green Hell). The new BMW M5, as any other BMW M vehicle, feels right at home on the Nurburgring which is why they chose to take 6 guys on a ride of their life. M-Power.com offered this unique opportunity to six lucky enthusiasts from different corners of the world before the new M5 is launched. Check out the exclusive Green Hell Fly & Drive video below of these 6 guys grinning ear to ear.
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| Want To Drive Sebastian Vettel’s Infiniti FX? Posted: 01 Sep 2011 07:02 AM PDT
 The Infiniti FX50 Sebastian Vettel Edition. Image: Infiniti As one of the top drivers in Formula 1 (and the reigning world champion), Red Bull Renault driver Sebastian Vettel could easily afford to buy any car he wanted. Contractual obligations probably encourage him, strongly, to be seen in a vehicle from one of the teams sponsors, so you'd expect him to drive a Renaultsport-tuned Megane, or perhaps an Infiniti M56. He doesn't. In fact, Vettel's personal ride of choice is an Infiniti FX50 crossover, albeit a specially-tuned one. Seb's ride makes a bit more power than stock, and it rides on a stiffer suspension than the average Infiniti grocery-getter. He's made a few tweaks to the interior as well, which is easy to do if you have an unlimited budget to work with. Short of breaking into an F1 paddock and hot-wiring Seb's ride, you can't really drive his FX50, but you'll soon be able to buy one that Vettel's consulted on. The full reveal of the Infiniti FX50 Sebastian Vettel Edition won't take place until the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, but we know the crossover will get a new carbon-fiber front spoiler, an odd-looking rear wing, unique wheels (probably 20-inch), and an aerodynamically enhanced rear diffuser. It'll make more power, too, although how much more than the stock FX50's 390 horsepower and 369 ft-lb of torque remains to be seen. Reportedly, power output should be enough for the FX to reach a top speed of 186 mph. Expect a firmer ride and an interior unlike anything else in the Infiniti catalog. You'll get custom "Sebastian Vettel" badging, too, just in case you forget who signed off on the content of the special edition. There's even rumor of a carbon-fiber trimmed and F1 inspired steering wheel, but we hope it's not nearly as complex as the wheels from actual F1 cars. We're fans of the FX50, but we have a hard time imagining a "sporty" version of the Infiniti crossover. At least the styling isn't too over-the-top, with the exception of the JC-Whitney-discount-auto-parts-catalog inspired rear wing. Does anyone really think that looks good, or will produce an actual aerodynamic benefit?      |
| BMW Pioneers The Next Advance In Lighting: Laser Headlights Posted: 01 Sep 2011 06:52 AM PDT
 BMW's i8 Concept, with laser headlights. Image: BMW AG Automotive lighting has evolved rapidly over the past few decades, making quantum leaps in progress from sealed beam to halogen to high-intensity discharge to LED headlights. Each generation brings improvements in vision, reductions in glare and increased driver safety, but that doesn't mean automakers are content to leave things status quo or rely solely on third party manufacturers for the next big advancement. BMW has always tried to innovate vehicle lighting, and they've developed features such as their "Anti-Dazzle High Beam Assistant," which automatically dims high beams for oncoming traffic, their "Adaptive Lighting," which steers the lights through a corner based on steering angle, and their "Dynamic Light Spot," which helps illuminate pedestrians to avoid vehicle-pedestrian impacts. BMW has also pioneered the use of full LED headlights, which require far less energy (and therefore less fuel) to operate than conventional headlights. As efficient as LED's are, they're not nearly as bright or efficient as laser diodes. Lasers produce monochromatic (same wavelength) light, and are a "coherent" light source, meaning that all laser light waves have a constant phase difference. Because of their efficiency, laser diodes are significantly smaller than LEDs, and use less than half the energy. Lasers can pose a vision risk if aimed directly at the eye, but BMW has engineered a solution to this potential problem. Lasers won't shine directly onto the road, but instead will be projected onto a phosphor-rich material that converts the blue lasers to a white light source, harmless to humans and animals. Don't expect laser headlights in the showroom just yet. The technology is still undergoing development, but is showing great promise in both illumination and energy savings. Your next car may not have laser headlights, but there's a good chance that the technology will be mainstream in the next decade. Source: BMW  |
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