Bmw Motorcycles

 

BMW Motorrad and History of BMW motorcycles

The R32 motorcycle, the first BMWmotor vehicle.

The 2015 BMW R1200RT

BMW began production of motorcycle engines and then motorcycles after World War I.^[27] Its motorcycle brand is now known as BMW Motorrad. Their first successful motorcycle, after the failed Helios and Flink, was the "R32" in 1923. This had a "boxer" twin engine, in which a cylinder projects into the air-flow from each side of the machine. Apart from their single-cylinder models (basically to the same pattern), all their motorcycles used this distinctive layout until the early 1980s. Many BMWs are still produced in this layout, which is designated the R Series.

During the Second World War, BMW produced the BMW R75 motorcycle with a sidecar attached. Having a unique design copied from the Zündapp KS750, its sidecar wheel was also motor-driven. Combined with a lockable differential, this made the vehicle very capable off-road, an equivalent in many ways to the Jeep.

In 1982, came the K Series, shaft drive but water-cooled and with either three or four cylinders mounted in a straight line from front to back. Shortly after, BMW also started making the chain-driven F and G series with single and parallel twinRotax engines.

In the early 1990s, BMW updated the airhead Boxer engine which became known as the oilhead. In 2002, the oilhead engine had two spark plugs per cylinder. In 2004 it added a built-in balance shaft, an increased capacity to 1,170 cc and enhanced performance to 100 hp (75 kW) for the R1200GS, compared to 85 hp (63 kW) of the previous R1150GS. More powerful variants of the oilhead engines are available in the R1100S and R1200S, producing 98 and 122 hp (73 and 91 kW), respectively.

In 2004, BMW introduced the new K1200S Sports Bike which marked a departure for BMW. It had an engine producing 167 hp (125 kW), derived from the company's work with the Williams F1 team, and is lighter than previous K models. Innovations include electronically adjustable front and rear suspension, and a Hossack-type front fork that BMW calls Duolever.

BMW introduced anti-lock brakes on production motorcycles starting in the late 1980s. The generation of anti-lock brakes available on the 2006 and later BMW motorcycles pave the way for the introduction of electronic stability control, or anti-skid technology later in the 2007 model year.

BMW has been an innovator in motorcycle suspension design, taking up telescopic front suspension long before most other manufacturers. Then they switched to an Earles fork, front suspension by swinging fork (1955 to 1969). Most modern BMWs are truly rear swingarm, single sided at the back (compare with the regular swinging fork usually, and wrongly, called swinging arm). Some BMWs started using yet another trademark front suspension design, the Telelever, in the early 1990s. Like the Earles fork, the Telelever significantly reduces dive under braking.

BMW Group, on 31 January 2013 announced that Pierer Industrie AG has bought Husqvarna for an undisclosed amount, which will not be revealed by either party in the future. The company is headed by Stephan pierer (CEO of KTM). Pierer Industrie AG is 51% owner of KTM and 100% owner of Husqvarna.

                                         

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BMW

                                                             

  Bayerische Motoren Werke AG ( pronunciation (help·info); English: Bavarian Motor Works), commonly known asBMW or BMW AG, is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. BMW isheadquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It also owns and produces Mini cars, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad, and plug-in electric cars under the BMW i sub-brand. BMW is one of the best-selling luxury automakers in the world

History

BMW was established as a business entity following a restructuring of the Rapp Motorenwerke aircraft manufacturing firm in 1917. After the end of World War I in 1918, BMW was forced to cease aircraft-engine production by the terms of the Versailles Armistice Treaty.^[4] The company consequently shifted to motorcycle production as the restrictions of the treaty started to be lifted in 1923,^[5] followed by automobiles in 1928–29.^[6][7][8]

The first car which BMW successfully produced and the car which launched BMW on the road to automobile production was the Dixi, it was based on the Austin 7 and licensed from the Austin Motor Company in Birmingham, England.

BMW's first significant aircraft engine (and commercial product of any sort) was the BMW IIIa inline-six liquid-cooled engine of 1918, much preferred for its high-altitude performance.^[9] With German rearmament in the 1930s, the company again began producing aircraft engines for the Luftwaffe. Among its successful World War II engine designs were the BMW 132and BMW 801 air-cooled radial engines, and the pioneering BMW 003 axial-flow turbojet, which powered the tiny, 1944–1945–era jet-powered "emergency fighter", the Heinkel He 162 Spatz. The BMW 003 jet engine was first tested as a prime powerplant in the first prototype of the Messerschmitt Me 262, the Me 262 V1, but in 1942 tests the BMW prototype engines failed on takeoff with only the standby Junkers Jumo 210 nose-mounted piston engine powering it to a safe landing.^[10][11]The few Me 262 A-1b test examples built used the more developed version of the 003 jet, recording an official top speed of 800 km/h (497 mph). The first-ever four-jet aircraft ever flown, the sixth and eighth prototypes of the Arado Ar 234 jet reconnaissance-bomber, used BMW 003 jets for power. The improving reliability of the 003 as 1944 progressed, earmarked it as the required powerplant for airframe designs competing for the Jägernotprogramm's light fighter production contract, won by the Heinkel He 162 Spatz design. The BMW 003 aviation turbojet also found itself under consideration as the basic starting point for a pioneering turboshaft powerplant for German armored fighting vehicles in 1944–45, as the GT 101.^[12]Towards the end of the Third Reich BMW developed some military aircraft projects for the Luftwaffe, the BMW Strahlbomber, the BMW Schnellbomber and the BMW Strahljäger, but none of them were built.^[13][14]

By the year 1958, the automotive division of BMW was in financial difficulties and a shareholders meeting was held to decide whether to go into liquidation or find a way of carrying on. It was decided to carry on and to try to cash in on the current economy car boom enjoyed so successfully by some of Germany's ex-aircraft manufacturers such as Messerschmitt andHeinkel. The rights to manufacture the Italian Iso Isetta were bought; the tiny cars themselves were to be powered by a modified form of BMW's own motorcycle engine. This was moderately successful and helped the company get back on its feet. The controlling majority shareholder of the BMW Aktiengesellschaft since 1959 is the Quandt family, which owns about 46% of the stock. The rest is in public float.

BMW acquired the Hans Glas company based in Dingolfing, Germany, in 1966. Glas vehicles were briefly badged as BMW until the company was fully absorbed. It was reputed that the acquisition was mainly to gain access to Glas' development of the timing belt with an overhead camshaft in automotive applications,^[15] although some saw Glas' Dingolfing plant as another incentive. However, this factory was outmoded and BMW's biggest immediate gain was, according to themselves, a stock of highly qualified engineers and other personnel.^[16] The Glas factories continued to build a limited number of their existing models, while adding the manufacture of BMW front and rear axles until they could be closer incorporated into BMW.^[17]

BMW 3-Series (F30)

In 1992, BMW acquired a large stake in California based industrial design studio DesignworksUSA, which they fully acquired in 1995. In 1994, BMW bought the British Rover Group^[18] (which at the time consisted of the Rover, Land Rover and MGbrands as well as the rights to defunct brands including Austin and Morris), and owned it for six years. By 2000, Rover was incurring huge losses and BMW decided to sell the combine. The MG and Rover brands were sold to the Phoenix Consortium to form MG Rover, while Land Rover was taken over by Ford. BMW, meanwhile, retained the rights to build the new Mini, which was launched in 2001.

Chief designer Chris Bangle announced his departure from BMW in February 2009, after serving on the design team for nearly seventeen years.^[19] He was replaced by Adrian van Hooydonk, Bangle's former right-hand man. Bangle was known for his radical designs such as the 2002 7-Series and the 2002 Z4. In July 2007, the production rights for Husqvarna Motorcycles was purchased by BMW for a reported 93 million euros. BMW Motorrad plans to continue operating Husqvarna Motorcycles as a separate enterprise. All development, sales and production activities, as well as the current workforce, have remained in place at its present location at Varese.

In June 2012, BMW was listed as the #1 most reputable company in the world by Forbes.com.^[20] Rankings are based upon aspects such as "people's willingness to buy, recommend, work for, and invest in a company is driven 60% by their perceptions of the company and only 40% by their perceptions of their products."

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Audi's History

                                 
Audi was founded in 1909 by August Horch, who founded the company after he had been kicked out of Horch, a car company he founded in 1899. The son of Horch's financier and friend came up with the name Audi, which is latin for "listen".

In Juli 1911, the first Audi rolled out of the Fabric in Zwickau, Germany. It was called the Type B and Horch won the legendary Alpine Ralley three times in a row driving it. Horch was known to build the most efficient and precise engines. Audi continued building the most luxurious cars of it's time such as the Audi Type SS, the recession however led audi to be taken over by DKW in 1928. 

In 1932, Horch, Audi, DKW and Wanderer merged to become the Auto Union, symbolized in the four rings of the Audi logo we know today. Each brand had represented a different sized model in the car industry. Once combined as Auto Union, they were able to offer a large range of different car models. By 1938, Every forth car in Germany was an Auto Union car.

Production came to an halt during World War II. Auto Union was brought back into life in 1965 under the hand of the VW AG in Ingolstadt, Bavaria. However, the Brand Name Audi was adapted and Audi's old logo got replaced with the Auto Union logo. The first Audi for sale appeared in 1968 and was named the C1, which is still in it's evolution and known as the A6 today.

In 1971, the slogan "Vorsprung durch Technik" was used for the first time in a marketing campaign for the Ro 80, today known as the S6.

Lastly, in 1985 the Audi NSU Auto Union AG formed to be the Audi AG, which it still is today.
              
 

Innovations

In 1976, the first 5 cylinder engine was developed by Audi. The Audi 100 was unique for it's engine and was seen as a step into a more fuel efficient future.

In 1978, Audi launched their first car, the Audi 80, with their famous Quattro technology, which is still in use in most car models of Audi.

In 1993 Frankfurt Motor Show Audi published the aluminum study known as the Audi Space Frame. This car made use of entirely new construction principles that used aluminum for steel as the structural material and thus saving considerable amount of weight.

In 1989, Audi presented the TDI 2.5 litre five-cylinder engine. It was the world’s first production car diesel engine with turbo charging, direct injection and electronic management.

In 2009, Audi launched the project e-tron. In order to take a step into the probable future of electric cars, Audi presented strong models setting the bar high for competitors to join the market. 0 to 100 in 4.8 seconds and a total driving range of 250 kilometers. 

 

Audi's Success

 

Audi is long known for it's luxurious designs and futuristic innovations. In 2011, more than 1.3 million cars were sold along with being market leader in Western Europe and China. Globally Audi is ranked second behind BMW.

Vorsprung durch Technik, translated advancements through technology, is not just the Audi slogan, but a promise that has motivated them to create unique models with a driving experience that has made Audi increase their Volume of Sales by 100% in the last 10 years. 

Audi's Corporate Image is noticeable and consistent, including it's designs, logos, typography and it's signature of asymmetric shapes and forms. Furthermore unique ads and campaigns make Audi stand out as a modern and inspirational firm. Please press on the Corporate Identity tab above for more information. 

In past years, several introductions of new models ranging in size and price range had increased Audi's product range. Instead of focusing on one main size and design, Audi choses to offer 8 sizes (A1-A8), and also gives the option of different price levels (S / RS). Through this process, most car buyers will find a model that will suit their demands.

Through Audi's innovations, it is viewed as a futuristic  but user friendly brand with newest technologies. It's Multimedia System is interconnected and fitted to each driver. Furthermore, it engages in projects such as e-tron or constant developments of fuel efficient engines, in order to engage in a reduction of their eco footprint.  

                                   

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