BMW M5 Competition Confirmed For 2018, Latest Safety Car Hints At Production Model


Following a preview last year, BMW has released new details about the M5 MotoGP safety car.

Set to enter service this weekend at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar, the safety car features a unique livery, a roll cage and seats from the M4 GTS. The model has also been equipped with an assortment of carbon fiber M Performance Parts including the grille, mirror caps, rear diffuser and rear spoiler. Designers also installed a titanium sports exhaust system with carbon fiber tips.

The styling changes don’t stop there as the model has a prototype front splitter which has been designed specifically for the safety car. Other notable changes include an LED light bar and blue emergency lights in the grille.

Like the standard model, the safety car has a 4.4-liter M TwinPower Turbo V8 engine which develops 600 PS (441 kW) and 750 Nm (553 lb-ft) of torque. It is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system that enables the sedan to rocket from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.4 seconds.

While we’ve already seen the safety car before, BMW M GmbH President Frank van Meel said “MotoGP … offers us the perfect test environment for more innovations. For example, we are using the BMW M5 MotoGP Safety Car as a development platform for the new BMW M5 Competition, which we will launch in 2018.”

BMW declined to go into specifics but said “The data and information gathered with the safety car during its outings on the racetracks of the world are incorporated in the development of the new BMW M5 Competition.”

The M5 safety car will be one of several different models providing support at MotoGP races this year. It will be joined by safety car versions of the M3, M4 Coupe and M6 Gran Coupe. The company will also provide an X5 M medical car and two S 1000 RR motorcycles.

Carscoops

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Limited Edition Ford GT 'Competition Series' Is All About The Track

Image
Ford's new GT Competition Series was built with weight-saving in mind, but also with an improved center of gravity for better road-holding. Among its features, you'll notice the lightweight carbon fiber racing stripes, A-Pillars and side mirrors, as well as the unique race-inspired Perspex acrylic engine hatch with integrated venting. Thanks to the manual latch and the carbon fiber prop rod, weight near the roof has been reduced, though Ford engineers went even further in their quest to make the car lighter, by making the bulkhead Gorilla Glass behind the driver about half as thick (and as light) as on other models. "The Ford GT has racing in its blood," said Ford exec Raj Nair, while adding that the Competition Series "was developed with the most hardcore track enthusiasts in mind, providing a tailored set of lightweight features and unique livery to match." There are also plenty of remaining performance features from the production car, such as
Read more

Alpine A110 Hits Geneva With Pure, Legende And GT4 Versions

Image
Renault’s reborn Alpine brand has been getting rave reviews for its new A110 and now, as promised, it’s revealed new versions of its coupe at the Geneva Motor Show. Following the success of the sold-out Premiere Edition, the A110 will now be offered in Pure and Legende trims. The A110 Pure is targeted at driving enthusiasts. It features one-piece Sabelt sports seats that weigh barely more than 13 kilograms (28.6 pounds) each and, combined with other weight-saving measures, helps keep the curb weight below 1,100 kg ( 2,425 lbs). It’s not entirely stripped out, though, and still comes with features like air-conditioning and satellite navigation. Buyers can also add upgraded Brembo brakes and an adaptive exhaust system and can upgrade to the adjustable comfort seats. Those come standard on the Legende model, which is geared more towards every day driving and grand touring and comes with leather upholstery. Customers can also choose between two Focal sound systems and two wheel
Read more

Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet Is A Crossover For Droptop Lovers

Image
Droptop crossovers have always been rather odd and the T-Roc Cabriolet is no different. It will be the only convertible Volkswagen on sale for the foreseeable future and will celebrate its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Rather than simply removing the roof of the standard T-Roc, Volkswagen has drastically altered the vehicle’s structure and body. In fact, its wheelbase is 37 mm longer than the standard T-Roc while its overall length is up by 34 mm. In addition, the Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet features structural strengthening in the underbody, side panels, cross members, doors, and windscreen frame to make up for the lack of a roof. The folding fabric roof developed by Volkswagen retracts in just nine seconds at speeds of up to 19 mph (30.5 km/h) and is similar in operation to the roof of the outgoing Golf Cabriolet. The presence of the soft top reduces trunk space by 161 liters down from the 284 liters of the run-of-the-mill T-Roc. We don’t think bu
Read more