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BMW Motorrad is continuing its
strategy of strong and sustainable growth and so will be
intensifying its traditional work in the enduro, touring, and
sport touring fields. Following its successful entry to the
super sport segment, BMW Motorrad will now be expanding its
range yet again to include a highly promising business line.
This path leads straight to the
big scooter segment. These high displacement vehicles with
dynamic handling characteristics have gained considerable
popularity all over the world. Moreover, they present an
interesting alternative to returnees who up to now were
undecided about motorcycles after long periods of abstinence.
BMW Concept C. New dimension in
the field of big scooters
New ideas and concepts on the
subject of two-wheeled mobility are a decades old tradition at
BMW Motorrad. Countless times, concept studies and drafts have
been presented that reflect the power of innovation and future
orientation of BMW Motorrad.
With its Concept C study, BMW
Motorrad is yet again embarking on a new path and demonstrating
a fascinating mobility option for the future. Here, C stands for
“commuter”. Particularly in view of the traffic development in
urban areas, it presents the prospect of an innovative, sporty
big scooter for the future premium segment.
As usual at BMW Motorrad, there is
more to this study than just an attempt to present a big scooter
for the highest demands. Rather, the designers and engineers of
BMW Motorrad focused above all on the emotive component in
addition to the technical function and quality – and the thrill
from the very first moment on.
BMW Concept C. Emotion, dynamic
handling, and function in the design
When unveiling its Concept C at
EICMA in Milan, BMW Motorrad will be directing the maximum
possible emotion to its interpretation of this subject, which
will bear witness to the primary claims of maximum, all round
functionality.
Concept C as a vision of the big
scooter is immediately recognisable as a member of the BMW
Motorrad family. For instance, it also presents the so-called
“split face”, a visual tripartite of dynamic response extending
from the front silhouette to the front wheel cover and beyond.
In the style of highly sporty BMW Motorrad models, such as the S
1000 RR, Concept C also features a twin-tipped front spoiler.
Unlike the L shaped side view
presented up to now by big scooters, with their predominantly
vertical body lines and colour scheme, Concept C has ventured on
a new, much more sporty and dynamic path. The body lines
sweeping up to the vehicle’s rear underscore this big scooter’s
active riding character. The high rear section emphasises the
lightness and agility of Concept C's powerful two-cylinder
engine. Sportiness and dynamism are also underscored by the
close cut, speeder-style windscreen.
The functional side of this
scooter is expressed in stylish design elements, such as the
aluminium look of the bash plates with the air intake adopted
from the BMW GS.
The black chromium of the
suspension and frame parts form a thrilling, dynamic
relationship with the aluminium chromium, silver, and blue
paintwork of the body parts. In addition, the black satin
sections present a high-contrast emphasis on the vehicle’s
central area. This highly technical and high-quality elegance is
borne further by finely worked details, such as the fuel tank
cover reminiscent of aircraft and the short, sporty muffler. The
visionary facet of Concept C is presented by the tyres with
flanks and treads of blue.
BMW Concept C. Pioneering
technology that fuels enthusiasm
Concept C presents unusual and
innovative solutions that offer a wide prospect of what in
future can become reality in this segment.
For instance, Concept C features a
highly complex monolever mechanism with hollowed-out shaft
connected to a suspension strut visible from the outside. In
this study, front-wheel control takes the form of an upside down
fork.
The stable twin disc brake at the
front features two radial brake callipers that also underscore
the dynamic sportiness of Concept C. In addition, the single
disc brake at the rear and the BMW Motorrad ABS provide the
maximum possible safety during braking manoeuvres.
The dynamic and equally
comfortable driving force behind Concept C is provided by a new,
two-cylinder inline engine in conjunction with CVT (continuously
variable transmission). Engine power, torque, and therefore
performance will be moving towards the top of the segment.
Light is cast on a more distant
point in the future by the LED headlamp integrated into the face
panelling. This future vision is also continued by the
deliberate absence of conventional rear view mirrors, which will
be replaced in Concept C with two video cameras in the rear.
These record the area behind the vehicle and transfer the images
to two LCD monitors in the cockpit within view of the rider. The
road speed, engine speed, and other data appear on a third LCD
display integrated at the centre of the cockpit.
BMW Concept C. Perfected rider
equipment and stowage space concept
Concept C also testifies to
thoughts and ideas extending beyond the actual vehicle. In line
with the BMW Motorrad philosophy, a big scooter realised in the
Concept C style will also come with a range of adequate rider
equipment. In the best BMW Motorrad tradition, the development
of a big scooter will also include a suitable stowage space
concept.
(02.11.2010)
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