An acronym for Bayerische Motoren Werke
AG (Bavarian Motor Works in English), BMW is one of the world’s most
reputed automakers, headquartered in Germany. Founded in Munich in
1916, by Karl Rapp and Gustav Otto, the company was conceptualized for
manufacturing automobiles, motorcycles and engines. BMW is the parent
company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and also owns and produces MINI cars.
Motorcycles manufactured are under the BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna
brands. Known for crafting luxury cars and SUVs, each BMW model offers
superior levels of driving enjoyment and comfort. The logo of BMW
represents white propeller blades against a blue sky. The blue and
white color scheme also refers to Bavaria’s (Germany’s largest state)
blue-and-white checkered flag. Read through the following lines to know
some interesting and amazing information on the history, origin and
background of BMW.
Interesting and Amazing Information on Background Of BMW:
The origin of BMW dates back to
1913, when Karl Friedrich Rapp formed Rapp Motoren Werke in a suburb of
Munich. Karl was a well-known engineer in a German aircraft company
and found that the engines of the company had problems and suffered
from excessive vibration. Rapp Motoren Werke contracted with
Austro-Daimler to build V12 Aero engines for aircrafts. The company
expanded rapidly, but Karl resigned due to financial problems in 1916.
Two Austrians, Franz Josef Popp and Max Friz took over Rapp Motoren
Werke. Another airplane specialist, Gustav Otto started building small
aircrafts in a small shop named as Gustav Flugmaschinefabrik. In March
1916, Rapp Motoren Werke merged with Gustav Flugmaschinefabrik to form
Bayersiche Flugzeungwerke. The company was later renamed as Bayersiche
Motoren Werke or BMW, the present name of the company.
After World War I and the Treaty of
Versailles in 1919, production of aircrafts were prohibited in Germany
that changed the face of BMW. The company, then, started making brakes
for the rail transport. Soon after, BMW designed a motorcycle engine
that was used for building a motorcycle titled Victoria. However,
Victoria was not built by BMW, but by another company named Nuremburg.
In 1924, BMW built their first motorcycle called R32 which turned out
to be a turning point in the BMW history. It was a major achievement
for BMW and the technology was used for decades. In the year 1928, the
company took over Dixi Company and thus followed the launch of BMW
‘Dixi’ 3/15 PS. This marked the beginning of the automobile production.
Its tremendous success helped BMW overcome the crisis after WWI.
The DA2, an improved version of the
former Dixi, was launched in 1929 which was characterized by an
all-steel body and 4-wheel brakes. In 1930, Dixi achieved its first win
in motor racing. A total of 18,976 Dixis were manufactured. In 1932,
BMW’s first real car, BMW AM 4 or 3/20 PS went into production. The
following year saw the first BMW inline-six cylinder power unit being
introduced. BMW 328 that was produced in 1936 gained enormous
popularity and remains BMW’s most famous pre-war sports car till date.
However, BMW’s success was short lived, as the company was ruined after
World War II. In 1951, the production of V8 equipped 501 luxury sedan
was a poor effort and did not meet BMW’s standard and expectations.
The year 1955 brought back BMW on
its feet. Isetta 250 was launched and was successfully manufactured by
an Italian manufacturer Iso. The following year in 1956, BMW built one
of the most memorable models in the BMW history, BMW 507 with a total
of 252 examples. The 1500 was yet another BMW saver. Almost after ten
years, the first generation 5 series, the E12 was launched in 1972. The
following 6 years were profitable for the company, as it expanded the
market by buying the Rover group from British Aerospace. However, Rover
was further sold to Phoenix Venture Holdings and Ford Motor Company,
due to losses incurred by BMW. The 3 series came up after three years
in 1975 and in 1977 the market saw the 7 series.
In 1994, the company began production outside Germany and new factories were set up in South Carolina, Oxford, Goodwood, South Africa and other places. Today, BMW exports around 50,000 yearly vehicles to Japan, USA, Africa, Australia and the Middle East. Till date, the Z3, Z8 and all 3, 5, 7 and Motorsport series models are built keeping the BMW tradition of producing excellent automobiles with special emphasis on performance, style and technological advancements. Over the last few decades, BMW has built a standard for performance and luxury in most segments. It offers a wide range of family-friendly wagons, crisp sedans, distinctive coupes, nimble sports cars and spacious SUVs.
Different Kinds Of BMW Cars:
1 Series
Launched
in 2004, the 1 Series is BMW’s smallest car, available in
coupe/convertible and hatchback forms. This line of small cars has many
structural, chassis, powertrain, hardware and electronic elements that
are common to the 3 series as well. The series initially debuted with a
5-door hatchback and later graduated towards a 2-door coupe version.
This series is priced on the grounds of the MINI and the 3 series.
3 Series
Tagged
as BMW’s best-selling model, the 3 series, which was launched way back
in 1975, still accounts for about 40% of the company’s car sales.
Right from its journey as a station wagon to coupe to 4-door sedan to
2-door convertible versions, the 3 series has now been termed as BMW’s
most reliable compact executive car. The 3 series is a mid-ranged
priced vehicle.
5 Series
A
little higher than the 3 series is the 5 series. Launched in 1972 as a
mid-size executive car, today, one can find the 5 series either as a
4-door sedan or station wagon. BMW’s second best-selling model, it
offers its customers a choice of 7 engines. In fact, the M5 Motorsport
version is outfitted with a 507-horsepower V-10 capable of running 155
mph.
6 Series
The
6 series is BMW’s high-end luxury line that ran from 1976-89 and
returned back again in 2003. Designed as a sports car, this grand
touring version is offered as a coupe and convertible. Equipped with
507-horsepower V-10 and 286-horsepower 3-liter Twin Turbo Diesel, the 6
series delivers high-class performance enough to be competed with
those of Mercedes-Benz E-class coupe, Audi A5 and Jaguar XK.
7 Series
The
7 series is BMW’s flagship car, offering a line of ultra-luxury and
posh vehicles. Often termed as the ‘real car’, the 7 series is the
version that the company is most celebrated for. Available only as an
executive sedan, the 7 series was introduced in 1977 and runs on
gasoline and hydrogen fuelled combustion engines, thereby preventing
air pollution.
X5
Launched
in 1999, the X5 is a luxury crossover SUV. It was the first SUV under
BMW’s cap that was termed as “Four-by-Four” (4x4). Despite its huge
size, the X5 is known as a Sport Activity Vehicle (SAV), rather than
SUV simply because of its on-road ability.
X3
A
compact crossover SUV, the X3 was launched in 2003 as a passenger car
with truck-like features. Powered by either gasoline or diesel, the X3
is an all-wheel drive. After X5, the X3 is the second vehicle that BMW
markets as SAV (Sport Activity Vehicle).
Z4
Succeeding
the popular roadsters, such as BMW Z1, BMW 507, BMW Z8 and BMW Z3,
came the new 2-seater sports roadster known as Z4. A rear-wheel drive
sports car, Z4 was launched in 2002. The model was modified in 2008 as a
coupe-convertible with a folding hardtop. The Z4 offers a top speed of
155 mph and can touch 62 mph from a standstill in just 5.1 seconds
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