RE: BMW M2: Review
Discussion
kambites said:
matpilch said:
I don't get all the fuss with the front bumper, sure, there is a lot going on, but I've seen much worse (new Mini anyone?).
It's not that it's fussy, it's that they've dumped some random slabby planes at apparently random angles in the vent/intake gap. To me, it resembles what happens when a coordinate gets corrupted in a cad package (or computer game for that matter) and a number of large triangular planes get created sharing an arbitrary point in a random place in the image. 
I've not seen anyone say it's not functional?
ETA: I've studied fluid mechanics enough to suspect that it does the job fine but one thing about automotive aerodynamic detailing is that at the sort of speeds a car is likely to reach, especially on the road, there's almost always a myriad ways to achieve results which are aerodynamically good enough. This manufacturers actually get quite a lot of choice in what the details of their cars look like without significantly impacting performance. There are exceptions to that, some things are just necessary, but they're mostly towards the back of the car.
ETA: I've studied fluid mechanics enough to suspect that it does the job fine but one thing about automotive aerodynamic detailing is that at the sort of speeds a car is likely to reach, especially on the road, there's almost always a myriad ways to achieve results which are aerodynamically good enough. This manufacturers actually get quite a lot of choice in what the details of their cars look like without significantly impacting performance. There are exceptions to that, some things are just necessary, but they're mostly towards the back of the car.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 18th February 10:03
I actually really like the looks of this but then I like the M4 too. Yes the front bumper could have been a bit more cohesive but it's not a show stopper and the whole car looks much better proportioned than the rather dumpy looking 1 series predecessor.
However the article is a little light on detail for the engine which is the most important aspect for me. This was the one major disappointment on the M4 in terms of aural pleasure and power delivery, in short it really wasn't special enough on both counts for an M car so is the M2 better?
I know it mentions the rev counter goes to 7.5k but I suspect that's the end of the counter and that the actual limiter kicks in at 7k which isn't bad for a turbo car per se but how eager is the car to rev to the limit? If it has the same diesel like delivery as the M4 I won't be sold.
However the article is a little light on detail for the engine which is the most important aspect for me. This was the one major disappointment on the M4 in terms of aural pleasure and power delivery, in short it really wasn't special enough on both counts for an M car so is the M2 better?
I know it mentions the rev counter goes to 7.5k but I suspect that's the end of the counter and that the actual limiter kicks in at 7k which isn't bad for a turbo car per se but how eager is the car to rev to the limit? If it has the same diesel like delivery as the M4 I won't be sold.
I think the idea of "special" M engines is past its time.
These days it's just too easy to get a lot of power (which is what most buyers want) by modifying the breathing of an existing lump. Especially when your existing lumps are as good as BMW's are. Of course a "normal" turbocharged engine with a few mods is never going to feel like the E46 CSL engine or the V8 in the E9x but for most people who buy M-cars that's clearly not a significant problem.
These days it's just too easy to get a lot of power (which is what most buyers want) by modifying the breathing of an existing lump. Especially when your existing lumps are as good as BMW's are. Of course a "normal" turbocharged engine with a few mods is never going to feel like the E46 CSL engine or the V8 in the E9x but for most people who buy M-cars that's clearly not a significant problem.
HighwayStar said:
It's funny how everyone is so sure that bumper, with all it's intakes, wings/vanes are random and don't do anything other than just for show. BMW believe in function over form and it's designed that way for a reason. There are a lot of people here who are obviously wasted in their day jobs and should be setting themselves up as car design/aerodynamicist consultants to the industry.
All car design is a compromise between aesthetics and function. This time, they didn't consider the aesthetics enough. Cars would not be beautiful if they were all function and no form.
" It not only questions the needs to buy an M4, but also how much more you would realistically need from a performance car. "
Having not sat in either, could it be that you might consider an M4 over this as you have rear seat passengers that are teens-sized or bigger that do not want to contort themselves into weird origami-aping shapes to fit in the back?
I can only surmise about the amount of space as I remeber sitting in the rear of a previous-model M3 with a 'me' sized driver in front of me, and thinking how little leg and knee room there was, and how the cranium-roof interface when the driver was pressing on became a bit of a nuisance. And I'm 6'00" tall.
It might be nice to see how passenger-friendly some of the PH-featured cars are in future with regards to ability to swallow normal sized human beans, simply by adding a couple of images of said persons occupying the rear seats; of course I realise that many, if not most of the buyers of these will drive them either one or two up, and will no doubt have a second vehicle for family-hauling purposes.
And I really must stop using hyphens so much....
Having not sat in either, could it be that you might consider an M4 over this as you have rear seat passengers that are teens-sized or bigger that do not want to contort themselves into weird origami-aping shapes to fit in the back?
I can only surmise about the amount of space as I remeber sitting in the rear of a previous-model M3 with a 'me' sized driver in front of me, and thinking how little leg and knee room there was, and how the cranium-roof interface when the driver was pressing on became a bit of a nuisance. And I'm 6'00" tall.
It might be nice to see how passenger-friendly some of the PH-featured cars are in future with regards to ability to swallow normal sized human beans, simply by adding a couple of images of said persons occupying the rear seats; of course I realise that many, if not most of the buyers of these will drive them either one or two up, and will no doubt have a second vehicle for family-hauling purposes.
And I really must stop using hyphens so much....
" It not only questions the needs to buy an M4, but also how much more you would realistically need from a performance car. "
Having not sat in either, could it be that you might consider an M4 over this as you have rear seat passengers that are teens-sized or bigger that do not want to contort themselves into weird origami-aping shapes to fit in the back?
I can only surmise about the amount of space as I remeber sitting in the rear of a previous-model M3 with a 'me' sized driver in front of me, and thinking how little leg and knee room there was, and how the cranium-roof interface when the driver was pressing on became a bit of a nuisance. And I'm 6'00" tall.
It might be nice to see how passenger-friendly some of the PH-featured cars are in future with regards to ability to swallow normal sized human beans, simply by adding a couple of images of said persons occupying the rear seats; of course I realise that many, if not most of the buyers of these will drive them either one or two up, and will no doubt have a second vehicle for family-hauling purposes.
And I really must stop using hyphens so much....
Having not sat in either, could it be that you might consider an M4 over this as you have rear seat passengers that are teens-sized or bigger that do not want to contort themselves into weird origami-aping shapes to fit in the back?
I can only surmise about the amount of space as I remeber sitting in the rear of a previous-model M3 with a 'me' sized driver in front of me, and thinking how little leg and knee room there was, and how the cranium-roof interface when the driver was pressing on became a bit of a nuisance. And I'm 6'00" tall.
It might be nice to see how passenger-friendly some of the PH-featured cars are in future with regards to ability to swallow normal sized human beans, simply by adding a couple of images of said persons occupying the rear seats; of course I realise that many, if not most of the buyers of these will drive them either one or two up, and will no doubt have a second vehicle for family-hauling purposes.
And I really must stop using hyphens so much....
I'm not desperately taken on the over fussy front bumper and the rear lights may take a bit of getting used to but by and large this is a pretty excellent effort.
Perhaps sacrilege to some but I'm sure a few aftermarket tweaks can bring that last 10th of sparkle to the engine delivery and dare I say it won't be long before a titanium exhaust appears to lose a few kg's..
Visually the 2011 1 Series M-Coupe is still the one to beat (personally speaking) for modern BMW visuals..
Edit - But I should finish on a positive note.. This looks the best effort from BMW for quite some time...
Perhaps sacrilege to some but I'm sure a few aftermarket tweaks can bring that last 10th of sparkle to the engine delivery and dare I say it won't be long before a titanium exhaust appears to lose a few kg's..
Visually the 2011 1 Series M-Coupe is still the one to beat (personally speaking) for modern BMW visuals..
Edit - But I should finish on a positive note.. This looks the best effort from BMW for quite some time...
I need to speak to my dealer and see if I can get a build slot for one of these.
Sounds epic and I quite like the styling, although I quite like the fact BMWs actually look different to other cars on the road and you can differentiate the different models in their range unlike the other German marques.
Sounds epic and I quite like the styling, although I quite like the fact BMWs actually look different to other cars on the road and you can differentiate the different models in their range unlike the other German marques.
There is an interview on bmwblog with the designer where he lists all the reasons for the front bumper:
1) Wanted the car to be instantly recognisable as an M car but not similar to the M4
2) The car is wide so he introduced "verticality" to make it appear more compact
3) The design is very much functional to push air to the front wheel wells.
I was hoping for a bit more information on if it generated downforce but nothing is mentioned.
1) Wanted the car to be instantly recognisable as an M car but not similar to the M4
2) The car is wide so he introduced "verticality" to make it appear more compact
3) The design is very much functional to push air to the front wheel wells.
I was hoping for a bit more information on if it generated downforce but nothing is mentioned.
I'm surprised no-one has yet photoshopped one with CSL wheels on it!
As for the references to the 1M Coupe being visually superior, that is only in the sense that it looks cartoonish. The 1M Coupe is an odd looking thing although that and low numbers will retain interest in it.
This is a more cohesive design.
All things considered, they've done well. It fits the blueprint of a modern M-car to a tee.
As for the references to the 1M Coupe being visually superior, that is only in the sense that it looks cartoonish. The 1M Coupe is an odd looking thing although that and low numbers will retain interest in it.
This is a more cohesive design.
All things considered, they've done well. It fits the blueprint of a modern M-car to a tee.
HighwayStar said:
kambites said:
matpilch said:
I don't get all the fuss with the front bumper, sure, there is a lot going on, but I've seen much worse (new Mini anyone?).
It's not that it's fussy, it's that they've dumped some random slabby planes at apparently random angles in the vent/intake gap. To me, it resembles what happens when a coordinate gets corrupted in a cad package (or computer game for that matter) and a number of large triangular planes get created sharing an arbitrary point in a random place in the image. 
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