2008 New York Auto Show- BMW Part 1
March 20, 2008
Thanks to Jon Trudel- his pictures start with "IMG", mine with "DSC": For more pictures from the show, please see JonT's web site. More also on the New York Auto Show web site. March 28 update: Albert Lee's pics from the Auto show.

BMW Part 1:  CS Concept Car, ///M3 Coupé, ///M3 Convertible, ///M3 Race Car
BMW/New Yorker Party: Cartoons, Gifts, BMW Hydrogen
BMW Part 2: 1 Series coupé, Convertible, 6 Series, X6, Advanced Diesel
Other Marques:  Mercedes, Porsche, Pontiac Solstice, Saleen, Dodge Zeo, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Dodge Challenger and a few others
Conclusions:  Faces, BMW got the message, Heritage, Convertible Hard Top Trunk Space - the Final Frontier
DSC00169
DSC00169
BMW Concept CS- It's the first thing you see as you approach the BMW area. If you don't feel an attraction to this car, stop reading now and check to see if you have a pulse.
DSC00118
DSC00118
BMW comes roaring back with a sophisticated imposing and utterly handsome design.
DSC00119
DSC00119
Just in case anyone thought BMW forgot how to be attractive from any angle.
DSC00120
DSC00120
Any questions?
DSC00121
DSC00121
No, I didn't think so.
DSC00123
DSC00123
No design errors, except that aside from the face, it's a little bland.
DSC00124
DSC00124
No design errors.
DSC00125
DSC00125
I'm never going to like the addition of the iDrive knob, like some large pimple or wart sticking out of the console.
DSC00126
DSC00126
As a roadster owner, I'm always interested in trunk space. Cavernous.
DSC00131
DSC00131
The convertible M3 debut in New York City. Once again, impeccable design.
DSC00133
DSC00133
Impeccable, but again a bit boring from the A pillar back to the trunk for an ///M3 convertible for my taste. Put some curves on the body of that car, please?
DSC00129
DSC00129
Again, nice but no sex.
DSC00152
DSC00152
Cold Air is sucked from the top of the engine. At the time I thought this was a major improvement over the "straw to the highway" Dinan Cold Air Intake, but now I am wondering how to keep the rain out from falling from above?
DSC00151
DSC00151
mmmMMmmmmm V8 (Homer Simpson voice) Today's BMW at the Auto Show is brought to you by... the letter "///M"
DSC00158
DSC00158
M... the most powerful letter in the world... Brought to you by the letter ///M...
IMG_0674
IMG_0674
We love the letter M and all it's details on the car...
DSC00130
DSC00130
This is a sweet gill. BMW learned a lesson about gills. The Z3 gill is revered, getting rid of the gill in the Z4 was a loss, and lighting and celebrating the gill in the Z8 was a big plus. So... in 2008 ladies and gentlemen, BMW makes a lighted, curvy, ///M logo gill/turn signal placed temptingly in a scoop
IMG_0670
IMG_0670
There is no bad angle to view this car, in fact every angle provides and opportunity to enjoy another set of lines and curves.
IMG_0629
IMG_0629
Lessons BMW learned: the gill is BACK and BETTER, no triangle window, no boot, convertible hard top, no gap in the boot... yep this is a car I had to try to sit in. It makes you want to go vroom, Vrroom, VRRRROOOOOM
IMG_0634
IMG_0634
JonT's smile says the same thing- over the hood air intake.
DSC00128
DSC00128
Rear view, also nice- still kinda missing something...
DSC00127
DSC00127
But this is the convertible hard top ///M3 trunk space with the top down.
:(
Since BMW seems to be reading my mind (or my web site?)- as you will see I will compare this year's exhibit to the conclusions I wrote for the 2007 NY Auto Show- so let me try to channel them this: Convertible owners wont care if the top looks bad up, as long as we have trunk space when it's down.
We don't plan to have the roof up much. Get it?
DSC00134
DSC00134
M3 interior. iDrive wart.
DSC00135
DSC00135
Oh right- no clutch on the floor. Shifting with paddles instead. Uh huh. And another level of driving where the car shifts for you, but its not an "automatic". Uh huh. When I asked if someone could get in this car and drive it without prior instructions the answer was " Sure, as long as they first change the ramsatz quidget and make sure the fritzbot was released..." Or something like that. I am against all this stuff. I am sure its just great for people who know how to use it. I say, keep it simple.
DSC00140
DSC00140
///M3 Race Car. How could I not take a picture of this car?
DSC00139
DSC00139
From every angle...but I was skipping through the BMW cars on my way ...
DSC00138
DSC00138
to the party...
BMW Part 1:  CS Concept Car, ///M3 Coupé, ///M3 Convertible, ///M3 Race Car
BMW/New Yorker Party: Cartoons, Gifts, BMW Hydrogen
BMW Part 2: 1 Series coupé, Convertible, 6 Series, X6, Advanced Diesel
Other Marques:  Mercedes, Porsche, Pontiac Solstice, Saleen, Dodge Zeo, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Dodge Challenger and a few others
Conclusions:  Faces, BMW got the message, Heritage, Convertible Hard Top Trunk Space - the Final Frontier

saw BMW in the funny papers since March 25, 2008
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