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BMW

BMW Motorrad presents BMW Motorrad MetaRide.

The new BMW CE 02 is an electric eParkourer that is aimed at young people. It offers a new way of accessing the world of BMW Motorrad. To allow people to experience the CE 02 up close, BMW Motorrad has created the BMW Motorrad MetaRide, a digital brand space of virtual reality. In the MetaRide, motorcycle fans can ride and experience the CE 02 in the form of an avatar, similar to physical reality. It also serves as a platform for fans to connect with the BMW Motorrad brand. The virtual environment in the MetaRide will resemble the real world, and there are various activities to enjoy, such as virtual test rides, playing basketball, collecting tokens, and earning virtual clothing for your avatar. The virtual brand space will be expanded to include other BMW Motorrad products in the future.

The world premiere of the BMW CE 02 was partly held in the BMW Motorrad MetaRide and in the real world during the Pure&Crafted Festival in Berlin. The virtual and real worlds interacted with each other during the premiere. To access the BMW Motorrad MetaRide, you can visit the BMW Motorrad website, the BMW Motorrad social media channels, or directly through the Spatial Metaverse platform. There are also specific links available for direct access to the virtual world.

The virtual BMW Motorrad products showcased in the MetaRide are protected against imitation, similar to their physical counterparts. BMW AG has extended trademark protection to cover virtual goods, including virtual vehicles and virtual clothing.

For press material on BMW motorcycles and rider equipment, please visit the BMW Group PressClub website. If you have any queries, you can contact Dominik Schaidnagel, Spokesperson BMW Motorrad, or Tim Diehl-Thiele, Head of Communications BMW Motorrad.

The BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles, with brands including BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, and BMW Motorrad. It also offers premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group has production sites worldwide and a global sales network. In 2022, the BMW Group sold nearly 2.4 million passenger vehicles and over 202,000 motorcycles. The company focuses on long-term thinking and responsible action, with sustainability and efficient resource management as central pillars of its strategic direction.

For more information, please visit the BMW Group website or follow their social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

News

Suzuki and SkyDrive Collaborate to Produce Flying Cars in Japan

In 2022, SkyDrive, a company specializing in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) machines, partnered with Suzuki to develop flying cars for the Japanese market. The goal was to have the first vehicles operational by 2025. Now, the two companies have officially signed an agreement to manufacture these flying cars, with production set to begin in spring 2024. The new version of the SkyDrive vehicle will have a three-person capacity, accommodating a pilot and two passengers, unlike the previous version which could only accommodate a pilot and a single passenger. The dimensions of the car will increase slightly to 43 feet long, 43 feet wide, and 10 feet high, including rotors.

In terms of specifications, the maximum takeoff weight has increased from 2,400 pounds to 3,100 pounds, while the maximum cruise speed is approximately 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) or 54 knots. The operational flight range has also increased to approximately 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) compared to the previous range of 5 to 10 kilometers (3 to 6.2 miles). The powertrain of SkyDrive’s eVTOL is battery electric, and the vehicle will be constructed using a combination of composites and aluminum alloys. Production will take place at a Suzuki facility in Shizuoka, Japan.

SkyDrive’s Airworthiness Certification Plans

SkyDrive aims to obtain airworthiness certification for its eVTOL by 2025. The company plans to showcase its flying car at the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka after receiving the certification. Following that, SkyDrive will seek type approval certification to begin mass production for the Japanese market in 2026. In addition to the Japanese market, SkyDrive also has plans to enter the US market and obtain certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration. The company intends to establish a base in South Carolina for its US operations due to the state’s significant presence in the commercial and military aviation industries.

The journey towards achieving these goals may not be direct, but SkyDrive remains committed to making progress in the field of eVTOL technology. The company will continue to provide updates on its developments and advancements in the coming years.

Motorsport

2024 Lincoln Aviator Spied Wearing No Camo On The Road

Lincoln is not worried about hiding the refreshed 2024 Aviator from the public, as the development team is driving the luxury SUV without any camouflage. This is the second time the vehicle has been spotted like this.

The 2024 Aviator has a sleeker design for the front end, departing from its current boxy look. The grille has a more rounded shape with vertically oriented ovals in a metallic finish. The running lights have been revised and now extend towards the center of the vehicle’s face. The lower fascia features a simple trapezoidal outline, while air curtains are positioned on the outer edges.


News, Technology

A Potential Smartwatch from Nothing

Nothing, a company that has recently filed trademarks for its future smartwatch lineup, may be a couple of years away from launching its smartwatch. The fact that they have taken steps to protect their intellectual property suggests that they have a genuine interest in entering the smartwatch market.

Interestingly, this news adds context to a tweet from Nothing’s founder, Carl Pei, in which he questioned the usefulness of smartwatches and asked his followers about their experiences with them. This could have been a subtle hint at Nothing’s plans to develop their own smartwatch.

If Nothing follows through with its plans, it will be interesting to see if their smartwatch features the same unconventional design language as their other products. At this point, it is unclear whether the smartwatch will be a full-fledged Wear OS-powered device or a more budget-friendly fitness tracker. However, based on Nothing’s history, it is more likely that they will release a comprehensive smartwatch.

News

Kymco’s IONEX Announcement on June 19, 2023

Kymco is set to unveil their latest addition to the IONEX range of bikes on June 19, 2023. This announcement is expected to showcase a new model or an innovative feature for the IONEX platform. The Taiwanese brand has referred to this reveal as their “trump card,” suggesting a significant development in the market.

The IONEX platform currently utilizes a swappable battery system that allows users to easily charge their bikes at home or swap batteries on the go at any IONEX station. This concept is similar to the Gogoro platform, with hubs scattered throughout major cities to alleviate range anxiety. Kymco’s videos and marketing materials emphasize the convenience and range capabilities of their IONEX program.

Head-Turning Cool, Never Wait For Charging, and Never Worry About Range are the key selling points of Kymco’s IONEX program. The system enables riders to access a network of outlets and stations, as well as rent additional batteries for extended all-electric travel.

What makes the IONEX platform unique is that the batteries charge the core module in the bike, which powers the rear wheel. If there are multiple battery modules installed, the system can intelligently switch between them. Battery stations ensure that users can pick up fresh cells if they run low on power.

Introduced in 2018, the IONEX range has been continuously expanding. Kymco’s upcoming announcement has the potential to shake up the market, particularly in Taiwan where the brand originates, or even on a global scale.

The announcement will take place on June 19, 2023, at 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST) on Kymco TW’s website and social media platforms. Whether it’s a new model or an innovative addition to the IONEX platform, this announcement is expected to be impactful and surprising.

Motorsport

See Tiny Citroen 2CV Morph Into Camper With Double Bed, Integrated Kitchen

The Citroen 2CV is often mocked because of its funny looks, rudimentary construction, and archaic on-road performance. However, it was built in more than five million units over the course of its 42-year history and helped put France’s population back on the road after World War II and put Citroen back on the map as a serious carmaker.

So, with this being said, there are also a fair few people out there who like the 2CV and do everything they can to preserve the history of the iconic French car, and maybe even use it in ways you would never think it would be possible to do.

People like Bernd, a charismatic 2CV owner from Switzerland who owns and regularly drives a camper version of the French vehicle.

As you can see for yourself in the video embedded above, the tiny, 152-inch (3.86-meter) long Citroen has just enough room in the back for a double bed, albeit with an extra section bolted on the rear of the car to improve legroom. That same metal box doubles as a camp kitchen, complete with a gas double burner cooker and basic utensils

Privacy is assured by a generous set of velcroed curtains, and the biggest storage space is found under the rear bench seat, where there’s room for about three t-shirts and a pair of socks.

There’s no mention of the engine, but the owner says at one point that it’s a 2CV Special, which was only made in the 1980s. When new, it had an air-cooler 602 cc engine under the hood that made an unremarkable 29 horsepower, sent to the front wheels via a four-speed manual transmission.

Throughout its 40-year-plus history, the Citroen 2CV was nothing more than an economy car, the French equivalent of the VW Beetle. But in recent years, prices for used cars have varied between $5,000 and over $40,000 for special models.

As always, we’d like to know what you think about the video embedded at the top of this page, so after watching it, head over to the comments section below to give us your thoughts.