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BMW

BMW Open Work 2023: “LA POTION (EH)” by Sara Sadik premiers during Frieze London. In collaboration with BMW, the artist introduces an immersive video and gaming experience, using the AirConsole technology of the BMW i5 as a playing device.

October 10, 2023 Prafful Singh

BMW and Frieze are partnering for the seventh year in a row for the art initiative BMW Open Work. The French artist Sara Sadik has collaborated closely with BMW to present “LA POTION (EH)” – a video and gaming experience that uses BMW’s My Modes and the new AirConsole technology of the BMW i5 as a playing device. The premiere will take place at KOKO inside the BMW Open Work Lounge during Frieze London from October 11-15, 2023. As part of the collaboration, London-based musician Loyle Carner will perform at Frieze Music.

BMW Open Work is a joint initiative between Frieze and BMW that brings together art, innovation, technology, and design in a multi-platform format. Curated by Attilia Fattori Franchini, BMW Open Work invites an artist to develop a project using BMW technology and design. This year, French artist Sara Sadik has been invited to create an ambitious project that combines video games, anime, science fiction, and French rap. The project is inspired by the idea of characters facing challenges and seeking transformation through initiatory stories.

Sara Sadik describes her BMW Open Work 2023 commission as a work that aims to have transformational qualities for its viewers. The video and playable game, titled “LA POTION (EH)”, explore the emotional states of young male characters. The BMW i5 is treated as a character, with the Avatar Neregy using it to explore different worlds in both the video game and video. The work will be displayed outside of KOKO during Frieze Week and played exclusively in the car.

“LA POTION (EH)” is an interactive video game that can be played exclusively in the new BMW i5. It is also presented as a video installation on the terrace of KOKO and inside the BMW Lounge. The viewer follows the Avatar Neregy as he navigates different worlds, completes tasks, and faces challenges in his quest for psychological healing and transformation.

BMW’s Chief Executive Officer in the UK and Ireland, Christopher Brownridge, expresses his delight at the ongoing partnership with Frieze and highlights BMW’s commitment to contemporary art. The collaboration with Sara Sadik has turned the BMW i5 into a special experiential device, using light and sound features to create an immersive experience.

Attilia Fattori Franchini, the curator of BMW Open Work, comments on the collaboration with Sara Sadik, emphasizing the artist’s visionary approach. She believes that “LA POTION (EH)” will guide viewers and players through imaginary worlds and challenges, allowing them to explore their own changing emotional states.

Frieze Music, another collaboration between BMW and Frieze, will feature Loyle Carner as the performer at KOKO Theatre. Loyle Carner is known for his sophisticated style in English Hip-Hop music and has received multiple Brit Award nominations. The joint initiative aims to explore the intersection of music and the arts, providing artists with a platform to showcase their craft.

Emily Glazebrook, the Commercial Director of Frieze, expresses the organization’s excitement about the partnership with BMW and their commitment to exploring art, design, and technology. She looks forward to the collaborations for Frieze London’s 20th Anniversary, with Sara Sadik leading BMW Open Work and Loyle Carner taking the stage at Frieze Music.

For more information about “LA POTION (EH)” and Frieze Music, visit https://frieze.com/bmw-open-work and https://www.frieze.com/tags/frieze-music. Updates on BMW’s cultural engagement can be found on Instagram at @BMWGroupCulture.

The BMW Open Work Lounge and “LA POTION (EH)” can be visited at KOKO by Frieze ticket holders and members of The House of KOKO during Frieze London.

BMW i5 M60 xDrive*:

Power consumption combined in WLTP cycle: 20.6 – 18.2 kWh/100 km
Electric range in WLTP cycle: 455 – 516 km
*All figures are preliminary values.

BMW

BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team Takes Seventh Place at Suzuka 8 Hours

August 7, 2023 Prafful Singh

The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team achieved a remarkable seventh-place finish at the Suzuka 8 Hours, earning important points in the FIM Endurance World Championship. The team, consisting of Markus Reiterberger, Ilya Mikhalchik, and Jérémy Guarnoni, battled against grueling conditions and rain on their BMW M 1000 RR. They emerged as the best European team in a highly competitive field dominated by Japanese teams. The team’s performance earned them the Le-Mans-Award. With one race remaining at Le Castellet, the team is currently in third place in the championship standings, with a chance to narrow the 37-point gap to the leaders in the final 24-hour race.

The Suzuka 8 Hours is a crucial race for Japanese manufacturers, who field strong works teams and supported squads. The goal for European teams is to score as many points as possible, and the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team accomplished just that.

Starting from eleventh on the grid, the #37 BMW M 1000 RR dropped to 16th place early in the race. However, the riders fought back and steadily climbed into the top ten. Despite the hot and humid conditions, they maintained consistent laps and avoided mistakes. In addition to their on-track performance, the team excelled in the pits. They maintained their focus even when rain arrived with an hour remaining. As darkness fell, the #37 BMW M 1000 RR crossed the finish line in an impressive seventh place.

The season finale, the famous Bol d’Or 24-hour race at Le Castellet, will take place from September 14th to 17th.

Four privateer BMW teams from Asia also participated in the Suzuka 8 Hours. The SANMEI Team TARO PLUSONE finished 17th overall (16th in the EWC class) with the #44 BMW M 1000 RR. The TONE RT SYNCEDGE 4413 BMW team recovered from a start-line fall to finish 43rd (13th in the Superstock class) with the #85 BMW M 1000 RR. However, the Shinshu activation project Team NAGANO and TEAM FRONTIER retired early.

Reactions from the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team:

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: Despite the strong competition from Japanese manufacturers and teams, we are pleased with our seventh-place finish and being the best European team. Our main championship rivals were not as successful, allowing us to gain ground. The world championship is still up for grabs at the season finale, where more points will be at stake. The team’s consistent performance and support from Dunlop played a crucial role. We are confident and optimistic for the next race, the Bol d’Or.

Werner Daemen, Team Manager BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team: A top-eight result was our goal, considering we didn’t have the strongest package. We excelled in changing wheels, being the fastest. I am proud of the team and the riders’ remarkable performance. We made no mistakes and finished in seventh place. We are looking forward to the final race of the season with hope.

Markus Reiterberger: I am relieved and happy with our top-ten finish. Despite a minor problem with the bike, we were able to regain positions and end up in seventh place. The race was physically and mentally demanding, especially in the final stint with changing weather conditions. The team’s pit stops were superb, and I am grateful for everyone’s support. It was a tough week, but everyone gave their all.

Ilya Mikhalchik: I am really happy and want to thank everyone in the team. The race was challenging, but we maintained a good pace. Our performance showed that the bike has improved, even in the hot weather. We are satisfied with our top-ten finish, which was close to the top five. We did a good job.

Jérémy Guarnoni: It was a good race for us. We could have fought for the top five, but the changing weather made it difficult. Nevertheless, we are happy with our seventh-place finish and the points we earned for the championship. We proved that we did our job well. Our aim was to finish in the top ten, and we achieved that. We are now focused on the Bol d’Or, where we have a chance to win the world championship.

News

2023 Volkswagen Jetta Vs. 2023 Toyota Corolla

July 22, 2023 David

The seventh generation Volkswagen Jetta was released in 2018, replacing the previous generation that had been in production since 2010. It was discontinued in the European market due to poor sales, but it is still being sold in other regions, with China being its biggest market.

Since its release, the Jetta has received mid-cycle updates, including a facelift design and a new engine, to stay competitive in the market.

The current Toyota Corolla, released around the same time as the Jetta, has also undergone a few updates. These two cars are perfect for comparing and cross-shopping. Let’s find out which one is the better choice: the Jetta or the Toyota Corolla.

RELATED: The Best Cars Under $35,000

The Volkswagen Jetta Looks Classy

The Volkswagen Jetta has always been known for its sophisticated but rather boring design. The 2023 model carries on this tradition with a few updates. It now features updated LED headlights with chrome strips on the grille, giving it a premium look. The side profile is typical of a sedan, but with a pronounced body line that runs from the front fenders through the door handles and joins the rear tail lights.

The Jetta comes with 16-inch wheels as standard, with 17-inch wheels also available. At the rear, it sports LED lights with chrome strips on the bumpers, and the exhaust is hidden for a cleaner look. The new Jetta is longer than its predecessor by 4.5 inches and features subtle but strong body lines on the hood, sides, and trunk. Overall, it is one of the classiest-looking vehicles in this segment.

Vehicle Dimensions

Vehicle	Volkswagen Jetta	Toyota Corolla
Length	186.5 inches	182.3 inches
Wheelbase	105.7 inches	106.3 inches
Width	70.8 inches	70.1 inches
Height	57.7 inches	56.5 inches
Ground Clearance	5.5 inches	5.3 inches
Wheel size	16-inch	16-inch
Weight	2,990 pounds	2,995 pounds

The Toyota Corolla has a sporty look with sleek LED headlights and blacked-out front bumpers. However, it looks fairly normal in comparison to the Jetta. It comes standard with 16-inch wheels, with 18-inch wheels available. At the back, it features normal taillights and dual exhausts on one side. While it looks good, it doesn’t match the Jetta in terms of overall appearance.

The Volkswagen Jetta Has A Quality Looking Interior

2023 Volkswagen Jetta Interior — Volkswagen

Interior shot of a Volkswagen Jetta Dashboard

The Volkswagen Jetta offers 97.7 cubic feet of passenger volume, while the Toyota Corolla only has 88.6 cubic feet.
The Jetta also provides larger trunk space at 14.1 cubic feet, compared to the Corolla’s 13.1 cubic feet.

The interior of the Jetta resembles that of a low-budget luxury Audi. It features a fully digital eight-inch gauge cluster on all trim models, along with an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The center console houses buttons and knobs for climate control, tilted towards the driver for convenience.

Though it lacks special interior materials, the Jetta offers ample interior space and a well-designed layout, making it one of the best in its class.

The Toyota Corolla has a simple design but lacks the same level of integration as the Jetta. It offers a seven-inch cluster similar to the Jetta, but with less configurability. The eight-inch center screen sits on top of the dashboard, appearing bulky due to large bezels. The Corolla uses simple materials and provides less space compared to the Jetta.

The Corolla Offers Four-Wheel Drive, The Jetta Doesn’t

Engine Specifications

Vehicle	Volkswagen Jetta	Toyota Corolla
Engine	Turbo Inline-four	NA Inline-four
Displacement	1.5 liters	2.0 liters
Power	158 horsepower	169 horsepower
Torque	184 pound-feet,	151 pound-feet
Transmission	Six-speed manual/eight-speed auto,	CVT automatic
Drivetrain	Front-wheel drive	Front-wheel drive
Hybrid	Not available	Available
All-Wheel Drive	Not available	Available
Fuel Economy (MPG)	32/41 City/Highway	31,41 City/Highway

The Jetta comes with a new 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four engine introduced in the 2022 model year, replacing the previous 1.4-liter engine. This new engine offers more power and torque. It is available with front-wheel drive and a choice of a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Jetta delivers more low-down torque than the Corolla while maintaining similar fuel economy.

The Corolla, on the other hand, uses a larger naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-four engine across its range. It sends power to the front wheels and offers good power, although with less torque. The Corolla is equipped with a CVT automatic transmission for optimal efficiency. Additionally, it offers a hybrid powertrain for better fuel economy, achieving 50 MPG. However, the hybrid powertrain comes with a smaller 1.8-liter engine delivering less power and torque.

Vehicle Safety And Warranty

Aerial rear shot of a white Toyota Corolla in motion

The Toyota Corolla has received a top safety pick rating from the IIHS, thanks to its advanced safety technologies. Toyota’s Safety Sense 3.0 offers features like Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Tracing Assist, Road Sign Assist, and Automatic High Beams.

The Volkswagen Jetta has also improved its safety features and driver assistance systems, but it has only received a five-star rating. This means the Corolla may be a safer option, even though the Jetta is classified as a midsize sedan. The Jetta’s IQ.DRIVE includes features like Travel Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Active Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Traffic Alert, Front Assist, Emergency Assist, and Lane Assist.

The Corolla is known for its reliability, receiving a 4.5 rating from RepairPal compared to the Jetta’s 4.0 rating. Additionally, the Corolla ranks first out of 36 compact cars, with an annual repair cost of just $362. On the other hand, the Jetta ranks 21st out of 36 and has an average annual repair cost of $609, slightly lower than the industry average of $652. Both cars come with a warranty that is on par with each other.

Would You Have The Volkswagen Jetta Or Toyota Corolla For A Similar Price?

Aerial render of a blue Volkswagen Jetta in motion

The Volkswagen Jetta and the Toyota Corolla are similarly priced. The Jetta has four trim models, with the base S trim starting at $21,750 and the range-topping SEL trim starting at $29,480. This makes it an affordable option for a sophisticated German sedan, offering good looks, ample interior space, advanced technology, and a strong brand name.

The Toyota Corolla falls within the same price range as the Jetta but offers more options due to hybrid and hatchback models. It starts with the base LE trim priced at $22,795 and goes up to $27,945 for the top XSE trims. The Corolla is a reliable and dependable vehicle, characteristics that Toyota is renowned for.

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2023 ERZBERG RESULTS

June 12, 2023 David

German Manuel Lettenbichler won his second Red Bull Erzbergrodeo in a row on Sunday, making him the seventh person in 27 editions of the race to become a multiple winner. The 25-year-old trailed Great Britain’s Billy Bolt for much of the race, before a decisive pass in the latter stages sealed victory with Canadian Trystan Hart third for the second successive year. Here is all you need to know:

Manuel Lettenbichler racing through the prologue course at Erzberg rodeo on 10th June, 2023 // Sam Strauss / Red Bull Content Pool

– Reigning FIM Hard Enduro world champion Lettenbichler overcame 500 competitors and a mountain referred to as the ‘Iron Giant’ to win Austria’s iconic race in two hours and 31 minutes. Once in the lead, Lettenbichler put on a masterclass to beat his closest challenger Bolt by 11 minutes. Of 500 starters, 16 managed to finish the course containing 27 checkpoints across varied terrain within the four-hour race time limit.

– Held in the Austrian mining town of Eisenerz and first launched in 1995, the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo is the most revered race in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. It takes place around the gravity defying Erzberg mountain, a functioning mine producing more than three million tons of iron ore per year. At each edition of the race, a mix of professionals and amateurs take part.

– Lettenbichler paced himself early in the race, trailing eventual third-place finisher Hart before taking the lead. Soon after he conceded first to a hard-charging Bolt, who had crashed at the beginning of the race and was on a mission to try and win the famed event for the first time.

– After one hour and 17 minutes chasing Bolt, Lettenbichler snatched the lead back at checkpoint 22 of 27. From there he rode off into the distance to not only win the race for a second time, but also secure wins at the first two stops of the 2023 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship.

– Lettenbichler said: “I’m speechless that I had such a big gap at the end. I don’t really believe it. I had a really good start and then Billy caught and passed me, and I tried to stay with him, but I couldn’t. He pulled a gap, so I tried to save some energy. When I could see him again, I decided to push and I would say he was pretty tired. Then I just rode a really good line to pass him. This race is such a crazy motorbike festival and everyone in the world just comes and wants to do this challenge and finish this race. It’s super unique. It feels amazing to win a second time in a row.”

– Despite seeing victory dissipate before his eyes, Briton Bolt managed to record his best finish at Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, despite a litany of drama which only became apparent after the race.

– Bolt, 25, said: “That was my worst ever start and then the next 10 minutes was a blur, and I knew I needed to pass as many people as possible before the course got technical. I bent the front disc on my bike in the crash. I also dented my exhaust pretty badly. I’ve had a fair bit of drama, all self-induced. When Mani passed me, I thought I would struggle to keep up with him. I didn’t take it easy, I just made sure I could get home in second. But all things considered, I am very, very happy.”

– Hart, who has two podiums in three attempts, said: “Back-to-back podiums, lots of people would be happy but, to be honest, I’m not super happy. I put myself in a really good position, I was leading, which I didn’t really expect and then I just got tight and made a lot of mistakes in the first hour. To get the holeshot and then make a lot of mistakes like that is kind of heartbreaking. I was right where I needed to be with Billy and Mani, and then kind of threw it all away.”

– Red Bull Erzbergrodeo marked round two of the 2023 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, however, only a small portion were elite professionals chasing the title, the rest being amateurs. The prologue narrowed 1,300 entrants to 500 qualifiers for the start of Sunday’s main race, and the predictably brutal course was mastered by just 16 riders.

– The best placed local was Austrian Michael Walkner, cousin of 2018 Dakar Rally champion Matthias Walkner, who finished seventh. Compatriot Marcel Hirscher – a multiple times gold medallist at the Olympics and World Championships in Alpine Skiing made his second start. The skier turned motorcycle racer managed to make it to checkpoint 19, an improvement on 2022 when his race ended at checkpoint 17.

Participants at Erzberg rodeo on 11th June, 2023 // Sam Strauss / Red Bull Content Pool

– The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship now moves to Romania for Red Bull Romaniacs from July 25-29.

2023 Red Bull Erzbergrodeo finishers
1. Manuel Lettenbichler (Germany) 2:31:15
2. Billy Bolt (Great Britain) 2:42:15
3. Trystan Hart (Canada) 2:57:09
4. Jonny Walker (Great Britain) 2:59:30
5. Wade Young (South Africa) 3:04:21
6. Graham Jarvis (Great Britain) 3:13:55
7. Michael Walkner (Austria) 3:22:18
8. Alfredo Gomez (Spain) 3:24:30
9. Teodor Kabakchiev (Bulgaria) 3:25:00
10. Cody Webb (USA) 3:29:09
11. Matthew Green (South Africa) 3:31:45
12. Sonny Goggia (Italy) 3:49:21
13. Dominik Olszowy (Poland) 3:51:59
14. Jack Price (Great Britain) 3:52:08
15. Mitch Brightmore (Great Britain) 3:58:39
16. Will Hoare (Great Britain) 3:59:13

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