BMW shakes up entry-level adventure bike class with the concept F 450 GS

The entry-level adventure bike (ADV) class is heavily populated by the likes of KTM, Royal Enfield, and CFMoto’s hugely capable offerings. These 400-500cc bikes are fun, lightweight, and most importantly, affordable. Now, BMW is set to take on them all… Continue reading BMW shakes up entry-level adventure bike class with the concept F 450 GS

Why KTM’s new Auto/Manual Transmission needs a Park gear

KTM’s all-new Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) is rolling out on the upcoming 1390 Super Adventure tourer, and the company claims it’ll change the way we ride motorcycles. It comes with a P – N – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 gear sequence – and of course, … Continue reading Why KTM’s new Auto/Manual Transmission needs a Park gear

Motionless turbines deliver super-efficient wind energy to BMW’s factory

Houston-based Aeromine Technologies has fitted a bunch of silent and motionless wind energy harnessing airfoils on the roof of BMW’s MINI manufacturing plant in Oxford, UK. They’re meant to complement the factory’s solar panels to produce clean energy,… Continue reading Motionless turbines deliver super-efficient wind energy to BMW’s factory

Is this radical two-rotor hub motor the secret to cheap 500-mile EVs?

Something of an automotive phenom, Munich startup DeepDrive is hard at work on a more practical, mass production-ready in-wheel electric motor. Its unique radial flux motor concept uses a dual-rotor configuration to produce copious amounts of torque fr… Continue reading Is this radical two-rotor hub motor the secret to cheap 500-mile EVs?

Video: Figure 01 humanoid trains for its first job assembling BMWs

Nearly six months ago, Figure announced its gleaming silver humanoid robot had got its first job working at a BMW manufacturing plant. It’s been training up for the occasion, and new video shows how far this general-purpose worker has come.Continue Rea… Continue reading Video: Figure 01 humanoid trains for its first job assembling BMWs

The U.S. auto industry’s dirty little secret: plummeting quality

Manufacturing a car involves choreographing hundreds of parts, most of which are created somewhere else, to be at the same spot at the same time for final assembly. Given the widespread adoption of “just in time” manufacturing methodology, it’s underst… Continue reading The U.S. auto industry’s dirty little secret: plummeting quality

BMW is building high-tech footwear for the German bobsleigh team

There’s only a few seconds of running in a bobsleigh heat, but one slip can skittle the whole team. Seeing the need for high-performance ice sport footwear, BMW has jumped in to build custom, 3D-printed traction aids for the 2025 Winter Olympics.Contin… Continue reading BMW is building high-tech footwear for the German bobsleigh team