The last 12 months have been clouded by the economic crisis but some companies have continued to do well thanks to their inherent quality. BMW is definitely one of them, as Andrea Castronovo, the president and managing director of BMW Italia explained in a press conference on the opening day of the 2009 EICMA show: “BMW is as strong as in the past. Last year’s market may have been compared to ten years ago but BMW’s presence has grown from 8% to 14%”
One of the most successful models is the R1200 GS, currently the enduro model with the best selling figures in the Italian market. Now there is also the R1200 RT that has a new boxer DOHC engine and ESA suspension to guarantee high performance and excellent comfort.
Of course the star of the BMW stand at EICMA is the new Concept 6. It represents the introduction of a new six-cylinder engine in the world of two wheels. “It’s an innovative and fascinating model because it brings together all the usual characteristics of a BMW motorbike with a six-cylinder engine. It is clearly visible from every angle of the motorbike, while also being covered by the aerodynamic faring,” David Robb, Vice President and responsible for design development explained.
The Concept 6 engine is extremely compact. It is 100mm narrower that other six-cylinder engines that have been built and only slightly larger than a four-cylinder engine. The Concept 6 offers smoother power and performance but is also gives extra attention to the environment because fuel consumption of a six-cylinder engines are less than four-cylinder engines. The E-Gas technology also creates extra power by optimizing fuel consumption and power output.
As ever, BMW offers a mix of style, innovation and technology.
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