BMW
BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke) was founded in Munich in 1916, initially manufacturing aircraft engines before expanding into motorcycles and automobiles during the 1920s. Headquartered at its iconic four-cylinder tower in Munich, the German automaker built its global reputation around rear-wheel-drive chassis dynamics and inline-six engines, positioning its cars directly around driver engagement.
As the flagship brand of the BMW Group - which also owns Mini and Rolls-Royce - the company structures its core lineup around sedan lines such as the 3 Series and 5 Series, the X-line of SUVs, and high-performance variants developed by its M division. Under its "i" sub-brand, BMW is progressively shifting its portfolio toward modular electric architectures and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
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Facts
The Z8's proportions, with a long hood and short tail, deliberately referenced the 1950s BMW 507.
The M1's wedge-shaped body was designed at Italdesign under Giorgetto Giugiaro, evolving themes from the earlier BMW Turbo concept.
The BMW 507 was styled by Albrecht Graf von Goertz, whose proposal was selected for production in the mid-1950s.
BMW initially planned to produce the M1 with Lamborghini, but the Italian company's financial problems forced the project to be reorganized.
The BMW M1 was conceived around Group 4 racing homologation, which required a production run of road cars.
The M1 was the first car developed by BMW Motorsport GmbH as a distinct model rather than a performance derivative of an existing BMW.
From late 1957, the so-called Series II gained changes including a rear-right fuel filler and a taller dashboard that could accommodate a radio.
U.S. importer Max Hoffman pressed BMW to create an elegant sports model capable of attracting American buyers, helping to set the 507 project in motion.
A price of about 26,500 Deutsche Marks placed the 507 at the very top of the market and helped keep the model exceptionally rare.
The BMW Z8 appeared in the 1999 James Bond film “The World Is Not Enough,” near the beginning of the model's production life.
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