Munich / Essen. Visitors to the Techno Classica 2017
in Essen will find a unique diversity of vehicles, components and
services from the sphere of historic automobiles and motorcycles. From
5 April to 9 April 2017, the trade fair complex in Essen will once
again be the meeting point for the international classic car scene.
BMW Group Classic will be opening up completely new perspectives this
year for visitors to the world’s biggest specialist exhibition for
classic cars. The highlights from the history of the company are not
simply being presented at a new location. They can be found behind a
facade with an exceptional decorative design. The focus there is on
particularly striking innovations from the company’s model and
technology history. Twelve pioneering vehicles from the years 1936 to
1995 tell this story under the motto of “Our DNA: Innovation”.
Together with visitors to the exhibition, BMW Group Classic looks back
on developments such as 40 years of the BMW 7 Series and the
introduction of the twelve-cylinder engine in luxury saloons 30 years ago.
Renovation work means that this year the exhibition presentation by
BMW Group Classic is taking place in the temporary Hall 14 at the
eastern entrance to the exhibition complex. It is very obvious from
afar where rare treasures from the history of BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce
and BMW Motorrad are gathered together. The outer walls of Hall 14
have large-scale images showing the historic buildings of the Munich
Headquarters of BMW Group Classic.
40 years of luxury driving pleasure through the prism of the
7 Series.
40 years of BMW’s 7 Series is one of the landmark anniversaries being
celebrated at Techno Classica this year. Up until 1977, the “Grand
Series” was the epitome of sportiness and luxurious comfort in the
brand’s model range. The nomenclature still used today was also
applied to the top models of BMW at that time. The figure 7 in the
model designation is now already in the sixth generation, standing for
sheer driving pleasure, exclusivity and innovation at the apogee of
the vehicle range of BMW.
Seven paradigmatic examples from the history of the luxury saloon are
being presented at the Techno Classica 2017, including a
second-generation BMW 7 Series styled by fashion designer Karl
Lagerfeld, a film-starred vehicle from the 1997 James Bond thriller
film “Tomorrow never Dies”, a prototype powered by a 16-cylinder
engine and the latest top model in the range – the BMW M760Li xDrive.
Debut 30 years ago: The first German twelve-cylinder model
from the post-war period.
A sensational innovation that broke new ground was concealed under
the engine bonnet of the second generation of the BMW 7 Series. The
BMW 750i launched in 1987 was the first twelve-cylinder engine to
emerge from a German automobile manufacturer in the post-war era. The
power unit with a capacity of 5 litres generated maximum power of 300
hp and proved a source of fascination right from the start. The
engine’s silky smooth running characteristics underpinned the
aspiration of the brand to occupy a leading position in the luxury segment.
To this day, the twelve-cylinder engine has remained the ultimate
engine for power, silent running and image. Precisely 30 years after
its debut, the latest interpretation has a distinctly sporty feel
coupled with a high level of everyday practicality and unconstrained
comfort for epic journeys. The 6.6 litre twelve-cylinder engine
mounted in the BMW 760Li xDrive (combined fuel consumption:
12.8 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 294 g/km) generates maximum
power of 448 kW/610 hp and accelerates the BMW M Performance Model of
the BMW 7 Series from zero to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds.
Presented 30 years ago: The BMW Z1 roadster.
At the International Motor Show (IAA) in 1987, BMW presented not only
the BMW 750iL with a twelve-cylinder engine but also the BMW Z1
roadster. The two-seater with a front mid-engine, retractable doors,
steel monocoque and plastic outer skin had been developed by BMW
Technik GmbH. The specialists for research and technology innovations
had conceptualised the BMW Z1 as a pilot project for innovative
vehicle structures and materials. Simultaneously, they continued the
iconic roadster tradition of the brand that had been neglected since
the legendary BMW 507.
The BMW Z1 encountered an enthusiastic reception at its premiere. And
the initial test drives confirmed the impression conveyed by the
design. The roadster benefited from exceptional agility owing to the
inline six-cylinder engine generating 125 kW/170 hp, the high-quality
chassis and the perfectly balanced axle-load distribution. Between
1988 and 1991, some 8 000 units of the BMW Z1 were supplied. Today,
every one of the cars produced is regarded as a collectible.
Motor-sport anniversary: Four decades of youth development.
The BMW group is also celebrating a landmark anniversary in the
sphere of motor sport. The BMW Junior Team was launched in 1977 and
the beginnings of the team are being celebrated at Techno Classica in
2017 with a BMW 320 constructed on the basis of Group 5 rules.
BMW Motorsport GmbH transformed a pioneering concept for supporting
talented young drivers when it set up this team. The first generation
of BMW Juniors included Swiss driver Marc Surer, Manfred Winkelhock
from Germany and Eddie Cheever from the US. More recently, BMW’s
junior development programme has frequently formed a springboard for
exceptional racing careers. Drivers who have gathered their early
circuit-racing experience in this programme include Formula 1 World
Champions Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg, and German Touring Car
Champions (DTM) Marco Wittmann and Martin Tomczyk.
The most spectacular motor-sport success in the history of the MINI
brand is also celebrated in Essen. 50 years ago, Finnish racing driver
Rauno Aaltonen achieved overall victory in the classic Mini at the
Monte Carlo Rally. In January 1967, Aaltonen drove his Mini Cooper S
across the Monaco finishing line in a bravura end to the race. After
1964 and 1965, the little car from the United Kingdom had long since
been elevated to the status of darling of the public. This was the
third time that the Mini had succeeded in beating the significantly
more powerful competition.
“Club Stories”: from classic cars, their owners and their
history.
Apart from this year’s special anniversaries, BMW Group Classic is
also presenting lots of other unusual vehicles from all the eras in
the history of BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad. The
exceptionally diverse range of exhibits in Essen is due not least to
the efforts of BMW and the Mini Clubs. Once again, they have played a
leading role in putting together the collection for the exhibition of
historic vehicles.
Their dedication to engineering and tradition makes the members of
the clubs authentic ambassadors for each particular brand. They
demonstrate this enthusiasm with their commitment to caring for their
precious treasures and their willingness to share their expert
knowledge with newcomers to the classic scene. Their passion is
reflected in exciting stories of discovery, restoration and not least
driving valuable classic cars. They provide the content for the “Club
Stories” that are retold at Techno Classica 2017. These tales provide
a particularly vibrant picture of the pleasure to be gained from being
passionate about historic vehicles.
Outlook: BMW Group Classic presents the programme of the
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2017.
BMW Group Classic in Hall 14 provides all the classic car fans
gathered in Essen with an insight into the upcoming highlight in the
calendar of the international classic scene. This year, the Concorso
d’Eleganza Villa d’Este will once again attract owners and fans of
particularly precious beauties on two and four wheels to Lake Como in
Northern Italy. From 26 to 28 May 2017, the delightful grounds of
Villa d’Este and neighbouring Villa Erba will provide the backdrop for
the world’s most traditional and exclusive beauty contest for historic
automobiles and motorcycles.
The year the event is being held under the motto of “Around the World
in 80 Days – Voyage through an Era of Records” and connects the
beginnings of automobile history with the recent past. The vehicle
class of Concept Cars and Prototypes also represents the present and
future of automobile construction. The historic cars accepted for the
competition compete in eight classes for the favour of the
international Jury and the general public. Classic motorcycles are
presented in five competition categories and also in a Special Exhibition.