Munich. BMW continues its current luxury segment
product offensive with the development of a further model variant of
the new BMW 8 Series. With intensive function trials and test drives
between Las Vegas and Death Valley in the USA, the critical phase in
the series development for the new BMW 8 Series Convertible has now
begun. The results of so-called hot climate testing in the Western
United States provide important insights into the functional safety of
mechanical and electronic components under extreme weather conditions.
Temperatures of more than 50 degrees Celsius, extreme dust formation
on the edge of the desert, stop-and-go traffic on the Las Vegas Strip,
gravel tracks around Mount Whitney and long-distance journeys between
the Pacific coast and the Rocky Mountains characterise the challenging
test programme for the new BMW 8 Series Convertible on its way to
series maturity.
Weather conditions for a convertible definitely do not exist in Death
Valley. However, the heat and the extreme dryness of the national park
in the Mojave Desert do create the ideal conditions for an acid test
of a special kind. Inside a prototype of the BMW 8 Series Convertible
that has previously stood for hours in the blazing sun, BMW engineers
check the onboard electronics, the hi-fi system, sensors and cameras
for the driver assistant systems, displays for the new BMW Operating
System 7.0, connectivity functions, seat adjustment and, at the very
end, the automatic climate control. The camouflaged prototype’s trip
to the Hoover Dam poses an additional challenge to the vehicle’s
electronics. The exceptionally strong electromagnetic waves from the
hydropower plant turbines installed there are the ultimate yardstick
for the insensitivity of the electronic systems to external sources of interference.
Furthermore, on endless tracks leading across the steppe and through
the legendary Death Valley, the dust-proofness of the multi-layer
soft-top and the roof mechanism are put to the test. The hardships
suffered by testers and vehicle alike create the foundation for a new
form of open-air enjoyment in the luxury segment. The new BMW 8 Series
Convertible combines stylish elegance, exclusiveness and individuality
with cutting edge equipment features in the areas of driver
assistance, operation and networking. Moreover, the car’s fascinating
character is enhanced by high-quality drive and suspension technology
with which the BMW 8 Series Coupe has already redefined sporty driving
pleasure in the luxury segment.
Hot climate testing has a similar level of significance for the
series development of the new BMW 8 Series Convertible as has the
programme at the Winter Testing Centre in Arjeplog, Sweden, as well as
intensive test drives on the BMW Group proving ground in Miramas in
Southern France and on the Nürburgring. Only when thousands of
kilometres have finally been completed can developers rest assured
that with the open-top model of the BMW 8 Series they are putting on
the road a true dream car designed for the luxury segment.