2008 New York Auto Show- BMW Part 1 March 20, 2008 Thanks to Jon Trudel- his pictures start with "IMG", mine with "DSC": For more pictures from the show, please see JonT's web site. More also on the New York Auto Show web site. March 28 update: Albert Lee's pics from the Auto show. BMW Part 1:  CS Concept Car, ///M3 Coupé, ///M3 Convertible, ///M3 Race Car BMW/New Yorker Party: Cartoons, Gifts, BMW Hydrogen BMW Part 2: 1 Series coupé, Convertible, 6 Series, X6, Advanced Diesel Other Marques:  Mercedes, Porsche, Pontiac Solstice, Saleen, Dodge Zeo, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Dodge Challenger and a few others Conclusions:  Faces, BMW got the message, Heritage, Convertible Hard Top Trunk Space - the Final Frontier DSC00169 BMW Concept CS- It's the first thing you see as you approach the BMW area. If you don't feel an attraction to this car, stop reading now and check to see if you have a pulse. DSC00118 BMW comes roaring back with a sophisticated imposing and utterly handsome design. DSC00119 Just in case anyone thought BMW forgot how to be attractive from any angle. DSC00120 Any questions? DSC00121 No, I didn't think so. DSC00123 No design errors, except that aside from the face, it's a little bland. DSC00124 No design errors. DSC00125 I'm never going to like the addition of the iDrive knob, like some large pimple or wart sticking out of the console. DSC00126 As a roadster owner, I'm always interested in trunk space. Cavernous. DSC00131 The convertible M3 debut in New York City. Once again, impeccable design. DSC00133 Impeccable, but again a bit boring from the A pillar back to the trunk for an ///M3 convertible for my taste. Put some curves on the body of that car, please? DSC00129 Again, nice but no sex. DSC00152 Cold Air is sucked from the top of the engine. At the time I thought this was a major improvement over the "straw to the highway" Dinan Cold Air Intake, but now I am wondering how to keep the rain out from falling from above? DSC00151 mmmMMmmmmm V8 (Homer Simpson voice) Today's BMW at the Auto Show is brought to you by... the letter "///M" DSC00158 M... the most powerful letter in the world... Brought to you by the letter ///M... IMG_0674 We love the letter M and all it's details on the car... DSC00130 This is a sweet gill. BMW learned a lesson about gills. The Z3 gill is revered, getting rid of the gill in the Z4 was a loss, and lighting and celebrating the gill in the Z8 was a big plus. So... in 2008 ladies and gentlemen, BMW makes a lighted, curvy, ///M logo gill/turn signal placed temptingly in a scoop IMG_0670 There is no bad angle to view this car, in fact every angle provides and opportunity to enjoy another set of lines and curves. IMG_0629 Lessons BMW learned: the gill is BACK and BETTER, no triangle window, no boot, convertible hard top, no gap in the boot... yep this is a car I had to try to sit in. It makes you want to go vroom, Vrroom, VRRRROOOOOM IMG_0634 JonT's smile says the same thing- over the hood air intake. DSC00128 Rear view, also nice- still kinda missing something... DSC00127 But this is the convertible hard top ///M3 trunk space with the top down. :( Since BMW seems to be reading my mind (or my web site?)- as you will see I will compare this year's exhibit to the conclusions I wrote for the 2007 NY Auto Show- so let me try to channel them this: Convertible owners wont care if the top looks bad up, as long as we have trunk space when it's down. We don't plan to have the roof up much. Get it? DSC00134 M3 interior. iDrive wart. DSC00135 Oh right- no clutch on the floor. Shifting with paddles instead. Uh huh. And another level of driving where the car shifts for you, but its not an "automatic". Uh huh. When I asked if someone could get in this car and drive it without prior instructions the answer was " Sure, as long as they first change the ramsatz quidget and make sure the fritzbot was released..." Or something like that. I am against all this stuff. I am sure its just great for people who know how to use it. I say, keep it simple. DSC00140 ///M3 Race Car. How could I not take a picture of this car? DSC00139 From every angle...but I was skipping through the BMW cars on my way ... DSC00138 to the party... BMW Part 1:  CS Concept Car, ///M3 Coupé, ///M3 Convertible, ///M3 Race Car BMW/New Yorker Party: Cartoons, Gifts, BMW Hydrogen BMW Part 2: 1 Series coupé, Convertible, 6 Series, X6, Advanced Diesel Other Marques:  Mercedes, Porsche, Pontiac Solstice, Saleen, Dodge Zeo, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Dodge Challenger and a few others Conclusions:  Faces, BMW got the message, Heritage, Convertible Hard Top Trunk Space - the Final Frontier saw BMW in the funny papers since March 25, 2008

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