DETROIT, March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on a survey of readers opinions,
the editors of Automotive Engineering International have selected the BMW 7
Series as the "Best Engineered Car of 2002." The announcement coincided with
the opening of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE International) 2002
World Congress, March 4 - 7, in Detroit, Michigan.
The 7 Series was selected because it points the way for not only
luxury/performance sedans, but also other vehicle segments. Company product
developers integrated many new technologies into the fourth-generation BMW
flagship in an effort to set new standards in performance and efficiency, as
well as luxury, design, and safety.
Engineering advances include a powertrain featuring a revolutionary
throttle-less family of engines and the world's first six-speed automatic
transmission. Other engineering firsts include: engine intake manifold with
continuously variable intake-tube length; aluminum brake calipers and brake
booster; electromechanical parking brake; and MOST-based navigation and
multimedia systems.
To enable improved ride comfort and handling, the 7 Series combines an
all-aluminum suspension with Active Roll Stabilization to reduce body roll
during cornering. A lateral-acceleration sensor detects when the vehicle
enters a corner or curve, which generates automatic adjustments.
One of the most significant advancements is called iDrive, which enables a
drastic reduction in and reorientation of controls with an innovative
human/machine interface. Engineers divided the vehicle's control environment
into two areas; all primary driver controls are clustered around the steering
wheel, while functions such as basic climate and audio controls are in their
customary places.
The SAE 2002 World Congress, a showplace of automotive engineering
technology, continues through Thursday, March 7th, at Cobo Center in Detroit.
For more information, log onto the World Congress web site at
http://www.sae.org/congress.
SOURCE Society of Automotive Engineers
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Related links:
http://www.sae.org
http://www.sae.org/congress
CONTACT:
Keith Hancock, Corporate Public Relations of
SAE, +1-724-772-8516, or khancock@sae.org
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