BMW’s CS1 concept, which was unveiled this week at the Geneva Motor Show, offers a preview of the Munich manufacturer’s future design philosophy for its small cars. CARtoday.com brings you pictures and details of the future look of baby Beemers.
BMW’s CS1 concept, which was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show this week, offers a preview of the Munich manufacturer’s future design philosophy for its small cars. CARtoday.com brings you pictures and details of the future look of baby Beemers.
The CS1 is aesthetically speaking not simply a shrunken version of any other BMW model and has been designed to have a unique look.
Preview pictures of the BMW 7-Series, which will be launched in South Africa by the end of this month, the 6-Series and the Z5, which was featured by CARtoday.com last year, all indicate that the Munich manufacturer will in future give each model series a clear identity. However, a new model would retain subtle design features that make it instantly recognisable as a BMW.
“Short overhangs at the front and rear – typical of BMW – the sleek lines of its flanks and the sculptured sills, give the CS1 an elegant, yet dynamic look” – was the way that cardesignnews.com described the newcomer recently.
As these pictures show, the CS1 sports a sharply defined shoulder line running along the sides and across the rear and an aggressively styled nose-section, with a deep air dam. Twin, wrap-around headlamps feature the ring-shaped running lights, which have become a distinctive feature of the 5- and 7-Series. At the rear, double circular lights are illuminated by LEDs and act as the indicators and brake lights.
Making use of modern, lightweight materials like neoprene and matt-finished aluminium, the interior of the CS1 has been described as “a completely new take on car interiors”. Finely finished aluminium structures, covered with neoprene, form part of the cabin structures.
“A central spine runs down the middle of the car, dividing front and rear seats, and at the front ‘’wings’” branch off it under the dashboard,” the report said.
The other main material used in the cabin is brown nappa leather that features on the steering wheel, head rests and seat cushion. The side bolsters are in Nubuk leather and soft-touch, semi-transparent materials are used in some of the door fixtures.
The CS1 is proof that BMW’s iDrive-system, which is currently only available on the new 7-Series, will in future be standard equipment on most – if not all – BMWs. The iDrive simplifies the car’s control systems because primary controls needed to drive the car are all within a finger’s reach of the steering wheel and the major secondary controls are on the dashboard.
“The remainder are all operated using the large circular knob, positioned just behind the gear selector on the centre console, called the Controller. By pressing once on the Controller, the driver of the CS1 activates the system and a display screen rises into view, out of the aluminium dashboard,” reported.
The concept is powered by BMW’s four cylinder Valvetronic, 1,8-litre petrol engine. It develops 86 kW and 175 N.m of torque. The CS1 has its engine mounted longitudinally, and is rear-wheel driven. Large 18-inch wheels are shod with 215/45 tyres at the front and 235/45 tyres at the rear. Racing brakes have six-piston callipers at the front and four at the back.
Paddles mounted on the steering wheel are used to change gear via BMW’s SMG (Sequential Manual Gearbox) as available for the current M3. The clutch is operated electromagnetically, so there is no clutch pedal. Gearshifts take a fraction of a second. In slow city traffic the driver can choose the self-selecting mode, which allows the system to select the correct gear automatically.
