After revealing the prototype system at the BMW Innovations Day in Munich last month, the German automobile maker had announced the release of their innovative safe parking technology called BMW Remote Park Assist. By August 2006, BMW owners will be able to park their BMW cars by using a remote control. This feature would also be able to increase the car’s child safety features.

The BMW Remote Park Assist allows BMW drivers to stand beside their car while it parks itself in the garage. BMW cars can be reversed or locked in place from its parking position using the driver monitoring pedestrian traffic. With this, the risk of reversing and bumping into children is reduced.

Vehicle guidance is being controlled by pressing a button on the remote key and the car moves at 2.5 km/hour. Smart sensors control the movement and these are assisted by a special mirror mounted in the garage. The sensors detect hurdles and prevent the car from hitting them, thus reducing the damage on BMW auto parts. When the button on the remote key is released, the car will stop moving.

Raymond Freymann, Head of Research and Technology of BMW Group, further explains how the BMW Remote Park Assist works: “The fully automatic garage parking assistant is a vehicle system which enables a vehicle to drive into a garage fully automatically. In order to enable this, we of course have to know where the vehicle is positioned relative to the garage. To this end, there is a camera mounted on the windscreen pointing ahead at the garage. On the back wall of the garage we attach a so-called “lenticular reflector”. This lenticular reflector gives us two pieces of information: firstly the distance of the vehicle from the back wall. If the camera sees the reflector in small size, this means it is a long way. If the camera sees the reflector in large size, this simply means that the vehicle is near the wall. Secondly you have a very clear view of the angle at which the camera is pointing at the reflector since there is a black line moving backwards and forwards. So you have two pieces of information – the size of the reflector and the angle relative to the back wall. Now the position of the vehicle is known and I can define the trajectories for the vehicle to move completely automatically into the garage. This is essentially the sensor system we have installed for the Automatic Park Assistant. Of course, what else do I need to control the whole operation? It has to be possible to control the engine and transmission electronically, I have to be able to operate the brake electronically from the vehicle and of course the accelerator too. But that’s all the systems I need so as to be able to have the vehicle drive into the garage completely automatically.”

BMW said that their innovative BMW Remote Park Assist system is ideal for restricted parking areas like apartment buildings and town houses.

Pontiac, which has been introduced as the ‘companion’ marque to GM’s Oakland Motor Car line by General Motors in the year 1926, has been the subject of recent speculation in the automotive industry. The speculation involves the issue of probable partnership between Pontiac and BMW. The hype was intensified by General Motors czar, Bob Lutz when he said that he wants to make Pontiac the “American BMW”.

Pontiac is a mid-level brand in the GM lineup. It features sporty and youthful vehicles with high-performance Pontiac performance parts that are sold at reasonable prices. The pioneer General Motors Pontiac was the six cylinder model which was not designed to compete with four cylinder models.

BMW, on the other hand, is a renowned automaker. It has more than 10 years experience in manufacturing Z3 and Z4. Its name has already gained not only fame but reputation in vehicle manufacturing. Some critics are having qualms about the partnership issue because they are thinking that BMW will not allow such thing.

With the announcement of Lutz of his desire to combine Pontiac and BMW capabilities, the automobile fanatics expressed mixed reaction. Some consider the idea laughable in the light of the company’s recent lineup. On the other side of it, some are looking forward for the accomplishment of said endeavor.

Auto Bild, a German car magazine has also publicized its speculation about a down-market Z-car to slot just below the Z4, where the original 4-cylinder Z3 was just a tad larger than the MX-5 Miata, the next-generation Z4 moved up significantly in size and price.

The partnership of the two automakers may be impossible to some but there is still a great possibility for it. Mazda MX-5 Miata. Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice are intriguing vehicles. Their sales percentage is constantly growing. Nonetheless, if the partnership of the two automakers prospers, the query that must be contemplated is whether people would actually shop.

“The BMW 3 Series continues to be our best seller, and we expect similar tremendous success for the new BMW 3 Series Coupe. This new model is everything that BMW cars stand for – prestige, power, and performance.”

These are the words that Peter Ihde uttered. Ihde is the National Sales Manager for AGMC, which is actually the exclusive importer of vehicle brands like BMW, MINI, and Rolls Royce in Middle East areas like Dubai, Northern Emirate, and Sharjah. And what could be more interesting for Middle East natives is that the new BMW 3 Series coupe model is now already available in showrooms in Dubai.

Ihde further exclaims, “Despite its close technical ties with the BMW 3 Series Saloon, designers set out to differentiate the two door model more than its predecessors. From the front, side and rear, the car is clearly related to other 3 Series models but has its classically elongated shape. Adopting BMW’s typical Coupe proportions of long wheelbase, short overhangs, long bonnet, cabin set to the rear and a low, sleek roofline, the new 3 Series Coupe has an elegant profile.”

The new and updated version of the BMW 3 Series Coupe is quite a vehicle to behold. In fact, experts in the automotive industry firmly believe that this vehicle has already become the start and has set a new trend in vehicle dynamics and style. Popularity wise, this vehicle is one of those that people immediately recall. After all, it looks great, performs well, and has been created to be easy to maintain with just the proper parts BMW readily available in the market.

Those who were lucky enough to be the first people to take a look at this coveted vehicle found the BMW 3 Series coupe to be more than just elegant. In fact, the design that it holds is exceptional in itself. Aside from that, the power that this vehicle offers is much more than you would hope a vehicle would be. Sure, it does come with an engine that has a twin turbocharger plus six straight cylinders for power.