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BMW's DriveNow car sharing shutting down in SF next month

BMW's DriveNow car-sharing service is suspending operations in San Francisco next month after more than three years. The culprit? Not enough parking spots in the City. BMW debuted both DriveNow car-sharing and its ParkNow service in the City by the Bay in August 2012, initially launching with the ActiveE plug-in vehicle and later moving over to the i3. While there probably wasn't a shortage of folks looking to drive those cars, it was the ending part of that equation that proved problematic. That's because San Francisco hasn't been able to clear out enough street-parking spots to make the program work properly, despite adding 80 spaces for the 150 cars in the program back in 2014. "We hope to return to San Francisco in the future and will continue to engage with the City on possible solutions that will allow you to experience the full benefits of our one-way car sharing service," said DriveNow CEO Richard Sternberg on the company's website. "In the meantime, we are focusing our efforts on new cities where our transportation solution can flourish. We would like to thank you for your loyal support and embracing flexible car sharing as an alternative transportation method." As far as that expansion to other US cities, BMW hasn't been specific. Bimmer also runs the DriveNow program in three Germany cities as well as Copenhagen, Vienna and London. So, DriveNow apparently has an easier time finding parking spots in London than in San Francisco. Why BMW couldn't use a flexible parking system for its one-way rentals like the similar Car2go program uses remains a mystery. Related Gallery BMW i3 Available Through DriveNow In Germany View 17 Photos News Source: DriveNow via BMW BlogImage Credit: DriveNow/Facebook Green BMW California parking drivenow

LA Design Challenge invokes biology for 2025 concepts [w/poll]

Participants in the annual LA Design Challenge always manage to come up with edgy, wacky designs for future vehicles, but with a theme of "Biomimicry and Mobility: 2025" this year's crop of cars might be the quirkiest we've ever seen. As usual, automotive designers from around the world participated in this year's competition, and all the designs will all be unveiled next week during the LA Auto Show with a winner being announced on November 21.
Chinese automakers made a strong showing with Qoros, SAIC Motor, JAC Motors (the company responsible for the Ford F-150 clone) and Changfeng all bringing interesting takes on the biology, human intelligence and sustainability theme. One of the more innovative ideas among these automakers is the Qoros Silk Road System allows autonomous vehicles to drive in packs similar to how ants travel. Speaking of ants, the SAIC Motor Mobiliant (shown above) gets its design from the shape of an ant's body, and, like the insect, it can climb building acting as a personal elevator as well. The JAC Motors design also merges vehicle and building design, while the Changfeng LaBrea inspired by the design of muscle fibers.
Other entrants include Subaru and US-based design teams for BMW, Toyota and Mazda. BMW's duo of concepts mimic plant and animal life. The LA Subways concept acts as a submersible, single-person vehicle to take advantage of the LA river, with a shape similar to an Ocean Sunfish. The Sustainable Efficient Exploratory Device (SEED) imitates the shape of a seed pod, and uses propulsion methods inspired by a shark, dragonfly and a water bug. Mazda's Auto Adapt might be the most car-like concept of the bunch, while the Subaru Suba-Roo and the Calty-designed, Toyota e-grus are the most mind-blowingly awesome.

BMW reveals Concept Compact Sedan in Guangzhou

While our eyes were fixed on Los Angeles, BMW turned its attention to Guangzhou, China, where the German automaker unveiled the Concept Compact Sedan. The show car envisions a Bavarian rival to the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class and Audi A3 sedan. Munich released little in the way of technical details. Instead, the Concept Compact Sedan is all about the design. Relative to its form, the show car rides on a long wheelbase, with the wheels pushed to the corners, and a greenhouse set back behind a long hood. The details are distinctly Bimmer, from the signature double-kidney grille to the Hofmeister kink in the C-pillar. The horizontal lines of the front and rear fascias are designed to maximize the vehicle's visual width, and the muscular design integrates touch-sensitive door handles below the swage line for a cleaner look. All that is rendered in liquid metal bronze paint, offset by polished aluminum brightwork and 20-inch split-spoke alloys. Geared towards the "life of a generation of youth in China," the interior is designed around the driver, but also seeks to maximize rear-seat space despite the vehicle's compact footprint. The horizontal treatment continues inside to give the impression of space, with upscale materials like three-tone Nappa leather, open-pore wood, and brushed aluminum trim with orange accents and ambient lighting. All the auxiliary surfaces are controlled by touch panels on the steering wheel, center stack, center console, and door handles. There's a panoramic roof, a head-up display for the driver, and an 8.8-inch screen in the dashboard. The sum total is a compelling preview of what a four-door addition to the 1 Series and 2 Series could look like. And to our eyes, it looks like it would be just as home on American roads as it would be in China, Europe, or anywhere else for that matter. Check it out in the high-res image gallery above and the details in the press release below. BMW Concept Compact Sedan. Sporty, elegant, exclusive – the perfect statement-maker. 20.11.2015 Munich/Guangzhou. The BMW Group has chosen Auto Guangzhou 2015, one of the largest international motor shows in China, to present a very special new development to the global public: the company's vision of a four-door sedan for the compact segment. "The BMW Concept Compact Sedan reveals the potential we see in a compact sedan," says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design.