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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

BMW i3 gets tuner treatment from Eve.Ryn

The BMW i3, especially when wearing its Capparis White paint job, already looks a bit like some sort of futuristic escape pod launched to Earth from a spaceship. It was only a matter of time until the electric car got touched by the eager hands of a tuner to make it even more eye-popping. It is, after all, a BMW. Japanese tuner Garage Eve.Ryn appears to be the first to give the i3 the inevitable once over. The result is a much more aggressive-looking EV, called the i3 EVO. We say aggressive-looking, because we have no information to suggest that the makeover was anything but cosmetic. The i3 EVO has slightly exaggerated fender flares, which stand out with their strips of carbon fiber along the edge. The redesigned front bumper looks like it could have been fashioned out of Star Wars stormtrooper armor, complete with fake air intakes and, of course, a helping of carbon. The rear end gets a diffuser, too. The large wheels feature blue accents, which help to highlight the Ice Blue bits already on the vehicle. For a closer look, check out the i3 EVO photos in the gallery and there are more like it on Eve.Ryn's Facebook page, in galleries here, here and here, as well as a more recent set of images showing the car emblazoned with Energy Motor Sport (a company that appears closely related to Eve.Ryn, on the distribution end) decals on the sides. There's no telling what the body kit does for the aerodynamics of the car, but it would be interesting to find out what effect Eve.Ryn's handiwork has on the i3's range. Either way, this surely won't be the last time a tuner finds a way to reimagine the BMW i3, so, love it or hate it, you might as well get used to it.

BMW C 650 scooters refreshed with Side View Assist

Beyond just building a full lineup of automobiles and a plethora of motorcycles, BMW is a player in the scooter market, too. As part of a refresh to the company's C650 GT and Sport models, the GT is now available with an optional Side View Assist blind-spot monitoring system. This marks a first for the two-wheeled segment. As the demonstration video above shows, Side View Assist is quite similar to what's found in many modern automobiles. The tech uses sensors positioned at each corner to monitor over 16 feet around the scooter. If the system detects a vehicle hanging out in the blind spot, then the rider sees a triangle as warning on the mirror stalk. Both the C650 GT and Sport fall into the niche known as maxi-scooters that offer much of the capability of a more traditional motorcycle. They're quicker than the little models you might see puttering around city streets, but maintain the foot-forward riding position of that classic design. For this refresh, the BMWs get an updated CVT with a revised ratio spread, and the 647cc inline two-cylinder engine is offered in 59- and 47-horsepower forms. Both scooters are quite rider-friendly, too. With this new update, stability control joins anti-lock brakes on the list of standard safety features. There's an automatic daytime riding light, and suspension setup is tweaked for a more comfortable ride. BMW leaves absolutely no detail unexplored in the company's announcement, below. 1. The new BMW C 650 Sport. The new BMW C 650 GT. (Short version) With the new BMW C 650 Sport and C 650 GT, BMW Motorrad continues its series of premium vehicles in the maxi scooter segment. Perfect for the city and urban environment, they combine practicality and cost-efficiency with maximum riding fun and touring comfort. In addition to this, they also provide enjoyment for riders with sporty ambitions on winding country roads as well as riding fun on lengthier tours, too. The new C 650 Sport and C 650 GT – dynamic maxi scooters for sports, touring and urban cruising. The differing conceptual emphasis of each of the two BMW maxi scooters enables a broader target group to be addressed than previously: the C 650 Sport is geared towards riders with a sporty bent while the C 650 GT sets its sights on those who attach greater importance to comfort and touring capability. The new C 650 Sport and the new C 650 GT now go further towards addressing these aspirations.