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Ford, GM still doing new business with Takata amidst airbag crisis

Lengthy vehicle development times make it difficult for automakers to cut and run from the supplier. You might expect automakers to be fleeing any connection with beleaguered supplier Takata in the wake of the company's exploding airbag inflator crisis. After all, with a Senate hearing, pending lawsuit, plummeting stock value and demand for a national recall, the tier-one supplier isn't at its strongest right now. However, years of cooperation mean that automakers are standing by Takata, and necessity may be playing a role, as well. About 39 percent of Takata's business comes from airbags, and seatbelts make up another significant chunk of the operation too, says Bloomberg. The long-term relationships and lengthy vehicle development times make it difficult for automakers to cut and run from the supplier. "Takata has so much product breadth that I don't really see that they could just disappear," said AutoPacific analyst Dave Sullivan to Bloomberg. For example, Takata helped develop the unique front center airbag with General Motors in models like the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave. Outside of safety tech, it is also a partner with Ford on the adaptive steering system available on the upcoming 2015 Edge. These long-lasting partnerships make change difficult now that there's a problem. According to Reuters, automakers claim it would take a year or longer to set up with a different supplier for replacement airbag inflators. Switching to a completely different part for the repairs might not be a viable option either, because of the engineering time needed. BMW is taking action, though. According to Reuters, the Bavarian brand is working with the supplier to move inflator production from Monclova, Mexico, to a Takata factory in Freiburg, Germany. The Mexican plant may be the source of some of the faulty parts. News Source: Bloomberg, ReutersImage Credit: Jens Meyer / AP Photo BMW Ford GM Safety Takata airbag recall

BMW intros Concept M4 GTS ahead of Pebble Beach debut

Meet the BMW Concept M4 GTS. Coming to this weekend's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the new high-performance coupe gets both performance and aesthetic upgrades as it previews a higher-performance version of BMW's two-door darling. The headlining item is the new water-injection system. As previously reported, the setup draws from a 1.3-gallon water tank and was pioneered by the M4 Safety Car used in the MotoGP series. The new system injects water directly into the plenums of the intake manifold, where it is vaporized. The result is a lower compression temperature in the combustion chamber, which according to BMW means more horsepower and torque. You can get a broader explanation in the attached press release. Beyond the water-injection system, the M4 GTS will get OLED taillights. Their function sounds very German – "producing full-surface and homogenous illumination" – but we simply prefer the impact they've had on the look of the rear lights. It's markedly different than anything else in the BMW suite. There is a mix of aesthetic and performance upgrades to the normal M4 exterior, too. BMW has fitted manually adjustable aerodynamic aids, with a new chin splitter and a prominent rear spoiler. Both items are, unsurprisingly, made from exposed carbon fiber. BMW also turned to composites for the hood, opting for carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. We're particularly fond of the M4 GTS' wheels. They're absolutely stunning staggered hoops, with 19-inchers in front and 20s in back. The 666M style, as BMW calls them, feature Acid Orange accents that really play well with the Frozen Dark Grey paint (although they clash quite badly with the yellow calipers on the carbon-ceramic brakes). Stay tuned for more on the new Concept M4 GTS, including live images from its debut in sunny California. Until then, scroll down for the official press release from BMW. Related Video: BMW Concept M4 GTS to be Premiered During Monterey Car Week. The First M3/ M4 Special Production Car to be Sold in the US. Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – EMBARGO: August 13, 2015 – 9:00pm EDT/6:00pm PDT...A year on from the launch of the BMW M4 Coupe, BMW M GmbH is presenting an initial preview of a high-performance model for use on the road and on the race track: the BMW Concept M4 GTS – the first M3/M4 special production vehicle to be sold in the US. The BMW M GmbH was founded in 1972 as BMW Motorsport GmbH and caused a sensation with its iconic BMW M1 racing car.

Former BMW M boss and Maserati CEO killed in freak motorcycle accident

It's a tragic coincidence that on the same weekend the BMW M4 Coupe Concept was introduced in Monterey, one of the men most integral to BMW's M and Motorsports divisions, Karl-Heinz Kalbfell, was killed in England. Kalbfell, a vintage motorcycle enthusiast, was set to compete in the Lansdowne Classic Series at Brands Hatch and had an accident during a practice session. After going wide at Druids Corner and falling, he was hit by a competitor following close behind and died of his injuries after being transported to hospital.
Kalbfell, an engineer, began his career at BMW in 1977 in the communications department; a decade later he was chairman of BMW M GmbH, overseeing development of some of the cars responsible for the myth of M. In 1994 he was named chairman of BMW Motorsport, and his cap full of feathers includes getting the BMW V12 into the McLaren F1, getting the BMW V8 into two Morgan cars, along with developing BMW's Formula One engine and return to the sport. Not incidentally, he also assumed leadership of Project Rolls-Royce after BMW bought the British marque in 1998, which means he oversaw the Goodwood factory upfit and the creation of the Phantom.
He left Rolls-Royce for a brief stint at Fiat, heading Alfa Romeo and Maserati, then went into consulting for clients like Lotus and Paragon, who built the Artega GT. As Autocar notes, Kalbfell "had an abiding sense that customers needed to be attracted to cars by their aura and reputation, not just their engineering." He will be missed.