thepeopleseason: (burrito)
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About two years ago, I had BMW send me the BMW Films on DVD--the series of short film/commercials starring Clive Owen as "The Driver," a sort of mercenary-behind-the-wheel-for-hire. The set includes shorts by Guy Ritchie, Wong Kar-Wai, John Frankenheimer, and John Woo, all about a different job for The Driver.

I mention this because it was in these films that I first saw the BMW Z4 Roadster. I've ridden in the earlier incarnation, and I always thought the styling of the Z3 left much to be desired. In my opinion the Z4 has a better look--more streamlined, less clumsy. So imagine some two years later that I finally see what's one of the neatest style choices on the Z4.

Pictured at the right, you can see the Z4's side marker. On just about every other car, the side marker is just a simple reflector lens, generally that safety yellow/orange color, stuck on the side of the car, blinking in unison with the turn signals. Most car manufacturers will try to make the side marker unobtrusive. The Z4, however, incorporates the side marker into the design of the car--surrounding the BMW emblem is a concave circle, and when the turn signal turns on, it backlights the emblem. Way cool.

So why did it take me two years to discover this? Why do all the "car people" I tell this to not already know about it? I guess average BMW drivers (in Atlanta, no less) tend to eschew the use of their turn signals...

Date: 2005-06-23 04:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flattop.livejournal.com
I knew about that. I saw it at the car show a while back and actually made a comment to whomever I was with (Thomas?) that they has really put some thought into a mundane aspect of building the car. Of course, it also looks like you could push or pull on the BMW emblem and it should do something cool. But it doesn't. Doesn't move at all, actually.

Date: 2005-06-23 07:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flattop.livejournal.com
I don't know about that, it is on the outside of the car. You wouldn't want random pedestrians putting you in orbit at their whimsy.

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