Day: June 22, 2024

Although Australians seem to share extra with the British than with People, their auto trade traditionally has been nearer to ours on account of their love for the V8. Their home-brewed automobiles might not have seemed like ours, however the exhaust notes typically seemed like ours. If this appears like your bag, the Gold Coast Muscle Automotive Museum is your new joint to see Aussie efficiency historical past and extra.

The museum is “essentially the most superb non-public assortment of Australian muscle automobiles” of the 1950-70s. Positioned in Bundall, Queensland, the museum will get its title from the close by metropolis of Gold Coast, which simply so occurs to be the sixth-largest within the nation. On show are Chargers, Falcons of various stripes, SLR5000 Toranas (a sort of Holden), and each Monaro mannequin constructed from 1968-76 (sure, one other Holden product).

And in case you’re a Mad Max fan, there’s a reproduction of the Interceptor, which was a extremely modified Falcon from the 1970s. In the event you squint, you may even see some 1972 Torino in it – clearly it’s a Ford product from the identical period.

The identical could possibly be stated of the Monaro, which additionally mimicked the design language of Common Motors automobiles of the time, with the late 1960s ones typically giving GM c.1968 vibes.

In addition to the automobiles, there’s a magazine wheel show and a working tune-up machine from the 1970s.

Muscle bike lovers are usually not overlooked because the museum has a Honda 750 4 and a Kwaka 900 (apparently, that’s a nickname for Kawasaki) on show.

Including to the enjoyable quotient are the free pinball machines and a enjoyable Scalextric monitor. And in case you get thirsty, a classic comfortable drink machine (or “pop” to you Midwesterners).

To be taught extra concerning the Gold Coast Muscle Automotive Museum, go to www.musclecarmuseum.com.au.

BMW Plant Spartanburg has marked its 30th anniversary with the opening of a state-of-the-art press store, simply in time for the upcoming launch of the brand new BMW X3. This new facility will deal with the manufacturing of the X3’s outer pores and skin, together with its exterior physique sides, doorways, aspect panels, and tailgate.

Throughout a ceremony in Spartanburg, Milan Nedeljković, BMW AG Board of Administration member liable for Manufacturing, emphasised the plant’s pivotal position within the firm and the promising future forward. “After 30 years of profitable manufacturing, we’re additional increasing our dedication. In late 2026, manufacturing of fully-electric Sports activities Exercise Autos will get underway right here in Spartanburg – an extra step in the direction of strengthening our world resilience,” mentioned Nedeljković.

BMW has invested over $200 million in setting up the 20,000-square-meter press store, which took below two years from preparation to stamping the primary components. This funding has created greater than 200 new jobs in numerous fields, together with software and die technicians, and electrical and mechanical upkeep for automated equipment. Dozens of associates from Plant Spartanburg educated at BMW Group press outlets within the UK and Germany to organize for this launch.

By 2030, no less than six fully-electric fashions might be produced on the US plant. Excessive-voltage batteries for these automobiles might be equipped from a brand new meeting facility in close by Woodruff, the place BMW is establishing a unit for sixth-generation batteries.

Excessive-Tech Press Store Produces As much as 10,000 Elements Each day

The press store begins the automotive manufacturing course of, dealing with massive metal or aluminum coils unloaded from vehicles utilizing a 55-ton overhead crane. These coils are minimize into blanks, that are then fed right into a five-phase press line for forming into ultimate physique parts.

Geared up with cutting-edge servo know-how, the press line ensures excessive effectivity and precision. An overhead crane strikes the proper press software into every station, and robot-like automation know-how, generally known as the “crossbar feeder,” transfers blanks between stations. Able to working as much as 18 strokes per minute, the road can produce over 10,000 parts each day.

As soon as stamped, components bear high quality management inspection utilizing particular lighting that mimics pure daylight, earlier than being stacked into containers for supply to the physique store. The plant additionally has a closed-loop materials cycle for scrap metallic, amassing as much as 60 tons of scrap each day for recycling and reuse.

Practically Seven Million BMWs in 30 Years

Since its inception, Plant Spartanburg has assembled greater than 6.7 million BMWs. The plant employs over 11,000 folks and manufactures greater than 1,500 automobiles each day, making it considered one of BMW Group’s largest amenities globally. The campus options three physique outlets, two paint outlets, and two meeting halls, and generates about 20% of its energy from recycled methane gasoline and makes use of hydrogen gas cell know-how for logistics automobiles.