BMW: the history of the brand. Automobiles & Motorcycles

German cars are known for their functionality and practicality throughout the world. The BMW brand is especially notable , it produces not just technological, but also truly luxurious cars. It has quite an interesting and complex history, which extends over a span of more than a hundred years. Every fan of the brand will be useful to know it. The way from the production of aircraft engines to the manufacture of high-tech supercars is admirable.

Company appearance

The BMW company is located in Munich. Here is the headquarters where research takes place and developments are underway. The beginning of history also began in this city. In 1913 Karl Rapp and Gustav Otto discovered two small firms with shops on the northern outskirts of Munich. They specialized in the production of aircraft engines. A small enterprise is poorly suited to competition in the market, so soon the firms were merged. The name for the new production sounded like Bayerische Flugzeug-Werke, which means "Bavarian aviation plants". The founder of BMW - Gustav Otto - was the son of the inventor of the internal combustion engine, and Rapp knew the business, so the company promised to be successful.

Changing the concept

In September 1917, the legendary blue and white emblem of the round form, still used by BMW, was invented. The story of the creation refers to the airplane past: the figure symbolizes an aircraft propeller, depicted against a background of celestial blue. In addition, white and blue are the traditional colors of Bavaria. As mentioned earlier, the concern was originally created for the production of aircraft engines, there was not even a modern name for BMW. The history of the brand went on a different path after the First World War. According to the Treaty of Versailles, Germany could not manufacture aircraft, and the founders had to redesign production. Then the brand got a new name. Instead of aviation, the word "Motorische" appeared in the center, marking the beginning of production of another type of equipment. Under this name, fans know the company to this day.

Motorcycle brand

At first the plant began to produce brakes for trains. After that BMW motorcycles appeared: the first went off the assembly line in 1923. The planes of the company were previously extremely successful: one of the models even broke the altitude record, so it is natural that the new creation conquered the audience. Motor show in 1923 in Paris was his star hour: BMW motorcycles were reliable and fast, ideal for racing. In 1928 the founders acquired the first car factories in Thuringia and decided to start a new production - the production of cars. But the production of motorcycles did not stop, on the contrary, new models remain in demand today, just the automotive sphere is much more ambitious and therefore more important for the development of the concern. Nevertheless, the fans of the brand, who prefer extreme driving on a two-wheeled horse, are following motorcycles, and such means of transportation on the roads are not uncommon at all.

Low-cost Dixi

The first BMW cars were produced as early as 1929. The new model was small-car - similar ones were produced in England under the name Austin 7. In the thirties such cars enjoyed incredible demand among the population of Europe. Economic problems led to the fact that the small car became the most reasonable and affordable choice. The first unique model from BMW, fully developed in Germany, was introduced to the public in April 1932. The machine 3/15 PS was distinguished by the motor in twenty horsepowers and developed speed up to eighty kilometers per hour. The model was successful, and it was finally clear that the BMW sign symbolizes impeccable quality. The situation will remain unchanged throughout the history of the Bavarian brand.

Appearance of characteristic details

In 1933, BMW cars were already known, but not yet easily identifiable. The model 303 helped to change the situation. This car with a powerful six-cylinder engine was supplemented by a characteristic grille, which in the future will become a typical element of the brand design. In 1936, the world recognized the 328 model. The first BMWs were ordinary cars, and this car became a breakthrough in the field of sports cars. Her appearance helped formulate the concept of the brand, which is still relevant today: "The car is for the driver". For comparison, the main German competitor - "Mercedes-Benz" - follows the idea "The car is for passengers". This moment became the key for BMW. The history of the brand began to develop at an accelerated pace, demonstrating success after success.

Period of the Second World War

Model 328 became the winner in races of different types: rally, ring, competitions on climbing the hill. Superlight cars BMW were the victors of the Italian competition and left behind all the other brands that existed at that time. All this led to the fact that by the time the World War II began, BMW was the most famous and well-developed company in the world with a focus on sports models. The engines of the Bavarian plant set records. Motorcycles and cars BMW developed unprecedented speed. But the post-war period created critical conditions for the concern. Many of the prohibitions on production have undermined its economic position. Karl Rapp decisively started everything from scratch and started creating bicycles and light motorcycles, which were assembled almost in an artisanal setting. The result of the search for new solutions and mechanisms was the first post-war model 501. It did not bring success, but the subsequent version under the number 502 turned out to be much more technologically advanced thanks to the aluminum alloy engine. Such a car enjoyed an incredible demand: it was maneuverable, quite roomy for its time and was offered at an affordable average German buyer's price.

New ascent to the top

In 1955, the production of small cars was launched under the name Isetta. It was one of the most daring creations of the concern - a mixture of a motorcycle and a car on three wheels, with a door opening forward. In the poor country after the war, an affordable car made a real sensation. But rapid economic growth led to the emergence of demand for large-scale machinery, and the firm was again threatened. The company "Mercedes-Benz" began to make plans for the purchase of the concern, but this did not happen. Already in 1956, the sports model 507, created by the designer Gertz, comes off the assembly line. The market was offered several options for completion: with a rigid roof and in the format of a roadster. Eight-cylinder engine with a capacity of one hundred and fifty horsepower allowed the car to accelerate to two hundred and twenty kilometers per hour. Successful model returned the company's success and is still considered one of the best and most expensive collector cars. The activities of the company BMW, whose history included several difficulties, again continued successfully.

New models and classes of cars

The BMW sign was associated with both success and defeat. The beginning of the sixties was not cloudless for the concern. The sharp crisis after failures with the sector of large cars has been replaced by stability after the appearance of the 700 model, which for the first time uses an air cooling system. This machine was another big success and helped the concern to finally overcome the difficult period. In the coupe version, such BMW cars helped the brand to return and records: sports victories were not far off. In 1962, the concern released a model of a new class, combining sporty and compact options. This was a step towards the top of the world automotive industry. The concept of 1500 was adopted with such a demand that the production capacity simply did not allow the timely delivery of new machines to the market. The success of the new class led to the development of a model line: in 1966, a two-door version of the 1600 was introduced. It was followed by a successful series with a turbocharger. Economic stability allowed the concern to restore the first versions of BMW. The history of models began with six-cylinder engines, and in 1968 their release began again. The audience was represented by 2500 and 2800, which became the first sedans in the brand line. All this made the sixties the most successful period in the whole previous history of the existence of the German concern, but ahead were numerous deserved triumphs and further growth.

Development in the 70s and 80s

In the year of the Munich Olympic Games, namely in 1972, the concern developed new BMW cars - already the fifth series. The concept was revolutionary: before the brand sports cars were the best, but a new approach made it possible to achieve success in the segment of sedans. Models 520 and 520i were presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new car was distinguished by smooth, elongated lines, large windows and low landing. The recognizable body design was developed by the Frenchman Paul Braque. The process of deformation was calculated using computer technology in the BMW concern. The history of the models of this series continued with the release of 525 - the first model of a comfortable sedan with a six-cylinder engine, obedient and powerful, possessing 145 horsepower.

A new chapter began in 1975. The first BMW in the segment of compact sedans in a sporty style were presented in the line number three. Stylish design with a characteristic radiator does not break the compact appearance, while the car looks extremely serious. Under the hood of the novelty there are four-cylinder engines of the newest models, and within a year the leading specialists named this car the best in the world. In 1976 in Geneva, a large coupe was presented, to work on which again attracted to Braque. The predatory outlines of the hood provided the novelty the nickname "shark".

By the beginning of the eighties, the equipment of the Bavarian concern included a new anti-slip system and automatic boxes, as well as an electric seat adjustment. There was a seventh series with a six-cylinder engine with injection. Over two years, more than seventy-five thousand models were sold. Updated the third and fifth series, releasing the most popular options in the new package. High power, excellent aerodynamics, functional capacity and the choice of engine options and bodywork have become excellent ways to improve successful models.

In 1985 a cabriolet appeared in the light. A technological novelty was the suspension, which makes it possible to carry out comfortable trips over long distances. By the end of the eighties, the BMW concern, whose history was already known all over the world, began production of four new models with petrol engines and electronic injection and one on diesel. The new manager - a gifted designer and just a talented manager Klaus Lüte - was able to achieve the preservation of a distinctive look with recognizable details such as the radiator grille present in the models for several decades, with constant modernization and implement the most current technological solutions in several series existing in the production A number of Bavarian firms.

The course of production in the 90s

In 1990, another new BMW was introduced. The history of the third series included ups and downs, but the novelty definitely belonged to the first. A capacious car won buyers elegance and manufacturability. In 1992, several coupes with improved six-cylinder engines were introduced to the public. A few months later, a new cabriolet and sports model M3. In the middle of the decade, each machine appearing in the lineup of the concern was supplemented with unique details. Reviews of BMW cars marked the ideal equipment, corresponding to the class: models were presented climate and cruise control, they were equipped with on-board computers and electrical control of windows and mirrors, power steering and many others.

In 1995, in the model of the fifth series, significant changes were made in appearance: there appeared twin headlights under a transparent cap, and the interior became even more comfortable and spacious. Model 5 Touring was released in 1997 and featured a multi-functional steering wheel, active seats, navigation and dynamic stabilization. The following year the series was supplemented by diesel variants with engines of six and eight cylinders, in addition, they could be ordered in elongated bodies. In addition, the model Z3 appeared on the screen in one movie "Bondiana", and the concern again faced demand, exceeding the production capacity.

The first SUV BMW

The history of the creation of many models goes far into the past decades. Only SUVs appeared in the company's lineups relatively recently - at the turn of the millennium. The debut of the sports car for active recreation, the first in the history of the automotive industry, occurred in 1999. In the same period, the company returned to the Formula 1 races and announced several variants of the coupe and station wagon, and introduced the car for the new part of the Bondiana. The last year of the twentieth century has become truly record-breaking in terms of sales. Only the Russian market noted an increase in demand for eighty-three percent.

The new millennium began for the brand premiere of the modernized model of the seventh series. BMW 7 opened a new horizon for the famous Bavarian concern and allowed it to claim first place in the luxury segment. Once the sphere of representative limousines by its development undermined the position of the firm and led it to the worst situation in history: the enterprise was on the verge of sale. Now BMW cars conquered it, remaining flawless record-holders in all other areas and continuing endless work on improvement and modernization, as well as the development of new technologies that are not available to other brands around the world.

The principle "The car - for the driver" remains the main thing, which the designers and engineers of the concern are oriented on, which ensures the popularity of the buyers: the unique driving comfort justifies the price of each of the available models and conquers more and more new motorists. Regular appearance of novelties on the screen makes it possible to attract the attention of even those who still did not appreciate the amazing beauty and technology of world famous German cars.