Saturday, November 13, 2010

Sheer Driving Pleasure

Weather Widget Says: 27 C, Cloudy
Currently Playing: I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas



Head Lamp Cluster




Tail Lamp Cluster

It's hard not to notice that a lot of love and attention to details have been put into designing these pieces of art... How could anyone not fall in love with one?



It's a cloudy and humid day at Marina Bay, but that didn't deter us from heading to the iconic Marina Bay Sands integrated resort via the DNA-inspired Helix Bridge:



Helix Bridge and MBS



Then we chanced upon this huge inverted dome where people crowded around - It turned out that they were popping coins towards a small hollow in the centre:



Wishing Dome Top

A wishing well? Perhaps, perhaps!



We (literally) had to get to the bottom of this!



Wishing Dome Bottom

It IS kinda like a wishing well!



The coins that manage to travel through the hollow from the inverted dome at the ground level goes through a few metres of freefall and land right in the middle of a pool. Interesting!

One can really mistake the shopping mall of Marina Bay Sands for an airport terminal. Just look at the vast expanse of glass that allows for clever use of natural light:



Inside MBS




Raffles City and Esplanade

Anyone realised how disturbing is the positioning of the two dome roofs of the Esplanade in relation to the Swissotel main tower in the distance? Rated M18! =P




Boat Ride Inside MBS

There's an indoor waterway with boat rides, too.



And the icing on the cake? An exhibition showcasing art in motion - Visiting the BMW World Singapore held right in the heart of Marina Bay Sands!



BMW World Entrance




BMW Vintage Side




BMW Vintage Front

A vintage BMW welcomes us at the entrance to the convention. Notice the twin air intake vents on the bonnet of the car that is so specific to each and every BMW in production to date?



Registration is required although admission is free:



Entry Pass

Visitors get this commemorative entry pass with a lanyard, and a brochure showing the layout of the showfloor.



And let the show begin! =)

The showfloor is circular in presentation, and ambience is better than many of the local motorshows that I've been to, with lots of motion pictures, strobe lights, and scrolling text displays compared to just traditional print media.



BMW World Show Floor

The BMW Concept Car and the handsome M3 GTS (In orange) takes centrestage of the show.




BMW World Showfloor Left

BMW's M-series of sedans and X-series SUVs are showcased on the left...




BMW World Showfloor Right

... While the Z-series of roadsters and coupes go to the right.




BMW World Showfloor Centre

Guests can go to the bar in the center of the showfloor to get their wine fix if they so desire.



We're suckers for open-top roadsters so off we went to the timeline showing the brief history of the development of BWM roadsters:



BMW Z1 Concealed Doors

The Z1 has doors that slides downwards into the chassis - Perfect for those tight parking lots!




BMW Z8 Front




BMW Z8 Aspect

The Z8 is a production car that was designed to embody details found in earlier BMW roadsters.



And how could we miss out one of BMW's most popular roadsters ever, the Z4?



BMW Z4 Front



This is also the first time in asia that the new BMW X-3 is unveiled:



BMW X3 Aspect




BMW X3 Rear



The hightlight of the show is undeniably the BMW Concept Car that is able to change its shape at the touch of a button:



BMW Concept Side




BMW Concept Aspect

This thing looks as if it time-travelled to Singapore. =)




BMW Concept Rear

The very spartan Concept Car comes with a carbon fibre chassis and is clad in a flexible skin.



The M3 GTS however, stands better chance of being street-legal and winning the approval of your motor insurance company. =P



M3 GTS Front

Smooth as it may look, the M3 GTS doesn't perform like your average continental car.




M3 GTS Aspect

Bright colours in nature are signs of impending danger. This one is no exception. It eats Ferraris and Porsches for lunch.




M3 GTS Rear

There, eat your hearts out, street racer wannabes. =P