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Travel + Leisure
3 hours ago
- General
- Travel + Leisure
20 Most Beautiful Places in Europe
Centuries-old villages, dramatic mountain ranges, world-class architecture, and beaches famous for their white sand and turquoise waters span Europe—from the northernmost end of Scotland down to the Mediterranean. The competition is tough, so to determine 20 of the most beautiful places in Europe, I spoke with two travel experts: Jim Strong, a member of Travel + Leisure 's Travel Advisory Board and president of Strong Travel Services, and Emma Major Schroeder, owner and luxury travel advisor at Major Traveler. Read on to see their picks, as well as a handful of my own. An outlook over Lake Como with a statue. Christopher Larson/Travel + Leisure Lake Como's beauty is far from a secret, and it's popular for a reason. 'I always tell clients that this is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. The stillness of the lake with the backdrop of the dramatic mountains creates a stunning setting,' says Schroeder. 'As you cruise through the lake on a private boat, it's hard not to soak in the scenery and beauty.' Landscape of Corfu, Greece. Chris Marinaccio/Travel + Leisure The second you arrive on Corfu, there's a high chance the word 'paradise' comes to mind. This is a place where you can immerse yourself in natural beauty—from the turquoise waters to the rugged mountains, all of which can be experienced while hiking the Corfu Trail. You won't want to skip the Old Town of Corfu, either. The UNESCO World Heritage Site features fortresses, palaces, and narrow cobblestone streets and alleys known as kantounia . Visitors exploring Sissinghurst Castle gardens. Geography Photos/Universal Images Group via Getty Images 'Kent is known as the 'Garden of England,' and Sissinghurst Castle does not disappoint,' says Strong. 'The lawns and terraced colors of wildflowers of the area are a treat to the soul. A stroll around the grounds is tranquil in any weather, but spring and summer are the highlights.' Created in the 1930s by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson, the English garden has a series of 'rooms,' all featuring different designs and planting strategies. Depending on when you visit, you may get to see daffodils, peonies, magnolia blossoms, or blooming fruit trees. Large mountains surrounding Lauterbrunner Valley. Michela Sieman/Travel + Leisure You'll need to travel to the Bern region of Switzerland to find the Lauterbrunnen Valley—which Strong recommends for its 'stunning' views of mountains and waterfalls—and its collection of quaint villages: Wengen, Gimmelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Isenfluh, Mürren, and Stechelberg. 'You can enjoy a cable car ride or an old-world-style train ride to enhance the views,' he adds, referencing the Schilthornbahn, which brings travelers up to Mürren, and the Jungfrau Railway, a historic railway that reaches Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe. A winding road through the hills of Tuscany in Pienza, Italy. Evgeniya Vlasova/Travel + Leisure 'Located in Tuscany, and home of Pecorino di Pienza cheese, Pienza is a tiny hilltop town with views of rolling Tuscan hills at every street turn,' says Schroeder. 'As you walk through the town, you can smell the Pecorino cheese and even stop for a bit to taste. There are quaint bars and restaurants lining the outer edges of the town, which provide the perfect opportunity for an aperitivo overlooking the beautiful Tuscan landscape.' The historic center of Pienza is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Colorful buildings on the water in Dinant, need to head to the Walloon region of Belgium to experience the allure of Dinant, a city that sits on the edge of the River Meuse, right where the waterway cuts through the Condroz plateau. Dinant is the perfect combination of natural and man-made beauty. On one end, you have impressive architecture, like the 13th-century Gothic Collegiate Church of Our Lady of Dinant; on the other, you have the Bayard Rock, an imposing rock formation that once served as natural protection against enemies of the city. Cityscape of Bacharach, Germany. 'Set on the Rhine with centuries of history, this village ticks all the boxes of a European dream,' says Strong, noting the medieval architecture and fairy-tale half-timbered buildings. Nestled in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic transport route, Bacharach also boasts gorgeous views of the Rhine River; the vineyards just outside the village, Strong says, are an 'added plus.' White buildings along the water of Lake Ohrid. Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure Lake Ohrid may fall under the radar for most travelers, but once you get a glimpse of its shimmering waters on a sunny day or learn about its history—the lake is nearly two million years old—you'll likely want to plan a trip ASAP. The body of water straddles the border between Albania and North Macedonia, and it's surrounded by ancient villages, rolling hills, and beaches. In the past couple of years, archaeologists have also been working to uncover an 8,000-year-old stilt village, said to be the oldest of its kind in Europe, submerged in the lake. Kylesku Bridge along North Coast 500 in Scotland.A Scottish road trip will grant you gorgeous views no matter where you go, but Strong recommends heading up north and driving what is often called the 'Wee Mad Road.' Part of the North Coast 500, this stretch along the coast in the northwestern part of the country, he says, is 'not for the faint of heart, but for those who enjoy the great open scenery and scope of the Scottish Highlands.' 'The western side of Scotland offers some of the most dramatic and strange sights while driving on small, one-lane roads,' he adds. Rocky coastline of Spiaggia dei Conigli in Lampedusa, Italy. imageBROKER/Not only is Spiaggia dei Conigli (Rabbit Beach) one of the most beautiful places in Italy—as well as one of the country's best beaches—it's also one of the most stunning destinations in all of Europe. The beach forms an arc, and the bright blue waters are calm and shallow, making this the perfect spot to lounge, swim, or snorkel during a summer day. A pier stretching into Lake Annecy. Evgeniya Vlasova/Travel + Leisure Europe has no shortage of pristine lakes; you'll find them across Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and beyond, but one of the most beautiful is France's Lake Annecy. Fed by mountain streams, the lake is clean and clear, and it's a popular swimming spot with sandy beaches. The Old Town of Annecy, known as the 'Venice of France,' is equally charming; you'll want to spend at least a few days exploring its canals, bridges, and other landmarks. White buildings in Naoussa, Paros. While Oia, the highly photographed town on the northwestern end of Santorini, may flood your Instagram feed in the summer, there's another Greek village that's just as lovely on Paros. 'What makes Naoussa one of the most beautiful places in Europe is the contrast of old and new. You have elements of the old fishing harbor and a traditional Greek village paired with trendy restaurants and high-end boutiques,' explains Schroeder. 'In my opinion, the beauty of Paros is captured in the village architecture—the large cobblestone streets, the whitewashed buildings with blue shutters, and the pops of pink bougainvillea reflecting on the calm ocean waters.' Cityscape of Salzburg, Austria. Maria Ligaya/Travel + Leisure The beauty of Salzburg is multi-fold. Of course, there are the features and sites most travelers know from 'The Sound of Music': Schloss Leopoldskron, Mirabell Gardens and Pegasus Fountain, and the famous gazebo. But there are also the breathtaking views you can get if you venture to higher elevations. Walk along Mönchsberg or Kapuzinerberg, or take the funicular up to Hohensalzburg Fortress. In the winter, the Christmas markets are pretty magical, too. The roman bridge in Ronda, Spain. Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure 'Ronda is a small town in the southern Spain region of Andalusia. It is most known for the massive bridge that connects the New Town and the Old Town,' says Schroeder. 'It sits atop a mountain plateau, which gives dramatic cliffside views at every turn. In spring and summer months, the whitewashed buildings are blooming with bright pink bougainvillea to add pops of color throughout the town.' Ronda is also one of the oldest towns in Spain; there's evidence it dates all the way back to the Neolithic period. Small houses in Sweden's lake the lake district of Sweden, Värmland features over 10,000 lakes and the country's longest river, the Klarälven. Unsurprisingly, it's ideal for anyone interested in spending days on the water—fishing, rafting, swimming, or kayaking. There are also hiking and biking trails across the region if you'd rather explore on land. While the beauty is apparent all year round, the colder months are exceptionally beautiful in the hilly regions of Värmland, as snow turns the area into a winter wonderland. A small village in the Lofoten Islands. Christopher Larson/Travel + Leisure According to Schroeder, the most beautiful places in Europe are sometimes the toughest to get to. Case in point: the Lofoten Islands, located above the Arctic Circle in Norway. Depending on which island you're trying to reach, you may need to travel by boat or even helicopter. 'I personally love the views of the picturesque fishing villages that sit right on the calm ocean waters. In the winter months, there is no better backdrop for viewing the Northern Lights,' she says. A busy lawn overlooking the mountains of the Dolomites. Ambika Verma/Travel + Leisure Italy may have gorgeous lakes, beaches, and islands, but its mountains are just as awe-inspiring. The Italian Dolomites are made up of 18 peaks that rise more than 10,000 feet—creating endless opportunities to hike and ski. Part of the range, including the impressive Three Peaks of Lavaredo, can be found in the South Tyrol province in northeastern Italy. Here, the mountains tower above picturesque villages, vineyards, and valleys; for some of the best views of the craggy summits, book a suite at Forestis—a spa resort tucked away in the mountains above the town of Brixen. An alpine lake in the Azores. Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure It's difficult, maybe even impossible, to pick the most beautiful island in the Azores—so we'll go with the entire archipelago. Known as the 'Hawaii of Europe,' the Azores has deep crater lakes, hot springs, lush forests, and generally dramatic landscapes. If you can't choose which island to visit first, start with São Miguel, nicknamed the 'Green Island.' Here, you'll find the twin lakes of Sete Cidades. The volcanic lakes, Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde, are actually connected, but their colors differ drastically, creating a unique sight to behold. Cityscape of Barcelona with a focus on the Barcelona Cathedral. Christopher Larson/Travel + Leisure Nearly all of Europe's most-visited cities have some element of beauty to them, but Barcelona is unrivaled in terms of its combination of art and architecture. The Spanish city is famous for its Gothic structures and Gaudí's modernist creations—his works include Park Güell, the Sagrada Familia, and Casa Batlló. There's also a heavy touch of natural beauty, which you'll discover at Barceloneta Beach, Creueta del Coll Park, and Tibidabo, the highest point in the city. Multi colored tulips in Keukenhof. Michela Sieman/Travel + Leisure Billed as 'the most beautiful spring garden in the world,' Keukenhof is one of the best places to glimpse the colorful tulips commonly associated with the Netherlands. The window to see them is relatively short, though, so you'll need to plan your visit between mid-April to mid-May to experience the peak blooming period. Covering 79 acres, the garden also features roses, hyacinths, daffodils, orchids, lilies, carnations, and irises.
The Sun
7 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Oldest Ferrari car in existence built in the 1940s with open top sells at auction for record price of £6.3million
THE oldest Ferrari car in existence has sold at auction for a record price of £6.3 million. The 1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa was Enzo Ferrari's first car, designed to compete in circuit racing and drive on the road. 4 4 Only nine of the motors were ever made making them some of the rarest Ferraris in existence. This one was bought by the Besana brothers, the Italian car company's first ever customers, who would have had the car built to order. The 166 Spyder Corsa competed in numerous races between 1949 and 1957 before being purchased by American collector Henry Austin Clark in 1965. The red car was bought for around £3,000 with an additional £400 for the official mantra of " World's Oldest Ferrari." The seats, paintwork and wire wheels were painstakingly restored, with Enzo Ferrari reportedly taking a personal interest in the car. Clark reportedly received an offer of around £20,000 for it in 1971, but his family ended up holding onto it until 2015, when they sold it to a renowned Ferrari collector. The 77 year old car still has its original chassis, body, V12 engine and gearbox making it the most original of the 166 Spyder Corsas. It was even sold with its original certification proving its authenticity as one of the earliest Ferraris ever sold. Boasting a top speed of 125mph the vintage motor does 0-60mph in around six seconds. It was sold to an anonymous phone bidder by Broad Arrow Auctions at an auction near Lake Como, Italy. It sold for a hammer price of £5.3 million, the total came to around £6.3 million after auction fees. The motor set the record for the most expensive 1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder ever sold. 4 4 Barney Ruprecht, vice president of Broad Arrow Auctions, said: "It is an absolutely fabulous sale for an amazing early sports car. "The 166 Spyder Corsa is quite literally the earliest and most important Ferrari in existence today. "It has significant period racing history at some of the most renowned events in Italy and throughout Europe, so it feels only natural to sell the car at the most prestigious concours event on the continent. "It is an immediate world-class acquisition to own the first Ferrari. "Any enthusiast of the Ferrari brand, including both older, established collectors and the rising generation now in the market, will feel drawn to the DNA of such a legendary marque. "Nothing else on the market today, at any price, offers the cache of this car." The Ferrari is one of two models purchased by the Besana brothers, Ferrari's earliest customers. The Spyder Corsa boasts chassis number 004 C, finished sixth overall at the 1948 Targa Florio, raced at the 1948 and 1949 Mille Miglia and also has period Formula Two competition and hill climbs added to its race tally.
New York Times
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Ben Greenhalgh won a TV show, joined Mourinho's Inter and lost his Champions League medal on a golf course
'And next he's gonna meet the big boss, Jose Mourinho. I think it will finally sink in that he's an Inter Milan player when he's given that shirt,' Jamie Redknapp, the former England midfielder and Sky presenter, says. Ben Greenhalgh laughs as he remembers what happens next. 'I nearly leave Mourinho hanging in a minute!' Advertisement We are watching a rerun of Football's Next Star, the television show that was broadcast on Sky One in 2010 with the prize of a six-month contract at Inter for the winner. More than 7,000 boys entered before being whittled down to the final 10, who stayed together in a villa overlooking Lake Como. 'Every week, it was a case of, 'We want to be here next week, and that's all we were fighting for',' Greenhalgh says. 'I don't think we were ever fighting for who was going to win.' Essentially, it was football's version of the X Factor with Marco Monti, the technical director at Inter's academy, playing the role of Simon Cowell. Greenhalgh not only ended up winning the show and signing for Inter but, remarkably, also finished the season with a Champions League medal around his neck (he later lost it on a golf course, but that's another story). It was a surreal experience for a 17-year-old A-level student who had never been around professional football before. 'Look, that could have been terrible!' Greenhalgh says, cringing as we watch the moment when Mourinho, who was Inter's manager at the time, congratulates him and waits for the handshake that almost never comes. Greenhalgh was too busy trying to take in the enormity of it all. A TV show that he had entered in the early stages 'as a laugh' was now turning his life upside down, propelling him from the fringe of the first-team at non-League Welling United, who were playing in the sixth tier of English football at the time, to training alongside some of the greatest players in the world at Inter. Those close to Greenhalgh were every bit as excited as him. 'I'm still with Grace!' Greenhalgh says, his face lighting up as the camera pans to his girlfriend. 'I've got three kids with her now!' Greenhalgh's relationship with Inter didn't last anything like as long, which was probably to be expected. By the start of 2011, the left winger was back in England, on trial at Brighton, following a successful loan spell with Como in Serie C, Italy's third tier. He rejoined Welling later the same year. Advertisement The experience at Inter, however, was unforgettable. Greenhalgh brings along to the interview a signed shirt that Patrick Vieira gave him, tells stories about Mario Balotelli and his Lamborghini, marvels at the way the Inter players worked so hard for Mourinho and, more than anything, feels privileged to have had a front-row seat for the most successful season in the club's history. 'My six-month contract began in January (2010), so it went to the end of the season,' Greenhalgh explains. 'Everything was high-flying because they were on for the treble at this time – they've got through the group stage in the Champions League, they're in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia and they're top of the league as well. It was some experience.' Inter created history by winning all three competitions, and although Greenhalgh played for the reserves and the under-18s rather than the first team, he was in the right place at the right time when it came to the Champions League final against Bayern Munich at the Bernabeu. 'Before the final, we played a game at Real Madrid City (the Spanish club's training ground) against Bayern Munich,' he says. 'It was called the 'UEFA Under-18 Challenge', and that's now become the UEFA Youth League. We also won 2-0 (the same scoreline as the first team). 'Some of us then travelled with the match-day squad, staying in the team hotel, and then sitting just behind them at the game. Just being able to experience those types of matches was ridiculous, really.' And what about the medal? 'We managed to get one because… they were just handing them out in the changing room afterwards!' Greenhalgh says, smiling. All of which explains why the supporters at non-League side Margate, who play in the Isthmian League South East Division (the eighth tier of English football), sing what they do on a match day. 'Champions League, he's won that too. Now he's at Margate, playing in blue.' Advertisement Greenhalgh, who is the player-manager at Margate, breaks into laughter. 'That's a good song. I've had some bad songs,' he says. 'At Tonbridge Angels – and I loved it when I was there – I'm about to take a free kick on the edge of the area, and they go, 'We got Super Ben Greenhalgh, he runs around the park…' 'I'm listening to it thinking, 'Oh wow, I've got a song.' 'And then they go, 'He looks like (British TV celebrity) Rylan Clark', and I think, 'Oh no!'' In his younger days, when he was still at school and before he grew a beard, Greenhalgh looked more like Cristiano Ronaldo, so much so that he was a body double for the former Manchester United and Real Madrid player in a television commercial. 'I started coaching for a guy called Mike Delaney, who also ran a company called Select Sports Artists,' he explains. 'Mike was one of the big ones at the time when it came to body-doubling adverts and he managed to get me Ronaldo, which was obviously massive. I was 16 and this was Ronaldo in his prime. And, fair play to Ronaldo, I've been to so many shoots where the players are there for 10 minutes maximum. But he was there for about three to four hours. He was even doing kick-ups with us.' That line of work provides another chapter to a colourful life story that includes a playing CV unlike any other. Greenhalgh's list of clubs, in order, reads: His time at Inter jumps off the page and, naturally, is a constant source of ribbing on the non-League circuit. 'I get banter all the time about it,' says Greenhalgh, who is also the academy director at Dartford Town, whose first team are one league above Margate. 'When it comes down to it, it's always going to be the thing that I'll be known for. It's been 15 years and it's still memorable.' Looking back, the fact that he joined Inter via a reality TV show was always going to pose challenges for him in Italy. There was even a wrangle at the outset between Welling and Inter, Greenhalgh recalls, over whether the non-League club were entitled to a transfer fee for him, delaying his registration. 'Welling started asking Inter for £100,000,' he says. Advertisement Greenhalgh also felt under added pressure to prove himself, not helped by the way the reserve team coach spoke about him in front of the other players. 'I remember him introducing me and it was like, 'He's won a TV show, he's with us now.'' Perhaps that kind of reaction was inevitable, even if it didn't need to be announced in that way. With or without his unusual backstory, Greenhalgh quickly realised that elite professional football is a dog-eat-dog world, especially for those who are still trying to prove themselves. 'When you're in the reserves or the under-21s of a top club, the chances of you breaking through are so slim. So these players are doing absolutely everything to get in, even injuring people,' Greenhalgh says. 'I used to play against a right-back who went on and played for Bayer Leverkusen. Not a very good footballer, in my opinion. But he would smash me every training session.' Not that Greenhalgh is in any way bitter or resentful about any part of his experience at Inter. He had the time of his life at the club, still speaks to several of his former team-mates and cherishes all the memories, including the episode on the television show when he was thrown in at the deep end with the first team. 'That was probably one of the biggest times ever in football where I did freeze a bit,' he says. 'I hadn't warmed up and you're suddenly playing with Lucio, (Ricardo) Quaresma and players like that, who you've seen on TV. I got the ball and I'd just pass because you didn't want anything to go wrong.' Some of the Inter first-team players went out of their way to be friendly towards Greenhalgh, including Vieira, who gave him a shirt that he had worn in the Milan derby. Greenhalgh also warmed to a teenage Mario Balotelli. 'At the time, I was 17 and he was 19 – he did not look 19. He was absolutely huge. He could have still played for the under-21s, that's what we found funny. Advertisement 'To be fair to him, he'd come and watch us. He rocked up in his Lamborghini for one game and he blocked the gateway for the coach to come in. The coach driver gets out and says, 'Can someone move this?' And he just said, 'No.' So they ended up having to park down the road and all their players had to walk.' As for Mourinho, Greenhalgh was fascinated by his approach. 'Interestingly, he wouldn't run training sessions too much. But you respected him because of his aura. Everything he said, you believed. 'I couldn't believe the manner that the players worked so hard for him, but then also how relaxed training was. There was no intensity to training. But then loads of tactical information, and then absolutely 100 miles an hour on a match day.' Realistically, Greenhalgh was never going to make it at first-team level at Inter, although he does sometimes wonder whether he should have stayed for longer at Como, where he spent half a season on loan and enjoyed his football. Instead, he came back to England in search of a professional club but was left with the feeling that he had been out of sight and out of mind in Italy. It was a different story for Connor Smith, the Irishman who finished second to Greenhalgh in Football's Next Star. 'I still speak to Connor, he's Barnet's assistant manager and they've had a brilliant year (winning promotion to the Football League),' Greenhalgh says. 'After we finished the show, me and Connor trained with Watford for four months because my contract (with Inter) didn't begin until January. I was still back and forth to Italy, but more for the camera stuff. Connor managed to get himself a deal at Watford and that probably propelled his career in England. And I think that's the one thing I always struggled with: my career never took off in England.' Greenhalgh ended up in Scotland at one stage, playing for the former England captain Terry Butcher at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, although it was another sport that grabbed his attention there. 'I was always a reasonable golfer,' he says. 'I was something like a 12 handicapper. But Scotland completely changed me.' Advertisement In fact, he spent so much time on the golf course in Scotland that he turned professional in 2015. Two years later, Greenhalgh posted a picture on Twitter showing him finishing first at a pro-am tournament. 'I ended up winning a little bit of money, but I was still a footballer playing golf,' he says. Over the moon to win my first PGA professional golf competition & to break the course record! Still hasn't sunk in Thanks to @TheAddingtonGC — Ben Greenhalgh (@BenGreenhalgh) July 14, 2017 That much was clear to anyone who played golf against him – and not because of his swing. Greenhalgh – and he shakes his head when he tells this story – used his Champions League winners' medal as a golf marker for a while. 'I took it off the ribbon mainly because I think, when I was young… it was brilliant, but I felt like I hadn't played in it (the final). So we were doing it as a laugh with my friends, just as a story to try and get in other golfers' heads. Like, 'Oh, what's that?' Because everyone uses medallions anyway. 'But it went missing at Aldenham Golf Club and, luckily, I knew the pro, who'd had it handed in. When I look back now, I think I was an absolute idiot doing those sorts of things. From there, I got it back on the ribbon, put it in a glass box and it's at my mum and dad's house now.' Greenhalgh hopes that Inter get their hands on the famous trophy again on Saturday, when they face Paris Saint-Germain in Munich in the Champions League final. There are similarities, he says, between the current side and Mourinho's team. 'They're hardworking and they've got that tenacity where when things are going badly for other teams, they really jump on it. They're almost bullies – and that's what the Inter team were under Mourinho. 'I look back at it now and that was an unbelievable Inter team. But I do think they overachieved – they beat 2010 Barcelona in the semi-final! But that was when Mourinho was at his finest.' It was also when Greenhalgh was living the dream. (Credit: Ben Greenhalgh)
Al Bawaba
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Al Bawaba
The New BMW M2 CS: The Next Chapter In an Emphatic Success Story
The new BMW M2 CS further raises the bar for sheer driving pleasure at the premium end of the compact high-performance sports car segment. Outstanding agility, a significant increase in power output, supreme dynamics and particularly sporty design characteristics make driving the latest exclusive special-edition model from BMW M GmbH an enthralling experience. The new BMW M2 CS is the next chapter in an emphatic success story, which began with the iconic BMW 2002 turbo and continued with the BMW 1 Series M Coupé and the first BMW M2 – including the first CS variant, which was unveiled in 2019. BMW M GmbH offered a first glimpse of the exterior design of the BMW M2 CS on 23 May, as part of the unique Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este event on the shores of Lake Como. The new version of this special edition offers the ultimate in driving pleasure – both as a track tool and in day-to-day use. Like the BMW M2 Racing, which is based on the chassis from the latest generation M2, the BMW M2 CS will be manufactured at BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosí in Mexico. As has become familiar with other special-edition models from BMW M GmbH, the BMW M2 CS will be produced in limited numbers. The new BMW M2 CS is based on the second generation of the BMW M2 and significantly improves what is already an extraordinary level of performance. For example, the high-revving six-cylinder in-line engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology develops an impressive 530 hp in the BMW M2 CS. That is 50 hp more than in the current BMW M2. As such, the BMW M2 CS matches the performance of the BMW M3 Competition Sedan with M xDrive and the BMW M4 Competition Coupé with M xDrive. The BMW M2 CS sends its power to the rear wheels via the eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic, which comes as standard. Noticeable weight reduction thanks to intelligent lightweight design BMW M GmbH has reduced the weight of the special edition by roughly 30 kilograms compared to the standard M2. This has been achieved through modifications including judicious use of lightweight design techniques. For example, the BMW M2 CS features a multitude of exterior and interior components made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP). And it will be fitted as standard with forged M light-alloy wheels. As a result, the CS will be the lightest BMW M2 so far in the current generation. Upgraded six-cylinder in-line engine with significant increase in power output and torque For the BMW M2 CS, BMW M GmbH has opted for an upgraded version of the 3.0-litre, six-cylinder in-line engine found in the standard M2. This intensifies the performance experience in the special edition, particularly in highly dynamic driving situations. It further sharpens the engine's unmistakable power characteristics and perfectly accentuates the linear power delivery – sustained into the higher reaches of the rev range – familiar from M models. Compared to the BMW M2 with standard eight speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic, maximum torque has been raised by 50 Nm to 650 Nm and is available across a broad rev range – between 2,650 and 5,730 rpm. The engine produces its maximum power output of 530 hp at 6,250 rpm, with the engine speed topping out at 7,200 rpm. In order to allow extremely rapid reactions to the driver's requests for acceleration and to make the improved performance characteristics of the engine a particularly intense experience, the accelerator mapping and response have been optimised in all the drive modes, which are selectable via the M Setup menu. Racing expertise delivers inspiring performance With its improved peak performance, the new BMW M2 CS is consolidating its claim to top spot in the compact high-performance segment. This performance specification is achieved by modifying the engine management and provides further proof of the outstanding potential of the six-cylinder in-line engine developed by BMW M GmbH, which also serves as the basis for the power unit used in the BMW M4 GT3 EVO racing car. The engine's M TwinPower Turbo technology comprises a pair of mono-scroll turbochargers, which each supply three cylinders with compressed air, an indirect intercooler supplied by a low-temperature circuit, and an electronically controlled wastegate. The technology package also includes High Precision Injection, which operates with maximum pressure of 350 bar, VALVETRONIC variable valve timing and Double-VANOS fully variable camshaft timing. The engine also has an array of details borrowed directly from racing car design, including its lightning-fast response, appetite for revs and high-performance capability in track use. These details include an extremely rigid crankcase with a sleeve-free, closeddeck construction, a forged crankshaft with lightweight design, cylinder bores with a wire-arc sprayed iron coating and a 3D-printed core for the cylinder head. The M-specific cooling system ensures the powertrain components maintain an optimal operating temperature even under heavy loads and the oil circuit is designed to handle extreme dynamic driving situations. A map-controlled oil pump ensures reliable oil supply even under extreme acceleration. The engine sends its drive power through an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic as standard. The Drivelogic button integrated into the selector lever makes it possible to alter the transmission's shift characteristics, with a choice of three clearly distinguishable settings. Both the selector lever in the latest M design and the gearshift paddles on the steering wheel enable sequential interventions in the gear selection process at any time. BMW M2 CS breaks the four-second barrier A model-specific engine mounting with a higher spring rate makes for a particularly rigid connection of the drive unit to the structure of the BMW M2 CS. The extremely direct transmission of power to the drivetrain optimises response. Thanks to the lightning-fast power delivery, in combination with the increased engine power and the car's lighter weight, the BMW M2 CS is able to break the four-second barrier for the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h. It's time of 3.8 seconds is 0.2 seconds faster than for the standard M2. The figure calculated using the '1-foot rollout' method is 3.5 seconds. The increase in power also enhances acceleration from rest to 200 km/h. The time required here is reduced by 1.2 seconds to 11.7 seconds – or 11.4 seconds according to the '1-foot rollout' method. The mid-range sprint from 80 to 120 km/h takes 3.4 seconds. The top speed of the special-edition model, which comes with the M Driver's Package as standard, is electronically limited to 302 km/h. The dynamic power delivery is backed by an emotionally rich engine note conjured by the M-specific exhaust system with electrically controlled flaps and the four exhaust pipes typical of M, which come in matt black on the BMW M2 CS. For those wishing to retrofit their car, the M Performance silencer system with carbon and titanium tailpipe trims developed specifically for CS models is available for the first time in the range of M Performance Parts for the BMW M2 CS. The lightweight valve exhaust system with titanium mufflers generates a racing-car sound guaranteed to stir the emotions. The Active Sound Design helps to convey the engine's soundtrack authentically inside the cabin, with the intensity raised another notch when SPORT or SPORT PLUS mode is selected using the Driving Experience Control switch. Chassis and brakes optimised for increased performance The chassis technology and braking system in the BMW M2 CS are precisely tailored to the improved performance characteristics of the engine and the specific weight balance of the special edition. The chassis has been lowered by eight millimetres and adapted specially for the car with bespoke tuning for its springs, dampers and chassis control systems. These modifications improve driving dynamics significantly in all scenarios – including under extremely hard driving. Indeed, the settings for the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and M Dynamic Mode have been optimised precisely to meet the demands of driving on the race track. The standard adaptive M chassis has been given a carefully adapted model-specific setup, as have the M Servotronic steering, M Sport differential and the integrated braking system. An M Compound braking system with red brake callipers, which comes as standard, provides powerful retardation. An M Carbon ceramic brake system with red brake callipers is available as an option. Standard equipment also includes CS-exclusive forged M light-alloy wheels with a double-spoke design and matt Gold Bronze finish. They measure 19 inches at the front and 20 inches at the rear axle and are fitted as standard with track tyres, the dimensions of which are 275/35 ZR19 at the front and 285/30 ZR20 at the rear. An ultra-track tyre and a standard sport tyre (a no-cost option) in the same dimensions are available on request. Exterior features many carbon components and exclusive details The punchy exterior of the BMW M2 CS is shaped by many components made of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and other exclusive details. As well as the M exterior mirror caps familiar from the BMW M2, the M Carbon roof – which comes as standard on the special-edition model – and CS-specific rear diffusor are also made from eye-catching exposed carbon fibre. A front splitter in matt black and an exclusive black BMW M kidney grille with optimised air inlets complete the sporty and dynamic look. The lightweight CFRP boot lid with integrated ducktail is a real head-turner. The 'M2 CS' logo on the rear has a red outline. Four colours are available for the exterior finish of the new BMW M2 CS: Sapphire Black metallic, BMW Individual Velvet Blue metallic, M Brooklyn Grey metallic and M Portimao Blue metallic. Adaptive LED Headlights with BMW Selective Beam non-dazzling High Beam Assistant and M lights Shadowline with dark inlays are also standard. Carbon and racing flair continue inside The interior of the new BMW M2 CS combines an exclusive look with the sporty feel of exquisite Alcantara and innovative lightweight design. For example, the centre console is made of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP). The driver and passenger take their places in weight-optimised, heated M Carbon bucket seats with a wide range of electrically controlled settings and an illuminated 'CS' integrated head restraints are removable and, thanks to the option of integrating multi-point harnesses, improve the car's track readiness. The surfaces of the seats are finished in Merino leather. With a flat-bottomed rim, gearshift paddles, a red centre marker at 12 o'clock and two M buttons for selecting individually configured vehicle setups, the standard M Alcantara steering wheel – which is available in a heated version as an option and features a three-spoke design – brings authentic racing flair to the cockpit. The trim elements in the instrument panel and centre console come in M Carbon Fibre. Additional specific details include the red 'CS' logo on the centre console, the M seatbelts and the entry door sill plates, which are black with an 'M2 CS' logo and red outline for the first time. Now illuminated with the 'CS' logo, the door trim panels certainly grab the attention. BMW Operating System 8.5, digital control for the climate functions Standard equipment in the new BMW M2 CS also includes two-zone automatic climate control, comfort access, the Harman Kardon Surround Sound System and BMW Live Cockpit Professional, including the BMW Maps navigation system. As well as the BMW Head-Up Display, it also includes Augmented View on the control display. The standard smartphone integration allows the use of Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. The M-specific displays on the BMW Curved Display and BMW Head-Up Display add to the progressive sports car flair in the cockpit. The fully-digital display grouping consists of a 12.3-inch information display and a 14.9-inch control display. These serve as a platform for the BMW iDrive control and operation system, based on BMW Operating System 8.5, which can also be used to digitally operate the climate control functions. In the BMW M2 CS, temperature and ventilation settings, heated seats and the heated steering wheel (if specified) can be controlled either by touch using a special menu option in the lower area of the control display or by voice command with the help of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant. M-specific operating concept enables direct access for an extensive range of functions The special-edition model carries over the cutting-edge operating concept for setup customisation from the BMW M2. At the heart is the Setup button on the centre console. This provides direct access to the settings options for the engine, standard adaptive M suspension, M Servotronic steering, integrated braking system working in conjunction with the M Compound brakes, and the M Traction Control function, which allows drivers to set individual intervention thresholds for wheel slip limitation. M Drive Professional makes an ideal companion for journeys fuelled by extra adrenaline. The M mode TRACK and the ten-stage M Traction Control allow customised handling characteristics. The M Drift Analyser shows the angle and duration of drifts executed by the driver, while the M Laptimer is ideal for those striving for the perfect lap. Semi-automated driving and parking systems fitted as standard include front collision warning, Cruise Control with brake function, Speed Limit Info function with no-overtaking indicator, Lane Departure Warning, and the Parking Assistant with Reversing Assistant. Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go function and the Driving Assistant can be added as optional equipment.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
Historic Sports Car Impounded At Concorso D'Eleganza In Italy
This rare 1964 Iso Rivolta Grifo A3 Stradale was confiscated by police after the Concorso d'Eleganza ... More at the Hotel Villa d'Este in Italy on Sunday. Photo: BMW Classic. Cernobbio, Italy: An American entrant has had his rare, classic Italian sports car impounded by Italian police after the world's premier historic car event, the Concorso d'Eleganza at the Hotel Villa d'Este. Provincial Police confiscated the 1964 Iso Rivolta Grifo A3 Stradale, entered in the Concorso by Thomas Shannon, after allegedly stopping its American driver on the streets of Cernobbio without an International Driving Permit. The Grifo, one of just 13 in the world and valued at more than $1 million, was also allegedly driven without proof of Italian insurance or a visible number plate. The Concorso d'Eleganza is a celebration of historic car culture on the grounds of one of the world's most prestigious hotels on the shores of Lake Como, and involves parades at both the Hotel Villa d'Este and Villa Erba, which are separated by less than a mile along one narrow street. The Iso Rivolta Grifo was confiscated for allegedly driving on Italian streets without proof of ... More insurance, a number plate. The driver, a US license holder, also did not have an International Driving permit. Photo: BMW Group Classic. Provincial police impounded the Shannon car pending payment of fines of €866 (US$981) and €408 ($463). Shannon's Iso Rivolta Grifo A3 Stradale was the street-going version of the Grifo racing car, which won its class in the 1965 Le Mans 24 Hour race. Built with Italian design and chassis engineering partnered with a 327 cubic inch Chevrolet Corvette V8, the Grifo could hit 60mph in five seconds and run on to a 190mph top speed. It isn't the first time the Italian provincial police have targeted a Concorso d'Eleganza competitor either, with a 1967 Fiat Dino being grabbed during the 2024 edition of the event.
