BMW Developing Two-Man Bobsled for Team USA, Will Be Used in 2014 Winter Olympics

Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, get on up, it's bobsled time! Actually, make that Ultimate bobsled time—BMW has announced that it is working with the USA Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (USBSF) to redesign Team USA's two-man bobsled for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. BMW was approached by USBSF to help inject some innovation into the U.S. team's sled; with BMW's help, Team USA hopes to capture its first gold medal in the two-man bobsled event since 1936. While it might seem a bit odd for BMW—self-proclaimed builder of Ultimate Driving Machines—to help develop a vehicle that's not so much driven as it is hung on to for dear life, the collaboration makes sense. (Okay, we admit it takes a ton of skill to pilot a bobsled—which can reach speeds approaching 100 mph—down a narrow ice track, but bobsleds don't have steering wheels or, uh, wheels, so you get the idea.) BMW is well-versed in high-level design, and it's applying its EfficientDynamics ethos to the U.S. team's sled, which will employ advanced aerodynamics, chassis design, and lightweight materials. Comparison Test: 2013 Audi S6 vs. 2013 BMW M5, 2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Comparison Test: 2012 BMW 328i vs. 2013 Cadillac ATS Comparison Test: 2012 Audi A7 3.0T Quattro vs. 2013 BMW 640i Gran Coupe Besides, the automaker is an Olympic sponsor, so to have a sled it helped create entered in the competition with such a high-profile team only helps the brand's exposure. As for that high-profile team—Team USA won four-man bobsled gold at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver—it stands to get a high-tech, supremely engineered two-man bobsled. Currently, only a prototype of the bobsled exists, but USBSF and BMW will continue to work with Team USA to design the final product. Read full story » from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com

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