USA - BMW Motorrad gets sales spurt in part, due to Mission Impossible, and a vast range of models.

BMW Motorrad USA has set a new all-time year-end sales record. With 16,330 units sold in 2015, BMW motorcycle sales grew 9.3 percent above the total 14,945 units sold in 2014.

The S 1000 RR supersports bike, featured in the film Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation, was BMW’s best-selling model (accounting for 13.3 percent of total 2015 volume). Other best-selling models included the ever-popular R 1200 GS Adventure (12.2 percent of total volume) and the R 1200 GS (11.5 percent of total volume).

The S 1000 R power roadster and BMW’s first adventure sports bike -- the new S 1000 XR Adventure – also bolstered annual sales in the BMW Motorrad S-Series model range.

The classic customizable R nineT was one of the top performing models in December with 138 units delivered, and in combination with the new R 1200 RS sport tourer, helped grow flat-twin engine R-Series model retails by 21 percent to 575 units compared to 477 in December 2014. BMW’s F-Series middleweight machine sales grew by 11 percent in the month with sales of 235 units compared to 211 in December 2014.

“New and loyal customers; a broad, continuously enhanced model lineup; a high-performing dealer network; and accolades from the motorcycle press contributed to record growth for BMW Motorcycles in the United States, BMW Motorrad’s strongest export market,” commented Kris Odwarka, Vice President, BMW Motorrad USA.

BMW earned four “Best of 2015” awards from Motorcycle.com, and it was the only manufacturer to garner three coveted categories in Motorcyclist Magazine’s 2015 Motorcycle of the Year (MOTY) Awards. (See 2015 Awards below)

According to Odwarka, BMW’s robust product offensive will continue in 2016 with introduction of the R nineT Scrambler, the new BMW G 310 R – the first BMW roadster under 500 cc – and the new C 650 Sport and C 650 GT maxi scooters in the urban mobility segment.

Biggest ever selection of International Stars taking part in the Goodwood Action Sports Arena events.

Goodwood Action Sports has become as much a part of the Festival of Speed as the iconic 1.16-mile Hillclimb and Cartier ‘Style-et-Luxe’ lawn since its debut in 2011.

The list of athletes signed up to take part in the GAS Arena on June 25-28 reads like an international who’s who of action sports that includes legends from the world of Freestyle Motocross, BMX dirt, Trials and Mountain Bike.

The calibre of athletes at last year’s event was staggering and 2015 is no different. From the Czech Republic, performing for the second time, Petr Pilat is undoubtedly one of the best FMX riders in the world with an arsenal of jaw-dropping tricks that stuns audiences. “Last year at GAS we had such an awesome time, great weather, great people and such an unbelievable event… I am stoked to be invited back,” he said.

Pilat will perform this year alongside some of the world’s most talented riders: Britain’s Jamie Squibb , Australian Steve Sommerfeld , German Lukas Weiss and the youngest ever FMX back-flipper, Lucas Ackerman from Germany. Australian hero Ryan Brown will also make his debut at GAS alongside Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist, the UK’s Dan Whitby. Freestyle Motocross is set to stun the huge audiences once again!

GAS will this year be powered by TomTom and many of the competitors will be equipped with TomTom’s new Bandit Action Camera during the 14 shows. Visitors to the Festival of Speed can try out the Bandit for themselves on the TomTom display area next to the GAS Arena and in the GAS trial areas.

The TomTom Bandit Action Camera makes editing and sharing videos quick and easy. Instead of spending hours downloading and sorting through footage, users can now create an exciting edit and share it within moments of the action.

From the world of pedal power, Mountain Bike & BMX legends from all over the globe will battle for the coveted prize to be crowned the all-conquering King of GAS set in a jump-filled, double-lane course.  Ex-World Champion and all-round BMX legend, Britain’s Kye Forte  will head the strongest list of riders ever to grace Goodwood, which include X Games hero Chris Doyle, his US countryman Anthony Napolitan, and British aces Ben Wallace, Harry Main, Tom Justice  Leo Forte, Matt Roe, and Mountain Biker Matt Jones.

And of course GAS wouldn’t be GAS without Goodwood’s long standing legend, multiple Trials World Champion, Dougie Lampkin MBE. As well as performing in the main GAS Arena, Lampkin  – along with Alexz Wigg – these kings of balance will showcase their incredible skills in ‘Pop-Up’ GAS shows around the venue all weekend along with two of the UK’s top MTB trials stars: Chris Doney and Andy P.

First public trials of Toyota’s Winglet mobility assistance robot

• First public trials of Toyota’s Winglet mobility assistance robot
• Three-year programme launched in Tsukuba, a science and environment city in Japan
• Winglet will be assessed for safety, convenience, practicality and public reaction
• Zero-emissions thanks to lithium-ion battery power
• Range of up to six miles, maximum speed 3.5mph

Winglet will be tested on the city’s pavements to assess its safety and practicality for moving among pedestrians. The trial will continue until March 2016, with the emphasis in the first year being safety and from 2014 on functionality, convenience and prospective public demand.

It will be used by 80 local authority workers and employees of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in a part of the city that has been hosting mobility robot test programmes since 2011.

Toyota first presented Winglet in 2008. It is a compact, lightweight two-wheeled machine that is ridden in a standing position and manoeuvred using a long, vertical T-bar handle. The handle is adjustable, so people of all heights can use the machine. When not in use, Winglet can simply be folded up and carried.

Winglet is powered by a lithium-ion battery and has a range of about six miles (10km) on a full charge. Top speed is around 3.5mph (6km/h), and battery charging takes an hour. Performance is emissions-free, so Winglet is also suitable for use in some indoor environments, for example in airports or office complexes.