Based on the photos that BMW Motorrad, BMW’s motorcycle arm, released of the BMW CE 04 Vagabund Moto Concept, one would assume that it’s an art piece that’s meant to sit front and center in a Los Angeles apartment. But that’s not the case. The CE 04 is the latest concept from the two companies and is an all-electric scooter with an eye on urban mobility, but somehow, it has a rack to carry a matching surfboard. Yeah, we’re a little confused by the concept, but in a good way.
If you’re familiar with the Austrian-based Vagabund, you’re probably not surprised by the CE 04 Concept. Vagabund Moto is a design studio that’s created some pretty radical car and motorcycle concepts, many of which utilize BMW’s bikes as the base. The team at Vagabund have a history of making some incredible concepts, so the CE 04 Concept fits right in with their theme of urban machines with an eye-catching design.
Vagabund Moto took the BMW CE 04 and made it a lot cooler. The color scheme of beige, dark green, black, and white is especially fetching. The electric scooter was also fitted with a transparent orange windscreen and matching smiley-face orange inserts on the front indicator lights, and a large smiley face graphic on the front wheel hub. Light-hearted touches aside, Vagabund Moto has added some actually useful features for scooter riders, like a tail-mounted Pelican 1600 Protector Case and a transportation system for a surfboard. We’ve seen automakers come out with trucks that can carry a surfboard, but this is the first time we’ve seen a scooter with a rack that can carry a board.
While the all-electric scooter can actually carry a surfboard, the feature is more of a metaphor, claims BMW. “The surfboard isn’t just a piece of sports equipment: it’s also a metaphor for a sustainable urban lifestyle,” states Oliver Balzer, head of BMW Motorrad Austria. Good, because we’re sure that surfboard would be stolen the first time we’d go to Target to get a drink after a day at the beach. Still, the fact that the scooter can hold a surfboard is cool, and to see the surfboard share a matching livery with the scooter deserves a chef’s kiss.
Beyond the design, Vagabund Moto hasn’t changed a lot about the CE 04. The scooter’s powertrain remains the same, as it comes with an electric motor that produces up to 42 horsepower and 45.7 pound-feet of torque. It tops out at a limited top speed of 75 mph and has a range of 80 miles on the WMTC cycle. If the electric scooter went through the EPA’s testing, we’re sure that figure would be a lot lower.
One could argue that Vagabund Moto didn’t do much to the scooter, but they didn’t have to. The BMW CE 04 is already a great option for urbanites with a useful amount of range and thoughtful touches, like the storage compartment under the seat. If anything, Vagabund Moto’s touches are more to show that electric urban vehicles don’t have to be boring or ugly. While this is just a one-off, it would be cool for BMW to incorporate some of the elements, like the livery, and offer them as an option on the CE 04 in the future.
When most people think about a buggy, there’s a good chance they’re envisioning a Meyers Manx. The odd, frog-looking machine was one of the original DIY kits when it was introduced in the ‘60s and gave enthusiasts the ability to build a funky machine that could travel across sand better than a hermit crab. Now, the Meyers Manx has returned for a new generation of enthusiasts with some modern tweaks thanks to renowned automotive designer Freeman Thomas. There’s some good news for enthusiasts that like the way the original Manx dune buggy looks – the design of the new kit essentially looks just like the original one. That was Thomas’ intention from the beginning, as the designer claims that the goal with the “Remastered program was to preserve [founder] Bruce Meyers’ unmistakable design while incorporating modern touches that make full assembly accessible to more people.”
The new Meyers Manx Remastered Kit utilizes 3D scanning that’s 100% digital to ensure that the fiberglass panels fit seamlessly together. The kit also has a few modern touches that will make the vehicle easier to assemble for DIYers who want to complete the build in their garage, like a removable dash panel and integrated wiring tubes. The best feature that really showcases how modernized the Manx Remastered Kit is compared to the original one is the addition of a locking rear trunk. That’s right. You now have a small place to store goodies that will be safe from thieves you might run into while off-roading on the beach. Buyers interested in the new remastered kit have 46 different metal flake gel-coat colors and 18 solid gel-coat color schemes to choose from. Metal flake paint jobs cost an extra $1,000, while getting your body kit protected from the sun with a UV coat costs $800. Meyers Manx is currently accepting deposits for the Remastered Kit, that’s priced at $5,995. You can put down 50% to get your name in the hat and get your build going as quickly as possible.
You don’t have to be an artist to notice that automotive design has changed dramatically over the past few decades. While every decade sees automobile designers take inspiration from outside the automotive industry, new-age vehicles are blazing their own paths for automotive designs. In order to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of automotive design, BMW recently moved its innovative Designworks division to Santa Monica, California. At first glance, the move might be confusing. For the past 50 years, Designworks has been located in Thousand Oaks and has worked out of a 70,000 square-foot facility. The new studio in Santa Monica has just 16,000 square feet of space. While the change in location may seem like a business deal gone bad, the change will help Designworks really flex its muscles as an innovative design studio. That should mean more stirring designs for consumers.
Not too long ago, we thought BMW Mini was officially done with the manual transmission. Supply chain issues during the COVID-19 pandemic meant that Mini wasn’t able to offer a vehicle with a manual gearbox in the U.S. Then, Mini brought the manual back in three models in October 2022 and announced a new driving school to teach people how to drive a car with a manual transmission. Mini just announced changes to its 2024 lineup, and the automaker will have seven models that are available with a six-speed manual soon. In other words, Mini’s bringing fun back. Sticking with the news on the availability of a manual transmission, the seven models that will be available with a six-speed gearbox include: Cooper 2-Door Hardtop, Cooper S 2-Door Hardtop, John Cooper Works 2-Door Hardtop, Cooper Convertible, Cooper S convertible, Cooper 4-Door Hardtop, and Cooper S 4-Door Hardtop. Production of these manual-equipped Minis will begin on March 1.
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