Damn, these cars are really GOOD

His name is Jang Sung-taek, he prefers to be called “ST”, but many call him “the funny guy”.

Jang is an engineer by qualification but doubles up as the director of the BMW Driving Centre in South Korea, located right next to Incheon airport near Seoul. This is a 77-billion won (Bt3 billion) facility that was originally funded by the Korean government and annually paid back by BMW.

The BMW Driving Centre, which is built on the same artificial island as the Incheon airport, may sound like an exclusive facility for BMW customers, but this is where the surprise is. Since it opened in August 2014, more than 430,000 people have visited the place, and they are not just BMW owners but come from all walks of life.

“On average we have 300-400 visitors on weekdays and more than 1,000 on holidays,” Jang said while showing a group of Thai journalists around the only BMW driving facility in Asia.

He said since its opening, the facility has turned into a popular destination for Koreans, and many of them don’t even plan to purchase a BMW.

He said Koreans like to try out products before they can make a quick purchase decision. “Just like tasting a fruit in the market. What we try to do here is offer everyone the experience without trying to push sales. If they like it they will eventually buy it.”

And the 240,000sqm BMW Driving Centre has more to offer than just selling cars at the spot.

“Apart from the driving courses, we have all sorts of facilities here including Brand Experience Centre, hotel and golf course and especially children’s zone where they can learn all sorts of things ranging from car design to traffic safety and environment,” he said, adding that even weddings have been held here before.

“BMW can also stand for Be My Wife,” Jang says with a smile, noting that family is important.

“Actually children have an important role in the decision-making process when you buy a car,” Jang pointed out. “For me, the hierarchy when buying a car is my daughter, my wife and at the bottom of the list is me, so family members are very important.”

Unlike showrooms, visitors are let to wander on their own and not approached by salespeople. As many as 70 per cent of visitors drive other brands and the rule is to let them experience the BMW way of doing things.

There are bars and restaurants as well as historical exhibits. There were two 60-year-old BMW Isettas, and Jang proudly fired up the engine and drove one around in the showroom.

“When they arrived they weren’t working and I had to make some parts by hand in order to get them up and running again,” he said.

Visitors also get to take part in driving experiences ranging from powerful M sports cars to off-roading with the X Series. Prices range from 16  euros for the M Taxi ride to almost 1,600 euros for private coaching.

“After a day here and on the way home, this man might be driving a Hyundai and he suddenly thinks – it’s time for me to change cars,” he said.

“We also have an airport service where customers can leave their cars for servicing or repair here, and we shuttle them to the airport. When they return, they can pick the cars here and drive home,” Jang said. “Being located near the airport also means that a lot of people see out facility and want to visit.”

Another important part of the facility is the training academy that welcomes 15,000 BMW trainees annually for sales, customer service, technical specifications and brand training.

 

Driving the cars

We had a few courses during the day, ranging from laps in the M2 and M4, as well as on a very short gymkhana with an M2.

On the 2.6-km track, with a long straight that lets you rev up to about 200km/h (the straight will be extended so that cars can reach 250km/h in the near future), the compact M2 performed brilliantly.

The turbocharged 3.0-litre in-line-six pumps out 370hp and 465Nm, propelling the M2 from 0-100km/h n 4.3 seconds. The car has an electronically-limited top speed of 250km/h, but you can raise it to 270km/h with the M Driver’s Package.

It came with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission from M that provides super quick and violent shifts in Sport+ mode. Yes, you’d be delightfully surprised by that kick when shifting from first to second at full throttle.

There so much power and torque you don’t even have to transfer weight to drift this car, just give it more gas than needed on the exit and the rear end starts to break loose.

The great thing about BMWs is that when it starts to destabilise, it informs what’s about to happen and you have time to respond.

I did 10 laps in the M2 Coupe, speed increasing lap by lap (I had selected Sport+ long before the instructor had told us to do so). The steering and suspension stiffen up much more than standard BMW cars, the engine starts to breathe fire and suddenly you forget about the other cars around. There’s just you, the M2 and the next corner.

For a video of the M2 in a short gymkhana course, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0X_D8LuT1I&index=5&list=PL60yMkBjrbpfUepepg-IAMjXQw3gkLwZt.

Next up was the M4 Coupe, which is pretty much the highlight of the M brand. Actually, there were also M3 sedans in this round, but come on, it’s gotta be the coupe you go for when driving an M car.

Power and torque are up a step from the M2, with this turbocharged 3.0-litre in-line-six unit producing 431hp and 550Nm.

Right away you notice the difference, not in power but in the way it handles. The wider track and wheelbase provides another level of stability, a smoother turn-in and exit compared to the quick but fidgety M2 (but I still love it for the rawness). And if you’re good enough (like some of our Indonesian counterparts who definitely had a field day), you can power drift it beautifully across the multiple corners at this BMW track.

The M4 also does the 0-100km/h in 4.3 seconds and has a 250km/h governed top speed. If that’s not enough, there’s a powerful version called the M4 CS that is a lightweight version and more race-bred. Maximum power, again from a turbocharged in-line six, is claimed at 460hp while maximum torque is now 600Nm. Acceleration from 0-100km/h is cut to 3.9 seconds, and the limited top speed is now 280km/h (yes, you can surely go faster than that without the limiter).

 

Conclusion

To wrap up the day, I’d agree with ST that the BMW Driving Experience, apart from other programmes offered at the facility, can help sell cars. Perhaps not directly at the spot, but surely those who have driven any M car at the limit here would easily fall for it and grab one whenever they have the opportunity.

Being an auto journalist with lots of experience from driving all sorts of cars, I was even a little surprised at myself telling a fellow journalist that day, “damn, these cars are really good”.

 

 

 

Specifications

BMW M2

 

Engine: 24-valve 6-cylinder with turbocharger

Displacement: 2,979cc

Max power: 370/6,500rpm

Max torque: 465/1,400-5,560rpm

Transmission: 7-speed DCT

0-100km/h: 4.3 secs

Top speed: 250km/h (limited)

Suspension (f/r): spring-strut/multi-link

Brakes : vented disc all-round

Dimensions (mm)

Length: 4,468

Width: 1,854

Height: 1,410

Wheelbase: 2,693

Track (f/r): 1,579/1,601

Weight: 1,495kgs

Wheels: 19-in alloy

Tires: 245/35ZR19 (front)/265/35ZR19 (rear)

 

 

BMW M4

Engine: 24-valve 6-cylinder with two turbochargers

Displacement: 2,979cc

Max power: 431/5,500-7,300rpm

Max torque: 550/1,850-5,500rpm

Transmission: 7-speed DCT

0-100km/h: 4.3 secs

Top speed: 250km/h (limited)

Suspension (f/r): spring-strut/multi-link

Brakes: vented disc all-round

Dimensions (mm)

Length: 4,671

Width: 1,870

Height: 1,383

Wheelbase: 2,812

Track (f/r): 1,579/1,603

Weight: 1,520kgs

Wheels: 18-in alloy

Tires: 255/40ZR18 (front)/275/40ZR18 (rear)