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BMW’s bespoke racing wheelchair
Getting ready For the 2016 Paralympics.

As an automotive industry leader, BMW not only produces four-wheel vehicles, motorcycles, and other mainstream vehicles but occasionally employs their advanced vehicle technology in other transportation fields to deliver unexpected products into the market. In the middle of 2015, BMW North America announced their collaboration with the US Olympic Committee to create a new racing wheelchair design for the US Handicapped Olympics team to use at the 2016 Brazilian Paralympic Games. This April, they introduced their result. While at first glance, the body of the BMW-designed racing wheelchair is not much different to the standard version, a closer look at its detail reveals BMW’s technological wisdom.

During design development, BMW analyzed 3D scans of the athletes using typical racing wheelchairs to achieve a lighter and lower drag design. Next, BMW replaced the existing standard’s steel with aluminum, which produced more structural stability and greater speed. However, it was BMW’s concentration on each athlete’s ergonomics that led to its most significant design revision. By offering a design with highly adjustable seat height, knee angle, and steering, adaptable to fit each athlete and venue, BMW created a bespoke wheelchair for each team member; BMW even dedicated time to provide each athlete with a tailor-made pair of gloves. We feel that BMW’s intricate racing wheelchair design may just be the best embodiment of car technology adaptation in history.

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