BMW getting supercomputer; iDrive still sucks, though

BMW, one of the world's top auto makers, has decided that it needs an equivalent amount of horsepower for its supercomputers in its Switzerland development center, and thus struck a deal with Intel to purchase the Albert 2, a new supercomputer that works at 12.8 teraflops per second to help crunch numbers for the next generation of BMW engines and cars. That's not the fastest in the world, but it recently ranked 60th on the Top 500 supercomputer list -- a pretty respectable showing. But BMW and Intel are thinking bigger than just one supercomputer, as Intel will also get a huge sponsorship for BMW's Formula 1 cars (pictured), and in exchange the chipmaker will switch up every computer under BMW's roof to Intel-powered machines. Regardless of how fast the Albert 2 is, BMW is going to need to switch into fifth gear if it's really going to present the first Albert 2-designed F1 car, as planned, by January 16.

P.S. -Some of us at Engadget do actually love iDrive. We're just playing around, BMW.

[Thanks Terry B, via Heise]

[Logan @ Dec 16th 2006 1:55AM]

Once you actully use iDrive for more than 5 minutes, it actuallys works quite nicely. I'm not saying its perfect but its really good.

[Derrick @ Dec 16th 2006 2:02AM]

12.8 teraflops = 12.8 trillion floating-point operations per second. To say 12.8 teraflops per second is equivalent to saying ATM machine.

[Moohcowh @ Dec 16th 2006 2:09AM]

Wow, thats an old photo (and its of a williams)

Here's a nice pic of the current BMW F1 car:
http://www.autosport.com/gallery/photo.php/id/61917

[Mark Allanson @ Dec 16th 2006 10:30AM]

Hehe glad someone else picked up on that.

Also, no doubt the BMW F1.07 will not be designed on this computer, seeings as the BMW and the F1 team are in effect seperate entities :)

[Tazmo @ Dec 16th 2006 3:24AM]

BMWs iDrive is very primitive compared to Infniti's Nav System. I used both and here's some of BMW's shortcomings compared with Infiniti:
-Slow interface in general
-System doesn't save last 5 cities visited, or last State. Everytime you input an address you start with choosing a country, state, city
-You can't look up an address with a phone number
-Input of letters is hard and takes a long time

The only advantage BMW has over Infiniti is that you have an option to enable input while driving. Infiniti allows limited input while driving, like 1st 5 address book entries, 5 last visited addresses.

[Rx @ Dec 16th 2006 2:58PM]

The NAV system does show the last points navigated to in the last destinations list. You do not have to input the country each time unless you live near a border.

One big issue with the Nav system in the BMW is that it is not very accurate. Our Lexus, which is about $30K less then our 745Li, has a superior Nav system. The technology in the Lexus vehicles is one reason why we will be ditching the BMW during our next round of vehicle purchases and going with Lexus.

[par @ Dec 16th 2006 4:06AM]

I don't own a BMW with iDrive but I thought iDrive was much mre than just a Nav System. So to compare it with a Nav System doesn't really do it justice.

[Tazmo @ Dec 16th 2006 4:35AM]

I understand your point. I mainly critisized the Navigation functions of idrive. But Infiniti's sysytem is not just for Nav, its very similar in functions as BMW's. For example both systems control all the viechles electronic components. For example tire pressure, oil, and much more.

[David @ Dec 16th 2006 5:16AM]

to clarify, that computer is solely going to be used for the Formula 1 racing team for aerodynamic simulation. It will not be used for the "next generation of BMW engines and cars" unless you are strictly talking about the F1 team.

Notice that the computer is headed for Hinwill, in Switzerland where the BMW Sauber F1 team is located.

See this article: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/56012

[VV @ Dec 16th 2006 6:21AM]

That's a Williams BMW pictured, not a Sauber BMW. BMW partnered with Williams from 2000 to 2005 and then bought a major chunk of the Sauber team and took their engines, expertise and money over to them (Sauber) instead.

[Ben @ Dec 16th 2006 6:28AM]

This article sucks. Wrong photo and absolutely nothing to do with iDrive.

Oh and btw, like iDrive or not, other car manufacturers are going to be including rip-off versions of it for years to come - so get used to it! Do I hear Mercedes S-Class?

[RedX @ Dec 16th 2006 8:37AM]

The Intel sponsorship of BMW Sauber's F1 program began last year, as did the switch to all Intel systems within BMW (not just the F1 program).

Also, regarding iDrive, the system has been tweaked quite a bit since the initial launch on the 7-series a few years back. The latest iteration on the new X5 is quite nice with some additional shortcuts allowing you to get to places that might be 8 levels deep.

[J @ Dec 16th 2006 9:20AM]

To the anoraks: that's actually a 2002 car in 2005 colors

[chaser24 @ Dec 16th 2006 9:27AM]

F1 cars have more than 5 gears in them as well... So if you only shift up to 5th to get it done, it ain't gonna happen in time.

[skucera @ Dec 16th 2006 9:35AM]

Just to clarify, it is redundant to say "teraflops per second," since "flops" means "floating point operations per second."

[Yaktastic @ Dec 16th 2006 10:09AM]

So did sauber have to give back the AMD supercomputer they were given two or three years ago? I don't have the energy to search for the news item, but in '03 or '04 AMD increased their partnership (probably having to do with massa) and gave them a CFD supercomputer. Sauber was bought by BMW and now has Intel sponsorship, so did they have to give up their computer once they were bought? If i remember the news item realting to the AMD computer was that it was one of the 3 most powerful machines in europe at the time.

[NCBimmerBoy @ Dec 16th 2006 11:32AM]

The Japanese and German's approach to in-car computer technology has always been different. Americans tend to like the "simplicity" of the Japanese approach, a la Acura and Infiniti. The BMW and Mercedes computer systems are more complicated, but offer a platform for MUCH more expansion and upgradeability. And, as someone else said, they are much more than just a Nav system.

[applesucksLeo @ Dec 16th 2006 12:05PM]

This pic shows how race cars don`t use tires with those silly aspect ratios on overly large diameter wheels :) The tires on a FI car actually help it handle better by acting as part of the suspension.They started grooving the tires years ago in an effort to slow them down as it decreases the contact area.As someone who grew up in racing , I laugh to myself when I see these cars today with those silly 22 in. diameter wheels and such. Most people who buy such wheels and tires are clueless when it comes to performance.I`m in the process of designing a beanie with a "spinner" on it to sell to these bozos on a hunch they would buy it thinking it was cool.

[Andy @ Dec 18th 2006 1:29AM]

I find those stupid on SUVs, but those people aren't going off-road any time soon. If you saw the movie Cars, there's a crack about this when a Hummer character says "But I've never been off-road" in a whiny cowardly way. I love Pixar because of stuff like this. I dislike all the Dreamworks copies (including -especially- Shrek). They are stupid.

Anyway, those low-profile tires can make actually street-designed cars go faster, since less rubber means more rigid and less energy lost. The F1 tires are specialized, and as you can see they aren't street cars. As an example, see all the touring car tires, and all the high-end sports cars like Ferrari and such.

[Sean @ Dec 16th 2006 12:30PM]

The computer is being used for F1 car development, not design.

"BMW Sauber has announced the addition of a supercomputer, Albert 2, to help develop aerodynamics in the design process. The computer is Europe's fastest machine in industry according to the current Top-500 list. The machine, based on Intel technology, is on average three times faster than its predecessor and is employed by the team for computional fluid dynamics (CFD)."

The Fluid dynamics allow them to run many different types of winds/cross winds, to simulate true cornering of the car model, giving it an advantage over the BMW Windtunnel which cannot do this (Their windtunnel is also one of the worlds best, so don't say they just need a wind tunnel upgrade!)

[Kevin Williams @ Dec 16th 2006 1:02PM]

Good grief. People making comments and not even knowing what they are talking about. iDrive is NOT the Nav system. iDrive is a mouse type controller that replaces a multitude of switches. The only thing it has to do with the Nav system is that it helps control it, as well as a multitude of other features of the car that standard knobs and switches control.

Many long term BMW owners like myself (since 1969) hate iDrive.

[Al Wilkes @ Dec 16th 2006 5:37PM]

Yeah, this article is incorrect. This computer is solely being used for BMWSauber F1 development (specifically aerodynamics). It doesn't have anything to do with BMW production cars or engines...

[thetinguy @ Dec 16th 2006 7:56PM]

Use Audi's MMI and you will raelize how overly complicated BMW's iDrive is. Really compared to other systems, iDrive is a POS.

[willyolio @ Dec 16th 2006 11:29PM]

teraflops per second isn't just redundant, it's WRONG.

unless he actually means 12.8 floating point operations per second per second... this machine's calculation speed increases the longer it's plugged in! wow! if they keep this thing going running for a minute, it'll be running at 768 teraflops. after an hour it'll be at 46 petaflops. BMW certainly made the right choice here. i want a computer like that.