VOL. 55 ISSUE 29 JULY 24, 2018 P105
customers since then, alongside
around 1200 versions each year
of the even costlier full-electric
C evolution E-scooter, which ap-
peared two years later, in 2014.
Now, BMW is entering the
even larger, 300-450cc, mid-
size, global scooter segment
representing around 40,000
units annually, with the C 400
X launched at last November's
EICMA Show in Milan (appro-
priately, since Italy is expected
to be the largest market for the
machine). In fact, 65% of total
production should find homes
in Europe, according to BMW's
Scooter Project Manager, Peter
Maier (who led the creation of
the C650 models). But this time
around, the entire vehicle, rather
than just the engine, will be built
in China (though Maier is at pains
to stress that BMW will exercise
super-tight control over that pro-
cess, just as it does for its G310
motorcycle models built for BMW
by TVS in India).
"This midsize scooter is
100-percent a BMW product,"
he insists. "Every single part,
down to the smallest screw,
whether in in the engine or the
bodywork or chassis or instru-
ment, is a BMW component.
We are responsible for every
element from design to manu-
facture, which is closely super-
vised by our engineers, so it's
completely built to BMW quality
standards."
The C 400 X's high-
speed stability at
speeds of 90 mph is
excellent in spite of
small cast aluminum
wheels, 15 inches
up front and just 14
inches at the rear.
Twin radial
four-piston front
brake calipers
and dual 265mm
discs give
outstanding
stopping power,
with a very
effective single
rear disc. ABS is
standard.
