Carrera DIGITAL 132 BMW 320 Turbo Low-Profile

Carrera Digital 132 BMW 320 Turbo Low-Profile "Team Schnitzer"

Art.Nr. 30973


Technical Specifications:
Weight (complete vehicle with magnets): 115 grams
Weight (body): 45 grams
Length incl. spoiler: 158 mm
Wheelbase: 80 mm
Track width (front axle): 57 mm
Track width (rear axle): 61 mm

The prototype:
Group 5"era of the German Racing Championship was a wild time. Although the term "production cars" was used, the regulations allowed for a great deal of freedom. At the beginning, however, this freedom was used only hesitantly. The first BMW 320 Gr. 5 was—despite its generous fender flares and spoilers—a relatively conservative design. At the time, BMW even offered a conversion kit that allowed a standard BMW 3 Series E21 to be modified accordingly, at least in terms of the bodywork. It’s hard to imagine today, but back then, anyone with enough cash to spare could build their own Group 5 racer from scratch at home.
When Zakspeed unveiled the famous and legendary Turbo Capri in the 1978 season, everything changed. Here, the regulations were pushed to the limit; the car was based on a space-frame chassis that retained only the original passenger cell and was clad with parts of the original body. BMW felt compelled to respond and copied the concept, resulting in the BMW 320 Turbo Flachbau. To improve aerodynamics, they even installed a double rear window, which gave the car a fastback silhouette.

The model:
In the Carrera 1980/81 catalog, Carrera the BMW 320 Turbo Flachbau is depicted multiple times in large format as an actual vehicle in various racing scenes. However, the Flachbau version had never actually been released as a slot car until then. Both Carrera (at the time) and its competitors—both past and present—had previously offered only the “tall” predecessor model. With the release of this new model from [brand name] Carrera , a gap in the slot car market has now Carrerabeen filled. The Schnitzer version, featuring a bright yellow design, will be the first to be shipped. As the dimensions and weight indicate, this is a relatively large (or at least long) slot car, which consequently isn’t exactly a lightweight. The weight difference compared to the Ford Capri Zakspeed is 10 grams; however, the BMW features a solid front axle instead of the individual wheels found on the Ford. The model’s massive, wide, and low-slung appearance comes across very well, and it also characterizes its handling: even with low magnetic force, the risk of tipping over is virtually zero. However, due to its weight, acceleration isn’t quite as good as on the Ford Capri. On the other hand, the handling is a bit more supple and forgiving. Overall, the model takes a little getting used to, but once you do, it’s a pleasure to drive around the track at a brisk pace.

Conclusion:
As surprising as the announcement was, the execution is just as successful. If I had one wish, I’d love to see this model in 1:24 scale on the Carrera track.


CoMod Chris