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
gramsLength including spoiler: 158
mmWheelbase: 80
mmTrack width (front axle): 57
mmTrack width (rear axle): 61 mmThe

Real-Life Model:
Group 5era 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 first, 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 who had enough cash in their wallet could cut and weld their own Group 5 racer at home.
When Zakspeed unveiled the famous and legendary Turbo Capri in the 1978 season, everything changed. The regulations were pushed to their absolute limit here; the car was based on a tubular-frame chassis that retained only the original passenger cell and was clad with parts of the original body. This put BMW under pressure to respond, so they 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 Carrera the 1980/81 “Auf und im” catalog, the BMW 320 Turbo Flachbau is depicted multiple times in large format as the actual vehicle in various racing scenes. In fact, however, the low-profile version had never been available as a slot car until now. Both ( Carreraat the time) and its competitors—both past and present—had previously offered only the “tall” predecessor model. With this new release from [company name] Carrera , a blank spot on the slot car map is now being filled. The Schnitzer version, designed in bright yellow, 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 means it’s not 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, the acceleration isn't quite as good as that of the Ford Capri. On the other hand, the handling is a bit more solid and smooth. 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 impressive. If I had one wish, I’d love to see this model in the large 1:24 scale on the Carreratrack.


CoMod Chris