As BMW has refined its industry-leading dynamic-stability technology, as well as its BMW xDrive all-wheel drive system, the company continues to look past traditional automotive applications to areas in which it can improve people's everyday lives. In doing so, BMW exposes potential new customers to the brand's emphasis on safety and performance, which might eventually translate into future new-car purchases.
A case in point is BMW’s newest release—baby shoes that will stop a toddler from falling over.
BMW xDrive Baby Boots are designed to help children under the age of three keep their balance as they make the difficult and sometimes dangerous transition from four-limbs to full upright bipedal movement.
Using technology pioneered by BMW, the xDrive Baby Boots incorporate a traction–control sole with adaptive rubber that can respond to sensed imbalance within a tenth of a second to varying surfaces, conditions, and equilibrium changes.
The revolutionary xDrive Baby Boots provide unparalleled traction and safety regardless of the surface, and work equally well on carpet, hardwood, or ceramic floors. The intelligent xDrive system is also at home outside the home on grass and sand.
Naturally, the BMW xDrive Baby Boots provide the same 50:50 weight distribution that has given BMW automobiles their world-famous, near-perfect handling characteristics.
Lightweight construction, dynamic internal support, and aerodynamic design help ensure the xDrive Baby Boots do not tire the toddler and mobility is always available for top performance.
Joss Fülin, BMW’s chief of product fabrication, explained the connection and obvious technology transfer implications saying, “BMW entered the all-wheel drive segment more than three decades ago, and although this specific technology is still in its infancy, we see potential in the baby footwear category as a growing segment. The BMW xDrive Baby Boots provide the perfect combination of practicality and maximum walking pleasure.”
Watch the video to see the potential for safety and performance of BMW’s newest mobility breakthrough.
As BMW opens up an entirely new market segment with the BMW xDrive Baby Boots, there is one bit of bad news. As is often the case with new and exciting BMW products, the xDrive Baby Boots will not make it to the U.S. market, ostensibly due to the exhorbitantly high cost of model certification and crash testing. Once again, BMW leaves its North American customers high and dry.—Scott Blazey
[Photo and video courtesy of BMW UK. Check the date.]
