BETA LAB

 

An Advanced Research and Teaching Workspace

The BMW Group + QUT Design Academy Beta Lab is an advanced design research and teaching space. With exclusive access to a BMW M8 Competition vehicle, our Research Associates are exploring various cutting-edge topics including human-machine interfaces and emerging interactive technologies. For undergraduate students at QUT, the M8 facilitates learning through projects across a number of design disciplines. These projects include exterior and interior design, visualisation, materials and manufacturing, and the integration of interactive and emerging technologies

Location:
Building Z2 Room 407, QUT Kelvin Grove Campus

The BMW M8 Competition Coupé

The M8 Competition is BMW’s flagship luxury sports car. The M8 is a combination of performance, high-quality materials and design, plus high-end features and technology. Some of the technology and specifications that our M8 Competition vehicle has includes:

+ Radar cruise control

+ Bowers & Wilkins premium audio

+ Pedestrian and cyclist detection

+ Steering and Lane Control Assistant

+ Evasion Assistant

+ Crossroads warning

+ Front and rear cross traffic alert

+ Panoramic view reversing camera

+ Self parking ability

+ BMW Digital Key

+ 617hp twin-turbo V8 engine

+ 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds

+ BMW ‘Carbon Core’ construction

+ BMW xDrive all wheel drive system

+ M Performance carbon fibre bucket seats

+ Configurable driving modes

+ Heads up display (HUD)

+ Gesture control and voice recognition

+ Configurable interior lighting

+ BMW Laser headlights

 

Video:
Endowment of the BMW M8 Competition

Video Credit: Stranger Films

 

Image credit: David Fell, Jordan Domjahn and Nick Sterkenburg

We are proud to say that one of our Impact Lab 4 students, Sophie Burton, designed the Alpha Studio and Beta Lab branding for the Academy.