The M Power app measures vehicle acceleration using your iPhone’s (or iPod Touch‘s) built-in accelerometer. After securing the iPhone (via a windshield mount or just tossing it in a cup holder), the app will measure 0-60 mph times other user-customizable speeds in mph or kph. The app will also measure forward and lateral G-forces for users who want to take a spin on a skidpad. Users can also unlock different skins on BMW’s Web site to customize the look and feel of the app.

Although branded with the BMW M badge, the M Power app will work for any car that you can fit an iPhone into. Unlike my favorite paid iPhone accelerometer-based speed computer, Dynolicious, BMW’s app doesn’t look like it will calculate your vehicle’s horsepower or torque. But at the low cost of “free,” the M Power app is a hard bargain to turn down.

(From CNET)

BMW are now officially the world’s number one luxury car manufacturer.  Love or hate the brand image, their engineering credentials are undeniable.  Their Vision EfficientDynamics prototype is a major marketing investment as well as a design triumph.  As with so many successful luxury brands it is the content created by this kind of product innovation desirability that filters down to the mainstream market, creating a serious halo effect.  Check the brand film here.