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Sunday, July 20, 2025

Sim Rigs, 360 Cams & Extra


Operating a platform like ours isn’t nearly vehicles—it’s additionally about content material creation, storytelling, and, sometimes, the fun of life past the storage. Whether or not we’re enhancing high-res video within the studio, capturing cinematic 360-degree footage midway the world over, or test-driving a brand new way of life addition like a BMW child stroller, the gear we select issues. Right here’s a have a look at a number of the newest additions to our artistic arsenal—and why they’ve earned a spot in our every day workflow.

Secretlab MAGNUS Professional Desk & Monitor Arm: Constructed for Editors

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One in all our fixed challenges as video creators is optimizing our enhancing house. Modifying isn’t nearly energy—it’s about posture, consolation, display house, and adjustability. We wanted a setup that might assist the lengthy hours spent crafting automotive critiques, interviews, and recaps from occasions like Pebble Seaside or CES. That’s the place the Secretlab MAGNUS Professional standing desk and MAGNUS Monitor Arm (Heavy Arm Version) got here in.

The MAGNUS Professional affords a premium standing desk expertise with a clear, minimal design and severe efficiency. Its twin motors present a large top vary from 25.6 to 49.2 inches, supporting as much as 265 kilos—loads for a multi-monitor setup. Secretlab’s magnetic cable administration system retains every little thing tidy, particularly when paired with their matching equipment.

Holding our 40-inch ultrawide enhancing monitor is the MAGNUS Heavy Obligation Monitor Arm. With assist for shows as much as 57 inches and 35 kilos, it simply handles our display whereas providing full tilt, pan, and top adjustment. The complete setup seems to be purpose-built, feels rock-solid, and—sure—makes us really feel a little bit extra skilled.

Nuna x BMW MIXX Subsequent Stroller: Child’s First Bimmer

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When one in all our group members introduced they had been anticipating, we knew two issues: 1) they’d want a stroller, and a pair of) it needed to be on-brand. Enter the Nuna MIXX Subsequent BMW Version—a collaboration between the premium Dutch child gear model and BMW that blends fashion, operate, and luxurious. It’s the form of stroller that turns heads at Vehicles & Espresso.

Past the badges, this stroller is extremely well-engineered. With Free-Flex suspension and foam-filled all-terrain tires, it handles cracked sidewalks and gravel tons with ease. The seat reclines flat for newborns and might be rapidly flipped to face ahead or rearward. The UPF 50+ cover options built-in air flow, and there’s a beneficiant storage basket beneath.

At round 29 kilos, it’s stable however nonetheless manageable, and it folds with one hand into an upright, self-standing place. BMW prospers are in every single place—from the gloss black body to the quilted leatherette pushbar and signature wheel design. For the fanatic dad or mum, it’s the final word child mobility resolution.

Insta360 X5: The 360 Cam That Goes In every single place

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In the previous couple of months, we’ve traveled from the neon-lit skyline of Shanghai to the winding climbs of Pikes Peak. In every location, one instrument got here with us: the Insta360 X5. It’s our go-to for immersive storytelling, particularly once we want dynamic B-roll or cinematic 360-degree footage of occasions just like the BMW Imaginative and prescient Driving Expertise or Auto Shanghai. And because of its twin 1/1.28” sensors, the X5 shoots beautiful 8K 360 video and captures 72MP stills, making it excellent for reframing content material in put up.

The digital camera can also be rugged. It’s waterproof as much as 49 toes, options superior wind noise discount, and boasts wonderful low-light efficiency because of Insta360’s AI-powered PureVideo mode. Whether or not we’re chasing an idea automotive throughout a motor present ground or hanging out the again of an X5 in Colorado, the X5 captures every little thing.

Bonus: the touchscreen UI is intuitive, the battery lasts round 90 minutes in 8K mode, and every little thing matches in a jacket pocket. It’s the closest factor to a cinematic drone you should use with out truly flying one.

Fanatec ClubSport DD + Podium BMW M4 GT3 Wheel: A Sim Racing Dream

FANATEC PODIUM BMW M4 GT3 STEERING 04FANATEC PODIUM BMW M4 GT3 STEERING 04

We lastly constructed our personal sim racing rig. And if we had been going to do it, we had been going to do it proper—BMW fashion. On the coronary heart of our setup is the Fanatec ClubSport DD wheelbase, paired with the official Podium BMW M4 GT3 steering wheel. This isn’t a duplicate. It’s the very same wheel utilized in actual BMW M4 GT3 and GT4 race vehicles, tailored for sim use.

The cast carbon fiber rim, push-pull magnetic shifters, and customizable RGB buttons scream motorsport. It’s useful artwork, and it feels unimaginable in hand. The grip is sculpted rubber, the rotary encoders are intuitive, and the built-in OLED display offers us entry to knowledge with out cluttering our sim view.

FANATEC CLUBSPORT DD 03FANATEC CLUBSPORT DD 03

Powering all of it is the ClubSport DD, a 12Nm direct-drive base that delivers silky-smooth and brutally real looking suggestions. It’s sturdy sufficient for pro-level sim racers however reasonably priced sufficient to be thought of “mid-range” within the DD world. Paired with the QR2 quick-release system, it’s future-proof and rock stable.

This setup isn’t only for racing video games—it’s a connection to the exact same {hardware} utilized in BMW’s precise race vehicles. And after hours of testing it throughout iRacing and Assetto Corsa Competizione, we are able to confidently say: it’s the closest factor to driving an actual M4 GT3 with out leaving your own home.

Whether or not we’re enhancing video, capturing international auto reveals, chasing toddlers, or chasing lap instances, the proper gear helps us inform higher tales—and keep on-brand. These instruments may not have engines or wheels (okay, one in all them does), however they mirror the identical ardour for precision, efficiency, and premium high quality that drives every little thing we do.

Disclaimer: A number of the merchandise featured on this article had been offered to BMWBLOG for free of charge for editorial evaluation functions. As at all times, all opinions are our personal, and we solely characteristic gear we’ve examined and genuinely use in our workflow.

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