Leaving the Studio, Heading West

Photographer OGATA said:

"I enjoy traveling to unfamiliar cities, exploring old streets and buildings. I still want to visit many places across Japan..."

OGATA, whose main focus is portraiture, typically shoots in a studio, photographing people. He has captured countless celebrities through his lens. He recently left his studio and headed west, camera equipment in tow.

His companion for this trip was the "BMW 523d Touring Luxury," released just last autumn. He chose this car for three reasons: first, the signature BMW driving experience; second, its utility for transporting equipment; and third, the highlight of this journey, BMW ConnectedDrive.

Early in the morning, he and his assistant departed from Tokyo, heading west towards Kobe. The objective was to capture the BMW's contemporary design alongside historic architecture in a single frame.





"I often have the opportunity to drive myself. I also enjoy long drives, so a car like a BMW is exactly my kind of vehicle. Above all, it's fun to drive. It possesses both the sportiness to move as I intend and a refined quality that isn't excessive. Cars with this kind of exquisite balance are surprisingly rare these days. For now, I think I'll head to Kobe. It's a considerable distance, and for some reason, I've never actually visited Kobe before, despite having been to Osaka and Kyoto. It's a city I've been curious about, so this seems like a good opportunity."

Driven by this motivation, he drove on the highway for about six hours. Signs for Kobe began to appear frequently. Upon entering Kobe city, he activated a certain switch. A few seconds later, an operator's voice emerged from somewhere, its bright and warm tone filling the car: "Yes, this is BMW ConnectedDrive..."






In response, OGATA asked, "Could you tell me about some historic, old buildings in Kobe? Perhaps Western-style ones..." Within tens of seconds, the operator announced several locations. He selected the Hyogo Prefectural Government Building, and the operator set it as the destination on the navigation system – all remotely, of course. From there, voice guidance guided the driver just as it would when setting a destination on a regular navigation system. The first destination was just around the corner.

It's Also Fun to Chase Subjects on Impulse

"Looking closely at this 5 Series, I notice how its design incorporates many complex surface treatments. While you might not perceive it at first glance from a distance, it becomes apparent when viewed through a camera lens. The sharp lines on the hood and body sides are particularly beautiful. They catch the sunlight wonderfully, and the reflections of the city's neon lights also stand out. And the body color of this car is excellent. The match with the red of the taillights is exquisite. Ah, car designers are truly amazing."

As he continued his shooting, OGATA began to discuss the design of the car he was photographing. How did it appear to his eyes?




"There are incredibly expensive products, aren't there, with a very limited number of buyers? Because the market is small, designers can draw lines with complete freedom. That's why I think the designs of such products are superb. However, this car has a much larger market than those. Despite that, it possesses such individuality and makes such a strong statement, which is astonishing."

Peace of Mind for the Driver, Born from Safety

In terms of "peace of mind," various driver assistance systems also serve as powerful allies. Systems that alert the driver to the risk of a collision with a vehicle ahead and even provide brake assistance, as well as Lane Departure Warning, which alerts the driver to unintentional lane departures at speeds above 60 km/h, all assist the driver. Recently, a feature called "Driving Assistant Plus" has also been added.

This system includes ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control), which can automatically control speed while maintaining a set distance to the vehicle ahead, and a system that controls braking down to a complete stop. Furthermore, it's an excellent feature that automatically resumes the set speed once traffic congestion clears.





Of course, these are merely supplementary, but their benefits are easily imagined. OGATA also reflected on his journey, stating that this feature significantly reduced his fatigue during the long drive.

"The 'BMW SOS Call,' standard with BMW ConnectedDrive, is also a feature that provides great peace of mind to the driver. In daily driving or while traveling, one never knows when an unexpected accident might occur. In the unlikely event of such an incident, having the system automatically contact emergency services like ambulance or fire departments on behalf of the occupants is truly reassuring, especially when traveling in unfamiliar territory."

The Potential of ConnectedDrive

BMW ConnectedDrive also responded to requests for hotel locations, lunch spots, and places with views of the nightscape from Mt. Rokko. Throughout this trip, it provided support to OGATA numerous times while he was driving.

"The cafe terrace with a view of the nightscape was wonderful. Also, there are many bridges around Kobe and Awaji Island, and BMW ConnectedDrive was able to pinpoint parks where one can view the bridges nearby. It provides the information you need, when you need it, 24/7, 365 days a year. Once you get used to it, you can't do without it. Also, the optional feature that links pre-searched information from Google Maps with the navigation system was very useful. It even guides your walk from where you park the car to your final destination via smartphone, which is perfect for trips to unfamiliar places like this."





On their final evening, after returning to Kobe and shooting from Mt. Rokko, they captured photos filled with exotic atmosphere in Nankinmachi, the city's Chinatown, and the final shot was taken with Sannomiya in the background.

And so, the planned three-day photographic trip concluded. Even after driving from Tokyo to Kobe, there was still a considerable amount of fuel left in the car's tank. It was a moment to truly appreciate the fuel efficiency of BMW's clean diesel engine.

"To achieve this fuel efficiency without compromising the driving expectations associated with the BMW brand, this 'BMW 523d Touring Luxury' is truly remarkable. You wouldn't believe it's a 2-liter engine."

His face, as he declared this, was filled with the refreshed expression of someone who had accomplished something. He must have captured satisfactory work. Considering this, the potential of BMW ConnectedDrive seems limitless. Depending on who uses it and how, its applications can expand infinitely...

*BMW ConnectedDrive utilizes the 3G mobile communication network and cannot be used in areas where reception is unavailable.

BMW 523d Touring Luxury |
BMW 523d Touring Luxury
Vehicle Dimensions | Length 4,915 × Width 1,860 × Height 1,490 mm
Wheelbase | 2,970mm
Minimum Ground Clearance | 140mm
Vehicle Weight | 1,860kg
Trunk Capacity | 560-1,670 liters
Engine | 2-liter 4-cylinder inline DOHC BMW TwinPower Turbo Diesel
Maximum Output | 135kW (184ps) / 4,000rpm
Maximum Torque | 380Nm (38.7kgm) / 1,750-2,750rpm
Transmission | 8-speed AT
Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive
Fuel Economy (JC08 mode) | 16.5km/ℓ
Vehicle Price | 7.24 million yen (tax included)

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