July 21 2008   Source: MWerks Staff

All-New MWerks Site Set to Launch August 1

New look, more features

If it seems like we've been a little absent lately, you're not entirely wrong. Earlier this year we decided to give MWerks an update, and we've been hammering away to get the new site ready. Fortunately for us and for you, that project is coming to a close. The new, more functional MWerks will debut on August 1, 2008. Yes, it's a couple months later than we thought it would be, but we think it will be worth it.

When we launched MWerks in 2003, our goal was simply to be a source of news and information for all things related to the BMW Group. Five years later, MWerks has evolved into the Online Magazine for BMW Enthusiasts. This redesign will carry that mission further, with expanded resources and functionality. Check out some of what's coming:

Wider Pages for More Content
MWerks current page width is 750 pixels, and we're bumping that by 210 pixels. The additional width will allow for a more graphical look and give us more freedom and flexibility with the look of our news and feature articles. What we won't be doing with the additional space is filling it with advertising; we take pride in the design cleanliness of the site and will retain that with this update.

Our news and feature articles will benefit from the widening. Our embedded images will be larger, showing better detail. We'll also be able to dial up the visual impact of our articles, giving them a more magazine-like look.

Additional Features
To compliment MWerks's already popular news, original articles and extensive photo galleries, we are adding some new features for BMW enthusiasts. Perhaps the most significant new feature is video content, which will include not only clips from BMW's own press files, but also original videos of new model drives, technical procedures and other unique events. Other than adding video, we are also bolstering our extensive image galleries by increasing the standard image size by nearly 30% and adding high-quality wallpaper images.

Another new feature will be the ability to filter news and feature articles by category. This will become more important as we increase the number of original feature articles, especially technical articles and feature cars.

Our resource section will be greatly enhanced. For starters, our Events Calendar will list all of the major happenings in the BMW world, from major auto shows to enthusiast gatherings and driving events. Our FAQ section and links page will finally launch as well. Finally, we will be adding model guides, which will include technical data on every modern (post-'60s era) BMW model.
Be Part of the New and Improved MWerks

We are putting together the finishing touches on the new site. To make sure you don't miss out on the relaunch, add your name to our mailing list and we'll send you an alert when the new site is ready.

Once the update goes live, we hope you'll make MWerks your online home for BMW news, articles, and discussion. If you have a story idea or would like to see your BMW featured on MWerks, drop us a message at features@mwerks.com. You can also download the AUTObiography form and submit your car's story.