BMW teams up with Playboy

The 'pipe and slippers' image that BMW was once (in)famous for is well and truly a thing of the past thanks to the S 1000 RR sports bike.

Indeed, the high performance two-wheeler has helped shake up the litre class sports bike category thanks to its huge power reserves and impressive chassis dynamics. And now with US mens magazine's Playboy "Playmate of the Year" having been handed the keys to the model, it would seem BMW is keen to add even more razzle dazzle to its image.

American model Hope Dworaczyk was given the high-speed 193hp BMW motorcycle along with a large cash prize when she became the Playmate of the Year, and it's interesting to note that this is the first time in 45 years that a Playmate has been given a motorcycle instead of a car.

Some would argue there's a recession on and car makers don't have the funds to give away luxury cars anymore, but it certainly won't do the motorcycle industry any harm having a high profile 25-year-old model promoting two-wheeled transport.