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The Australian woman who invented BMW’s colour-changing car

The Australian woman who invented BMW’s colour-changing car

Stella Clarke’s bicycle commute – and passing gridlocked cars – provided the perfect isolation to generate ideas. From our Machine supplement, featuring the best in things that move.

Tony DavisMotoring writer

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It’s 13 kilometres from Garching, a suburb on the outskirts of Munich, to the BMW Group Research and Innovation Centre near the city’s centre. Dr Stella Clarke makes the two-way journey each day on her pushbike, sometimes through ice and snow.

“I have tyres with spikes and I have really good gear, so I ride through winter. My clothes are good to about minus 5, but I’ve ridden in minus 15 and that’s painful. You have to start finding bakeries on the way to warm up.”

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Tony Davis
Tony DavisMotoring writerTony Davis writes on lifestyle specialising in cars. Email Tony at tony.davis@afr.com.au

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Original URL: https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/cars-bikes-and-boats/the-australian-woman-who-invented-bmw-s-colour-changing-car-20220201-p59svf