The BMW X6 will again be offered in two models in the US, the X6 xDrive50i which features BMW’s 4.4-liter 400 hp TwinPower Turbo V8 and the X6 xDrive35i with BMW’s award-winning 300 hp TwinPower Turbo inline-6. Both are mated to BMW’s 8-speed automatic transmission for a unique blend of responsiveness and efficiency.

As an alternative to the standard Xenon headlights, the new BMW X6 is the first vehicle in its segment to be available with adaptive LED headlights. The new BMW X6 comes standard as a four-seat model. A three-seat rear bench is available as an option. The luggage compartment volume of the Sports Activity Coupe is 25.6 cubic feet (570 liters) and can be extended to up to nearly 60 cu.-ft. (1,450 liters) by folding down the rear backrests.

As an additional option, the M Performance Package is available in the US. This attractive equipment package is not just cosmetic. It includes an engine upgrade of +15hp and +30 lb-ft of torque on the X6 xDrive35i giving it 315 hp and 330 lb-ft. The increase is +40 hp +30 lb-ft of torque on the X6 xDrive50i for total peak output of 440 hp and 480 lb-ft. In addition, the M Performance Package includes 20-inch light alloy wheels, black chrome exhaust tips, stainless steel pedals, M foot rest and door sills, shadowline exterior trim, anthracite headliner, and optional Carbon Black metallic paint.

The 2013 BMW X6 arrives in US showrooms in the spring of 2012.

This project is limited to a few high-end performance parts – H&R suspension, BBS wheels, Brembo Big Brakes and Continental tires. These brands are a perfect fit for this one of a kind vehicle. The associations of these products are easily recognized as the best of the best. Working with these well-known tuning companies adds to the uniqueness of the BMW 1M Coupe while retaining its true character.

H&R Springs BMW 1M Coupe Specifications:

Base Vehicle:
2011 BMW 1M Coupe
TwinPower Turbo 3.0 liter 6 cyl
6-speed transmission

Chassis:
H&R Sport Suspension
H&R Sport Sway Bar — Front 27mm
H&R Sport Sway Bar — Rear 23mm
H&R TRAK+® Wheel Spacers

Wheels & Tires:
BBS Super RS wheels, size 19×9” front 19×10” rear
Continental ExtremeContact DW tires, size 245/35ZR19 front, 265/35ZR19 rear

Exterior:
Brembo GT 380mm Big Brake Kit front & rear with
Custom Motorsport Blue Calipers
Sticky Jewel Graphics
BMW Accessories 1M Car Cover from Laurel BMW of Westmont, IL

Interior:
Weathertech Floor Mats

The BMW M3 CRT will feature a body consisting entirely of CFRP in the passenger cell area. In a new development, the production process introduced for this purpose enables the cuttings left behind in the construction of the body to be reprocessed. The basic material (made up of carbon fibre thread) can now be woven into CFRP mats of any size before being impregnated with synthetic resin and hardened in a similar way to the material used in the body of the BMW i3 and BMW i8. For the BMW M3 CRT this allows the creation of a bonnet made from two CFRP mouldings encasing an aramid honeycomb structure. This construction imbues the bonnet with the strength of a conventional steel equivalent, but at roughly a quarter of its weight. The weight saving over the aluminium bonnet of the standard BMW M3 Saloon is around 50 per cent.

Under the CFRP bonnet of the BMW M3 CRT lies a variant of the V8 engine developed exclusively for the BMW M3 with further increased displacement, output and maximum torque. The high-revving unit provides the linear power delivery you expect from an M car and a highly responsive performance profile honed by the demands of the race track. Tuned for the BMW M3 GTS, the eight-cylinder engine develops 331 kW/450 hp from its 4,360 cc displacement. Maximum output is reached at 8,300 rpm, and the driver will find peak torque of 440 Newton metres on tap at 3,750 rpm.

Included in the standard specification of the BMW M3 CRT are the M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic, Navigation system Professional, BMW Individual High End audio system, a light, exterior mirror and luggage area package, an alarm system and Park Distance Control with sensors at the front and rear of the car. Despite this extremely generous selection of standard kit, its DIN unladen weight of 1,580 kg undercuts that of the standard BMW M3 Saloon by around 45 kg. When you take into account the equipment on board the weight saving is more like 70 kg. Added to which, cleverly reducing the load at the front of the car raises the proportion of the car’s weight over the rear axle to 48.4 per cent, which has an extremely positive effect on agility.

The specially tuned DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system – including ABS and M Dynamic Mode (MDM) – responds to both the greater dynamic potential of the BMW M3 CRT and its optimised axle load distribution. Meanwhile, the 245/35 R 19 front tyres and 265/35 R 19 rears (fitted on 19-inch M light-alloy wheels in Y-spoke design) ensure the engine’s acceleration and braking power is transferred to the road with maximum impact. The electronic engine management of the BMW M3 CRT caps its top speed at 290 km/h.

The BMW M3 CRT will be produced by the BMW M GmbH factory in a limited run of 67 units.

For the first time, a BMW M5 has a turbocharged engine to thank for its outstanding dynamics. The high-revving V8 unit with M TwinPower Turbo technology lends a whole new intensity to the powerful thrust sustained into the higher rev ranges for which M cars are renowned. The 4.4-litre engine develops top output of 412 kW/560 hp at 6,000 – 7,000 rpm, while its maximum torque of 680 Newton metres (502 lb-ft) is on tap between 1,500 and 5,750 rpm. The rev limiter intervenes at 7,200 rpm. The rev band, which offers extremely dynamic acceleration between the arrival of peak torque and the availability of maximum output, is therefore almost three times as wide as that of the predecessor unit.

The sprint from rest to the 100 km/h (62 mph) mark is all over in 4.4 seconds, and from that point progress continues with barely any let-up. Indeed, the M5 needs just 13.0 seconds to race from 0 – 200 km/h (124 mph). Maximum speed is electronically restricted to 250 km/h (155 mph); if the optional Driver’s Package is specified, this limit is raised to 305 km/h (190 mph).

The M-specific light-alloy wheels for the new BMW M5 come in 19-inch format as standard and are fitted with 265/40 R19 tyres at the front and 295/40 R19 items at the rear. 20-inch forged M light-alloy wheels can be ordered as an option.

The 2011 Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe features BMW Individual Frozen Black exterior paint with a deep metallic luster to accentuate the athletic lines of the legendary BMW M3. Extended Novillo Leather with unique red-contrast stitching is also specified, as are M3 GTS black wheels, red brake calipers, and gloss black exterior trim elements. With the Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe, BMW is celebrating the availability of its exotic Frozen paint colors under the custom-tailored BMW Individual program.

Each 2011 Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe will be powered by the award-winning 4.0-liter, 414-horsepower M V8 engine, equipped with BMW’s M Double Clutch Transmission (M DCT) which lowers the 0-60mph acceleration time of the M3 to 4.5 seconds from 4.7. Redline is a breathtaking 8,400 rpm.

The 2011 BMW Frozen Black Edition M3 Coupe MSRP will be $79,650, inncluding $875 Destination & Handling and excluding $1,300 federal gas guzzler tax.

Thіѕ unique vehicle hаѕ already completed extensive test аnԁ set-up drives οn thе Nürburgring’s Nordschleife іn advance οf іtѕ global unveiling οn 1 April 2011. BMW M GmbH once again furnishes evidence οf іtѕ exceptional competence іn developing аnԁ building high-grade, individual dream cars.

For example, by far the sportiest car in this class, the BMW M3 tuned pickup assessed fire the imagination of the driver with a deep understanding of excellence in practice by a sharp. 309 kW/420 hp and a rear payload of 450 pounds, the characteristic of BMW M Relationship Between race-oriented riding and Everyday Life takes on a whole new level. This unique vehicle has already been extensive testing and set-up drives on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, the global unveiling on 1 Completed April 2011.

bmw m3 pickup concept

Wіth a high-revving V8 engine аt thе front, a generously sized load area behind аnԁ a removable Targa roof above. Yеt thіѕ spectacular nеw development іѕ unmistakably recognisable аѕ a member οf thе BMW M3 model family.

Corroborating thіѕ kinship аrе nοt јυѕt thе inimitable power οf thе engine, bυt аƖѕο fine-tuned aerodynamics аnԁ a tailored suspension set-up. Measurements іn thе wind tunnel аt thе BMW Group’s Aerodynamic Test Centre ѕhοwеԁ a Cd factor οn a par wіth thаt οf thе BMW M3 Coupe.

With this vehicle, BMW M GmbH once again furnishes evidence of its exceptional competence in developing and building high-grade, individual dream cars. With a high-revving V8 engine at the front, a generously sized load area behind and a removable Targa roof above, driver and passengers in the BMW M3 Pickup will relish an unprecedented take on the familiar M feeling. Yet this spectacular new development is unmistakably recognisable as a member of the BMW M3 model family. Corroborating this kinship are not just the inimitable power of the engine, but also fine-tuned aerodynamics and a tailored suspension set-up. Measurements in the wind tunnel at the BMW Group’s Aerodynamic Test Centre showed a Cd factor on a par with that of the BMW M3 Coupé. Like every BMW M model, the BMW M3 Pickup has also demonstrated its dynamic potential on the North Loop of the Nürburgring. Official lap times have not yet been released, but the needle in the dial vouched for a top speed of 300 km/h.

The M3 Pick-up is powered by a V8 engine and features a generously sized load area in the back and a removable Targa roof. The pick-up, which is only 110 lbs heavier than the convertible M3, offers a maximum load capacity of 992 lbs. The best part? The M3 pickup can hit a top speed of 186 mph (as a reminder, all of the other M3 models are limited to 155 mph).

The new BMW 6-Series Convertible is available with two engine variants from launch. The eight-cylinder powerplant in the BMW 650i Convertible produces 300 kW/407 hp, while an exclusive variant of the six-cylinder in-line engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo, direct injection and VALVETRONIC -generating 235 kW/320 hp – has been developed for the BMW 640i Convertible. Both engines team up as standard with an eight-speed Sports automatic gearbox. Standard-fitted BMW EfficientDynamics features include the Auto Start-Stop function in the BMW 640i Convertible.

At 4,894 millimetres (192.6 in.) in length, the new BMW 6-Series Convertible is 74 millimetres (2.9 in.) longer than its predecessor. Its similarly extended wheelbase now stretches to 2,855 millimetres (112.4 in.). The car has also grown by 39 millimetres (1.5 in.) in width, and now measures 1,894 millimetres (74.5 in.) across, while 9 millimetres (0.35 in.) have been shaved off its height (now 1,365 mm / 53.7 in.). These dimensions not only create a significantly more powerful and, at the same time, elegantly sweeping overall impression, they also take interior spaciousness to new levels. Despite its lower height, the new BMW 6-Series Convertible offers greater headroom in both the front and the rear. Added to which, the height adjustment of the driver and front passenger seats cover a greater range. The increase in the width of the interior is noticeable from all four seats, and passengers in the rear seats also benefit from additional legroom. The tilt angle of the rear seat backrest has seen further optimisation over the predecessor model and now achieves virtually the same angle as you will find in BMW saloons.

The 4.4-litre eight-cylinder engine in the new BMW 650i Convertible develops a maximum 300 kW/407 hp between 5,500 and 6,400 rpm, and puts its peak torque of 600 Newton metres (443 lb-ft) on tap between 1,750 and 4,500 rpm. This unique engine, whose turbochargers are positioned in the V-shaped area between the cylinder banks, produces an instantaneous and sustained wave of power, making it a feast for the enthusiast driver. The new BMW 650i Convertible completes the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.0 seconds, and the engine electronics eventually step in to halt acceleration at 250 km/h (155 mph). This range-topping engine also boasts extraordinary efficiency for a model in its output class, as average fuel consumption of 10.7 litres per 100 kilometres in the EU test cycle (26.4 mpg imp) and CO2 emissions of 249 grams per kilometre clearly show.

The six-cylinder in-line engine under the bonnet of the new BMW 640i Convertible complements its BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and petrol direct injection with VALVETRONIC fully variable valve control. All of which enables the 3.0-litre unit to develop a maximum 235 kW/320 hp at 5,800 rpm and maximum torque of 450 Newton metres (332 lb-ft) between 1,300 and 4,500 rpm. This engine propels the BMW 640i Convertible from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.7 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). Its average fuel economy in the EU test cycle comes in at 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres (35.8 mpg imp), while CO2 emissions are 185 grams per kilometre.

The BMW X1 xDrive28i’s powerplant achieves the twofold goal of BMW EfficientDynamics in impressive style: it continuously raises the bar on driving pleasure, while at the same time reducing fuel consumption and emissions. With a displacement of 1,997 cc and world-exclusive BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, incorporating twin-scroll turbocharging, High Precision Injection, double-VANOS and VALVETRONIC, it delivers maximum power of 180 kW/245 hp at 5,000 rpm – 55 kW more than the previous top-powered BMW 2.0-litre petrol engine. The 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time is 6.1 seconds (automatic: 6.5 seconds), an improvement of 0.7 seconds (automatic: 0.3 seconds) over the previous model, which was only available as an automatic. At the same time, average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle has been cut by 16 per cent to 7.9 litres/100 km (35.7 mpg imp), with CO2 emissions of 183 grams per kilometre.

The new BMW X1 xDrive28i comes with a six-speed manual transmission as standard. The standard-fitted BMW EfficientDynamics technology includes – amongst other features – Brake Energy Regeneration, an Optimum Shift Indicator, the Auto Start-Stop function and on-demand control of auxiliary units. An optional eight-speed automatic version is also available. Thanks to its exceptionally high internal efficiency, models with this transmission offer identical fuel consumption and emissions performance to those with the manual version.

As standard specification, the new BMW X1 xDrive28i is equipped with the BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system, whose electronically controlled multi-plate clutch continuously varies the drive power split between the front and rear axles. The intelligent all-wheel-drive system is integrated with Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and responds quickly to the first signs of oversteer or understeer. The result is improved traction in slippery conditions or away from surfaced roads, and improved cornering dynamics. xDrive is calibrated for optimised driving dynamics, which results in precise steering response when cornering. Additionally, the optional Performance Control system can be specified, which matches the drive torque at the rear wheels to driving conditions for even more agile performance.

The outcome is the G-POWER M5 HURRICANE GS equipped with one fully sequential five-cylinder LPG system per cylinder bank. The benefits of LPG as a fuel are both economical and ecological in nature – not only is LPG around 50% less expensive per litre than petrol, it also reduces CO2 emissions by around 15 percent.

That said, there can be no sacrificing the hallmark G-POWER performance increase. 660 hp and 650 Nm of torque are the figures achieved by the SK II bi-supercharger system thanks to low-pressure forced induction with a relative charge pressure of 0.6 bar. Each cylinder bank of the 5.0l V10 power plant is equipped with a belt-driven ASA T1-313 compressor. Compared with conventional mechanical superchargers, which consume a large proportion of the additional power generated to drive themselves, ASA compressors have an efficiency rating of up to 80 percent. They thus form the ideal foundation for efficient forced induction, as well as increased output with an eye on resource conservation.

Downstream of the two ASA compressors, the pre-compressed charge air is brought down to performance enhancing temperatures by the twin-scroll, water-cooled intercooler finished in G-POWER’s characteristic orange. This sophisticated cast aluminium component replaces the series production airbox above the engine, where its short airways facilitate the same spontaneous responsiveness as the series production engine, albeit combined with a considerable benefit in torque. The superiority of the G-POWER compressor system is particularly evident when it comes to low-end torque, which is one weakness in the high-revving concept favoured by M GmbH. At long last, the 5.0l V10 offers impressive power delivery, of the kind that many customers might reasonably have expected from the series production version. Specifically developed mapping of the engine electronics and SMG transmission control ensure perfect interaction of all components.

urther contributors to the high-speed capability of the HURRICANE GS are the G-POWER high-performance braking system and the G-POWER RS coil-over sports suspension, with 9-way adjustability for compression and rebound plus infinitely variable height adjustment.

The G-POWER SK II bi-supercharger system incl. conversion to LPG is also available for the current BMW M5 and M6. The G-POWER SK II bi-supercharger system for 660 hp / 485 kW incl. conversion to LPG is offered for EUR 33,571.43 (net) excl. installation. The 20-inch G-POWER SILVERSTONE CLUBSPORT forged wheel set has a list price of EUR 7,635.13 (net).

To the person who decided to turn a Porsche Boxster S into a replica Lamborghini Murcielago, this guy will see your work and raise you a BMW 6-Series Coupe that has been turned into a Bugatti Veyron.

While we can’t begin to comprehend the rationale of turning an original 6-Series Coupe into a fake Veyron, some owners – like this one, apparently – think that re-upping your car into something that looks like one of the most expensive exotics on the planet is a way to grab some serious attention. Not that we’d dispute that, we just find it a little absurd considering that a 6-Series Coupe is a perfectly cool car to have under any circumstances.

Having said that, we think that it’s a pretty good take on the Veyron, one that should fool a lot of people especially if they don’t notice the minor detail of this car’s hood being a little longer and less rounded than the Bugatti original.

The name Enco Exclusive is now famous all over the world, and the Chemnitz manufacturer has specialised in refining luxury vehicles since the beginning of the new century. The newest creation out of Saxony is a complete body kit for the BMW X6. The Enco designers have developed a widebody kit that makes the X6 even wider, brawnier and, naturally, more sporty.

The new front bumper has three large air intakes to improve cooling of the engine and brakes, as well as integrated LED daytime driving lamps. Full wheel arch surrounds are responsible for a brawny appearance, complemented by a pair of new side skirts. The rear doors have been specially modified to flow seamlessly into the new rear bumper. The rear appears extremely brawny, thanks to a diffuser integrated into the bumper, and a new, centrally positioned sports exhaust system with four round stainless steel tailpipes.

The four Jura model rims, exclusive to Enco, ensure a suitably impressive appearance. The impressively sized 11 x 23 inch wheels fill out the oversized wheel arches, and are fitted with 315/25 R3 tyres.

The Chemnitz manufacturer is asking approx. EUR 15,000.-, including VAT, for the complete conversion including fresh paintwork. More information available online at www.enco-exclusive.de.

Onyx Concept have turned there attention away from the SUV market to concentrate on the BMW BMW M3 E92/E93. The Onyx exterior consists of the following front and rear bumper, sideskirts, front carbon fibre lip, rear carbon fibre difusser, carbon fibre bonnet, carbon fibre boot lid and carbon fibre roof tip spoiler.

The interior has an onyx designed bufallo hide leather package which can be choosen in numerous different colour combinations and to compliment this has a 12pc carbon fibre panelling kit which has a range of coloured carbon weaves from black to orange to blue. The power has also be increased to a breathtaking 630HP from the standard 420HP.

The key to affecting the development of tomorrow’s mobility lies in our readiness to challenge what is established and in the ability to present new options. In order to meet these objectives, BMW Group Design taps into the potential of the GINA principle (Geometry and Functions In “N” Adaptions) which promotes innovative thinking by allowing maximum freedom of crea-tivity. GINA produces dramatically different solutions that affect the design and functionality of future cars. The GINA Light Visionary Model is an optical expression of selective, future-oriented concepts which provide an example of the manner and extent of this transformation.

BMW Group Design is not just interested in answering the question of how the car of the future will look but primarily wishes to explore the creative freedom it has to offer. Both of these aspects are affected by the requirements that future cars are expected to meet. All ideas that the GINA Light Visionary Model presents are therefore derived from the needs and demands of customers concerning the aesthetic and functional characteristics of their car and their desire to express individuality and lifestyle. The GINA Light Visionary Model has an almost seamless outer skin, a flexible textile cover that stretches across a moveable substructure. Individual functions are only revealed if and when they are needed.

With this model, BMW Group Design initiates a fundamental discourse about the characteristics that will affect the development of cars in future. It is therefore fundamentally different from concept cars, which reflect what is expected of them by implementing as many elements as possible in a future production model. In contrast, the GINA Light Visionary Model is a vision of future cars and serves as an object of research.

The seamless car body of the GINA Light Visionary Model.
Putting its visions of tomorrow’s car into practice, BMW Group Design has developed a two-seater roadster with the unique dynamic proportions that are typical of its brand. The GINA Light Visionary Model takes the sculptural design that has already been established by a number of production cars to a new, unparalleled conclusion. The car’s front and sides, including the doors, create one single uninterrupted, seamless whole that converges to form an optical as well as a structural unit.

In order to create this appearance, it was necessary to move beyond all previous conceptions of car body configuration, design and materials. Therefore, the GINA Light Visionary Model has dispensed with the usual body elements found on production vehicles such as front apron, bonnet, side panels, doors, wheel arches, roof, trunk lid and rear deck. Instead, a new structure with a minimum amount of components has taken their place. A special, highly durable and extremely expansion-resistant fabric material stretches across a metal structure.

This new material offers designers a significantly higher level of freedom of design and functionality.
The body consists of only four elements. The largest component extends from the front of the vehicle to the edge of the windscreen and down the sides to the rear edge of the doors. The large side panels start at the front where the rocker panels emerge and run across the rear wheel arches into the rear. The fourth component is the central rear deck element.

An innovation breaks new ground: car with a flexible outer skin
The innovation of a flexible outer skin breaks new ground in automotive engineering. This revolutionary solution opens up new design, production and functionality potential. It has a major impact on the interaction between driver and car and enhances it by offering a variety of entirely new options. Some elements of the substructure are moveable. The driver can move them by means of electro and electro-hydraulic controls. This will also change the shape of the outer skin, which can thus be adapted to suit the current situation, the driver’s requirements and can also enhance the car’s functional range.

The most striking example of this is the headlight design. In normal position, when the headlights are not active, i.e. when there is no necessity to illuminate the road, they are hidden under the special fabric cover. As soon as the driver turns on the lights, the contour of the front end changes. Activated by the metal structure that lies beneath it, the previously closed fabric cover opens to the right and left of the BMW kidney grille and reveals the BMW double head-lights. The rear and the rocker panels of the GINA Visionary Model can also adapt both the shape and function to the driving situation in hand. Both can change the shape of their outer skin to meet the driver’s requirement for particularly dynamic motoring. This concept also takes into account a potential interaction with aerodynamic requirements. The design of the rear element allows for automatic lifting of the rear spoiler when a certain speed is reached, thus creating extra downforce on the rear axle at higher speeds. Due to the fact that the entire rear end, including the spoiler, is covered by a single sheet of material that reaches as far as the rear compartment of the interior, the homogeneous shape of the car’s rear will not be affected by changes to the spoiler position. The mechanical system that moves the elements remains concealed.

The turn indicators and the taillights function without changes to the shape of the outer skin. Their position, however, is only revealed upon activation. The emitted light shines through the translucent fabric cover, which is permeable to light but not transparent.

The rocker panels demonstrate the formal versatility of the GINA Light Visionary Model with an equally impressive performance. The air duct can be optimised if required. A corresponding movement of the metal structure results in an adjustment of the rocker panel contour to allow for better airflow. At the same time, an additional protruding rocker panel line emerges. The aerodynamic optimization and the length of the line can be infinitely adapted to the driving situation at hand.

Special fabric cover ensures accurate reproduction of material folds.
The fact that the body surface is designed by means of a flexible fabric cover that stretches across a metal substructure means that the materials used must meet exacting requirements. Industrially produced hybrid fabric made from a stabilizing mesh netting support and an outer layer that is both water-repellent and resistant to high and low temperatures is suitable for this application.

Another essential material property is a maximum level of dimensional stability.
It must remain dimensionally stable irrespective of the temperature and air humidity it is exposed to even after severe and constant expansion. The dimen-sional stability helps retain the cover’s surface tension for a long period of time. The movement of individual body elements creates accurately reproducible folds in the material. In its choice of material BMW Group Design was inspired by exterior and interior architecture. The expertise of seat pattern designers working for BMW Group Interior Design was successfully applied in order to cut the fabric webbing to size with maximum precision, determine the strategic position of attachment points and stretch the material. As a result, the surfaces are remarkably well balanced and due to the steady tension that is retained between any two clearly defined points, the lines are extremely accurate.

The special fabric is supported by a metal wire structure. At specific points, the high-strength metal is enhanced by carbon struts with a higher flexibility. They are used predominantly for round, moving contours with a particularly narrow radius.

The use of large fabric areas and the possibility of changing the surface contours by moving individual parts of the metal mesh that lies beneath it create a new relationship between form and function. If additional cooling air is required, the BMW kidney grille at the front of the vehicle can be opened. Because the overall surface of the special fabric covering remains unchanged, the contraction at the front of the vehicle, which is necessary for functional reasons, has to be compensated for by extra tension in other areas. The result is an optically attractive interaction between various body parts that introduces a new dimension to sculptural design. The widening of the kidney grille openings is activated by a movement of the metal mesh in the front area of the side panels. This creates more tension, which becomes visible by the emergence of an additional character line. The development of this new contour tenses the front of the vehicle: the kidney grille opens up.

Innovative body structure introduces new functional dimensions.
The high-precision fit of the material to the metal mesh also allows surface changes without slackening the tension. In this case, opening of the surface by moving the respective steel mesh struts creates precisely defined folds in the material. The GINA Light Visionary Model uses this option to display a function that corresponds to the opening of the hood in conventional vehicles. The material opens at the centre of the engine cover and can be folded to the far right and left along an opening line that is approximately 0.5 meters long, to allow the driver or mechanic access to the service points in the engine.

The filler caps of the engine oil, cooling and wiper water tanks are now open for servicing. Opening and closing is similar to the mechanism on a doctor’s traditional medical bag, where clip-lock fasteners are held together in the middle by a rail.

The effect of the accurate surface material draping is even more impressive when the doors are opened. They swing both outwards and upwards. The high number of attachment points for the fabric cover positioned at the front of the car as well as at rear door edges creates a clearly defined and perfectly reproducible bulk of material. The draping is confined to the area between the front door edge and the side panel. Once the doors are closed, the folds in material disappear completely, leaving a perfectly smooth, stretched material surface.

The interior: discourse between driver and vehicle.
In the interior, variability, form and function are united in an inseparable connection. Whenever selected functions are accessed, the driver also changes the appearance of individual car elements. Again, the car’s variability is adapted to suit the driver’s needs. This creates a close interaction between driver and car in various different situations.

When the car is parked, the steering wheel and the round instruments – rev counter, speedometer and fuel gauge, which are vertically arranged on the centre console, are in idle position. This provides the driver with maximum comfort upon entering the car. Likewise, the seat only assumes its optimised functional position and shape if and when the driver sits down on it.

At that point, the headrest, previously firmly integrated into the seat’s backrest, rises up automatically. At the same time, the steering wheel moves towards the driver and the instrument panel moves in the same direction. The information on the best driver-specific position of both steering column and seat is stored in the transducer. The engine is started simply by pushing the start/stop button.

The smooth transition of interior and exterior that is typical of BMW convertibles is reinterpreted by the GINA Light Visionary Model. The fabric that covers the rear deck runs into the interior and stretches across the driver and front passenger seats. The same material is also used for the surface design of the door trim and armrests. The shift lever in the centre console protrudes from tightly stretched textile bellows.

Driver and front seat passenger look out through a steeply inclined windscreen with the inside rear view mirror integrated into its frame. The side view mirrors are connected to the window frame. A narrow vertical dividing bar located at the center of the windscreen harks back to the typical windscreen division of traditional roadsters.

Innovative thinking put into practice: the GINA Light Visionary Model.
With the GINA Light Visionary Model, BMW Group Design focuses on a wide variety of issues that will determine the future conception of mobility.
It demonstrates the results of intense research into design, functionality, material and production. All ideas that have been put into practice in the GINA Light Visionary Model are derived from the same motivation: to challenge conventional and previously pursued solutions. The quest for alternative options has generated a wide variety of different requirements that potential solutions are expected to meet. The main focus is on providing general versatility and catering to customer requirements with sophisticated solutions. In accordance with the GINA principle, every functionality enhancement helps to create an emotional bond between the driver and their car. The new solutions also allow for the option of fast, flexible and cost-efficient production.

Every innovation demonstrated by the GINA Light Visionary Model also contributes to a clearly optimised resource management. As the quest for sustainability is one of the central issues of the GINA philosophy, new materials and manufacturing processes are expected to consume less resources and energy than previous solutions. Accordingly, the infrastructure used for manufacturing cars that are built in compliance with the GINA principle, has also changed. The manufacturing process requires fewer model-specific tools, and more highly-qualified skilled specialists. In all the areas referred to above, the GINA Light Visionary Model has provided inspiration for more intense research into ideas conceived as a result of maximum creative freedom.

Emotional appeal of roadster models and visionary prospect of future cars.
The solutions conceived as part of this philosophy are not considered sepa-rately, but have been pooled in an integrating vision – a vision that is expressed in the context of an outstanding, fascinating car. The basic features of a roadster with its eight-cylinder combustion engine below a stretched front that applies motive power to the rear wheels in order to move the car along the road defines this context. The synthesis of elementary visions and sheer driving pleasure expressed by the appearance of the GINA Light Visionary Model has a particularly striking emotional impact. Only the particular appearance of a fascinating car with its authentic design that creates a natural aesthetic look can bring to light the significance of the presented innovations.

The GINA Light Visionary Model builds a bridge between vision and reality by presenting a number of features with a striking similarity with those found on production vehicles. The Roadster rests on 20″ alloy wheels in a cross-spoke design with a matt silver finish. The car body is comprised of an exceptionally light aluminum space frame. Two double tailpipes for the rear exhaust system, a third brake light integrated into the height-adjustable rear spoiler, an air splitter at the front and a rear-end diffuser in a carbon design also meet the standards of a production vehicle.

Nevertheless, the GINA Light Visionary Model retains its character as an object of research. It demonstrates the innovative force of BMW Group Design and its ability to challenge what is established, to find new solutions and to interpret these in the context of the car of the future at a high aesthetic level. This car is the logical continuation of the GINA principle in action. The GINA principle has already led to a variety of innovative concepts and has production vehicles in ways that are completely new and unprecedented by any other car manufacturer.

BMW Group Design uses concept cars such as the BMW concept car CS1 of 2002 as a step on the way towards putting a particular vision into practice. The CS1 was the first to present features such as the basic principle of the innovative control system – the BMW iDrive. Independently from all other innovative features shown by this concept car, the iDrive has become a series production feature.

Similarly, the GINA principle gave rise to an innovative manufacturing method that allows the manufacturers to decorate outer skin components that have been preformed by conventional methods with indi-vidually configured, high-precision contour lines prior to their reintegration into the manufacturing process. The Rapid Manufacturing method utilized for this process was first used during the production of hoods for the BMW Z4 M Roadster and the BMW Z4 M Coupé. In these models, the finished hood has received two distinctive contour lines prior to painting. These are not produced by a pressing tool but embossed into the metal with pin-point precision by a robot-guided steel pin.

Both examples illustrate the challenging route from a vision to a concept and to final series production that is not always straight and direct. With the GINA Light Visionary Model, BMW Group Design shows where this route begins. Not all innovations shown by the GINA Light Visionary Model will pro-ceed to the next stages. In its entirety, however, the visionary look into the future shows the extent to which the BMW Group employs creative potential in its endeavor to respond to the challenges of tomorrow’s mobility.

The 2010 edition of the Mille Miglia is particularly important because BMW is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the historic victory of the House at the Brescia Mille Miglia. And what better way to celebrate than launching a special edition Z4? Called the Z4 sDrive35is Limited Edition Mille Miglia (yes, it is an annoyingly long name), this special edition will be limited to only 99 units.

The BMW Z4 sDrive35is Limited Edition Mille Miglia will be painted in a Polaris Metallic matte finish with a black front grill. It will be offered with an M aerodynamic kit, ‘Mille Miglia’ badges, and 19-inch wheels finished in Dark Chrome.
The interior will get leather and Alcantara with red stitching and M sports steering wheel with the same red stitching.
Under the hood the same engine will be utilized as in the sDrive35is: 3.0-liter 6-cylinder twin turbo engine that delivers a total of 340 hp and 450 Nm of torque. The top speed is still limited to 155 mph.

You know how action movies almost always has to have a car chase scene where a car spectacularly flies over a cliff before crashing down into a ball of flame.

This accident involving a BMW 3-Series Coupe didn’t have the theatrics of Hollywood, but it still was eye-popping enough to catch our attention.

According to the driver of the 3-Series who lived to tell the story of his cliff-plunging ordeal, he was driving along the Angeles Crest Highway in California with a female friend when a group of animals caught him off-guard, causing him to swerve his 3-Series straight into the edge of the cliff where it flew straight off before tumbling down the mountain in a heap.

Remarkably, both the driver and his female companion escaped the cliff-flying episode without any serious injuries, although both of them know how incredibly fortunate they are to have all their appendages intact after such a terrible crash.

BMW’s recent foray into the world of software applications has resulted in the offspring of yet another app for its M Series. Calling it the M Power Meter, the new iPhone app allows users the opportunity to gauge a number of unique features from their car including 0-60 times, distances, and g-forces experienced. Unlike other apps that charge you for the experience, the M Power Meter app is entirely free-of-charge and can downloaded straight from the App Store on Apple’s website. Apart from being free, it’s also painstakingly easy to use. All you have to do is download the software, accept the terms and conditions of the app, put it in your car in an upright position and you’re ready to go. The M Power Meter has a default 0-50km/h time that can be easily adjusted to as much as 200 km/h. Users can also opt to adjust the distance covered by the run from 100 meters, which is the standard, all the way up to 2,000 meters.

But quite arguably the most interesting part of the M Power Meter is that it can capture the amount of g-force – whether forward or lateral – a run can determine. Quite a nifty experience, if you ask us. We don’t know about you, but we’re the type of people that can’t seem to turn down something that’s being given for free – even if we don’t find the product necessarily appealing. Fortunately, the M Power Meter is something that we’ve been waiting a long time to come out so you can imagine our giddiness when it finally did.

The 2012 BMW 3-Series is still a long ways away from seeing the production line but that doesn’t that mean it’s exempt from the curious sort’s prying eyes.

This latest spy video of the new 3-Series was captured after the car took a pit stop at a gas station somewhere in Europe. From what we gather, the 2012 3-Series – in all its swirly-camouflaged glory – was undergoing winter testing too see how the car reacts in sub-zero temperatures.

As you can imagine, the swirls didn’t do a whole lot in showing the aesthetic design of the new 3-Series and the white snowy background doesn’t help either but at least we finally have visual evidence that the new 3-Series is in fact, on its way.

A new app for the iPhone and the iPod touch was recently made available, and it’s set to make BMW fans very happy.

The new BMW TV app will provide users with a unique brand experience of BMW, which will allow them to stream from their iPhone or iPod Touch the latest videos from BMW TV, as well as a video wall with an interactive interface that lets them keep track – and bookmark – interesting videos that you might end up liking. The new BMW TV app also works seamlessly and selected videos can be viewed without interruption. The app also allows you to recommend some of the video contributions to your friends through the use of social media or by emailing the links to your friends.

It’s hard to imagine that it’s been 25 years since the first-ever release of the BMW M5, yet that’s exactly how long it’s been. In celebrating the silver anniversary of BMW Motorsport’s first M5 release, the company took a group of journalists and brought them to the Nurburgrin Nodrschleife for an in-depth look at the long and rich history of the M5, as well as glimpses of what, hopefully, is a sign of things to come.

Among those that BMW featured in their celebration were two fabled M5 cars that came close to being released out on the market, but ended up being shelved for one reason or another: the BMW M5 E34 Cabriolet and the BMW M5 E39 Touring.

In addition to that, the attending journalists were also given a sneak-peek at a one-of-a-kind M5, the E60. As an tweaked up M5, the M5 E60 comes with a boatload of upgrades from its standard-bearer, including a larger engine capacity, as well as a larger horsepower output.

To chronicle the celebration, BMW released a video of the history of the M5, and while the language of the said video leaves a lot to be desired, the footage that you see would be enough for you to understand the illustrious history of the M5.

It was speculated that
BMW might create an electric version of the unsuccessful BMW C1 scooter, and the brand has unveiled an electric concept version of the C1. The original C1 offered enhanced protection to the rider, and even included seat belts, but never really got to selling much. Now that electric is the buzz word, the C1-E could be quite a promising concept for BMW, or at least for the direction its future scooters may take.

The C1-E is focused on safety as well, with a roll-over bar, energy absorbing impact elements, and a seat belt. A lithium-ion battery powers the scooter’s electric motor for a zero emission ride.
BMW says there is currently no plan to put the C1-E into series production.

BMW will unveil at the Frankfurt Motor Show a limited edition M6. Only 100 customers will be lucky enough to enjoy this special model, that features an exclusive design on both interior and exterior.

The new M6 Competition Limited Edition comes with a new exterior paint: Frozen Gray Metallic in matte finish, combined on the interior with Merino full leather interior with either black or light gray two-tone contrast stitching.

This high-performance coupe will add improved driving dynamics thanks to suspension modifications, revised springs, dampers and stabilizers.

Video after the jump

BMW M6 Competition Limited Edition

For decades, BMW has made the reduction of emissions and fuel consumption a key part of its product development strategy, just as enhancements to the dynamic ability of each BMW have been a lasting, sustained brand value. BMW’s EfficientDynamics engineering philosophy – the pursuit of an enhanced, athletic driving experience while simultaneously lowering the consumption and emissions of each vehicle – resulted in the most dramatic drop in fleet consumption of any automaker from 1990 through 2005, according to an Environmental Defense study.

Now, the BMW Vision concept car clearly demonstrates that the EfficientDynamics objectives are fully compatible when applied to a sports car. Conceived as a 2+2-seater with plug-in full-hybrid technology, this unique car combines the performance of a BMW M vehicle with a standard of fuel efficiency and emission management that exceeds even the current levels achieved by the latest small cars. This outstanding result is made possible by the combination of BMW ActiveHybrid components with an extremely economical combustion engine, and outstanding aerodynamic qualities.

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is the result of a “clean-sheet” development process to ensure that the correct achievements were made in the areas of efficiency, driving pleasure, technology, and emotional design. BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is the most comprehensive implementation of the EfficientDynamics philosophy seen so far. The powertrain provides a top speed limited electronically to 155 mph, with acceleration to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. Average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is 3.76 liters/100 kilometers, equal to 62.6 mpg, and the CO2 emission rating is 99 grams per kilometer. CO2 emission management is even more outstanding when driving in the all-electric mode after charging the battery from a plug-in source: Taking all emissions in the generation of electricity into account, as prescribed by the EU formula, the car’s emission rating is just 50 grams per kilometer.

Through this unique balance of driving pleasure and fuel efficiency, the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car clearly demonstrates the potential of BMW ActiveHybrid technology, which makes its world debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 and BMW ActiveHybrid 7 production models.

The power and performance are made possible by combining a fuel-efficient 3-cylinder turbodiesel with one electric motor on each axle. The intelligent combination of these units, together with precisely controlled energy management, simultaneously enhances the dynamic performance and the efficiency of the car. Overall system output is 356 horsepower, and peak torque is 590 lb-ft. The special arrangement of the two motors and diesel engine allows all-wheel drive when driving in all-electric mode. The result is minimum power loss and a harmonious transmission of the power available under all conditions.

In its design, BMW Vision EfficientDynamics for the first time conveys the dynamic look of a BMW sports car to a hybrid vehicle. Developed with decades of experience in Motorsport, the body of this unique sports car is a result of intelligent lightweight technology and aerodynamic efficiency. In the design of the interior, the focus was likewise on both the fascinating driving experience and, in particular, on transparent, hands-on technology and maximum reduction of weight.

Turbodiesel engine with unprecedented specific output

The combustion engine is a cutting-edge turbodiesel featured for the first time in the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car. Displacing 1.5 liters on three cylinders, the engine consistently follows the downsizing principle of using a relatively small engine combined with a turbocharger to reduce fuel consumption.

Through its compact dimensions, the 3-cylinder fits conveniently in front of the rear axle like in an agile mid-engine sports car, despite the two seats at the rear. Fuel is injected by the latest generation of High Precision Direct Injection, and the turbocharger features variable intake geometry for maximum efficiency. Engine output is 163 hp with peak torque of 214 lb-ft.

The specific output of 109 hp per liter sets a new benchmark in diesel technology. The power delivered by the turbodiesel is conveyed to the rear axle by means of a double-clutch transmission (DCT). This advanced transmission technology, which already offers a particularly dynamic driving experience in BMW’s M3 and Z4 Roadster, allows the driver to shift gears without the slightest interruption of power. BMW Vision EfficientDynamics features a newly-developed version of BMW’s DCT with six speeds for maximum efficiency and flexibility.

Two electric motors for full-hybrid drive

The combustion engine is supplemented by two electric motors. Consistently applying the BMW ActiveHybrid philosophy, development engineers followed the principle of “Best of Hybrid,” choosing the optimum combination of a hybrid synchronous motor on the front axle and a full-hybrid system at the rear.

In this concept, the driver benefits from the efficiency of the electric motors over a far wider speed range than with a conventional hybrid car. The rear axle comes with a second-generation full-hybrid system corresponding to the technology in the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 production model. The compact electric motor positioned between the diesel engine and the DCT outputs a consistent 33 horsepower and is able to reach a peak of up to 51 hp. Maximum torque for the rear electric motor is 214 lb-ft, the power, either supporting the diesel engine or in all-electric motoring. When coasting or applying the brakes, the electric motor acts as a generator and feeds electric power to the lithium-polymer battery in the car. The electric energy developed in this way is therefore captured without any additional consumption of fuel through the principle of Brake Energy Regeneration. Energy wasted on the brakes of a conventional car is thus saved within the new power system for subsequent use in driving the car.

A second electric motor acts on the front axle. This engine, a hybrid synchronous motor, offers continuous output of 80 horsepower and peak torque of 162 lb-ft. Extra power of 112 horsepower is available for a period of up to 30 seconds, and, for a 10-second “burst,” the electric motor is able to develop 139 horsepower. The power is transmitted through a 2-stage, single-speed reduction gearbox.

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is able to run completely under electric power, with the power of the turbodiesel engine alone, or through an infinite combination of the three power sources. Depending on driving conditions, the two electric motors may be used both for accelerating and for regenerating energy when applying the brakes and while coasting. This principle ensures efficient energy management, with the charge status of the lithium-polymer battery constantly remaining within the optimum range. When accelerating, the electric motors help to boost the car for even greater performance, ensuring immediate response and a significant reduction in fuel consumption. For a short time, such as in passing maneuvers, the cumulative maximum output of all three engines increases to 356 hp, with maximum torque generated by the three engines reaching 590 lb-ft.

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Lithium-polymer battery for electrical energy

The energy cells featured in BMW Vision EfficientDynamics are housed in a chassis element running from front to rear through the middle of the car. The front unit is the lithium-polymer complex, an ongoing development of the lithium-ion battery. Overall, BMW Vision EfficientDynamics comes with a total of 98 lithium-polymer cells, each offering a capacity of 30 amp/hours and developing continuous output of 600 Amps at a voltage of 3.7 V. For a period of 30 seconds, each cell is even able to develop maximum output of 1,200 Amps.

Serial arrangement of the lithium-polymer cells serves to generate nominal voltage of 364 volts, the gross storage capacity of the battery is 10.8 kW/h. With an unusually high discharge capacity of 80 percent, the battery delivers 8.6 kW/h for driving the car. This superior performance comes on overall weight of the entire energy storage system of just 187 lb. A further advantage is that through their optimum dimensions tailored to the specific qualities and features of the car, the lithium-polymer cells, together with the operating strategy chosen with a concept of “forward looking” energy management, reduces the thermal load acting on the battery to such an extent that there is no need for active cooling.

Plug-in solution: convenient charging of the electric power system from a conventional power socket.
Brake Energy Regeneration captures electric power generated while driving without additional fuel consumption, which is subsequently used to supply power to the electric motors and on-board network. A further option is to connect the lithium-polymer cells to a conventional power socket for a simple and efficient charge process, using a plug-in connector in the front-right wing of the car. Connected to a standard EU power outlet (220 V, 16 Amps), the system requires a maximum of 2 ½ hours to fully charge the lithium-polymer cells. And wherever a power source with higher voltage and amperage (380 V, 32 Amps) is available, the charge time is an even shorter 44 minutes.

In addition to electrical energy storage, BMW Vision EfficientDynamics comes with a conventional fuel tank at the rear end of the central chassis tunnel, offering a capacity of 6.6 gallons. Running on diesel fuel alone, BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is able to cover a distance of approximately 400 miles with its combustion engine. Benefitting from an extra range of up to 31 miles in the all-electric mode, the car offers an overall range of approximately 431 miles. As a result, this unique concept car offers all the requirements for using energy with maximum efficiency and at the same time experiencing the dynamic performance typical of BMW without any restriction of everyday driving qualities.

Performance, fuel efficiency and emission management opening new dimensions in hybrid technology

The power delivered by the two electric motors and single diesel 3-cylinder engine gives the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept a level of performance superior to anything provided so far by a hybrid vehicle. Acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h, for example, comes in just 4.8 seconds and the car could exceed its electronically-limited 155 mph top speed.

At the same time fuel efficiency and emission management now reach a standard only achieved, if at all, by far less powerful small cars conceived for city traffic and short distances. Applying the criteria of the EU test cycle, BMW Vision EfficientDynamics offers average fuel consumption equal to 62.6 mpg. CO2 emissions, in turn, are 99 grams per kilometer. These consumption and emission figures are measured on a consistent internal power balance, meaning that the batteries and storage media for electrical energy maintain the same charge level throughout the entire test cycle (with the same level at the beginning and end) and are charged while driving only by the car’s on-board systems.

As a plug-in hybrid, BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is able to cover the entire drive cycle for measuring fuel consumption also with its combustion engine completely switched off. Then, to subsequently charge the lithium-polymer cells to the same status as when setting off, all the driver has to do is connect the car to an external power grid. To determine the consumption of electric power, the only requirement is to compare the charge level of the battery before and after the test cycle. Applying this measurement process, the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car consumes 17.5 kW/h per 100 kilometers, equal to a CO2 emission rating of just 50 grams per kilometer in the EU test cycle.

To determine the total volume of CO2 emissions when driving in the all-electric mode, new legal standards for measuring the level of fuel consumption are currently being prepared for hybrid and electric cars with a plug-in power supply. Applying this calculation method, the CO2 emission ratings generated by BMW Vision EfficientDynamics are reduced further to just one-third of the original figure of 99 grams per kilometer. Clearly, this significant reduction of emissions opens up a new dimension in BMW’s EfficientDynamics development strategy in this unique concept car.

Aerodynamic qualities reflecting BMW’s Motorsport experience

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics also takes a new approach in its design and streamlining, the body and the interior clearly expressing the unique combination of supreme efficiency and the sporting performance of the brand. Following BMW’s design language, this concept car visualizes both highly efficient aerodynamics and intelligent lightweight construction.

In its design, BMW Vision EfficientDynamics differs from the usual low-emission car concepts. The principle of “form follows function” is not just for the overall look of the car, but embraces each and every detail. Measuring 48.8″ in height and boasting a sweeping, arch-like roofline, BMW Vision EfficientDynamics offers the slender silhouette of a classic Gran Turismo. With the combustion engine fitted in front of the rear axle, the designers have succeeded in giving the car a very low front end, with the flow of air being further smoothened by active louvers in front of the radiator, which close completely when the need for cooling air is low. This efficient function follows in the footsteps of the active air flap control already used as a feature of BMW EfficientDynamics in some of BMW’s current production models. As a further highlight, BMW Vision EfficientDynamics guides air smoothly and exactly as required into the car through an active air intake at the front.

Numerous details in the design of the body are based on the know-how BMW has gained in Motorsport, a number of body elements serving as air deflectors and guide vanes. Designed as ducts, for example, the A—–ars serve to channel the flow of air in the same way as the rear lights with their wing profile. The floor of the car is fully covered from front to rear and from one side to the other, thus maintaining a smooth surface to avoid any air swirl liable to increase fuel consumption. Slender openings around the front air dam guide the air flowing specifically into two closed ducts leading inside the front air dam to the wheel arches where the air comes out again through a very slim aperture at high speed, flowing just next to the outer wheel flanks. This air jet rests on the front wheels like a curtain and is therefore referred to most appropriately as the “air curtain.” It provides a highly stabilizing effect.

Overall vehicle concept for a drag coefficient of just 0.22

To further optimize the aerodynamic qualities of the entire vehicle and keep rolling resistance to a minimum, BMW Vision EfficientDynamics comes with tires and wheels of quite unusual size on a sports car. The tires measure 195/55, while large 21-inch wheels provide a contact surface on the road otherwise offered only by a much wider tire. In combination with the sophisticated axle geometry, this ensures agile driving behavior.

The extra-large wheel covers extending over part of the tire flanks add to the unique, very different look of BMW Vision EfficientDynamics from the side. The blade profile integrated in the wheels serves furthermore to reduce the negative effect of the turning wheels on the overall aerodynamics of the car. In all, these features optimizing the aerodynamic qualities of the car give the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car a very low drag factor (CX) of just 0.22.

Technological look as a strong impression of intelligent lightweight construction

In both exterior and interior design, BMW Vision EfficientDynamics stands out clearly as a strong spearhead in technology. Many components of the vehicle are presented in full view expressing the “transparent” character of the car as a powerful visual feature of lightweight technology. The chassis and suspension of BMW Vision EfficientDynamics are made completely of aluminum; the roof and the outer skin on the doors are made almost completely of a special polycarbonate glass automatically darkening as a function of the light shining on the car.

Measuring 181.1″ in length, 74.8″ in width and 48.8″ in height, this unique concept car offers ample space for up to four passengers and their luggage. Thanks to the consistent lightweight construction strategy applied on the car, curb weight is 3,076 lb, with the center of gravity remaining very low. In its power-to-weight ratio, the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car is far superior to all other hybrid cars, achieving the same standard as extremely dynamic sports cars with a conventional combustion engine.

Carrying a maximum payload of 981 lb, this unique 2+2-seater is fully suited for everyday traffic. Luggage capacity of 5.3 cu ft, in turn, allows the driver and passengers to conveniently take along two golf bags. And to meet additional loading requirements the backrests of the two rear seats may be tilted down individually to provide extra storage space.

Emotional design through sculptural shapes and layering technology

Reflecting the innovative drive concept of this unique car, the design of BMW Vision EfficientDynamics likewise takes a new approach in combining functional progress with a most powerful emotional impact.

This has been achieved through the close cooperation of BMW’s Design and Technical Development Divisions starting at an early point and continuing consistently throughout the entire development process. The result is a brand-new vehicle architecture with the drive components as well as the body and interior elements perfectly coordinated and matched to one another with maximum flexibility and individual style.

A fully integrated design philosophy also provided new options in using harmonized design principles connecting the exterior and the interior and providing an interacting effect between the two areas.

Sculptural design language giving BMW Vision EfficientDynamics a fully harmonized, complete look ensures the proportions typical of a BMW sports car. The front, side, rear and roof areas, for example, flow smoothly into one another. Dynamically contoured surfaces and shapes, in turn, create highly attractive light and shade effects accentuating the light and sporting character of the car in an emotional manner.

Layering technology developed by the BMW Group Design Division acts as the fundamental guideline in designing the exterior and interior. Applied for the first time in exterior design, this technology layers one surface on top of the other, creating very smooth seams and joints to reduce the number of components and, accordingly, the weight of the car. As a result, BMW Vision EfficientDynamics meets the most demanding aerodynamic requirements without using any additional body elements, simply through the structure of the surfaces optimized for a smooth flow of air.

Interior: innovative lightweight construction and unprecedented orientation to the driver

In the design of the interior, innovative layering technology provides an unprecedented symbiosis of function and stylish shapes intentionally reduced to a minimum, consistently implementing and visualizing the lightweight principle also inside the car.

Specific components such as the central air vent not only serving to enhance motoring comfort but also acting as part of the cockpit, perform several functions in one. This multi-functionality is then presented visibly within the car, the use of particularly sophisticated materials providing a highly attractive combination of innovation in technology and quality clear to the eye and the touch of the surface.

This interaction of lightweight construction and individual well-being also comes out clearly in the design of the controls and switches, with a leather band, for example, running round the aluminum gear selector lever on the center console. Materials combining lightweight technology and all the qualities required are also to be admired all round the cockpit of BMW Vision EfficientDynamics, giving the car an unusually generous feeling of space for a 2+2-seater. The body-contoured seats, for example, are made up of a kevlar shell, a backbone structure, and seat padding with personalized fillings. Clearly, this combination alone ensures comfort at a minimum weight. The driver’s and front passenger’s seats are connected firmly to the center console to form a joint interior “landscape”, while the rear seats anchored on the floor would appear to be hovering in space. Natural materials and light colors on the seat upholstery and all interior linings underline the light, sophisticated and sustainability-oriented atmosphere within the passenger compartment.

The instrument panel is deliberately padded only where technical components have to be appropriately covered, thus making an important contribution to passenger safety in the event of a collision. The instrument cluster played a fundamental role right from the start in the design process, serving as the starting point for all surfaces within the interior and thus creating a particularly powerful rendition of that driver orientation typical of BMW.

Innovative light technology: providing clear signals to the outside and offering soothing ambient illumination inside in a unique symbiosis.
LED lights at both the front and rear end of BMW Vision EfficientDynamics provide an innovative combination of the symbols typical of the brand and clear design language oriented towards trendsetting technology. The distinctive look of the dual round headlights characteristic of a BMW is emphasized in particular by the use of LED technology. The rear lights are integrated also in their function into the design of the entire rear section, forming part of the rear air deflector and thus merging completely into the rear contour.

Extremely flat and compact, the rear lights are made up of innovative LED units forming a smooth and consistent red surface when not in use. Only when used do the respective light chambers take on the appropriate color such as yellow on the direction indicators. This innovative light technology also provides an intense symbiosis of the exterior and interior, again promoting and further refining the driving experience.

This is also why the ambient illumination of the interior comes with new features and qualities, the light sources within the passenger compartment being fed from the positioning lights at the side, the rear lights and the brake lights, thus changing the atmosphere created by the lights within the car as a function of driving conditions.

The optical impression conveyed by BMW Vision EfficientDynamics also results in other areas from the symbiosis of the exterior and interior, eliminating the conventional barriers between the two. The lines within the interior, for example, continue on to the innovative design of the engine compartment lid, while in its shape the third brake light positioned higher up on the car follows the structure of the glass roof and tapers to the outside where the roofline moves down gently to the rear.

Overhead doors for convenient access to all seats

The doors on BMW Vision EfficientDynamics open up like bird’s wings, turning on pivots in the front roof column at the level of the side direction indicators. Since the car has no B—–ars, the large door cutouts ensure convenient entry also to the rear seats. The pivots on the doors also provide the base for the exterior mirrors, thus forming an ideal combination of function and aesthetic design. The structure of the doors is also characterized by several layers of materials on top of one another and the optical and functional symbiosis of the interior and exterior this technology is able to offer. Made up of three layers, the overall structure comprises the outer glass surface, an interim load-bearing layer, and the interior cover with its particularly smooth shapes and fl owing forms clearly visible to the passengers, layering technology again, therefore, opening up new perspectives.

The large glass surfaces extending far down on the body also provide a strong optical impression of the low seating position close to the road. And at the same time a stable sidebar ensures the body stiffness and crash safety naturally required on every vehicle. Flowing to the inside at its central point, this safety element also serves as an armrest. This interplay of the three layers also helping to minimize the weight of the car continues on the trim bar running along the door and extending out of the armrest, finally flowing into the outer door opener on its path from inside to outside.

Clear focus on the essential: 3-dimensional Head-Up Display

Layering technology is also used on the displays in the instrument cluster and in the Head-Up Display developed to an even higher standard on BMW’s new concept car. The Display now creates a powerful impression of three dimensions, at the same time providing the option to present various signals more in the front or more in the background, depending on their relevance and current driving conditions.

The Head-Up Display projects information important to the driver on to the windscreen. Indeed, innovative presentation technology even allows the superimposed presentation of several views in three dimensions, keeping, the gauge graphics visible in the background while the latest information on route guidance or warning signals from BMW Night Vision, for example, are shown in the foreground.

The sequence in which such signals appear depends on the driving mode chosen by the driver, the display technology, again depending on the driver’s personal preference, enhancing a particularly sporting, a more comfort oriented, or an efficiency-based style of motoring. Through its design alone, the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car clearly shows that highly efficient individual mobility may by all means be presented in emotional style. BMW already offers models in all vehicle segments which, compared with the competition, ensure the lowest level of fuel consumption and emissions combined with superior power and performance.

And now BMW Vision EfficientDynamics confirms BMW’s commitment to offer a perfect combination in future of unique driving pleasure and optimum qualities in the responsible use of natural resources.

In the design process the need for sustainable management is borne out most clearly by the GINA (Geometry and Functions in N-fold Augmentation) concept developed by the BMW Group. In this case maximum creative freedom sets the foundation for innovative solutions challenging the conventional and meeting the requirements of the future. This makes the GINA principle particularly well-suited for developing visions for the future reflecting both the wish for emotional style and individual character as well as the quest for sustainable management and efficiency. From the dimensions of its wheels through the design of the rear lights and all the way to the configuration of the cockpit, BMW Vision EfficientDynamics therefore boasts a number of details both outside and inside which, going far beyond conventional solutions, open up a new approach to maximum efficiency and that Dynamic ability typical of BMW.

Forward-looking energy management adjusting to individual requirements

With the individual system components on board BMW Vision EfficientDynamics being networked with one another, conditions are perfect for implementing a forward-looking system of energy management using information gathered by the sensors of the driver assistance units fitted in the car. Data provided, for example, by the rain sensor or Active Cruise Control with its Stop & Go function as well as by the navigation system, and subsequently evaluated by the central control unit, offers an overview of current and upcoming driving conditions. Then, evaluating such data, the on-board computer is able to forecast driving conditions on the stretch of road immediately ahead, such calculations serving to prepare the car for upcoming requirements and make efficient use of the energy available through optimum operation of all systems.

Should the high-performance central computer establish, for example, that the driver is about to take the motorway, the power used for running the cooling system is reduced for a certain period in advance, on the assumption that the short increase in coolant temperature resulting from such an energy-saving measure will quickly be set off by the higher speed of the car on the motorway. Another example of such pre-conditioning is the regeneration of energy from the air conditioning, from Electronic Power Steering and the Brake Assistant.

BMW ActiveHybrid technology combines superior driving dynamics with equally superior efficiency pointing far into the future, brining together both of these qualities to offer a truly unique driving experience.

The world’s first Sports Activity Coupé with full hybrid drive therefore capitalises on the options offered by combining the combustion engine and the electric motor with a standard of perfection never seen before. BMW ActiveHybrid technology offers a significant increase in driving dynamics and at the same time reduces fuel consumption by approximately 20 per cent versus a comparable vehicle powered by a combustion engine alone. The result is even greater Sheer Driving Pleasure combined with enhanced fuel economy and CO2 management providing the kind of progress to make the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 a typical BMW in the hybrid market.

The overall drive system featured in the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 consists of a 300 kW/407 hpV8 gasoline engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and two electric synchronous motors delivering 67 kW/91 hp and, respectively, 63 kW/86 hp. Maximum system output is 357 kW/485 hp, peak torque is 780 Newton-metres/575 lb-ft.

Precisely controlled interaction of the three power units optimises the overall efficiency of the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 at all speeds, with acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds. Top speed of the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 is limited electronically to 236 km/h or 146 mph (250 km/h or 155 mph with the optional Sports Package, with average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of 9.9 litres/100 km (equal to 28.5 mpg imp) and a CO2 emission rating of 231 grams per kilometre.

BMW’s first full hybrid model is able to run exclusively on electric power – and that is entirely free of CO2 – up to a speed of 60 km/h or 37 mph, with the combustion engine being activated automatically whenever required.

Ideal variation of the two drive modes for enhanced efficiency and dynamism is ensured by The two-mode active transmission provides the ideal combination of the two power modes for enhanced efficiency and dynamic performance at all times. With the two electric motors, three planetary gearsets and four multiple-plate clutches, drive power is transmitted through a seven-gear automatic transmission operated by the driver of the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 via an electronic gear selector lever and, respectively, shift paddles on the steering wheel.

BMW’s intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive system spreads out engine power variably between the front and rear wheels

The electric motors receive their energy from an NiMH high-performance battery positioned beneath the floor of the luggage compartment and feeding electric power also to the car’s on-board network. Luggage compartment capacity is therefore the same as on the “regular” BMW X6 with its combustion engine. When applying the brakes or taking back the gas pedal kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy and is stored in the high-performance battery. To provide this function either one or both of the electric motors acts as a generator, feeding electric power generated without the slightest increase in fuel consumption directly into the high-voltage battery. Subsequent use of this energy to provide extra drive power significantly reduces the consumption of fuel.

BMW ActiveHybrid technology raises the development of drive systems enhancing both efficiency and dynamism in one to a new, unprecedented standard, clearly confirming BMW’s superior competence in development in this area. Now the introduction of this innovative technology in such an exceptional vehicle concept adds a particularly fascinating motoring experience through the efficiency achieved in this way. Through its size, character and driving dynamics, the world’s one and only Sports Activity Coupé is particularly well-suited to combine the progressiveness and the potential of BMW ActiveHybrid technology to a standard never seen before.

Unique efficiency ensured by two-mode active transmission

BMW ActiveHybrid technology has been developed specifically for use in a particularly dynamic vehicle in this segment and for a broad range of practical use going far beyond city traffic as such. The big advantage, therefore, is the overall optimisation of drivetrain efficiency in all speed ranges and under all conditions.
The two-mode active transmission is based on an ECVT (electric continuously variable transmission) operating in two separate modes. One mode is for setting off with particular power and for driving at low speeds, the second is for motoring at high speeds.

When setting off only one of the two electric motors is activated. Then, as soon as the driver requires more power, the second electric motor automatically activates the combustion engine and subsequently serves as a generator providing a permanent supply of electric power.

When driving steadily at a higher speed most of the power required is delivered by the combustion engine in a largely mechanical process. Here again, one of the two electric motors acts as a generator.

Together with the mechanical components, the electric motors form a joint transmission unit providing the optimum transmission ratio at all times as a function of driving conditions. The mechanical link within the two-mode active transmission is provided by three planetary gearsets in a configuration dividing the drive power generated by the combustion engine and the two electric motors into two transmission modes and therefore ensuring a degree of variability in combining the two power sources conventional hybrid drive would not be able to provide.

The two operating modes of the electric motors are supplemented and enhanced by fixed transmission ratios providing a total of seven gears for full use of the highly efficient hybrid function throughout the vehicle’s complete range of operation and at the same time maintaining the driving performance so typical of BMW.

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V8 gasoline engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and High Precision Injection

The combustion engine is a technically unique eight-cylinder featured for the first time in the BMW X6 xDrive50i. The world’s first V8 gasoline engine with two turbochargers in the V-section between the two rows of cylinders excels in particular through its smooth development of power setting in from the start and continuing in an ongoing surge throughout the entire speed range. The exceptionally spontaneous and direct response of this V8 with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology results directly from the compact configuration of the engine allowing short manifolds as well as large cross-sections on the intake and exhaust side.

Displacing 4.4 litres, this outstanding eight-cylinder delivers maximum output of 300 kW/407 hp consistently maintained between 5,500 and 6,400 rpm. Superior torque of 600 Newton-metres/442 lb-ft is maintained all the way from 1,750 to 4 ,500 rpm, with High Precision Injection ensuring precise supply of fuel at all times. Piezo-injectors positioned in the middle between the valves ensure a smooth, efficient and clean combustion process, the V8 naturally fulfilling both the European EU5 standard as well as the ULEV II limits in the USA.

Compared with the power unit featured in the BMW X6 xDrive50i, this new engine has been modified in numerous respects to the specific requirements of the BMW ActiveHybrid X6. The first point is that there is no starter, no alternator and belt drive for the climate compressor and hydraulic pump on the power steering. The main and low-temperature circuits in the cooling system have been modified for all-electric operation, the low-temperature circuit already serving to cool the charge air in the combustion engine being used additionally to cool the power electronics.

A specifically designed hybrid engine cover, finally, marks a clear difference versus the power unit in the BMW X6 xDrive50i.

Electric motors for enhanced performance on no extra fuel

When accelerating the eight-cylinder power unit of the BMW ActiveHybrid X6, joining forces with the electric motors, ensures optimum efficiency and dynamic performance. As soon as the driver requires more power the two electric motors fed by the high-voltage energy battery supply additional torque for enhanced performance. This boost effect significantly increases the overall output of the BMW ActiveHybrid X6, without any increase in fuel consumption.

While the two electric motors have almost the same output, they have been modified in their performance characteristics to meet individual requirements. The power delivered is 67 kW/91 hp and. respectively, 63 kW/86 hp, with peak torque of 260 Newton-metres/192 lb-ft and 280 Newton-metres/206 lb-ft.

The electric motors support the combustion engine effectively throughout the entire speed range, the additional electrically generated drive power serving to reduce the power output required on the combustion engine when driving steadily at a higher speed. This shift in load is perfectly controlled at all times to give the overall system enhanced efficiency and its maximum effect under practical driving conditions.

The electronic control unit is also able to provide a consistent, ongoing surge of power, maximum power being generated when shifting gears through the so-called response boost effect. When kicking down the accelerator for maximum acceleration, the control unit generates stationary boost right from the start in the initial downshift phase, interaction of response boost and stationary boost ensuring a very spontaneous and direct response to every movement of the gas pedal.

Maximum system output is 357 kW/485 hp, with peak torque of 780 Newton-metres/575 lb-ft. This makes the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 the most powerful hybrid vehicle in the world, with acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 5.6 seconds and top speed is limited electronically to 236 km/h or 146 mph (or, respectively, 250 km/h or 155 mph with the optional Sports Package).

The unique positon of BMW ActiveHybrid X6 within the BMW X segment as a whole follows very clearly and convincingly from the comparison of these performance figures, on the one hand, with the vehicle’s fuel consumption and emission ratings, on the other. The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 combines its supreme dynamism with equally fascinating efficiency, with fuel average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of just 9.9 ltr/100 km (equal to 28.5 mpg imp) and a CO2 rating of 231 grams per kilometre.

All-electrical driving mode reducing emissions to zero

With its combination of two-mode active transmission and high-performance battery, the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 is able to run on its electric motors alone. This makes it a zero emission vehicle under such conditions, fulfilling even the strictest requirements foreseen for the future and ensuring the highest conceivable level of mobility.
The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 may run on electric power alone regardless of the ambient temperature, minimum operating temperatures being required only for the engine coolant, transmission fluid and high-voltage battery. A further requirement is that the high-performance battery is adequately charged.

Top speed in the electric mode is 60 km/h or 37 mph, maximum range is 2.5 kilometres (1.6 miles).

While driving electrically, the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 retains all its safety and comfort functions. The brakes remain fully operative thanks to electronic vacuum supply, not requiring the combustion engine to develop their full effect. The same applies to the EPS Electronic Power Steering, with steering assistance being generated as required and with maximum efficiency by an electric motor.

Even the air conditioning remains fully available without any restrictions, running efficiently on an electrical climate compressor. And since the high-performance battery supplies electric power to the complete 12-volt on-board network through a voltage converter regardless of the driving mode, all other power-consuming items such as the lights and the on-board entertainment system remain fully functional at their usual, consistent level.

Recuperation: electric power generated without additional fuel consumption

The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 features an enhanced version of Brake Energy Regeneration already used in BMW’s current models running on a combustion engine alone, generating the electric power saved in the high-performance battery. In this case the electric motors act as generators in overrun and when applying the brakes in order to feed electric power into the high-voltage battery unit, again in the interest of maximum efficiency.

BMW is proud to present the most supreme and luxurious rendition of hybrid technology ever seen so far in the automobile: BMW ActiveHybrid 7. Based on the BMW 7 Series, this unique car sets new standards for effi ciency in the luxury class. BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is the fi rst car in the world to combine a V8 gasoline engine, eight-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor as a mild hybrid concept.

This symbiosis of an upgraded eight-cylinder with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and High Precision Injection with a three-phase synchronous electric motor gives BMW ActiveHybrid 7 overall system output of 342 kW/465 hp and maximum torque of 700 Newton-metres/516 lb-ft. Power is transmitted via an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the electric motor positioned in compact confi guration between the combustion engine and the converter on the automatic transmission receiving its supply of energy from a lithium-ion battery developed especially for use in the automobile.

Precisely controlled interaction of both power sources serves to optimise not only the effi ciency but also the dynamic performance and superior comfort of BMW ActiveHybrid 7. The result is a truly thrilling driving experience and, at the same time, a unique demonstration of hybrid technology with its outstanding potential. BMW ActiveHybrid 7accelerates to 100 km/h in a mere 4.9 seconds, while keeping average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle to 9.4 litres/ 100 kilometres (equivalent to 29.1 mpg imp) and restricting CO2 emissions to just 219 grams per kilometre.

Hybrid technology also provides new options for the particularly efficient use and enjoyment of additional comfort functions. As an example, BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is the fi rst BMW with automatic transmission to feature an Auto Start Stop function avoiding idle speed operation of the engine when at a standstill or in traffi c jams. A further signifi cant advantage is that the air conditioning and ventilation system remains fully operational also with the engine switched off, power being supplied directly through the 120-volt on-board network operating on the lithium-ion battery.

This unique concept of engine management for the fi rst allows truly effective climate control also at a standstill in a luxury performance car, cooling the interior of BMW ActiveHybrid 7 to a signifi cantly lower temperature right from the start, before the driver even fi res the engine. Special displays in the instrument cluster and the Control Display inform the occupants of the degree of effi ciency and the current operating status of the hybrid components. Nineteen-inch light-alloy rims in aerodynamically optimised ten-spoke turbine wheel design created exclusively for BMW ActiveHybrid 7 as well as model designations on the luggage compartment lid, the C—–ars behind the side windows and on the door cutouts clearly set aside the hybrid models from their “regular” counterparts right from the start. And last but certainly not least, BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is also available in Bluewater metallic exterior paintwork exclusive to this very special model.

Like the existing models within the BMW 7 Series, BMW’s fi rst luxury saloon with hybrid drive is entering the market in two body variants. The extended version of BMW ActiveHybrid 7 comes with wheelbase increased by 14 centimetres or 5.5″, benefi ting exclusively the rear-seat passengers. And to optimise the driving experience and grand touring comfort for individual requirements, both models are available with a wide range of options from the portfolio of equipment and accessories offered on the BMW 7 Series.

BMW ActiveHybrid as a major element of the BMW Effi cientDynamics development strategy.

Right from the start, the regular production models in the new BMW 7 Series come with a broad scope of BMW Effi cientDynamics technologies quite unparalleled worldwide in their diversity and effects. Now BMW ActiveHybrid technology offers yet another option, hybrid technology for the fi rst time achieving the unique standard already defi ned by BMW in the luxury performance segment. BMW ActiveHybrid 7 takes a truly innovative approach in ensuring outstanding effi ciency in the luxury class. At the same time this unique saloon offers dynamic driving characteristics at a level by far exceeding everything hybrid cars have been able to offer so far.

Appropriate use of the electric motor also in the interest of driving comfort likewise ensures yet another signifi cant step into the future provided by the development of hybrid components focusing on both the requirements of the luxury class and the characteristics so typical of a genuine BMW. The result is an extremely effi cient luxury performance saloon at the same time offering unprecedented Sheer Driving Pleasure for a hybrid car.

BMW ActiveHybrid is an important module within the BMW Effi cientDynamics development strategy offering technologies able to signifi cantly reduce fuel consumption and emissions on every new model and at the same time enhance driving performance to an unprecedented standard.

Now the innovative drivetrain technology of BMW ActiveHybrid 7 serves to further enhance the effi ciency of the car and the driving pleasure it is able to offer, with the gasoline engine and electric motor being perfectly coordinated with one another to provide a signifi cant improvement of dynamic performance and motoring comfort and, at the same time, to capitalise on the use of energy in the fuel under a wide range of different driving conditions.

BMW uses hybrid technology wherever it can make a particularly effective contribution to the reduction of fuel consumption and emissions. As a rule, the savings potential of hybrid technology increases with the power of the combustion engine interacting with the system. Precisely this is why BMW ActiveHybrid technology in conjunction with a V8 power unit achieves a signifi cantly greater effect than when combined, say, with a six- or fourcylinder engine.

In the case of BMW ActiveHybrid 7 precise coordination of the electric motor and the V8 power unit serves to optimise the effi ciency of the combustion engine under all kinds of different loads and under many conditions. And through its use in a luxury performance saloon, BMW’s sophisticated ActiveHybrid technology offers a particularly convincing rendition of its exclusive character.

Intelligent energy management optimising the generation, storage and use of electric power

The drivetrain technology in BMW ActiveHybrid 7 ensures a particularly intelligent standard of energy management within the car serving to make maximum use of the energy contained in the fuel in generating superior driving dynamics and at the same time to increase motoring comfort to an even higher standard, thus generating Sheer Driving Pleasure from each and every drop of fuel. The intelligent hybrid concept comprises both the generation and use of electrical energy, with loss-free storage of electric power ensured by the highperformance lithium-ion battery. Both the process of charging the battery and the supply of power to the electric motor as well as all other power-consuming items are ensured and masterminded by power electronics developed specifi – cally for BMW ActiveHybrid 7.

Electric power generated on no extra fuel as an additional energy reserve

BMW ActiveHybrid technology uses energy converted into heat and therefore wasted in conventional cars through the operation and use of the brakes. In terms of power generation, this unique technology is therefore an ongoing development proceeding from the Brake Energy Regeneration used by BMW on all model series in the brand’s current gasoline and diesel models with BMW Effi cientDynamics.

Referred to also as the recuperation of power, Brake Energy Regeneration concentrates the development of electric power for the on-board network on appropriate running conditions either with the car in overrun or when applying the brakes. Then, when accelerating, energy is fed into the on-board network from the lithium-ion battery, relieving the combustion engine of the task of converting some of the energy contained in the fuel directly into electric current, and thus enabling the engine to provide more power for the actual process of accelerating.

The result is even faster and dynamic acceleration, while the electrical energy obtained in this way is generated without any additional consumption of fuel as soon as the car is rolling or the driver applies the brakes.

As long as the driver requires only a small amount of brake power, the system uses only the electrical brake force, with the mechanical brakes being activated only when the driver presses down the brake pedal harder for more stopping power.

DSC Dynamic Stability Control serves to mastermind the balance of electrical and mechanical braking, naturally maintaining all the driver’s freedom in dosing the brakes. A fi nal – and again an important – point is that the driver does not even perceive the transition from braking with electric power to braking with the mechanical brake system.

Two interconnected on-board networks for flexible management of energy

Electric power generated in overrun and when applying the brakes on BMW ActiveHybrid 7 in a neutral process without any additional consumption of fuel is fed into the car’s two on-board networks: BMW ActiveHybrid 7 features both a conventional 12-volt on-board network fed by an AGM (absorbent glass mat) battery and a high-voltage battery featuring lithium-ion technology and operating at 120 V. This lithium-ion battery supplies power to the electric motor as soon as it is required to perform an additional drive function or serves to start the combustion engine.

The a/c compressor on BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is also integrated in the 120-volt network, with all other electrically operated functions of the car being supplied with power from the 12-volt network.

The two on-board networks are connected with one another by a voltage converter providing fl exible energy management also serving to operate all electrical functions on the car on electric power generated without any additional consumption of fuel. The 12-volt battery is fed with energy from the high-voltage network, which it supports itself whenever necessary, for example when starting the combustion engine cold.

Cutting-edge energy storage technology: lithium-ion battery with superior capacity and multi-cycle operating strength

Introducing the lithium-ion battery, BMW is taking yet a further step into the future with particularly effi cient and, at the same time, fl exible use of electric power in the car. This means that energy generated in the recuperation process must be fed at all times and, depending on driving conditions, in a varying rhythm to a storage unit where it is kept available for subsequent use whenever required. A further requirement is to use a battery with signifi cant storage capacity for covering long distances without overrun or application of the brakes and without any bottlenecks in the supply process.

The AGM batteries already used in all conventional production cars with Brake Energy Regeneration offer the advantage of being able to handle frequent and irregular charge and discharge cycles without any loss of power. A mild hybrid concept, on the other hand, makes even greater demands, thus requiring a high-voltage battery with a much higher level of performance to also supply the electric motor with the energy capacity required for its drive function. The system developed for BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is based on the most advanced lithium-ion technology meeting the greatest demands in terms of power loads and lasting operation.

Lithium-ion batteries have already proven their particularly high storage capacity and cycle resistance in many other applications such as mobile phones and laptops. The energy storage unit used in BMW ActiveHybrid 7 confi rms the potential of this technology once again, this time under particularly demanding conditions in the automobile. The useful energy provided by this high-performance battery is 400 watt hours, with the battery itself comprising 35 cells as well as an integrated control unit permanently analysing the charge level and ensuring appropriate dependability under all kinds of driving conditions and throughout a wide range of temperatures.

Despite its high level of performance, the lithium-ion battery measures just 37 x 22 x 23 centimetres (14.6 x 8.7 x 9.1 inches) and weighs a mere 27 kg or 59.5 lb. Hence, it is hardly larger than a conventional car battery and is housed conveniently in the luggage compartment between the wheel arches of BMW ActiveHybrid 7, safely surrounded by a high-strength special casing. This ensures perfect protection of the battery and at the same time helps to give the car precise weight distribution.

The space required is about the same as the space taken up by the additional compressor for the rear-seat air conditioning in the conventional BMW 7 Series, with this compressor not being featured in BMW ActiveHybrid 7. The luggage compartment with its capacity of 460 litres/16.1 cu ft therefore offers adequate space for four 46-inch golf bags also in BMW ActiveHybrid 7.

With the launch of a new generation of high-security sedans based on the BMW 7 Series, the leading supplier of premium vehicles meets the most stringent safety requirements for persons at risk while travelling in their vehicles. Both, the BMW 760Li High Security and the BMW 750Li High Security are the first models in the world to be certified to BRV 2009 and both vehicles meet the requirements of the new ballistic protection level VR7.

Due to their highly effective protective armour, the non-transparent body areas of the BMW 760Li High Security and the BMW 750Li High Security meet the requirements of the ballistic protection level VR9. Hence, both the BMW 760Li High Security and the BMW 750Li High Security provide optimum safety in the individual mobility segment in combination with unparalleled comfort of travel, superior drive technology and an abundance of innovative equipment features to guarantee confident motoring at all times. The two BMW high security sedans set new standards in the protection of persons at risk while travelling in their vehicle. The unique security concept is based on findings which BMW gained as a result of its determined development work and on more than thirty years of experience in security vehicle engineering. The security concept was developed parallel to the production model and the integration of safety components is an integral part of the vehicle production process at BMW’s Dingolfing plant.

Specific chassis components are perfectly adapted to the increase in weight due to the sedans’ armour plating. Hence, reinforced suspension, dampers and suspension strut top mountings are part of the model-specific component range. This approach ensures finely-tuned vehicle performance characteristics that cannot be achieved by retrofitted armour plating. Reinforced vehicle-specific armour plating made from special steel as well as newly developed safety glazing protect the passenger compartment in particular from attacks of all kinds. The passenger compartment is protected by armour plating of the doors, the roof, the —-ars, the front footwell and the separation wall between passenger and luggage compartments.

The steel panels, which were manufactured by means of a special technique, fit the body contours perfectly. The model-specific gap sealing ensures that critical areas such as door cut and body joint lines are safely sealed. The sedans’ undercarriage is armoured by special plating which was developed with a particular focus on maximum explosion protection.

Another new development is the sedans’ 2.4” (6 cm) safety glazing. Due to its innovative structure, the multi-layer laminated glass cover provides a unique level of resistance. The window panes are covered with a polycarbonate layer on the inside in order to prevent shattered glass particles from penetrating the interior. Driving dynamics and comfort on a par with production models. Even with the highly effective security equipment, both the exclusive character of the interior as well as the driving dynamics that are typical of BMW 7 Series luxury sedans has been virtually retained. Despite their extensive safety equipment, both the BMW 760Li High Security and the BMW 750Li High Security can hardly be distinguished from the corresponding production models.

The sedans’ high protection level, which is second to none, is combined with a prestigious appearance, outstanding comfort of travel and an impressively powerful drive system. Both the BMW 760Li High Security’s twelve-cylinder engine and the BMW 750Li High Security’s V8 engine offer a combination of all-aluminium design, BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and High Precision Injection with direct fuel injection. Both power units are distinguished by their energetic power delivery from a low number of revolutions, the running smoothness that is typical of BMW luxury sedans and their state-of-the art efficiency.

Despite the increased weight of the vehicle, the engine performance characteristics of both models ensure that the new high-security sedans can achieve a dynamic acceleration
from standing and a confident engine torque at all speeds. Both models have an electronically limited top speed of 210 km/h. The newly developed V12 unit of the BMW 760Li High Security unleashes its superior power of 400 kW/544 hp at an engine speed of 5,250 rpm. Peak torque of 750 Nm comes at 1,500 rpm. In combination with the newly developed eight-speed automatic transmission, the 6.0-litre twelve-cylinder engine impresses drivers not only with its outstanding running smoothness, but also with its ability to spontaneously translate its seemingly infinite power reserve into precisely adjustable driving dynamics anytime.

The BMW 760Li High Security accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in as little as 6.2 seconds. The 4.4-litre eight-cylinder engine of the BMW 750Li High Security is the first petrol engine of its kind with turbochargers that are located in the “V” space between the cylinder banks. The V8 engine achieves 300 kW/407 hp at engine speeds of between 5,500 and 6,400 rpm. It mobilizes a maximum torque of 600 Nm that is maintained between 1,750 and 4,500 rpm. The spontaneously delivered engine thrust is applied to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.

The BMW 750Li High Security accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. The BMW 760Li High Security as well as the BMW 750Li High Security are distinguished by particularly harmonious driving characteristics. Both the comfort and the active security features of both models correspond to the premium quality standards that are typical of the BMW 7 Series. The innovative and in part exclusive BMW driver assistance systems ensure that potentially dangerous traffic situations can be foreseen and avoided, thus allowing for confident motoring.

The combination of a double wishbone front axle with an integral V rear axle provides numerous benefits in terms of comfort and dynamics, but above all, it results in an outstandingly harmonious handling of curves, virtually eliminating rolling, swaying or tilting behaviour. Moreover, the BMW 760Li High Security and the BMW 750Li High Security are equipped with an electronically controlled Dynamic Damping Control. The dampers adapt to the road surface as well as to the style of motoring. The high-performance braking system ensures excellent deceleration values in all situations. Inner-vented discs and sliding calliper design for optimum efficiency on all four wheels provide extreme stability and maximum braking comfort. Run-flat tyres are equipped with temperature sensors and a separate tyre pressure monitoring system for each wheel.

Special options for individual security requirements. Just like the range of comfort options, the security package for both the BMW 760Li High Security and the BMW 750Li High Security can be adapted to suit individual requirements. An intercom system with concealed microphones and speakers allows safe communication with people outside of the vehicle without the need to open doors or windows. Additional safety options include an assault alarm, fire extinguishing system with temperature sensor for extinguishing fires in the engine compartment and below the vehicle as well as irritant gas sensors for protecting passengers from gas attacks.

If the interior protection system is triggered by excess gas levels, all windows are closed automatically, the central locking system is activated, the fresh air valves are closed and the ventilation system is shut off. An additional internal fresh-air supply system ensures that passengers are provided with breathable air. BMW also offers special options for authorities, governments and embassies. The package provides a range of special features such as flag holders, arrangements for radio installations right through to a gun case with compartments for two machine guns in the center console.

Also included is an external beacon with a roof installation system and integrated LED flashing lights for the front grille. Upon request, the vehicle may be fitted with an acoustic signalling system that can be controlled via the iDrive operating system. In order to accommodate this exclusive circle of customers, BMW provides discreet consultancy and personalized sales and service support all over the world. BMW high-security sedans are serviced by certified special garages only. Access to the vehicles is restricted to very few selected and specially trained personnel. As part of the special customer service, BMW offers special driver training programs for security vehicles.

Twelve cylinders and eight gears – a unique combination re-defining the pinnacle of supremacy and exclusivity in the luxury performance segment. Taking over the top position within BMW’s model portfolio, the new BMW 760i and the new BMW 760Li clearly represent the absolute epitome of motoring culture and refinement in their market.

The symbol of and foundation for this unique position is the twelve-cylinder power unit driving the two top models in the BMW 7 Series. A brand-new development from the ground up, this revolutionary V12 with TwinPower Turbo technology, ¬High Precision Injection and infinite double-VANOS camshaft adjustment is a true masterpiece of modern engineering.
The engine delivers its superior power of 400 kW/544 hp at a speed of 5,250 rpm, with peak torque of 750 Newton-metres/553 lb-ft coming from just 1,500 rpm. Combined with the likewise new eight-speed automatic transmission also featured in a BMW for the first time, the 6.0-litre twelve-cylinder offers not only unparalleled smoothness and refinement, but also the ability to convert its seemingly inexhaustible power reserves spontaneously and with precise dosage at any time into supreme driving dynamics on the road.

The new BMW 7 Series: perfect foundation for supreme motoring culture.

Featuring superior suspension technology, innovative driver assistance systems and luxurious comfort amenities, as well as a unique combination of elegance and sportiness borne out by the car’s design, the BMW 7 Series from the start offers the perfect foundation for raising the standard of performance and refinement offered by the new twelve-cylinder to a truly incomparable level of driving pleasure.

Both the new BMW 760i and the new BMW 760Li come a standard with Dynamic Damping Control including Dynamic Drive Control operated by a button on the centre console, speed-related Servotronic steering assistance, and Dynamic Drive anti-roll stability control. The BMW 760Li comes additionally with air suspension including self-levelling on the rear axle. And last but not least, both models are available as an option with Integral Active Steering featuring speed-related adjustment of the steering angle on the rear wheels.

The supreme grand touring comfort of the new top models in the BMW 7 Series is further underlined by additional features such as comfort seats, the Professional navigation system, automatic air conditioning with four-zone control, automatic cruise control with its own brake function, Park Distance Control and Automatic Soft Close on the doors – all coming as standard.

BMW ¬ConnectedDrive available as an option offers a wide range of innovative driver assistance systems such as Lane Change Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Speed Limit Info, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, BMW Night Vision with detection of individual persons, a back-up camera, and BMW Side View. At the same time BMW ¬ConnectedDrive comes with a multitude of innovative offers and technologies networking the occupants with the car and its surroundings in the interest of maximum comfort and optimised use of the Infotainment system as well as enhanced safety. Accordingly, the BMW 760i and the BMW 760Li are both available with the complete range of mobility services comprising, among other features, BMW Assist including a telephone enquiry service and an Enhanced Emergency Call function automatically determining the current location of the car, BMW Online, BMW TeleServices, and unrestricted use of the internet in the car.

As an optional addition to the bi-xenon headlights featured as standard, the High-Beam Assistant and Adaptive Headlights including a Bending Light function, variable light distribution and adaptive headlight range control set new standards for driving safely at night.

Likewise optional, the Head-Up Display serves to project data relevant to the driver to the windscreen, enabling the driver to read such information and messages directly in his line of vision, without being distracted from the road and driving conditions around him.

The new V12 power unit: perfection as the principle, innovation as the driving force.

The twelve-cylinder power unit in a BMW 7 Series luxury performance saloon obviously guarantees a driving and grand touring experience quite unique from the outset. No other engine provides a comparable combination of power and refinement, no other power unit offers the same kind of exclusive prestige.

The special status of the engine results from its design and construction principle offering perfect conditions for supreme performance without the slightest effort. In terms of its vibration behaviour, the V12, with its two rows of cylinders arranged at an angle of 60o, comes closer to the ideal standard physically conceivable than any other engine.
BMW’s new V12 highlights these characteristics in even greater perfection than ever before. Compared with the former engine, both maximum output and peak torque are up considerably, engine response and the continuous surge of power have been optimised, and engine acoustics further refined.

The progress achieved in this way is obvious at first sight, offering a level higher still than that of the BMW 750i which, with its ultra-modern V8 featuring BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and direct gasoline injection (High Precision Injection), already provides the power and performance standard of a conventional twelve-cylinder.

The new V12 thus maintains the truly outstanding position of BMW’s twelve-cylinders also in the new generation of the BMW 7 Series. The driver of a BMW 760i and, respectively, of a BMW 760Li can therefore be sure to enjoy the highest standard of supremacy conceivable in the luxury class. And at the same time the unique leadership of the V12 power unit is combined with the right kind of efficiency for this day and age offering fuel economy and emission management even better than with eight-cylinder power units in the same segment as the BMW 7 Series.

BMW TwinPower Turbo technology making its debut in the twelve-cylinder.

The new all-aluminium twelve-cylinder displaces 5,972 cc, maintaining precisely the same cylinder capacity as on the former engine. At the same time BMW’s new V12 comes with a wide range of technical features allowing full use of the engine’s potential provided by its construction principle and fundamental philosophy.

In particular, this means the first-ever use of BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and ¬High Precision Injection on a twelve-cylinder power unit. This unique combination already substantiated on BMW’s six- and eight-cylinder engines guarantees an absolutely smooth and direct response to even the slightest movement of the gas pedal, a consistent torque curve and exceptionally good fuel economy and emission management on an engine in this performance class.

The two exhaust gas turbochargers specially developed for the new V12, thanks to the small cylinder angle of 60o, fit perfectly and in compact arrangement on the outside of the two rows of cylinders, each supplying six cylinders with compressed air. Through their position they provide the ideal configuration for short, straight and therefore aerodynamically efficient pipe connections between the exhaust manifold and the turbochargers. In combination with the catalytic converters optimised for minimum counter-pressure, the design and configuration of the exhaust gas manifolds sets the basis for the outstandingly spontaneous and direct response of the twelve-cylinder as well as its supreme power and torque.

Maximum torque now increased to 750 Netwom-metres/553 lb-ft comes at just 1,500 rpm and is maintained at a consistent level all the way to an engine speed of 5,000 rpm. This means peak torque 25 per cent higher than on the former engine at an engine speed approximately 2,300 rpm lower.

Power is also built up faster than on the former engine, borne out clearly by the much steeper power curve rising up to its peak of 400 kW/544 hp at just 5,250 rpm. And when it comes to the car’s actual performance on the road, this kind of power and muscle is expressed clearly by acceleration in both the BMW 760i and the BMW 760Li to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds.

The catalytic converters on the new twelve-cylinder feature the most advanced exhaust gas sensors and reach their optimum operating temperature at a very early point thanks to their position close to the engine. Highly effective treatment of exhaust gas allows full maintenance of all internationally relevant emission standards, the BMW 760i and the BMW 760Li naturally fulfilling the EU 5 emission standard in Europe and the ULEV II standard in the USA.

Optimised combustion, spontaneous development of power and supreme efficiency ensured by ¬High Precision Injection and dual-VANOS.

BMW ¬High Precision Injection is the second-generation of direct gasoline injection serving to optimise the combustion process and make exceptionally efficient use of the energy contained in the car’s fuel. Piezo-injectors positioned right in the middle of the cylinder head allow extra precise fuel dosage. Receiving fuel through stainless-steel supply lines, they inject the fuel into the combustion chambers at a pressure of up to 200 bar and in finely atomised form.

BMW ¬High Precision Injection ensures a particularly efficient and clean combustion process as the foundation for fuel economy and emission management absolutely unparalleled also in the new V12 power unit.

Again in typical BMW style, the new twelve-cylinder features infinite adjustment of camshaft timing by means of dual-VANOS. This allows the engine to run efficiently under part load with a high share of residual gas and reduced throttle loss. As an additional factor, double-VANOS also helps to give the engine an even more spontaneous and direct response.

The new twelve-cylinder power units in the BMW 7 Series come with a wide range of technologies serving to reduce both fuel consumption and emissions – and naturally all based on the BMW ¬EfficientDynamics development strategy. Examples are Brake Energy Regeneration, on-demand operation of the electrical water pumps and the volume flow-controlled oil pump, all serving to optimise the balance of driving performance and fuel economy.

With engine output up by 22 per cent over the former model and maximum torque 25 per cent higher than before, average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is just 12.9 litres/100 kilometres on the BMW 760i (equal to 21.9 mpg imp) and 13.0 litres/100 kilometres on the BMW 760Li (equal to 21.7 mpg imp). CO2 emissions have likewise been reduced to 299 and, respectively 303 grams per kilometre.

The New BMW Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission

The unique qualities of the new V12 power unit with TwinPower Turbo techno-logy and ¬High Precision Injection are combined in the new BMW 760i and the new BMW 760Li with an equally innovative concept for the transmission of power: the newly developed eight-speed automatic transmission making its world debut in a BMW production car. Ideally tailored to the power and performance characteristics of the twelve-cylinder power unit, the eight-speed automatic transmission combines supreme gearshift comfort, sportiness and efficiency at a level never achieved before.

The new eight-speed automatic transmission excels through the innovative configuration of gears and gearsets allowing the use of additional gears and a larger range of gear increments than on the former six-speed automatic transmission, without any negative effects on the size of the transmission, its weight, and the inner efficiency of the system.
The eight forward gears and the reverse gear all incorporate four simple gearsets and five gearshift elements. The innovative arrangement of these components seen for the first time on an eight-speed automatic transmission ensures that only two clutches are open in each gear at any given point in time, significantly reducing frictional losses under all driving conditions to an absolute minimum.

Over and above the wider range of gear increments and the high degree of internal efficiency, this is a further factor contributing to the outstanding overall efficiency of the new transmission system. So again, the intelligent concept of this new eight-speed automatic transmission harmonises perfectly with the BMW ¬EfficientDynamics development strategy.

Introduction of the first eight-speed automatic transmission in the BMW 760i and the BMW 760Li marks the starting point to a generation change in the area of power transmission systems. The six-speed automatic transmissions currently featured in all BMW model series already set the standard in terms of shift comfort, reaction time, gearshift speed, and efficiency and, through their compact design and configuration as well as their universal use in various vehicle segments and power classes, already offer unparalleled all-round qualities. The first and foremost objective in developing the new generation of automatic transmissions, therefore, was to retain all the design features of the six-speed automatic transmission and add new potentials in terms of motoring comfort, performance and efficiency.

Extra infotainment: fascinating tours with BMW Routes.

One of the special qualities of BMW ¬ConnectedDrive is to give the driver suitably prepared information for an even more intense and enjoyable driving experience. Various services offered in the context of BMW ¬ConnectedDrive serve this purpose and may be used conveniently in combination with a BMW navigation system. Whether driving over a mountain pass, along a coastal road or round a lake, the customer using BMW ¬ConnectedDrive is able from now on to put together his personal routes individually by means of a Route Planner in the internet, routes saved in this way then being retrieved via BMW Online directly in the car. The navigation system will subsequently take over as the next step, guiding the driver on his own personal route to his destination.

BMW Routes also offers some 25 carefully researched routes for the genuine connoisseur, including recommended restaurants, sights and overnight accommodation, with a clear focus on the particular appeal and attractions of the route chosen. This means avoiding motorways and congested roads wherever possible, giving preference instead to well-built roads with a firm surface. And stopovers presented along the way highlight scenic, culinary or regional specialities of a premium or “secret” character for the really discerning motorist.

Using this special service from BMW ¬ConnectedDrive, the driver is also able to check out routes presented in the BMW Magazine as “My Most Beautiful Detour”. Useful and interesting information on the route and stopovers recommended along the way is presented through the new service in pictures and text messages in the car’s Control Display.
All BMW drivers therefore now have the opportunity for the first time to use these innovative services. They are able to save routes they have planned themselves directly on the Route Planner in the internet on a USB stick and then download the message directly into the car’s navigation system through the USB interface.
Offering such a wide range of benefits, BMW Routes is a particularly attractive example of innovative infotainment services networking the car with the surrounding world in order to provide an even more fulfilling driving experience.

Unrestricted use of the internet in the car.

BMW ¬ConnectedDrive offers the appropriate services for all kinds of requirements. Indeed, BMW ¬ConnectedDrive is a dynamic concept in every respect, the ongoing development of services ensuring a consistent increase in mobility and the convenient provision of information.
BMW is now the world’s first car maker to offer unrestricted use of the internet in the car through BMW ¬ConnectedDrive. Access to the internet is available as an option at an attractive flat rate. The basis for using the internet in the car is the enhanced iDrive system where the Controller, in its function, resembles a conventional computer mouse. And in the interest of extra clarity, the Control Display presents internet sites in high resoluti

BMW’s concept uses highly efficient lithium-ion batteries in the boot area to store the power generated. These high-storage-capacity batteries enable optimum use of Brake Energy Regeneration. In addition, they create possibilities to power the air conditioning, electric coolant pump and the electric power steering system. For these functions, a 120 volt vehicle power system was designed and runs in parallel with the conventional 12 volt system.

The power harnessed by the batteries is also supplemented by roof mounted photovoltaic solar panels, measuring 1.0 metre square. The energy generated can either be used immediately or stored for later use. Importantly, the power created in this zero- CO2 way can be used to pre-heat the diesel fuel. This innovative and technologically advanced engine is directly mated to a new eight- speed automatic transmission.

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BMW hybrid technology

BMW started to develop hybrid drive many years ago, long before the foundation of the Global Hybrid Cooperation. Indeed, BMW tested the electric drivetrain as early as in the late 1980s, for example in the BMW E1. In the meantime the BMW Group has presented several hybrid vehicle concepts, starting with a hybrid car in 1995 based on the BMW 518i. In particular, the outstanding potential of this drive technology has been proven in the BMW X5 EfficientDynamics presented in 2003 and the BMW Concept X3 EfficientDynamics shown to the world in 2005.

BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid

In 2007 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW presented the Concept X6 ActiveHybrid – the world’s first Sports Activity Coupé to feature a special concept of hybrid drive. BMW ActiveHybrid for the first time combines the combustion engine and two high-performance electric motors to allow use of the greater efficiency of hybrid technology over a much larger speed range than with a conventional hybrid vehicle.

The innovative power transmission featured by BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid combines two compact, high-performance electric motors with a transmission using fixed transmission ratios. These drive systems are connected to one another by three planetary gearsets allowing a power split covering the drive forces of the combustion engine and the electric motors in
two transmission ranges and thus ensuring a level of variability quite impossible on a conventional hybrid drivetrain thanks to the combination of the two drive sources able to provide optimum power and maximum efficiency under all driving conditions and power requirements from the driver.

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept

At the Geneva Motor Show BMW revealed the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept, a hybrid-diesel version of the X5 SUV.The 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine in the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics uses BMW’s Variable Twin Turbo concept, third-generation common-rail injection and an all aluminium crankcase to deliver 204hp and 400Nm of torque between 2,000 and 2,250rpm. The engine is supplemented by a mild hybrid concept that delivers a further 20hp and 210Nm of torque under acceleration.

The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics delivers 43.5mpg on the combined cycle and just 172g/km of CO2 emissions. With its twin-turbocharged two-litre diesel engine delivering more than 100hp per litre, the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept completes the sprint from zero to 62mph in just 8.9 seconds, a time faster than most current production competitors.

BMW Concept 7-Series ActiveHybrid

After the Geneva Show, BMW made a sensation at the Paris Motor Show where they revealed the Concept 7-Series ActiveHybrid. The concept combines an eight-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor developing 20 hp and maximum torque of 155 lb-ft as a mild hybrid concept.

Like all power units in BMW production cars, the combustion engine featured in the BMW Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid has been developed in the context of BMW Effi cientDynamics. In the BMW 750i this all-aluminium power unit offers all the qualities typical of an eight-cylinder in incomparably sporting and, at the same time, comfortable style, combining power and traction from low engine speeds with impressive pulling force throughout a wide range of engine revs.

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Competitors

Porsche Cayenne Hybrid

Porsche revealed a first Cayenne Hybrid prototype in 2007 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. A productionv ersion is expected to be unveiled in 2010. It will be powered by an Audi-sourced 3.0 Liter V6 power plant, with the gas engine making 333 HP and 324 lb-ft of torque and the electric motor contributing another 52 HP and 221 lb-ft of torque to get the Cayenne moving in a more environmentally friendly manner.

Just because the Cayenne is a hybrid doesn’t mean that it is a slouch. The gas/electric power train combination allows the Porsche hybrid to sprint from the 0 to 60 MPH in only 6.8 seconds while averaging about 32 MPG when cruising on the highway, that is an entire 10 MPG better than the traditional V6 powered SUV from Porsche.

Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid

Volkswagen revealed the first Touareg hybrid prototype at the beginning of 2009, announcing that the production version will follow in 2010. According to the company the production version will have a fuel consumption of 9,0 liters/100 km and a CO2 emission of 210 g/km.

Volkswagen will be implementing a parallel hybrid drive on the future Touareg V6 TSI Hybrid. This version of the SUV will have a high-performance, full-time all-wheel drive too. The V6 engine develops 328 hp at 5,500 rpm and a peak torque of 440 NM at 3000 rpm.

V6 TSI plus E-motor drives fuel consumption below 9.0 liters The E-motor integrated between the V6 TSI and the 8-speed automatic transmission adds power of 50hp and up to 300 Newton-meters torque.

Audi Q7 Hybrid

A first Q7 hybrid, in a concept version was revealed in 2005 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Shortly after the company announced it will also come as a production version, but at the beginning of 2009 the car was put on “indefinite hold”. But company insiders revealed there will be indeed a production version Q7 hybrid, but it will be built in limited numbers.

The Audi Q7 hybrid concept study is equipped with a 4.2-litre FSI V8 drive unit developing 350 bhp and 440 Nm of torque. An electric motor that has also been integrated into the driveline adds up to an extra 200 Nm of torque. The performance figures promised by the Audi Q7 hybrid give it sports car status: a mere 6.8 seconds are required to reach 100 km/h from standstill. In-gear pulling power is even more electrifying, with the SUV accelerating from 80 up to 120 km/h in 5th gear in 7 seconds flat

For the first time the features and qualities so typical of a BMW X model are also available in a premium vehicle in the compact segment. Indeed, the BMW X1 is entering the market with the assignment to offer the Sheer Driving Pleasure so characteristic of BMW with a new standard of quality also in this segment of the market. The latest member in the family of BMW X models therefore stands for versatile, sporting performance and supreme agility in an urban environment and beyond.

In its style and appearance, the BMW X1 is the epitome of self-confident elegance, sophisticated function, and stylish, modern character. With its superior drivetrain technology also comprising BMW’s intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive system and its both modern and variable interior, the BMW X1 offers ideal qualities for truly versatile mobility ensuring a genuine driving experience. The elevated seating position and the driver-oriented design of the cockpit enhance the emotional driving experience. Sophisticated materials, strikingly contoured surfaces and BMW iDrive fitted in conjunction with one of the optional navigation systems accentuate the premium character of the BMW X1 right from the start.

At the rear, the spacious compartment offers three full-sized seats. Folding down the rear-seat backrest split into three sections and adjustable also for angle, the driver and passengers are able to increase luggage compartment capacity from 420 litres or 14.7 cubic feet all the way to 1,350 litres or 47.3 cu ft. Numerous storage facilities and boxes add even greater function and practical value, while the optional Panorama glass roof ensures an even more generous feeling of space. The BMW X1 sets new standards for driving pleasure in the premium compact segment. Benefiting from BMW EfficientDynamics, it also offers the most favourable balance of performance and fuel economy within the segment of BMW X models.

The BMW X1 is entering the market with a choice of one six-cylinder gasoline engine and three four-cylinder diesels. The straight-six gasoline power unit featured in the BMW X1 xDrive28i boasts a composite magnesium/aluminium crankcase, VALVETRONIC valve management and dual-VANOS, and delivers maximum output of 190 kW/258 hp. The BMW X1 xDrive23d comes with a 150 kW/204 hp diesel featuring BMW TwinPower Turbo and common-rail fuel injection.

The diesel engines in the BMW X1 xDrive20d delivering 130 kW/177 hp and in the BMW X1 xDrive 18d with 105 kW/143 hp, finally, also come with common-rail fuel injection as well as a turbocharger with variable intake geometry. These engines are also featured in the BMW X1 sDrive20d and the BMW X1 sDrive18d with the latter, equipped with rear-wheel drive, offering average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of only 5.2 litres/100 kilometres (54.3 mpg) and a CO2 rating of 136 grams per kilometre as the most efficient and economical option for spontaneous driving pleasure.

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Body design

The driving characteristics of the BMW X1 combine superior agility with versatile sportiness – and precisely these features also come out in the design of the new model. At the same time the self-confident elegance so typical of the BMW X1 forms a perfect match with modern function all round. The front end, the side and the rear end flow smoothly into one another, striking and powerful lines creating a sleek and stylish connection between the various body elements.

Measuring 4.45 metres or 175.2” in length, this unique five-door stands out clearly from every angle as a fully-fledged BMW X model, despite its body dimensions smaler than on the BMW X6, the BMW X5, and the BMW X3. Square-contoured wheel arches, greater ground clearance, the slender protection cover on the lower part and the upright BMW kidney grille clearly symbolise the robust qualities of the new model, while long wheelbase of 2.76 metres/108.7” and the low-slung rear window create sleek and stretched proportions testifying to the sporting character of the BMW X1. This sporting character is also borne out by the excellent aerodynamic qualities of the new model resulting, not least, in a drag coefficient of 0.32 on the BMW X1 sDrive20d, the BMW X1 xDrive18d, and the BMW X1 sDrive18d.

Through its strong and muscular bumper and the BMW kidney grille merging smoothly with all surrounding elements, the front end spells out powerful presence right from the start. The widely flared wheel arches and the strongly contoured engine lid with its contour lines stretching towards the kidney grille give the BMW X1 a particularly powerful and muscular appearance.

Cut off sharply at the top, the dual round headlights again so typical of BMW, together with the lights band emphasising the sheer width of the vehicle, create a particularly powerful and focused look. A three-dimensional surround serves to additionally emphasise the contours of the headlights.

The foglamps positioned high up and far to the outside are embedded deep within the bumper. Beneath the large air intake, finally, a silver-coloured underfloor protection cover again confirms that this is a genuine BMW X model in every respect. The side view of the BMW X1 is characterised by three striking lines.

The contour line on the level of the door openers rising sharply towards the rear end interacts with the sill-line moving up only slightly to create a dynamic wedge shape. In between, a highly expressive character line adds a special touch through its progressive flow, first moving down, then moving up slightly and finally rising dynamically up front of the rear wheel arch. This character line continues in the graphic surround of the “Hofmeister kick” so typical of BMW on the base of the C—–ar, the character line and window graphics thus forming one optical unit to give the BMW X1 a particularly agile and compact look.

Powerful wheel arches and horizontal lines emphasise the width of the elaborately chiselled rear end. The individual surfaces and body sections are characterised by smooth rounded edges, while the rear light clusters in typical L-shape are re-interpreted by sharp, almost jagged lines. Like the headlights at the front and the rear section of the side window graphics, the rear light clusters boast a special surround at the outside adding further flair to their contours. And finally, a silver-coloured underfloor protection plate bears testimony to the robust character so typical of a BMW X model also at the rear.

The optional X Line available for the BMW X1 offers a particular touch of style and class, featuring inserts in the front and rear bumpers finished in body colour, similar inlays in the side-sills and a painted trim bar separating the lower air intake in a horizontal line. Likewise available as an option, the roof railing comes in this case in a special silver colour.

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Interior design

Graphic elements full of powerful expression, generous trim surfaces and dynamic lines give the interior of the BMW X1 a truly sporting and youthful appearance. The instrument panel is subdivided by horizontal lines creating a special structure continuing into the door panels which, by accentuating the sheer width of the vehicle, heightens the generous feeling of space. The Control Display on the optional iDrive control system is also finished in innovative style, blending smoothly and harmoniously into the dashboard.

The elevated seating position so typical of the BMW X models ensures comfortable and convenient access at all times. Optimised all-round visibility of traffic conditions around the car, in turn, gives the driver an even greater and more convincing feeling of supremacy. This feeling is further enhanced by his eyes looking down from above at the dashboard curved slightly to the front. The special design of the centre console and the dashboard area around the cockpit offers an appropriate reinterpretation of the driver orientation so typical of a BMW. The first point is that through its special look and configuration, the centre console clearly separates the driver’s and front passenger’s areas.

The controls for air conditioning and the audio system are inclined slightly towards the driver, while a trim bar in contrasting colour flowing out of the lower section of the dashboard surrounds the instrument cluster including the binnacle at the top to form one complete unit, safely and reliably guiding the driver’s eyes to the road ahead. The BMW X1 comes with a choice of seven body colours. The interior, in turn, is finished in both powerful and natural colours, the wide range of colours available giving the customer free rein in customising the car to his own individual style.

As an alternative to the seat upholstery finished as standard in Elektra cloth, there is also Median cloth in sporting striped design as well as Nevada leather. Then the customer also has the choice of no less than seven trim colours and five variants of trim bars giving the car either a particularly sporting, modern, extroverted or elegant touch. Yet a further special feature is the Cool Elegance Design Package available on the BMW X1, incorporating highlights such as sports seats in Oyster-coloured leather upholstery and black/yellow piping on the backrest as well as trim bars in Bright Wave wood. In this case the lower section of the instrument panel and the centre console likewise come in Oyster.

A wide range of open storage boxes, trays and cupholders on the centre console as well as large open door compartments with integrated holders for bottles underline the functional character of the BMW X1. Through its generous dimensions, the rear-seat bench offers comfortable space for up to three passengers. As a further advantage the interior of the BMW X1 may be re-configured easily and quickly whenever required to meet all kinds of transport requirements. Loading is easy and convenient through the large tailgate, the wide opening for the luggage compartment and the low loading sill, even when taking along bulky objects.

The backrest angle at the rear may be adjusted in numerous stages by up to 31o – and when the backrests are set to a vertical angle (Cargo Position), luggage compartment capacity increases from 420 to 490 litres (14.7 to 17.2 cu ft). Split at a ratio of 40/20/40, the rear backrest also offers many other options and variable loading configurations: Folding down only the centre section, for example, the driver and his passengers enjoy the benefits of a large through-loading able to accommodate two 46-inch golf bags, four pairs of skis or two snowboards. Folding down the rear-seat backrest completely, on the other hand, luggage capacity increases to an enormous 1,350 litres or 47.3 cubic feet. A further amenity is the separate storage compartment beneath the floor of the luggage compartment as such. Folding down the centre rear-seat backrest alone provides a generous through-loading facility interacting perfectly with the transport bag available as an option. And last but certainly not least, a rear luggage rack preparation kit is also available in addition to the roof railing.

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The engines

BMW X models offer a particular highlight in Sheer Driving Pleasure so typical of the brand. The BMW X1, in turn, combines this experience with a level of efficiency quite unparalleled in its segment. The BMW X1 sDrive20d and the BMW sDrive18d, for example, are the first vehicles of their kind to emit less than 140 grams of CO2 per kilometre in the EU test cycle, and the other model variants also stand out through an unusually good balance of driving pleasure and fuel economy ensured by engines featuring the most efficient technology and, of course, by the wide range of BMW EfficientDynamics using breakthroughs in technology combined appropriately with one another on each model. Examples in this context are Brake Energy Regeneration, optimised aerodynamics, tyres with low roll resistance, intelligent lightweight engineering, the final drive with optimised warm-up behaviour as well as ancillary units operating and controlled on demand such as the electrical fuel pump and the detachable a/c compressor.

The manual models come with Auto Start Stop and a gearshift point indicator. The BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system features a new power divider with optimised efficiency, and the engine of the BMW X1 xDrive28i also boasts a map-controlled oil pump. Last but definitely not least,

Entering the 2010 model year, the BMW 1 Series as the guarantee for the broad-scale impact of BMW EfficientDynamics and as the epitome of Sheer Driving Pleasure in the compact segment is gaining even greater significance. Two additional, extra-economical low-emission engine variants are enhancing the model range of the BMW 1 Series Coupé as of September 2009: In the guise of the BMW 120i Coupé and the BMW 118d Coupé there will then be two further models with the EU5 emission rating.

Following the successful launch of the new entry-level three-door and five-door models, the BMW 116i and the BMW 116d, in spring 2009, the BMW 1 Series is once again proving its value as the pacemaker for efficient mobility combined with outstanding driving pleasure in the compact class. Other new models as of September 2009 are the Lifestyle and Sport Editions of the BMW 1 Series three- and five-door.

Still the only rear-wheel-drive model in the compact segment, the BMW 1 Series offers a unique blend of sporting driving pleasure and outstanding efficiency. Particularly the BMW 1 Series Coupé brings out this character so typical of the brand in truly convincing style, with two new entry-level versions of the two-door featuring a gasoline and a diesel engine coming into the market in September 2009: The new BMW 120i Coupé is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder with BMW High Precision Injection (direct gasoline injection) developing 125 kW/170 hp at 6, 700 rpm and peak torque of 210 Newton-metres/155 lb-ft at 4, 250 rpm, accelerating the BMW 120i Coupé from zero to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds and offering a top speed of 224 km/h or 149 mph. Average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is 6.6 litres/ 100 kilometres, the CO2 emission rating is 153 grams per kilometre.

An award-winning four-cylinder diesel makes the new BMW 118d Coupé the most efficient car of its kind, the diesel engine with its aluminium crankcase, turbocharging and common-rail fuel injection helping the three-door BMW 118d win the World Green Car of the Year 2008 Award. Displacing 2.0 litres, this high-tech power unit develops 105 kW/143 hp at 4, 000 rpm and delivers maximum torque of 300 Newton-metres/221 lb-ft between 1, 750 and 2, 500 rpm.

This outstanding power unit offers an unbeatable combination of performance and fuel economy also in the Coupé, the BMW 118d Coupé accelerating from a standstill to 100 km/h in 9.0 seconds and reaching a top speed of 210 km/h or 130 mph. Offering average fuel consumption according to the EU standard of 4.5 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 62.8 mpg imp) and a CO2 emission rating of 119 grams per kilometre, this compact athlete clearly proves its outstanding talent in terms of both all-round economy and clean emissions.

The BMW 1 Series – the pacemaker in reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Both new variants of the BMW 1 Series Coupé come as standard with a wide range of BMW EfficientDynamics technologies such as Brake Energy Regeneration, an Auto Start Stop function, a gearshift point indicator and ancillary units with on-demand management and control. Both the BMW 120i Coupé and the BMW 118d Coupé naturally fulfil the EU5 emission standard, meaning that the BMW 1 Series alone now comes with 21 models complying with this requirement. A further important point is that five models in the BMW 1 Series already offer a CO2 emission rating of less than 120 grams per kilometre, with the BMW 116d standing out as the absolute leader in terms of fuel economy and emission management. The four-cylinder diesel engine featured in this particular version of the BMW 1 Series delivers maximum torque of 260 Newton-metres or 192 lb-ft and, in combination with BMW EfficientDynamics also featured as standard in this model, allows average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of just 4.4 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 64.2 mpg imp) and a CO2 rating of 118 grams per kilometre.

The technologies developed by BMW – and naturally featured at no extra cost – to reduce both fuel consumption and emissions play a particularly significant role in the successful BMW 1 Series. Indeed, this makes BMW an important role model for the entire automotive industry, with BMW still selling more cars with high-efficiency technology each month than other car makers in the course of a whole year. At the same time the consistent expansion of the BMW 1 Series by the addition of particularly economical model variants including the new BMW 116i delivering maximum output of 90 kW/122 hp and peak torque increased to 185 Newton-metres or 136 lb-ft makes a significant contribution to the success achieved by BMW in recent times in reducing average fleet fuel consumption. Between 2006 and 2008 alone, the average fuel consumption of BMW’s models in the German market was reduced by no less than 16 per cent, BMW therefore exceeding the rate of reduction of the next-best competitor in the premium segment more than twice.

Exclusive and full of character: the BMW 1 Series Lifestyle and Sport Editions.

Apart from outstanding efficiency and the Sheer Driving Pleasure so typical of the brand, innovative features and uncompromising premium quality help to give the BMW 1 Series a truly prominent position in its segment – and now the new Lifestyle und Sport Edition Models add further class and style to these characteristic features. The Edition Models excel in particular through particularly attractive, high-quality and carefully matched features and equipment, and are available on all engine variants of the three-door and five-door.

The Lifestyle Edition exudes stylish extravagance both on the exterior and in the interior of the BMW 1er, highlighted by body paintwork in exclusive Marrakesh Brown Metallic including additional components in body colour and chrome-plated tailpipes as well as exclusive light-alloy rims in five-spoke design. All models come with 17-inch wheels.

On the five-door the exterior is rounded off by the car’s special finish on the window shaft covers and side window surrounds in Shadow Line, on the three-door in Chrome Line. Chrome entry trim proudly bearing the name “BMW Edition“, a leather sports steering wheel with multifunction buttons, and roof lining in anthracite colour provide a particular touch of modern elegance within the interior.

The exclusivity of the Lifestyle Edition is highlighted to an even higher level of perfection by the interior colour scheme matched to the colour of the paintwork. Features include interior trim in high-gloss Marrakesh Brown as well as door panels and seat upholstery in Magma Brown. And as an alternative to Network cloth upholstery there is also the choice of Pearlpoint upholstery with Magma Brown cloth / leather.

The exterior and interior features are also carefully matched to one another on the Sport Edition Model, giving the BMW 1 Series particularly dynamic and powerful character. The Edition Models come as standard with the M Sports Package including the M Aerodynamics Package, a sports suspension set-up as well as 17-inch light-alloy wheels in dual-spoke design. The BMW 130i and BMW 123d feature 18-inch light-alloy wheels in Ferric Grey paintwork available as an option also on the other model variants. Exclusive Blackline rear lights, exterior features in body colour, Shadow Line on the window shaft covers and side window surrounds, foglamps and chrome-plated tailpipes on the exhaust round off the striking look of the exterior.

The sporting and exclusive flair of the interior is highlighted by chrome-plated entry trim bearing the name “BMW Edition“, stainless-steel pedals, an M footrest, an M sports steering wheel, an M gearshift lever complete with its gaiter made of soft nappa leather, interior trim in Aluminium Glacier Silver and roof lining in anthracite colour. As yet a further highlight the BMW 1 Series Sport Edition comes with sports seats for the driver and front passenger in a combination of cloth and Sensatec featuring blue ornamental stitching around the seat bottoms and headrests. And to provide the final touch the footmats are adorned by blue piping.

Navigations system Business in the BMW 1 Series now featuring an integrated storage of navigation data and optimised display technology.

In conjunction with one of the navigation systems available as an option the BMW 1 Series proudly boasts the new generation of BMW iDrive electronic vehicle management. Entering the 2010 model year, the BMW 1 Series furthermore comes as an option with a new version of the Business navigation system, its new control concept allowing even easier and more precise control through iDrive featuring direct choice and favourite buttons.

The new Control Display with 800 x 480 pixel image resolution ensures detailed presentation of maps in two dimensions or in a perspective view, complete with integrated arrow graphics. Storage of navigation data installed within the car serves to provide even faster access to the system. And last but not least, the audio unit included within the new control system comes complete with a CD player.

Following its successful introduction into the market, the new BMW 7 Series is further expanding its position in 2010 as the most innovative model series in the luxury segment. New drivetrain and equipment variants emphasise both the driving pleasure and the outstanding efficiency of BMW’s top-class luxury saloon.

The BMW 740d to be introduced in autumn, for example, will for the first time feature a new straight-six diesel engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and maximum output of 225 kW/306 hp. The second diesel model in the range, the BMW 730d, underlines its status as the world’s most economical and lowest emission model in the luxury class by a further reduction in both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions as well as optionally available BMW BluePerformance Technology. Hence, BMW now offers yet another production model already fulfilling the EU6 emission standard today.

These innovations in the BMW 7 Series model range ensure truly thrilling diversity in the prestigious luxury segment. Including the new top-of-the-range BMW 760i and BMW 760Li with their twelve-cylinder power units, the BMW 7 Series is now available in three gasoline and two diesel variants.

BMW’s intelligent xDrive all-wheel drive will also be introduced in the BMW 7 Series for the first time in the 2010 model year, yet another new feature entering the market in autumn 2009 being the M Sports Package available on all models in the BMW 7 Series.

World debut: six-cylinder diesel engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology in the BMW 740d.

The new diesel model in the BMW 7 Series is characterised by spontaneous and supreme traction and pulling power combined with outstanding efficiency. The BMW 740d features a newly developed six-cylinder power unit, an all-aluminium engine boasting BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and common-rail direct fuel injection with piezo-injectors operating at an injection pressure of up to 2,000 bar.

The charge system follows the Variable Twin Turbo principle and is made up of two turbochargers of various size perfectly matched to one another and therefore operating either individually or together as a team, depending on the driver’s power and performance requirements. High-pressure fuel injection ensures particularly precise dosage of fuel optimising both the car’s efficiency and the emissions coming from the engine.

The new power unit delivers maximum output of 225 kW/306 hp and peak torque of 600 Newton-metres/442 lb-ft maintained consistently between 1,500 and 2,500 rpm. This gives the BMW 740d a level of performance so far only provided by far larger power units, now combined with the superior economy typical of a BMW straight-six diesel.

The BMW 740d accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds and is limited electronically in its top speed to 250 km/h or 155 mph.

Average fuel consumption of 6.9 litres/100 kilometres in the EU test cycle (equal to 40.9 mpg imp) and a CO2 emission rating of 181 grams per kilometre, finally, mark new records for efficiency in this performance class.

BMW BluePerformance making ongoing: BMW 730d fulfils the EU6 emission standard.

The cutting-edge diesel engines in the current range allow BMW to introduce further models already fulfilling the future EU6 emission standard today. BMW is therefore consistently increasing its leadership in the introduction of exhaust emission management technology able to fulfil this strictest European standard planned for the future.

Following the BMW 330d already introduced in autumn 2008, the BMW 730d may also be equipped as an option with BMW BluePerformance Technology. On the BMW 730d with BMW BluePerformance the diesel particulates filter and the oxidation catalyst likewise featured as standard are supplemented by an NOx storage catalyst. As a result, exhaust management in this new 180 kW/245 hp six-cylinder diesel already reduces nitric oxides to the standard not coming into force until the introduction of EU6 in the year 2014.

The introduction of BMW BluePerformance Technology has no influence on the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of the BMW 730d, which are in-deed being further reduced once again in the 2010 model year. Modifications on the engine and the drivetrain reduce the average fuel consumption of the BMW 730d determined in the EU test cycle to 6.8 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 41.5 mpg imp), with the CO2 emission rating moving down to 178 grams per kilometre. As a result the BMW 730d is further expanding its leading position as the most efficient saloon in the luxury segment.

Like all other model variants, the BMW 730d owes its outstanding efficiency to superior engine technology as well as the powerful impact of BMW EfficientDynamics naturally featured as standard. Just how fuel-efficient a vehicle may be in the use of energy the driver of a BMW 7 Series will see in future not only on the fuel gauge, since the instrument cluster will be supplemented as of the 2010 model year by a recuperation indicator.

A graphic display next to the current fuel consumption indicator in the lower half of the rev counter presents the generation of electric power in overrun and while applying the brakes, the blue arrow being activated as soon as Brake Energy Regeneration feeds energy into the on-board network without any fuel being consumed in the process.

BMW 750i xDrive and BMW 750Li xDrive: double debut for xDrive in the BMW 7 Series.

BMW already offers an intelligent all-wheel drive system in the BMW X models as well as the BMW 5 Series and the BMW 3 Series, promoting both driving dynamics as well as driving stability and traction. With its special features, BMW xDrive has indeed already made BMW the world’s most successful manufacturer of all-wheel-drive cars in the premium segment. And now the range of cars with BMW xDrive is being enlarged once again.

Starting in the 2010 model year, BMW xDrive will be available for the first time also in the BMW 7 Series. In the BMW 750i xDrive and the BMW 750Li xDrive this permanent, electronically controlled all-wheel drive ensures appropriate distribution of the power of 300 kW/407 hp generated by the V8 with its BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology, thus catering for all demands in every situation.

Through a power divider with an electronically controlled multiple-plate clutch, xDrive feeds exactly the right amount of power in every situation to the axle which, through its wheels, has the best grip on the road. Precise and quick control of this power distribution gives BMW’s all-wheel-drive luxury saloons truly supreme and outstandingly safe driving behaviour under all conditions.

Through its dynamic operation, xDrive also helps to give the new luxury performance models with this technology the neutral behaviour in bends and supreme tracking stability so typical of an all-wheel-drive BMW. In bends more drive power is fed to the rear axle in order to make the car even more nimble and avoid any understeer.

In the process the operation of xDrive is based on the steering angle pre-determined by the driver. While, when driving smoothly in a straight line, the front-to-rear power split is 40:60, up to 80 per cent of the drive power goes to the rear axle in a bend, ensuring spontaneous steering behaviour precisely following the actual radius and course of the bend. Then, when leaving the bend, the distribution of drive power returns to normal in the interest of maximum traction when accelerating again in a straight line.

M Sports Package featured for the first time in the BMW 7 Series.

The BMW 7 Series is characterised not only by its powerful design, supreme comfort and innovative features, but also by dynamic engines and superior suspension technology as well as fascinating, sporting performance. Indeed, no other sedan in the luxury segment offers such a dynamic driving experience of this calibre and quality.

Now this particular forte of the BMW 7 Series may be further accentuated for the first time by a BMW Sports Package setting further highlights both out-side and within the car for even greater Sheer Driving Pleasure and a truly unique look.

The M Sports Package comprises an Aerodynamics Package as well as additional chrome trim on the specially designed front and rear aprons, illuminated M entry trim and BMW Individual High-Gloss Shadow Line.

In combination with the M Sports Package, the customer also has the choice of exclusive paintwork in Carbon Black Metallic, apart from six other body colours all available as an alternative.

The dynamic look of the car is rounded off by 19-inch M light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design featuring different-sized tyres front and rear. As an option there are also 20-inch M light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design, again with different tyre sizes front and rear.
And last but not least, electronically controlled BMW Dynamic Drive also comes in the M Sports Package for the BMW 7 Series.

Sports seats with leather upholstery, the M leather steering wheel with multi-function buttons and the M footrest underline the active character of this luxury performance saloon also within the passenger compartment. BMW Individual roof lining in anthracite and interior trim in fine-grain aluminium round off the interior ambience with its focus on sporting performance.

The BMW 760i and the BMW 760Li, finally, come with BMW Individual roof lining in alcantara anthracite as well as high-quality wood trim.

The BMW M Sports Package is available for all models in the BMW 7 Series with both normal and extended wheelbase.

An interesting note is that when equipped with the M double-clutch gearbox featuring Drivelogic, the M3 will sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in just 4.6 seconds; 0.2 seconds faster than the manual. The modern day automatic transmission also does better in the fuel mileage department, averaging 23.7 MPG as opposed to the standard version’s 22.8 MPG.

Powerful, aesthetic design, supreme performance and exclusive style – the unique characteristics of the BMW M3 are now available in highly attractive Edition Models focusing on the most outstanding highlights of these outstanding cars.

Based on the BMW M3 Coupé, the M3 Edition Models offer a choice of no less than four highly individual cars boasting perfectly harmonised modifications in body design and interior features as well as special light-alloy wheels and an even lower chassis.

The BMW M3 Edition Models will be entering the market worldwide in July 2009 in Alpine White, Black, Dakar Yellow, and Monte Carlo Blue. In the interest of supreme exclusivity their production period is limited to just six months.

Individual highlights both outside and inside.

On the BMW M3 Edition Models the exterior paintwork and interior design are individually matched to one another. Depending on the respective Edition model, the body comes either in Alpine White Non-Metallic, Black Non-Metallic, Dakar Yellow Non-Metallic or Monte Carlo Blue Metallic. The combination with BMW Individual High-Gloss Satin Chrome accentuates the truly sophisticated character of the Edition Models.

The openings on the engine compartment lid on all models are finished in black, the BMW kidney grille, the side gills and the dual tailpipes on the exhaust system come in dark eloxy-plated chrome. The caps on the special BMW M exterior mirrors are likewise finished in black and are connected to the A-pillars by dual arms extending out of the mirror base finished in body colour.

Special colour highlights add an individual touch also to the interior of the BMW M3 Edition Models. The surfaces on the centre armrest, the centre console and the armrests on the door panels are finished in White on the Alpine White and Black models. At the same time these Edition Models come with interior trim in Carbon Structure Leather with white contrasting seams. The seats in Black Novillo Leather feature bespoke contrasting seams as well as vertical trim stripes on the upper section of the backrest and at the front of the legrest. On the Alpine White and Black models, these features come in white, on the Dakar Yellow and Monte Carlo Blue models they are in the appropriate exterior colour.

As a further feature the armrests and door closing handles at the inside on the Dakar Yellow and Monte Carlo Blue models come with yellow and, respectively, blue contrasting seams. And last but certainly not least, entry trim bars in Checkered Flag Design bearing the “M3“ model designation give all Edition Models yet another highlight.

Special rim design and lowered suspension.

To optimise the looks of the car, all four Edition Models come with specially designed light-alloy rims and a unique suspension: On all models the 19-inch forged M light-alloy rims in double-spoke design are available either in black or in the classic rim colour. And on the Alpine White, Black and Monte Carlo Blue models, the same rims are also available in a special white contrasting colour with polished spokes.

The suspension of the BMW M3 Edition Models adds to the sporting style of the cars, lowering the entire body by 10 millimetres or 0.4“.

BMW M3: supreme performance with eight cylinders and seven gears.

The BMW M3 Edition Models give this high-performance athlete a particularly striking look also reflected by the car’s supreme driving dynamics based on a unique all-round concept and drivetrain/suspension technology inspired by motorsport. The V8 high-speed power unit of the BMW M3 develops maximum output of 309 kW/420 hp from 4.0 litres.

Power is transmitted to the rear wheels either through the six-speed manual gearbox featured as standard or through the optional M double-clutch gearbox with Drivelogic enhancing both the dynamic performance and the all-round efficiency of the BMW M3 all in one. In this case acceleration to 100 km/h comes in 4.6 seconds (six-speed manual: 4.8 seconds) and average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is 11.9 litres/23.7 mpg imp (six-speed manual: 12.4 litres/22.8 mpg imp)/100 kilometres.

The BMW M3 comes as standard with a lightweight carbon roof, while the options include Electronic Damper Control and the M Drive menu enabling the driver to configure individual, M-specific suspension and drivetrain functions just right for his personal style.

Establishing an unprecedented, absolutely innovative car concept, BMW is setting fascinating new highlights in the upper midrange segment. As the world’s fi rst model in a brand-new segment, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo combines essential features of a prestige saloon, a modern Sports Activity Vehicle, and a classic Gran Turismo.

Stylish and elegant in design, this unique four-seater comes with a coupé-like, stretched and sleek roofl ine and a two-piece tailgate. The extra-large interior
offers luxurious comfort, a slightly elevated seating position for comfortable and convenient access as well as superior all-round visibility covering all traffic conditions, and truly impressive variability.

As its name alone indicates, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is ideally suited for a truly wonderful travel experience. The luxurious ambience immediately makes the driver and passengers feel at home, legroom at the rear is the same as in the BMW 7 Series, headroom is equal to that of the BMW X5. The tilt angle of the rear-seat backrests, in turn, adjusts individually to the respective, personal requirements of the passengers. And with the rear seats moving fore-and-aft up to 100 millimetres or almost 4″, together with the backrests tilting forward completely if required, luggage capacity may be enlarged up to 1,700 litres or 59.5 cu ft.

Engines both powerful and effi cient, Dynamic Drive Control featured as standard, the most advanced suspension technology, and innovative driver assistance systems, help to ensure a truly unique driving experience.

BMW EfficientDynamics entering a new segment.

The drivetrain technology featured on the new BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo likewise comes with a wide range of innovations, the benefi ts provided by BMW Effi centDynamics now introduced in yet another car segment providing a uniquely good balance of superior performance and supreme fuel economy. A further highly signifi cant point is the introduction of a new straight-six power unit in the BMW 535i Gran Turismo, for the fi rst time combining turbocharger technology, High Precision Injection, and BMW’s fully variable VALVETRONIC valve management. Displacing 3.0 litres, the BMW TwinPower Turbo delivers 225 kW/306 hp at an engine speed of 5,800 rpm, with an equally outstanding, spontaneous and direct response as well as peak torque kept consistently at 400 Newton-metres/295 lb-ft from 1,200–5,000 rpm.

The top-of-the-range power unit is the V8 TwinPower Turbo with High Precision Injection in the BMW 550i Gran Turismo, developing maximum output of 300 kW/407 hp between 5,500 and 6,400 rpm.

The BMW 530d Gran Turismo, to round off the range, offers particular highlights in terms of all-round economy. Its latest-generation 3.0-litre straight-six diesel comes with an all-aluminium crankcase as well as common-rail direct fuel injection with piezo-injectors, delivers 180 kW/245 hp at 4,000 rpm, and gives the car average fuel consumption in the combined EU cycle of just 6.5 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 43.5 mpg imp), as well as a CO2 emission rating of just 173 grams per kilometre, both fi gures absolutely unique for a vehicle of this size and calibre.

All engines naturally fulfi l the EU5 emission standard. In addition, all variants of the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo come with an innovative eight-speed automatic transmission combining an extremely quick gearshift with maximum efficiency.

Through its wide range of qualities, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo meets all the demands of a modern target group looking for a vehicle providing perfect harmony in meeting all kinds of requirements and demands in life – both as a prestigious and elegant company car and as an active leisure-time vehicle. Introducing this kind of concept, BMW is therefore once again proving the Company’s ability to defi ne brand-new vehicle segments in the market, with the new BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo making a powerful entry into the world of motoring as a completely new dimension. This new, unprecedented and unparalleled car adds a further facet to the world of Sheer Driving Pleasure, arousing new enthusiasm for the BMW brand also with additional target groups.

Design: versatile sportiness, stylish elegance.

In its exterior design, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo offers a unique combination of versatile sportiness and stylish elegance. Proportions typical of BMW, four doors with frameless windows and a coupé-like stretched roofl ine all come together in perfect harmony authentically refl ecting the many qualities of the car.

The front view is characterised fi rst and foremost by the strong presence of the low-slung BMW kidney grille, the large air intakes and the characteristic dual round headlights. The BMW kidney grille itself is slanted slightly to the front, its upper edge forming the foremost point on the body. The dual round headlights likewise slanted at an angle and extending far into the side panels merge at the top into a matt trim cover, thus generating the clearly focused look so typical of the BMW brand.

Characteristic: daytime driving lights and rear light clusters in LED technology.

Apart from the direction indicators, the corona rings on the headlights come for the fi rst time with LED light units. In standard trim the light rings serve as the car’s positioning lights, while in combination with optional xenon headlights their LED units may be operated in two stages: Dimmed to approximately 10 per cent of their full power, the LED light units serve as positioning lights. Operated at full power, on the other hand, they act as daytime driving lights in a particularly brilliant white again in that typical BMW look.

Boasting a roofl ine dropping slowly but consistently towards the rear of the car and merging into a spoiler at the back, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo successfully and very attractively conveys a feature typical of a coupé to a four-door car. The doors both front and rear come with frameless side windows. A further feature immediately recognisable from the side is the waistline at the level of the door openers characteristic of BMW, extending from the outer edge of the headlights, rising slightly along the entire length of the car, and continuing all the way to the contours of the rear light clusters.

The two outer roofl ines as well as the shoulder lines come together in the airfl ow spoiler on the tailgate, giving the fastback-like rear end an almost compact look. Otherwise, horizontal lines dominate the rear view of the car, with the look of power and muscle being further underlined by the wheel arches flared far to the outside.

The rear light clusters merge far into the side panels, ensuring that the full width of the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo also comes out clearly in the car’s night design. Rows of lights fed by LED light units provide a homogenous light pattern, again giving the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo a distinctive look on the road and making sure that the car is always clearly recognisable.

The interior: generous space and comfort, individual luxury.

The unique feeling of space within the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is enhanced by the shape and design of the interior features, the interior colour scheme, and the choice of materials. The dashboard is subdivided horizontally and comes with a cockpit featuring Black Panel technology and a Control Display for BMW iDrive measuring up to 10.2″ in size.

Apart from the electronic gear selector lever, the switches for Dynamic Drive Control as well as the iDrive Controller are arranged conveniently on the centre console.

Both the driver and front passenger benefi t from their slightly elevated seating position, this so-called semi-command position allowing very comfortable and ergonomically ideal entry to the car and providing an optimised overview of traffi c conditions in the area.

The impression of a self-contained space surrounding – or, even more appropriately, cocooning – the car’s occupants is further enhanced by the harmonious shapes and colours of the panels on the front and rear doors. The interplay of ascending and descending lines and contours throughout the entire length of the interior creates a homogenous picture forming an optimum link connecting the front and rear seats.

As an alternative to the rear-seat bench for three passengers featured as standard, with individual adjustment of seat four-and-aft position as well as the backrest angle on all seats, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is available as an option with two single seats at the rear, in which case fore-and-aft adjustment of the seat position as well as the backrest angle, the upper section of the backrest and the height of the headrest is all-electric. And as yet a further highlight, ambience illumination of the interior of the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo featured as standard may be supplemented by additional light sources.

Even greater comfort when loading: two-piece tailgate and partition between the passenger and the luggage compartments.

The two-piece tailgate featured for the fi rst time on a BMW ensures maximum comfort and variability when loading. The two sections offer the choice of a small opening beneath the rear window and a large lid like on BMW’s X models. Both sections may be opened and closed individually, with the large tailgate featuring Soft Close Automatic.

The unique partition between the passenger compartment and the luggage compartment ensures unrestricted comfort also while loading. Whenever, with the partition closed, the driver and passengers open only the lower section of the tailgate, the passenger compartment will not be affected in any way while loading by draughts or other effects of weather, or by any noise or acoustic annoyance.

As long as the rear seats and the partition are in their standard position, luggage compartment capacity is 440 litres or 15.4 cu ft. Moving the seats forward and unfastening the partition increases luggage capacity to 590 litres or 20.7 cu ft. And when folding down the rear-seat backrests as well as the partition, the driver and passengers benefi t from no less than 1,700 litres or 59.5 cu ft.

New straight-six power unit: fi rst-ever combination of turbocharging and VALVETRONIC.

The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is entering the market with a choice of two gasoline engines and one diesel power unit. A particular highlight in this context is the newly developed straight-six gasoline engine now making its debut and for the fi rst time combining turbocharger technology, High Precision Injection, and variable VALVETRONIC valve management all in one. This unique combination gives the new BMW TwinPower Turbo an extremely spontaneous and direct response to the gas pedal, exceeding even the excellent response already offered by BMW’s existing straight-six turbocharged engine.

This truly impressive response is the result of VALVETRONIC technology optimised once again as well as the turbocharger system applying the twin scroll principle to separate the ducts of three cylinders at a time both in the exhaust manifold and the turbocharger.

BMW’s High Precision Injection has also been enhanced to an even higher standard of direct fuel injection technology. Now HPI features new injection nozzles precisely dosing the supply of fuel and operating at a pressure of up to 200 bar in the combustion chambers. Displacing 3.0 litres, the new six-cylinder develops maximum output of
225 kW/306 hp at 5,800 rpm, with peak torque of 400 Newton-metres/295 lb-ft available all the way from 1,200–5,000 rpm. Benefi tting from this kind of power, the BMW 535i Gran Turismo accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds. The car’s top speed, in turn, is limited electronically to 250 km/h or 155 mph.

The exceptionally good balance of performance and fuel economy is clearly confi rmed by average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of just 8.9 litres/100 kilometres, equal to 31.7 mpg imp. And at the same time the CO2 rating of the BMW 535i Gran Turismo is just 209 grams per kilometre.

Eight-cylinder with BMW TwinPower Turbo and High Precision Injection

The top engine in the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is a unique V8 combining TwinPower Turbo technology with High Precision Injection. Displacing 4.4 litres, this outstanding power unit develops maximum output of 300 kW/407 hp in a speed range from 5,500–6,400 rpm. Peak torque, in turn, is 600 Newtonmetres/ 442 lb-ft generated all the way from 1,750 to 4,500 rpm.

This unparalleled V8 is the most effi cient engine of its type and, at the same time, the world’s only gasoline engine with the turbocharger and catalytic converters arranged within the V-section between the two rows of cylinders. The BMW 550i Gran Turismo accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 5.5 seconds, with top speed limited electronically to 250 km/h or 155 mph. Average fuel consumption of the BMW 550i Gran Turismo in the EU test cycle, in turn, is 11.2 litres/100 kilometres, equal to 25.2 mpg imp, while CO2 emissions are 263 grams per kilometre.

Effi ciency and pulling power: latest generation of diesel technology

The straight-six diesel in the BMW 530d Gran Turismo clearly presents the latest state of the art in BMW engine development. Displacing 3.0 litres, this ultra-modern power unit comes with an all-aluminium crankcase, its turbocharger system with variable intake geometry providing a highly dynamic but smooth fl ow of power tailored harmoniously to current driving conditions. Fuel is supplied by the latest generation of common-rail fuel injection using piezo-injectors operating at a maximum pressure of 1,800 bar. In practice, this means engine output of 180 kW/245 hp at 4,000 rpm, with peak torque of 540 Newton-metres/398 lb ft from just 1,750 rpm.

The BMW 530d Gran Turismo accelerates to 100 km/h in just 6.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 240 km/h or 149 mph. This sporting performance comes together with average fuel consumption of just 6.5 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 43.5 mpg imp) in the EU test cycle. And the CO2 rating of the BMW 530d Gran Turismo, fi nally, is just 173 grams per kilometre.

Innovative, dynamic, effi cient: eight-speed automatic transmission featured as standard.

All model variants come as standard with the eight-speed automatic transmission so far available only in the twelve-cylinder BMW 760i luxury performance saloon. This new transmission combines gearshift comfort, sportiness and effi ciency of a standard never seen before, serving to an even greater extent to reduce fuel consumption and emissions to a level even lower than with BMW’s six-speed automatic transmissions used so far.

The new eight-speed automatic transmission excels through its innovative gearset confi guration providing additional gears and an even wider range of gear increments without any negative effect on the size, weight, and inner effi ciency of the system.

All variants of the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo come as standard with BMW Effi cientDynamics, the various technologies offered varying from one model to the other according to its particular character. Among other features, Brake Energy Regeneration, on-demand control of the car’s ancillary units such as the electrical coolant pump, the electrical steering assistance pump, the map-controlled oil pump and the detachable a/c compressor, as well as consistent lightweight technology, optimised aerodynamics including active management and control of the air fl aps and, fi nally, tyres with minimum roll resistance ensure optimum fuel economy and emission management.

Cutting-edge suspension technology for even greater comfort, dynamism, and precision.

The modern suspension technology of the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo serves to ensure a wonderful motoring experience, driving supremacy and outstanding safety at all times and under all conditions. One of the features that makes this possible is the combination of a double track control arm front axle and an Integral-V rear axle. In addition, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo comes as standard with air suspension on the rear axle, 18- and, respectively, 19-inch light-alloy wheels (the latter on the BMW 550i Gran Turismo), and a highperformance brake system.

DSC Dynamic Stability Control, fi nally, also comprises an electromechanical parking brake with its own Auto-Hold function

As an alternative to hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering with Servotronic featured as standard, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is available as an option with Integral Active Steering featured for the fi rst time on the new BMW 7 Series.

As function of road speed, this unique steering infl uences steering forces by way of Servotronic and the steering angle by means of the Active Steering Transmission on the front axle. Integral Active Steering also controls the steering angle on the rear wheels, thus giving the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo even greater agility in city traffi c and ensuring extremely smooth and superior lane change and handling in bends also at high speeds.

Optional for even greater dynamics and additional comfort: Adaptive Drive.

The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is available as an option with Adaptive Drive combining electronically controlled dampers and active anti-roll stabilisation. These highly innovative dampers adjust individually both to road conditions and the driver’s style of motoring in order to prevent any undesired movement of the car.

BMW is the world’s fi rst car maker to use a damper system with the adjustment of the inbound and rebound strokes in a continuous, independent process. At the same time active anti-roll bars on the front and rear axle reduce body sway in bends to an absolute minimum, thus providing an even higher standard of comfort and agility.

Featured as standard: Dynamic Drive Control for individual set-up of the car according to current requirements.

The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo comes as standard with Dynamic Drive Control for an individual set-up of the car in all its main features. This high-tech system infl uences the progressive curve on the gas pedal, engine response, the map control line for steering assistance, the gearshift dynamics on the eight-speed automatic transmission, and the response thresholds of DSC Dynamic Stability Control.

Dynamic Drive Control is activated by a button on the centre console directly next to the gear selector lever. Using this toggle function, the driver is able to choose among the NORMAL, SPORT, and SPORT+ modes. In combination with Adaptive Drive, the system also serves to control the damper curves by way of Dynamic Drive Control, in this case providing the additional COMFORT mode as a further option.

Innovative in design and construction: aluminium doors and panorama glass roof.

Apart from the engine compartment lid and the front spring struts on the body, the doors on the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo are also made of aluminium. Serving as an outstanding design and construction feature, they reduce the overall weight of the car by 28 kg or 62 lb. And as a further highlight the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is the fi rst large-scale production car from BMW to feature frameless windows in aluminium shell structure.

The panorama glass roof available as an option on the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo provides an even brighter and, at the same time, more spacious ambience throughout the interior. Measuring 116 centimetres or 45.6″ in length and 94.2 centimetres or 37.1″ in width, the panorama glass roof provides an opening of up to 44 centimetres or 17.3″. With the rear glass section bolted fi rmly to the body of the car, body stiffness is enhanced accordingly for even smoother driving conditions.

Optimum occupant safety on all seats

Extra-strong load-bearing structures, generously dimensioned and exactly defi ned deformation zones, as well as highly effi cient restraint systems masterminded by high-performance control electronics set the standard for the high level of passive safety the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo has to offer. To optimise passive pedestrian safety, in turn, both the engine compartment lid and the side panels give way individually in the event of a collision.

Over and above frontal and hip/thorax airbags, the car’s standard safety features include curtain head airbags at the side, three-point inertia-reel airbags with belt force limiters, ISOFIX child seat fastenings at the rear and, on the front seats, belt latch tensioners as well as crash-activated headrests.

The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is available as an option with bi-xenon headlights. The Adaptive Headlights likewise available as an option ensure appropriate illumination of the road ahead, following bends and winding roads in a fl exible line.

The Bending Light function is integrated in the headlights, while a further feature of the Adaptive Headlights is variable light distribution for optimum illumination of the road ahead also when driving straight ahead.

BMW ConnectedDrive and the most advanced driver assistance systems

A number of features coming either as standard or as an option on the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo are exclusive developments offered only by BMW. The leadership in technology BMW has to offer comes out, inter alia, in the cockpit and climate control featuring Black Panel technology, the iDrive control system complete with direct selection buttons, the unique range of optional navigation and audio systems with a hard disc memory, the Head-Up Display as well as the exceptional choice of innovative driver assistance systems.

The options for exchanging information among the driver, his car and the surroundings provided by BMW ConnectedDrive are equally unique. And last but certainly not least, the range of mobility services providing traffi c information, an emergency call function, vehicle, enquiry and offi ce services, travel and leisuretime planning facilities as well as internet connections is again unparalleled the world over.

The driver assistance systems provided by BMW ConnectedDrive ensure maximum supremacy and safety on the road. These include the High-Beam Assistant, Lane Change Warning, Lane Departure Warning and Speed Limit Info. The new generation of BMW Night Vision able to detect individual persons in the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, in turn, sets new standards in avoiding accidents while driving at night.

The wide range of features offered as standard, regular equipment include cruise control complete with a brake function, while Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go comes as an option, maintaining a consistent distance from the vehicle ahead by intervening in drive management and building up brake pressure whenever required.

Keeping a close eye on everything: PDC Park Distance Control, Back-Up Camera, Side View and Top View.

The new BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo comes as standard with PDC Park Distance Control at the rear, with PDC available at the front as an optional extra. This is supplemented by a Back-Up Camera, with Side View and Top View also available as an option. Side View uses two cameras integrated in the front wheel arches enabling the driver to check out traffi c coming from the side at an early point. Top View provides an even more detailed overview of road conditions with the help of two additional cameras integrated in the rear-view mirrors.

Data provided by the Side View cameras, by the Back-Up Camera and the PDC sensors on the vehicle and its surroundings is processed by a central computer generating an overall image presented in the Control Display and showing both the car and its surroundings from a bird’s eye perspective. Automatic air conditioning and personal entertainment for your individual well-being.

Featured as standard, automatic air conditioning in the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is controlled in all its settings by an array of buttons on the centre console. This allows the driver and front passenger to set the temperature, the amount and the distribution of air via the control unit on the climate control panel, individually for the right- and left-hand side of the car. Four-zone automatic air conditioning standard in the BMW 550i Gran Turismo and coming as an option on the other model variants also allows individual
adjustment of temperature, air volume and distribution at the rear left and right and comes complete with a separate control unit on the rear centre console.

Likewise featured as standard on the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, the audio system boasts both a CD player and an AUX-In port. A hard disc memory, in turn, makes the optional navigation system Professional particularly easy and convenient to use. With its capacity of 80 GB, the memory allows particularly fast access to the digital navigation maps and offers no less than 12 GB additional capacity for a large collection of music fi les.

Optional features include a six-DVD changer, a TV module, and a Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) receiver.

The entertainment systems available on the rear seats of the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo with their 8 and, respectively, 9.2-inch screens integrated in the backrests of the front seats ensure particularly comfortable and pleasant motoring.

Hands-free communication thanks to full integration of mobile phones and Smartphones.

The optional mobile phone preparation kit complete with a Bluetooth interface allows additional safety and superior comfort in making telephone calls while driving. A snap-in adapter including a USB port comes as yet a further option for the full integration of Smartphones with an MP3 function. Using this option, the driver and passenger are able to use both the communication and entertainment functions of their mobile phone and mastermind all functions via iDrive.

To provide even greater transport capacity, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is available with a towbar moving in and out fully automatically by means of a switch in the luggage compartment. So operating the towbar manually, with the risk of getting dirty in the process, is now a thing of the past. Maximum trailer load is 2,100 kg or 4,630 lb.

With its unique body concept, a truly luxurious interior ambience, superior drivetrain and suspension technology, and innovative equipment features, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo offers exactly the right standard of modern mobility in our modern times. It fulfi ls the demands and expectations of motorists looking for a generous driving experience, appreciating an exclusive ambience, and enjoying the benefi ts of a variable interior. In a nutshell, therefore, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo presents the status and elegant style of an upper midrange model in an individual rendition oriented to the user’s personal requirements

Often we see police cars made from supped up sports cars, but an ambulance is a different story. That is exactly what BMW will unveil at RETTmobil, an ambulance version of their X6 sport activity vehicle. Besides having an awfully powerful engine, 407 HP to be exact, the X6 ambulance is loaded with specialty equipment like navigation, intelligent cruise control, energy efficient LED lighting and cameras mounted throughout the vehicle.

Poised to lead its market segment once again, the 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster will make its North American debuts at the 2009 North American International Auto Show on January 11.

Return of a Classic

The classic roadster is back – more powerful and more stylish than ever before. It is the BMW Z4, the only car in its segment combining classic roadster proportions with a seating position moved close to the rear axle, rear-wheel drive, with a retractable hardtop.

The new BMW Z4 offers all the driving pleasure of a BMW Roadster with particularly refined and stylish flair. Driving with the roof down, this two-seater offers a refreshingly intense experience of the sunshine and the wind rushing by – and driving with the hardtop closed it provides all the comfort of a sporting coupe in the premium segment. So through this diversity and wide range of qualities, the new BMW Z4 is the re-birth of the roadster.

The design of the new Z4 comes out through classic details interpreted in new, up-to-date style. This outstanding two-seater offers a unique combination of elegance, agility, and supreme comfort. The aluminum shells of the two-piece lightweight hardtop come to rest in the roof compartment, saving maximum space in the process. Even with the roof closed, the new Z4 retains the proportions typical of a genuine roadster.

To ensure driving pleasure, the new BMW Z4 is offered with two inline-6 engine displacing 3.0 liters: 300 hp in the BMW Z4 sDrive35i and 255 hp in the BMW Z4 sDrive30i ensure truly outstanding acceleration and response at all times.

Comprehensive use of BMW’s EfficientDynamics technologies serves to provide an unparalleled balance of driving pleasure and fuel efficiency. While both models are available with a manual six-speed gearbox, the Z4 sDrive35i is available also with a dual-clutch sport automatic transmission featuring seven gears. The six-speed sport automatic is available on the Z4 sDrive30i. Both sport automatic transmissions feature steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Featuring Dynamic Drive Control as standard, the BMW Z4 enables the driver to choose between three drivetrain and suspension settings at the touch of a button.

Design: the modern look of a classic roadster.

The new BMW Z4 takes on the classic look of the roadster in modern, flowing lines. The car’s proportions are borne out by the long and low-slung engine compartment lid, short overhangs, the long wheelbase and large wheels as well as the low seating position near the rear axle.

The front view features a large, upright BMW kidney grille, wide air intake and the dual round headlights, typical of the BMW brand. All surfaces and lines, including the character lines on the hood, strive towards an imaginary target point on the road ahead.

The side view is dominated by the dynamic flow of the car’s shoulder line connecting the front and rear wheel arches and accentuating the stretched, athletic look of the Roadster. The horizontal orientation of the car’s lines and surfaces at the rear, in turn, emphasizes the sheer width of the new BMW Z4. Further characteristics are the extra-large hood extending far over the wheel arches, the black A-pillars, the gills at the side with their integrated LED direction indicators, as well as the slender rear fixtures with three-dimensional LED-fed rows of light.

Stylish, sophisticated, and typical of a genuine roadster: the interior.

For harmonious unison of the exterior and interior so important in an open-air car, the shoulder line is reflected by the door panels with their unique configuration and flow from front to rear.

The contoured surface to the left and right of the steering wheel incorporates the controls for the lights and air conditioning. These elements are available trimmed in Satin Silver matte, Brushed Aluminum, and Ash Grain Wood, the respective color and trim variant also being used on the center console and door handle.

The standard seats with integrated headrests on the BMW Z4 sDrive35i feature high-quality Kansas leather in a choice of three colors. A fourth choice, Ivory White Nappa leather, is also available as part of the Exclusive Ivory White Leather Package, which includes sport seats and Anthracite wood trim.

An Extended Leather option (Z4 sDrive35i only) adds leather on the upper section of the instrument panel, the doorsills, the sun visors in Black leather as well as the leather-finish door closing handles in upholstery color on the passenger’s side.
The entire range of paintwork colors available on the new BMW Z4 is made up of no less than nine color tones including Orion Silver metallic exclusive to the new Roadster.

Cycling in 20 seconds: the retractable hardtop.

The new BMW Z4 is the first BMW roadster to protect its occupants from wind and weather with a fully retractable hardtop. This two-piece lightweight aluminum shell opens and closes at the touch of a button within 20 seconds. The compact packaging of the folding roof enables the Z4 Roadster to retain the characteristic, slender proportions of its predecessor.
This innovative roof system offers outstanding acoustic and aerodynamic qualities and sets a new standard in the Z4’s segment. Large windows and the high-quality roof lining give the hardtop a light look. Driver and passenger enjoy a bright ambience, generous space, and optimum visibility. Compared with the former model, the side windows are 40% larger, the see-through area in the rear window 52% larger, and all-round visibility increased14% over the previous generation.

The glass rear window in the hardtop is equipped with an electric defroster and the four side windows of the new BMW Z4 may be lowered individually. The higher roofline and larger door openings allow easier and more convenient access with the roof closed.

The retractable roof may be operated either by a switch in the center console or by remote control key fob when equipped with optional Comfort Access. Comfort Access also allows convenient loading and unloading of the luggage compartment with the roof open. To provide access to the luggage compartment in this case, the open hardtop is moved to an interim position facilitating the removal of large objects.

Flexible storage with optional through-loading.

The roof compartment and the luggage compartment are separated from one another by a moveable partition, which may be folded up to increase luggage space if the roof will remain closed.

The moveable partition in the new BMW Z4 is unique in the premium roadster segment, and offers enough luggage space with the hardtop open for a medium-sized hard-shell suitcase.

Using the optional through-loading system to the passenger compartment, the Z4 is able to accommodate a 46-inch full-size golf bag. When the roof is closed the luggage compartment easily accommodates up to four crates of large bottles or – when using the through-loading system – two 46-inch golf bags.

Various other storage compartments are designed into the interior. The new Z4 offers storage trays in the center console, a 10-liter glove box, hinged compartments in the doors, and additional space behind the seats.

Included with the Cold Weather Package is a storage package that provides an even wider range of storage and loading functions, with fastening nets on the rear panels of the seats and in the passenger’s footwell, lashing belts in the luggage compartment, as well as a storage box in the bulkhead leading to the luggage compartment.

Optional through-loading system together with a transport bag ensures even greater versatility, allowing the user to load slender items such as golf bags or two pairs of skis measuring up to 67″ in length.

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Design

With its classic roadster proportions of long bonnet, set-back glasshouse and rear-wheel-drive configuration the latest incarnation of BMW Z4 is every inch the driver’s car. Yet its lines, its proportions and its overall style defines the very essence of elegant open-top motoring of a bygone era.

BMW has a long and proud roadster tradition dating all the way back to the BMW to the 3/15 of 1930 and the 328 of 1936 designed by Kurt Joachimson. Every subsequent two-seat open-top car to wear the blue and white propeller since then has an element of this ethos in its design. It is hardly surprising that a manufacturer such as BMW should have a long and distinguished lineage of desirable, sexy sports cars. BMW was one of the first car makers to create a contemporary styling department when it established the Künsterlerische Gestaltung in Munich in 1938.

The design team of the latest BMW Z4 forms part of a larger network of BMW designers. Like their forebears, this talented collective is still viewed as the most forward thinking automotive design team by its competitors. The twist in the tail for the latest BMW Z4 is that, in a first for BMW, both the exterior and the interior designs that won through the marque’s rigorous design selection process were created by females.

Juliane Blasi, exterior designer of the BMW Z4, said: “I am proud to have won through the design process and I’m really happy to see my idea on the road. Driving a roadster is an expression of freedom and of sheer joy of driving. When I first created the car I wanted to make it seem alive, athletic, muscular and very sporty. At the same time a roadster should also be elegant, so getting the proportions of the car correct were key. I think we have achieved this as the car has real presence on the road.

A new style of roof for the BMW Z4

With its two-piece aluminium roof, the new BMW Z4 offers unparalleled comfort and style in the roadster segment. The roof elements are moved to and fro by an electrohydraulic system with the central hydraulic unit integrated in a multifunction sump in the floor of the luggage compartment. The retractable roof is controlled by a switch in the centre console and may also be opened conveniently by remote control. This process takes just 20 seconds from start to finish.

Once the roof has been completely opened – or closed – and the Retractable Hard-Top fastened in place, the luggage compartment lid may be opened again in the usual way. Enhanced remote control is available with the Comfort Access option, enabling the user to control the closing process also from a distance. To avoid inadvertent operation of the closing process, however, the signal for closing the roof is not transmitted beyond a distance of four metres from the car.

Comfort Access serves additionally to conveniently load and unload the luggage compartment with the roof open. In order to enhance access to the boot in this case, the open hard-top roof is moved to an interim position by Comfort Access, facilitating the removal of large objects such as golf bags.

The unique aluminium roof construction of the BMW Z4 creates a boot that varies in capacity from 180 to 310 litres – large enough to stow a full set of golf clubs. The maximum possible load has also increased from 300kgs by 30kgs compared to the previous BMW Z4.

For the first time on a BMW Z4 customers can specify a through-loading system for additional storage capability. A hatch between the two seats permits a second full set of golf clubs to be carried or, if it’s wintertime, a pair of skis measuring up to 170cms in length.

In developing the roof’s kinematics, BMW’s engineers also considered the ideal way to drain rainwater from the roof courtesy of a fully integrated water management system for the roof structure. A special drainage system takes up residual drops of water while the roof is moving and allowing any remaining drops to evaporate above the rear-end air vents. This efficiently prevents any formation of moisture in the interior or luggage compartment.

A new, more grown up BMW Z4

The new BMW Z4 is larger than its predecessor measuring 148mm longer at 4,239mm and 9mm wider at 1,790mm, and this results in greater interior space and luggage capacity. With the roof up, headroom has been increased by 44mm while the greater car width and design enhancements have led to 20mm more shoulder room and 43mm more elbow room. Access to the car is now easier thanks to the doors being 26mm longer than the previous model creating a wider opening.

Nadya Arnaout, the interior designer for the BMW Z4, said the growth in the car’s size gave her the chance to incorporate some new features such as more storage areas, but overall it helped for a larger space perception and improved comfort. However, she was keen for those inside to still feel they were driving a sports car.

“Because a roadster is a very sporty car, I wanted a strong driver orientation with the interior to put the driver in focus, but I didn’t want to leave the passenger totally neglected. So the design was a flow of balancing driver and passenger which, to me, is comparable to how the body flows with the play of convex and concave surfaces.

“In a roadster you are very much exposed to the elements and the original idea was to give the feel of protection or cocooning with a surrounding ‘horizon line’. You want to feel exposed to the elements but still have an element of protection. I’m very pleased that we have managed to blend a roadster character with the practical elements of the design that customers said they wanted.”

The BMW Z4 comes with a variety of storage options. For the first time on a BMW Z4 there is a bespoke storage facility located behind the driver and passenger seats. A 10-litre glovebox is joined by folding compartments in the door linings, a storage tray in the centre console and additional storage space behind the gearshift or selector lever to provide stowage possibilities. There is also a 1.6-litre compartment beneath the armrest and yet another storage box adjacent to the instrument panel.

BMW’s latest generation of iDrive makes its first appearance on a Z4. The BMW Professional Multimedia Navigation system features a hard disc drive capable of 12Gb of audio file storage and BMW ConnectedDrive functionality. The system also comes with eight programmable Favourite buttons as system shortcuts.

Driver visibility in the BMW Z4 has also been improved. All round visibility is up by 14 per cent while, courtesy of the four electric windows creating a larger glasshouse, side visibility is up 40 per cent. The Retractable Hard-Top roof features a glass rear window and this too improves visibility by 52 per cent.

BMW’s innovative SunReflective Technology can be specified on the BMW Z4 to keep the occupants cool even on the hottest of days. SunReflective Technology is a unique treatment that prevents leather upholstery from becoming overheated or damaged by sunlight. This ingenious system was originally developed by BMW’s Motorrad motorcycle division and used initially in clothing products. Designed to keep riders cool in hot conditions, it was further developed by BMW Individual for use on leather.

It works by special cooling pigments incorporated into the surface of the leather that reduce surface heating by up to 20 degrees C – even after long exposure to direct sunlight. As a result, a BMW Z4 specified with leather upholstery will never get too hot to sit in even if the roof is left open and is much more resistant to fade or damage caused by excessive heat.

The new BMW Z4 comes as standard with a double-joint spring strut front axle made largely of aluminium. The rear axle suspension consists of a central link with track control arms for the optimum set-up.

Heinz Krusche, chassis and driving dynamics development engineer for the BMW Z4, said the suspension of the new BMW Z4 represents a new change for BMW in terms of set-up. The spring rates on the car will be softer while the damper will be set stiffer. This allows for the best mix of compliance yet sporting behaviour.

He added: “The basic body shell of the BMW Z4 is 25 per cent stiffer than before. Torsional rigidity is the starting point when creating a new car, a vital gear in the cog. Without such a good starting point it is very hard to make a car drive well as you’re starting from a position further back. You can’t turn a fundamentally bad car into a good one by tweaks alone. Engineering always works closely with our design and production colleagues so we can create the basis of a car that will let me and my team be able to develop the new vehicle.”

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inline-6 engines in the BMW Roadster.

Elegant roadster lines, the BMW kidney grille, and a inline-6 engine form a combination that, in 1934, made the BMW 315/1 an unprecedented success both on the road and in motorsport. That combination has been retained to this day in the BMW Z4.
The new Z4 is therefore being launched exclusively with inline-6 engines, a choice of two engines providing both power and performance. These unique engines exhibit refinement and fast-revving response typical of a BMW six-cylinder, offering an unparalleled balance of performance and fuel efficiency in the premium roadster segment thanks to the BMW EfficientDynamics engineering strategy. The individual versions of the new BMW Z4 come with on-demand management and control of the car’s accessory drives, a variable oil pump, intelligent lightweight technology, and optimized aerodynamics.

BMW Z4 sDrive35i: performance with efficiency thanks to Twin Turbo and High Precision Injection.

The most dynamic version of the new Z4 comes with the world’s first inline-6 engine to feature twin turbochargers, High Precision Injection, and an all-aluminum crankcase.

The use of two turbochargers (each supplying three cylinders) ensures responsiveness never seen before on a turbocharged engine. The engine achieves peak torque of 300 lb-ft without the slightest delay, and maintains this high level of torque throughout a broad rev range from 1,400–5,000 rpm.

Maximum output of 300 hp comes at 5,800 rpm, and the BMW Z4 sDrive35i accelerates to 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds (optional seven-speed double clutch sport automatic transmission in 5.0 seconds). The acceleration continues all the way to an electronically-limited 130 mph (150 mph when equipped with the optional Sport Package).

High Precision Injection is a key element in the Z4’s efficient performance. Injecting fuel directly into the combustion chamber offers a cooling effect allowing a higher compression ratio and optimized combustion efficiency. This second generation of direct gasoline injection developed by BMW ensures significant benefits in fuel efficiency without restricting the dynamic qualities of the engine.

The 6-cylinder normally aspirated engine: powerful and light thanks to magnesium.

Offering spontaneous power and performance, excellent motoring refinement and outstanding efficiency, the 6-cylinder naturally-aspirated engine in the BMW Z4 sDrive30i again offers the very best in its segment. Weighing just 355 lb thanks to its composite magnesium/aluminum crankcase, cylinder head cover made of a special synthetic material and lightweight camshafts with aluminum VANOS control unit, is exceptionally light.

While BMW’s VALVETRONIC engine management controls valve stroke on the intake valves, double-VANOS varies the angle of the intake and outlet valves in an infinite process. This allows particularly efficient use of fuel, providing a “beefy” torque curve and giving the engine instant response.

The engine in the BMW Z4 sDrive30i develops maximum output of 255 hp from 3.0 liters capacity at an engine speed of 6,600 rpm. Maximum torque of 220 lb-ft, in turn, comes at just 2,600 rpm.

With this kind of power, the BMW Z4 sDrive30i accelerates from a standstill to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds (with optional sport automatic in 6.0 seconds). Top speed is electronically limited to 130 mph (150 mph when equipped with the optional Sport Package).

6-speed transmission with short gearshift travel featured as standard.

All variants of the new BMW Z4 come as standard with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Developed specifically for BMW’s new Roadster, the various transmission options are particularly sporting in their character. Indeed, this is borne out in particular by extremely short gearshift travel much shorter than on all other current BMW models with a manual gearshift.

Optional: 7-speed sport automatic with double clutch and 6-speed sport automatic with paddle shifters.

As an option, the BMW Z4 sDrive35i is available with BMW’s newly developed double-clutch sport automatic gearbox. Based on the M DCT transmission introduced in the BMW M3, this 7-speed gearbox ensures faster acceleration and extra performance in comparison with the 6-speed manual gearbox, while providing the comfort features of a BMW automatic transmission. The 7-speed double-clutch sport automatic shifts gears without the slightest interruption of power.

The BMW Z4 sDrive35i with its seven-speed sport automatic accelerates to 60mph in just 5.0 seconds, while fuel consumption is expected to outperform the fuel economy on the same model with a manual gearbox.

Sport automatic gives the driver the choice of either automatic (Program D) or manual gear selection. If desired, the driver may shift gears manually by means of paddles on the steering wheel.

The 6-speed sport automatic transmission available on the BMW Z4 sDrive30i promotes not only driving comfort, but also the sporty performance of a BMW Roadster. Indeed, the characteristics of the car are attributable to the direct connection linking the transmission to the engine, based on modern torque converter technology with an integrated torsion damper, avoiding unnecessary slip and therefore helping to eliminate any loss of power and performance. Even the slightest movement of the gas pedal, therefore, is converted spontaneously into a quick response with gearshift times reduced to a minimum.

The sport automatic transmission offers the driver the opportunity to shift gears manually when desired. Apart from selecting gears via the selector lever on the center console, the driver also has the option to use the gearshift paddles on the steering wheel.

Sophisticated suspension technology, high-performance lightweight brakes.

Rear-wheel drive, near perfect weight distribution, the long wheelbase and the low center of gravity on the roadster create ideal conditions for supreme agility.

Featuring traditional spring-struts, a “double-jointed” front suspension made largely of aluminum, and a constant-geometry rear axle, the new Z4 comes with proven suspension concepts in a configuration perfectly tailored to the characteristics of the car.

Electric power steering plays a role also in the BMW Z4, enhancing the precision and comfort of steering maneuvers and reducing fuel consumption, since the electric motor for steering power assistance is activated only when required or desired by the driver.

The new Z4 comes with new high-performance brakes, featuring low weight and low brake pad wear. At the same time the BMW Z4 is the first car in its segment to feature an electrical parking brake activated and released by a button on the center console.

Both versions of the new BMW Z4 come as standard on 17-inch light-alloy rims and with runflat tires as well as a Tire Pressure Monitor.

BMW’s standard Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) serves not only to activate the ABS brakes and ensure stability on slippery surfaces by activating the brakes or reducing engine power, but also comprises other functions such as Brake Drying and Brake Standby as well as a Start-Off Assistant. Acting in a similar way to a mechanical limited slip differential, DSC electronic rear brake management is used to simulate a limited slip differential for stronger acceleration in turns.

Activating Dynamic Traction Control at the touch of a button, the driver is able to raise the response thresholds for intervention by the DSC, thus enjoying the option, for example, to set off on loose snow with the drive wheels slightly spinning. And when desired, the driver is also able to deactivate DSC altogether (ABS remains active).

Adaptive M Suspension featuring Electronic Damping Control (EDC).

The agility of the BMW Roadster may be further enhanced by ordering the optional Sport Package featuring Adaptive M Suspension with Electronic Damping Control. A central control unit varies the “compression” and “rebound” stages on the four twin-sleeve gas pressure dampers to provide optimum response at all times. The response time is so fast that a signal coming from a front wheel crossing a hole in the road reaches and re-adjusts the rear dampers even before the rear wheels reach the same uneven road surface.

Comfort and sportiness in one: Dynamic Drive Control.

Dynamic Drive Control allows the driver of the new Z4 to choose the drive characteristics of the car. In addition to changing damper forces on the Adaptive M Suspension, DDC also conditions the responses of the gas pedal, the power steering, and the response thresholds of Dynamic Stability Control. And if the car is fitted with either sport automatic transmission, the adaptive gearshift logarithms are adjusted.

The driver operates Dynamic Drive Control via a button on the center console next to the gear selector. By pressing the button, s/he is able to choose from the NORMAL, SPORT and SPORT+ modes, thus activating a pre-configured, perfectly balanced set-up. The SPORT mode, for example, offers more-direct steering behavior and a more-direct response to the gas pedal. The SPORT+ mode, in turn, serves additionally to activate the Dynamic Traction Control mode of DSC, intentionally allowing slight wheelspin and thus enabling the driver to take a bend in a controlled drift.

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Chassis

BMW always adheres to the guiding principle of near perfect 50:50 weight distribution and the new BMW Z4 is no different. Its configuration is classic roadster with a long bonnet covering a front engine while the driver and passenger sit close to the rear axle where power is transmitted to the road. Building on this winning formula is the addition of a two new features to a Z product: Drive Dynamic Control and M Adaptive Sport Suspension.

Standard on every BMW Z4 is Drive Dynamic Control. A first for BMW, this system allows the driver to fine tune the car to their preferred set-up. The driver can configure the car to be in Normal, Sport or Sport+ modes via the button the centre console. The chosen performance criteria affects the throttle and steering response, Dynamic Stability Control response and, on automatic or Double Clutch Transmission cars, gear change times and shift points are altered.

Those customers who select the optional Adaptive M Sport Suspension can also vary the level of ride comfort with Drive Dynamic Control. Adaptive M Sport Suspension features electronically controlled dampers that further enhance the BMW Z4’s agility. A car fitted with this innovative suspension also has a 10mm lower ride height for even more precise response to steering manoeuvres.

The appropriate damper forces are ensured by four infinitely adjustable twin-sleeve gas-pressure dampers with combined compression and rebound stroke adjustment. The central vehicle dynamics control unit receives data from three accelerometers to control the four dampers independently of one another thus ensuring an unparalleled, extra-fast response to changing driving situations and road conditions. Damping rate is adjusted via valves on each shock absorber which control the flow of oil within the twin tube gas pressurized shock units. Such is the capability of the system that its short response time means the rear dampers can pre-empt the impact of a road imperfection the front wheels have just experienced regardless of vehicle speed.

Run-flat tyres

The BMW Z4 now comes with third generation run-flat tyres. Unlike cars with conventional tyres that can experience a slow puncture or even a blow-out situation, the DSC+ system and Run-flat tyre combination still function for optimum safety. Conservative advice says a driver can continue for 150 miles at 50mph with a punctured Run-flat tyre. However, during testing expert drivers continued driving at varying speeds on a deflated tyre for more than 600 miles before it eventually failed.

Krusche said: “By working out the intricacies of where Run-flats need compliance in the structure and where they’ll benefit from extra stiffness, we have been able to tune and filter the natural frequencies of the body shell to dramatically improve ride quality.”

The use of Run-flat tyre technology goes hand-in-hand with the Tyre Puncture Warning System fitted as standard on the Z4. An audiovisual signal warns of a possible puncture and the driver can then moderate his driving style before checking the tyres at a convenient opportunity.

Steering

The steering ratio of the latest BMW Z4 has been revised to cater for a wider customer base. For the previous E85/86 Z4, the steering rack was engineered to be more direct and sensitive at initial turn in. Now the latest BMW Z4 has the same level of steering ratio regardless of applied lock for greater directional stability.

Dynamic Stability Control +

All BMW Z4 buyers will benefit from the most advanced form of traction control currently on offer in a production car – Dynamic Stability Control+ (DSC+). DSC provides the driver with a safety system that includes Automatic Stability Control, Corner Brake Control and Dynamic Traction Control. When required to keep the car on the road and stable, these functions combine under the banner of DSC to cut engine power, brake individual wheels and switch traction between wheels for optimum grip.

The driver of a BMW Z4 is able to select the Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) function of DSC to allow for a greater degree of wheel slip. This enables a driver to pull away on loose surfaces such as snow or gravel without the DSC intervening. With DTC engaged a more spirited driving style is permitted courtesy of the 10 per cent degree of accepted wheel slip. DTC can be selected via a button located next to the Drive Dynamic Control switch.
DSC+ builds on the already accomplished set-up of DSC by adding five further features: Brake Pre-tensioning, Brake Drying, Hill Start Assistant, Brake Fade Compensation and Soft Stop.

• Brake Pre-tensioning shortens stopping distances by priming the brakes if the car detects that the driver has lifted off the accelerator sharply in preparation for an emergency stop.
• Brake Drying improves braking performance in the wet. The activation of the windscreen wipers or a signal from the screen-mounted Rain Sensor enables a periodic gentle (and imperceptible to the driver) application of the brakes to scrub off any build up of residue. When full stopping power is needed the maximum force is available.
• Hill-start Assistant allows a manual transmission car to pull away smoothly on a gradient without rolling backwards. This is achieved by maintaining brake pressure for the short time taken to apply the accelerator after releasing the foot or handbrake. The system judges the gradient of slope and the subsequent degree of brake pressure needed for a smooth start.
• Brake Fade Compensation applies a greater braking force to achieve the same stopping power when sensors detect that the brakes are hot and might be prone to fade. This occurs without any extra effort from the driver.
• Soft Stop allows every driver to provide a smoother journey for all the car’s occupants. By releasing a small proportion of the braking pressure at the end of the braking cycle the perfect soft stop is performed every time.

A new home for the BMW

The BMW Z4 is built at BMW Plant Regensburg in Bavaria alongside the BMW 1 and 3 Series. Plant Regensburg is one of the most advanced car production facilities in Europe and has been producing BMWs for more than 20 years. Its 10,000 strong workforce produce 300,000 cars a year at the 3,458 acre site. The decision to move Z4 production from Plant Spartanburg in the States to Germany was an easy one. The BMW Z4 shares some of its technology with the 1 and 3 Series, while the move allowed the X3 to be installed in the States which is that model’s biggest market.

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Extra space, more safety.

The new BMW Z4 is slightly larger outside than its predecessor, at the same time offering significantly more comfort in terms of space and a lot more loading space: BMW’s new Roadster is 5.8” longer, 0.4” wider, and 0.3” lower. Wheelbase has grown 0.1” to measure 98.3″.

Apart from all-round visibility, the interior offers greater headroom (+0.20″), extra shoulder room (+0.79″) and more elbow freedom (+1.69″). The door opening, increased in size by 1.02″, allows even more convenient access with the roof closed.

The extremely stiff bodyshell, lightweight construction and near 50/50 weight distribution enhance both the safety and agility of the new BMW Z4. High load-resistant subframes, optimum use of crush zones, the extremely stiff passenger cell and highly efficient restraint systems ensure outstanding accident safety. Frontal and head/thorax airbags, belt latch tensioners and belt force limiters are activated by the sensor-controlled electronic safety system as a function of the type and severity of a collision. The head/thorax airbags are integrated on the outside of the seat backrests and inflate over a large surface in the event of a collision from the side.

Making its premiere in the BMW Roadster: the latest generation of iDrive.

The new Z4 is the first BMW Roadster to feature the iDrive control system as part of its optional navigation system. In the new Z4 the iDrive serves to activate all entertainment, information, navigation and telecommunication functions.

The system itself is made up of a Controller on the center console and a folding, high-resolution Control Display on the instrument panel, allowing the driver to intuitively and safely mastermind all available functions.

Pressing the direct selection buttons on the newly configured Controller, the user is able to spontaneously change to the CD, radio, telephone and navigation functions. The range of direct selection buttons has now been rounded off by the three MENU, BACK and OPTION command buttons, and programmable favorite buttons in the instrument panel allow the user to save and directly select radio stations, telephone numbers and navigation destinations, and other menu items available directly through iDrive.

Measuring 8.8 inches in size, the high-resolution Control Display with its resolution of 1,280 x 480 pixels offers excellent clarity in presenting graphics or pages from the internet. A picture of the Controller shown in the Control Display gives the driver greater and clearer orientation in choosing the next step in the operating process.

Using the navigation system is even easier thanks to iDrive. Full-screen map presentation, for example, offers an incomparably detailed overview of the region in which the driver is currently traveling. As an alternative the Control Display also offers an assistance window presenting further highlights and maps independent of the main map.

With navigation data saved on an 80 GB hard disc installed in the car, access times are faster than before. And at the same time the hard disc may also be used as a 15 GB music archive.

Roadster-specific climate comfort and leather with Sun Reflective Technology.

The new BMW Z4 is equipped as standard with air conditioning and seven blower stages. Optional automatic climate control allows separate temperature selection on the driver’s and passenger’s side, individual, automatic temperature control in five stages of intensity, and manual adjustment of air stratification. With the roof open, automatic climate control includes convertible mode.

Like BMW’s Convertibles, the leather in the new Roadster incorporates Sun Reflective Technology. A special, highly innovative type of leather on the seats, interior panels, and steering wheel that significantly reduces the heat effect of bright sunshine: Treatment of the leather in Sun Reflective Technology serves to integrate special color pigments into the material to reflect infrared radiation in the sunlight.

Top-end audio and communication systems.

The audio systems available in the new BMW Z4 set standards in the segment in every respect.

The CD player fitted as regular series equipment also serves to play music files in the MP3 format. The available premium hi-fi system comes with up to 14 loudspeakers and two additional subwoofers for an intense and precise experience in sound, with amplifier output of up to 650 watts. A standard AUX-In port is provided, allowing the integration of various external MP3 player. A 6-disc CD/DVD changer in the glove compartment is also available.

A Bluetooth interface is available in conjunction with optional BMW Assist to offer greater safety and convenience for making telephone calls while driving. To fully integrate the latest smartphones in the car, the new BMW Z4 is also available with a smart phone integration option.

New production plant: BMW Roadster coming from Regensburg.

The new BMW Z4 is built at BMW Plant Regensburg alongside the 3 Series and the BMW 1 Series. This is because BMW Plant Spartanburg, where the former model was built, is concentrating from now on entirely on the production of BMW’s X models.

BMW Ultimate ServiceTM: Providing owners with incredible value and peace of mind

The 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster will feature BMW Ultimate ServiceTM, a suite of services that includes the BMW Maintenance Program (formerly called Full Maintenance), Roadside Assistance and the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. BMW AssistTM with TeleService is part of the optional Premium Package or can be ordered separately as a stand-alone option.

BMW Ultimate ServiceTM includes:

The BMW Maintenance Program is the only no-cost maintenance program in the industry that covers wear and tear items like brake pads and rotors for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. BMW owners pay nothing for all scheduled inspections, oil changes, brake pads, wiper blade inserts and other wear-and-tear items.

BMW Roadside Assistance is one of the industry’s most comprehensive plans available. Not only is it no-charge for the first four years, but there is no mileage limit. BMW drivers enjoy the assurance of on-the-road help 24 hours a day, seven days a week, anywhere in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. This includes everything from flat tire changes, emergency gasoline and lock-out assistance, to towing, alternative transportation and even trip-interruption benefits. This service also includes valuable trip routing advice.

BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty: All 2009 BMW passenger vehicles are covered by BMW’s excellent Limited Warranty, which includes:

• New-vehicle warranty – four-year/50,000-mile coverage of the vehicle.
• Rust-perforation warranty – 12-year/unlimited-mileage coverage.

BMW AssistTM provides the driver with services that enhance on-the-road security and convenience, for added peace of mind. The BMW Assist and Bluetooth® System is included in the Premium Package or available as a stand-alone option. BMW includes the Safety Plan for 4 years at no additional cost. BMW is the only manufacturer that offers this duration of service as other manufacturers only include the first year of service. The BMW Assist Safety Plan is a subscription based service that is subject to certain limitations.

The in-vehicle equipment for BMW Assist includes GPS technology and hands-free communication functions to deliver emergency and other services, accessed via buttons in the overhead or center console. The BMW Assist system transmits the location and vehicle information to the BMW Assist Response Center. A response specialist speaks with the vehicle occupants to coordinate dispatch, notify emergency contacts on file, and link BMW Roadside Assistance or emergency services as needed and/or requested. A severe accident automatically activates the Automatic Collision Notification function. The BMW Assist Safety Plan also includes Door Unlock and Stolen Vehicle Recovery services, which can save the owner time and money. New to BMW Assist is MyInfo, which allows users to send business listings and street addresses with associated phone numbers from the internet, directly to their BMW.

TeleService automatically notifies the BMW center when a vehicle will need service. A service advisor then proactively calls the customer to set up a convenient appointment and have the needed parts ready.

BMW Assist subscribers can also enroll in the BMW Assist Convenience Plan (available at an additional cost of $199 per year) to avail themselves of many BMW Assist concierge services, from finding the lowest fuel price or the best French restaurant in the area to information on flight arrival gates or times, as well as receive directions, and traffic and weather information. On 2007 and later models, a selected destination and its phone number can be sent directly to the BMW Navigation system (if so equipped) and the customer’s Bluetooth linked mobile phone, after a push of the Concierge menu option. New for 2009 is BMW Search, which allows those vehicles equipped with both the BMW Navigation and BMW Assist system to gain online access to the Google Maps database inside the vehicle to quickly find a desired business with just a key word. The Convenience Plan also includes Critical Calling, a service that can connect the driver to a requested party via a response specialist in case their mobile phone is not in the vehicle or its battery is discharged.

Lastly, the BMW Assist system includes Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity with phonebook access and speech recognition for dialing by name or number via the steering wheel controls. Use of this feature requires a customer-provided compatible Bluetooth mobile phone. To learn more about BMW Assist, please visit www.bmwassist.com.

Performance with a conscience

BMW strives to produce its motor vehicles and other products with the utmost attention to environmental compatibility and protection. Integrated into the design and development of BMW automobiles are such criteria as resource efficiency and emission control in production; environmentally responsible selection of materials; recyclability during production and within the vehicle; elimination of CFCs and hazardous materials in production; and continuing research into environmentally friendly automotive power sources. Tangible results of these efforts include the recycling of bumper cladding into other vehicle components; water-based paint color coats and powder clear coats; near-future availability of hydrogen-powered models; and various design and engineering elements that help make BMWs easier to dismantle at the end of their service life.

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Pricing

We are delighted to welcome the latest member of the BMW family and – in good time for the official launch – can already supply a range of AC Schnitzer wheel and tyre combinations for the new Z4 Roadster.

In the second generation Z4, BMW has moved away from the classic Roadster top. The new BMW Z4 to be launched in May 2009 – instead of its “soft cap” – has a folding hard top, making it a Roadster and Coupé in one.

The dimensions of the BMW Z4 have grown perceptibly, and give the two-seater a more roomy interior.

For engines, initially the six-cylinder plants known from the 3-series and 5-series BMW will be used.

Naturally we are working flat out on a complete AC Schnitzer product range for the new BMW Z4 to cover all areas of the vehicle. We are planning performance upgrades, a sports rear silencer and tailpipe trims, suspension optimisation, aerodynamic components and interior accessories.

Even BMW’s own X5 Security isn’t safe enough for some people, so now BMW has introduced the X5 Security Plus.

So what new in the world of bad business? Well, the tires can now run about 60 miles longer at 50 mph with no air. Also the armor has been upgraded. The standard X5 Security could withstand .44 Magnum rounds (insert Dirty Harry joke here), and now the Plus can also take on the most popular assault weapon on the block, the AK-47 (insert slightly more obscure Jackie Brown joke here).

All these upgrades do take their toll on performance, which may mean the baddies could get in an extra shot or two. The Security Plus has the same 355 hp 4.8-liter V8 that’s in the regular model, so 0 to 60 mph time has been raised 0.7 second to 8.2 and top speed has been lowered 18 mph to 112 mph.

Of course we’re missing the root of the problem here…Once someone gets to this level of need for safety and security, wouldn’t it just pay off more to be a nicer person?

Thanks to BMW EfficientDynamics the new BMW 3 Series achieves significantly lower fuel consumption and exhaust emission levels with each of the ten engine variations available than those of the relevant competitors in the premium segment.

The new features in the powertrain field include the further optimised electronically controlled all-wheel drive system BMW xDrive. This intelligent all-wheel drive system which variably distributes the drive force between front and rear wheels to enhance driving dynamics as well as ride stability and traction can now be combined with five engine types.

The new BMW 320d xDrive is available as a Saloon and Touring model. Another new feature for both body versions: the BMW 318d – by far the most efficient vehicle of its category with an average fuel consumption of just 4.7 litres per 100 kilometres – is now also available with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Parallel to the market launch of the new BMW 3 Series Saloon and the new BMW 3 Series Touring, a new 7-speed sports automatic transmission with double clutch will be presented for the Coupé and the Convertible of the series. This allows further improved acceleration figures in the models BMW 335i Coupé and BMW 335i Convertible, and combines this added dynamic performance – as compared to the standard 6-speed manual transmission – with the comfort features of an automatic transmission.

The 7-speed sports automatic transmission with double clutch shifts without interrupting traction. New design accentuations for a sporty, elegant appearance. With striking design accentuations to the front section, the side perspective and the rear, the dynamic character of the new BMW 3 Series Saloon has been given additional emphasis, while the new BMW 3 Series Touring enhances its sporty, elegant profile with new visual features which are recognisable from all perspectives.

Front section with bold shapes and an emphasis of width

The front view of the Saloon and Touring models of the new BMW 3 Series is characterised by a clear emphasis of vehicle width. The characteristic brand look of the double circular headlights is underscored by means of chrome tubes, and their corona rings can now also be used in the BMW 3 Series Saloon and the Touring model with optional bi-xenon headlamps as daytime running lights. The light sources of the direction indicators have a ribbed structure and LED direction indicator lights are installed in conjunction with the optional bi-xenon headlamps.

Side view with elegantly elongated lines

Powerfully taut surfaces and striking character lines dominate the side view of the new BMW 3 Series. The contour edges of the side skirts have been set higher and modelled in a more distinctive fashion. Another new feature is the exterior mirrors with two distinctive character lines, echoing the interplay between the convex and concave shaping of the surfaces. The mirrors also offer an enlarged field of vision.

The rear: sporty and tight with a new lighting design

Greater emphasis of the vehicle’s power and sporty character likewise characterises the rear view of the new BMW 3 Series. To achieve this effect, the rear bumpers, rear lights and luggage compartment handle have been completely redesigned. The dual section rear lights are now structured according to the characteristic BMW L shape. The two LED rear light clusters and the direction indicators in LED technology are designed to create a striking, high-quality appearance.

The widened track of the new BMW 3 Series especially contributes to its powerful appearance. Depending on the model, the track of the rear axle has been widened by up to 24 millimetres by means of a new wheel carrier and other modified details.

High-quality materials and optimised ergonomics in the interior

The modern, high-quality interior of the BMW 3 Series has been further enhanced by means of specific modifications in the selection of materials and surface design. Here the modern design concept is also applied, with its convex-concave surfaces, sporty elegance and technology-oriented aesthetic style.

Premiere for the new generation of the operating concept BMW iDrive

The operating system BMW iDrive is optionally available in the new BMW 3 Series for the activation and control of entertainment, information, navigation and telecommunications functions, whether standard or optional. The new generation of iDrive is available in conjunction with the optional navigation system Professional. What is more, the new iDrive supports multi-mode operation by voice entry. With the new iDrive generation, BMW extends its lead over comparable systems made by other manufacturers in terms of display quality and intuitive operation. Using the four direct selection buttons grouped around the Controller, it is especially easy to switch spontaneously between CD, radio, telephone and navigation functions. The functional bookmarks are supplemented with three control buttons.

Control Display with high-resolution graphics and variable layout

The new iDrive in the BMW 3 Series is presented with a 8.8 inch Control Display whose dimensions surpass all graphic displays available to date in the automobile field. With its high image resolution it offers significant improve-ment in the display of detailed graphics. The structure of the user menu also makes it easier to locate desired functions. All functions controllable by iDrive are listed in the starter menu.

Hard drive for audio files and navigation system

The features of the navigation system Professional include a hard drive integrated in the vehicle. The storage medium with a capacity of 80 GB provides outstandingly fast access to digital maps for navigation purposes and can also be used for an extensive collection of music files. The system enables music files to be transferred to the hard drive from a CD, MP3 player
or USB stick.

World premiere for unlimited internet use inside the vehicle

BMW ConnectedDrive makes BMW the first automobile manufacturer in the world to enable unlimited use of the internet inside the vehicle when stationary. Internet access is available for the new BMW 3 Series as a special equip-ment option at attractive flat-rate conditions. The transfer of data is based on EDGE technology (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution), which unlike UMTS offers full geographical coverage and is three to four times faster than the mobile phone standard GPRS. The basis for internet use in the vehicle is provided by the further developed functions of iDrive. By pushing the Controller in different directions, the mouse can be moved across the web page shown in the Control Display.

BMW ConnectedDrive with extended range

As a dynamic concept, BMW ConnectedDrive offers the products BMW Assist, BMW Online, BMW TeleServices and BMW Tracking, depending on the country in question. At the same time BMW ConnectedDrive is designed for the ongoing further development of services to increase mobility and information convenience. The Enhanced Emergency Call with automatic positioning
and remote control functions are examples of safety-related options which are already available, extending the lead of BMW ConnectedDrive over the competition.

The new BMW 3 Series: the engine of success for BMW EfficientDynamics

With its further optimised engine range, the new BMW 3 Series further extends its leading position in the segment in terms of driving dynamics and economy. With all engine types, both the Saloon and the Touring model boast superior fuel consumption and exhaust emission levels than those of their competitors of comparable output.

Depending on the model-specific constellation, the new BMW 3 Series features the latest measures for increased efficiency. All petrol and diesel engines available for the new BMW 3 Series represent the state of the art in engine development. What is more, an extremely wide spectrum of efficiency-promoting measures has been applied within the engine environ-ment so as to further reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.

This includes Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start/Stop Function, Shift Point Display, the needs-oriented control of auxiliary units, electro-mechanical power steering, tyres with reduced rolling resistance and Automatic Air Intake Flaps. With the comprehensive application of these technologies in what is the most successful BMW model series in terms of sales figures, the development strategy BMW EfficientDynamics achieves an especially broad impact.

New 6-cylinder diesel engine in the BMW 330d

In accordance with BMW EfficientDynamics, every new BMW offers increased driving dynamics in combination with reduced fuel consumption and exhaust emission levels as compared to its respective predecessor model.

An especially striking example of this is the BMW 330d. Its 3.0 litre all-aluminium engine has common rail injection of the third generation, whose piezo injectors operate at a pressure or up to 1,800 bar, and a turbocharger with variable turbine geometry. The new diesel engine achieves its maximum output of 180 kW/245 bhp at an engine speed of 4,000 rpm, while its maximum torque of 520 Nm is available from 1,750 to 3,000 rpm. The new BMW 330d accelerates in 6.1 seconds from zero to 100 km/h, its maxi-mum speed is electronically cut off at 250 km/h. The average fuel consumption of the new BMW 330d according to the EU test cycle is 5.7 litres per 100 kilometres, its CO2 level is 152 grams per kilometre.

BMW BluePerformance technology: prepared for the exhaust gas norm EU 6.

The new BMW 330d is fitted as standard with a diesel particulate filter and an oxidation catalytic converter. Thanks to the innovations applied to the new 6-cylinder engine, it significantly undercuts the thresholds set for the exhaust gas norm EU 5. In the oxidation catalytic converter, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide are converted to water and carbon dioxide. For further reduction of nitrogen oxides in exhaust emissions, a NOX-storage catalytic converter can be integrated in the exhaust gas treatment system of the new 6-cylinder diesel engine, in addition to the oxidation catalytic converter. In the optional configuration with BMW BluePerformance technology, the new BMW 330d even meets the requirements for classification according to the future exhaust gas norm EU 6.

Like the new BMW 6-cylinder diesel engines, the engines of the models BMW 320d and BMW 318d also meet the requirements of the exhaust gas norm EU 5 as standard. Their 4-cylinder diesel engines have been modified in a number of details, and the further reduction of exhaust emission levels has been implemented so as to have no impact on fuel consumption and the acoustic properties of the engines.

Engine selection: the greatest variety and highest level of efficiency in the segment.

The ideal combination of driving fun and efficiency also characterises the other engines available for the new BMW 3 Series. Spontaneously responding, high-torque 6-cylinder and 4-cylinder diesel engines, powerful and high-revving 4-cylinder petrol engines and the 6-cylinder in-line petrol engine well-known for its unique refinement and dynamic power delivery form a portfolio which is unequalled in the segment of the BMW 3 Series.

With five petrol engines and five diesel engines, the new BMW 3 Series offers the most extensive range in its segment. When it comes to both petrol and diesel power units, customers have the choice of four 4-cylinder and three 6-cylinder engines. The output range extends from 105 kW/143 bhp in the 4-cylinder models BMW 318i and BMW 318d to a 225 kW/306 bhp in-line 6-cylinder engine in the BMW 335i. All engines are available for both the BMW 3 Series Saloon and the Touring model, and all are combined with the latest BMW EfficientDynamics measures in the environment of the engine, as suits the specific model configuration. Each of the ten engine types thus has a more favourable relationship between driving dynamics and economy
as compared to competitor vehicles of similar output.

As one of a number of features which are unique within the competitive field, all petrol engines are fitted with High Precision Injection and all diesel engines combine an all-aluminium crankcase, turbo charging and common rail direct injection of the third generation. The BMW 335i is especially dynamic, accelerating in just 5.6 seconds from zero to 100 km/h. The outright leader in terms of efficiency in the entire vehicle segment is the BMW 318d with an average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of 4.7 litres per 100 kilometres and a CO2 emission level of 123 grams per kilometre.

Optimised all-wheel drive system BMW xDrive – now for the BMW 320d xDrive too.

The new BMW 3 Series also presents a further expanded selection of engine types for combination with the intelligent all-wheel drive system BMW xDrive. For the first time it is possible to fit 4-cylinder models of this series with xDrive. The new BMW 320d xDrive combines outstanding efficiency with superior properties in terms of driving dynamics and traction. Both for the Saloon and the Touring of the new BMW 3 Series it is now possible to combine three petrol engines and two diesel engines with the intelligent all-wheel drive system BMW xDrive. The models in question now bear the designations BMW 335i xDrive, BMW 330i xDrive, BMW 325i xDrive, BMW 330d xDrive and BMW 320d xDrive.

The electronically controlled permanent all-wheel drive system BMW xDrive offers an incomparable level of comfort, traction and agility over all surfaces due to its flexible distribution of drive torque between the front and rear axles. In order to ensure especially precise control, the computer unit of the drive stability regulation system Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and that of xDrive are networked with each other in the Integrated Chassis Management (ICM). With these capabilities, xDrive supports driving dynamics because it identifies any tendency to oversteer or understeer early on and counteracts effectively.

Superior chassis technology, Active Steering as an option

The new BMW 3 Series has the most sophisticated chassis technology in its segment. At the rear axle there is a five-link construction which is adapted to the needs of the especially high-power and high-torque engines. The front axle of the BMW 3 Series also reflects a unique standard of engineering. The dual-arm tension strut axle with stabiliser is largely made of aluminium.

The standard equipment also includes an electro-mechanical steering system with integrated Servotronic function for speed-related steering support. Active Steering is also optionally available: here, steering transmission is adapted to road speed.

Optimised occupant protection with crash-active headrests

The safety concept of the new BMW 3 Series is based on a solid body structure, the selective application of high-strength steel types and special deformation elements which divert and absorb impact energy. In addition there are six airbags, 3-point automatic belts and headrests on all seats to offer occupants optimum protection. What is more, ISOFIX children’s seat mounts on the rear seats are a standard feature. The front seats of the new BMW 3 Series are fitted as standard with crash-active headrests which significantly reduce the risk of injury to the cervical spine in the event of an impact. Controlled by the vehicle’s safety electronics system, this feature ensures that in the event of a rear-on collision the front section of the headrest is moved forward by up to 60 millimetres and upwards by as much as 40 millimetres. This reduces the distance between headrest and head, thus increasing the stabilising and securing function of the headrest.

A contribution to active safety is made by the new generation of adaptive headlight, optionally available in conjunction with bi-xenon headlamps. It guarantees illumination of the road surface when taking a corner. Here the swivel direction of the headlamps is derived from the steering angle, the yaw rate and the road speed of the vehicle. At low speeds the turning light is activated. This function is performed by one of the two inside headlamps, depending on the direction. Before each turning manoeuvre, the light cone is turned specifically in the appropriate direction to illuminate the road ahead.

Best heating and climate comfort in the segment

In the area of comfort fittings, too, the new BMW 3 Series has a range of optimised features to offer. The further developed heating and air conditioning technology ensures that the interior maintains the desired temperature throughout the year. The new BMW 3 Series has the most high-performance heating and cooling system in its category. Within one minute the entire interior air volume can be completely exchanged three times. In spite of the outstandingly high air through-flow rate, excellent acoustics are ensured by means of a flow optimisation function in the unit and its feed lines and by means of an air outlet positioned at the centre of the instrument panel.

A 2-zone air conditioning system is optionally available with individual temperature controls for the driver and front passenger.

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The design

The current 3 Series, already strong on BMW dynamism and identity, now gains an additional measure of both by virtue of discreet updates and refinements. At the rear, a widened track enhances these vehicles’ planted-on-the-road stance; careful and subtle modifications to the front, sides and aft end make the total design even more harmonious.

At the front. A new, bolder front spoiler/bumper ensemble imparts sportier, stronger character. Its center air intake is larger than before, enhancing the air supply for mechanical components; upswept lines in the lower air intakes, the bumper itself and the newly shaped headlight clusters emphasize the wide stance. Double longitudinal hood lines, more 3-dimensional than ever, rise toward the A-pillars and frame the hood’s power dome. New lighting features include the layered turn-signal lenses, and on models with Xenon Adaptive headlights, BMW’s distinctive luminous rings now serve as Daytime Running Lamps (on all models, they also function as parking lights). The optional Park Distance Control now includes front and rear monitoring.; formerly PDC was offered on the 3 Series in a rear-only version.

In profile. The lower character line that runs from just behind the front wheel well to just ahead of the rear wheel well, is more prominently contoured and strongly expresses the low stance. On Sport Package-equipped models, new high-gloss Shadowline (black) trim more elegantly frames the side windows. And new wheel designs freshen the 328i models’ 16-in. and the 335i/335d models’ 17-in. standard equipment.

At the rear. Restating BMW’s traditional L-form are the taillight clusters of both Sedan and Sports Wagon models. Their two main segments, for the taillights and turn signals, are composed of LED rows for an even higher-tech look than before. On Sedans, the trunklid is newly shaped to go with the new taillight design. And the 0.6-in.-wider rear track does its part to strengthen an already road-gripping stance.

New colors. BMW paint colors are notable for their richness and eye-catching appeal. A total of 12 colors are offered with three new metallics for ’09: Space Gray, Tasman Green and Blue Water.

Interior: high-quality materials, enhanced ergonomics and a new-generation iDrive system

Subtle updates to materials and surface textures make the 3 Series interior even more attractive; refinement of interior design and amenities include enhanced placement of power-window controls for driver and new, expanded storage possibilities.

In the 3 Series, BMW’s iDrive control and display system is included in the Navigation option. As in the new 7 Series (where iDrive and Navigation are standard), a 4th generation of iDrive sets new standards for ergonomics, efficiency and logical functionality with its new, higher-definition, 8.8-in. Control Display. More uniformly structured menus and an optimized control strategy for the display and console-mounted controller are also signature new features.

Other new details include keys for direct selection of the Radio, CD, Navigation and Telecommunications menus, grouped conveniently next to the controller. Visual assists and consistent hierarchies in the display simplify choices within the individual menus. In the Navigation section, users will experience a new and superior level of brilliance, detail and variability of map displays. A “map preview” function facilitates selection of the navigation destination from a list; in a new operational logic, letters of the alphabet and numerals are arranged in circular form for more intuitive input of addresses and phone numbers.

Hard drive for audio and Navigation data storage

Newly included in the Navigation option is a hard drive for storage of Navigation data (such as destinations) and audio material (such as music). The large capacity hard drive means quick access, and allows transfer of material from a CD, MP3 player or a USB stick to the hard drive, which can hold up to 8-GB of music.

The doorsill trims with their distinctive BMW script are new. The somewhat smaller iDrive controller has a fine galvanic surface, and is newly surrounded by the direct-select keys that enhance iDrive’s user-friendliness. There’s a larger storage tray in the center console including the auxiliary audio input and providing an appropriate place to lay an audio source. Door-panel design has been refined too; on the driver’s door the power-window and –mirror controls have been moved 2 cm rearward for an easier, more natural reach.

Colors and color contrasts have been improved, as well. Three new colors for the optional Dakota leather upholstery are offered: Oyster, Saddle Brown and Chestnut Brown. Interior trim choices are updated, too, with a new Fine Line aluminum trim replacing the former brushed aluminum and Light Burl Walnut replacing Light Poplar among the available wood trims.

Lastly, a heated steering wheel – much appreciated by drivers of other BMW Series in winter weather – has been added to the optional Cold Weather Package for all models.

In general, the interior space – with its attractive interplay of convex and concave surfaces, its sporty elegance and technology-oriented esthetics is more appealing than ever.

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BMW Efficient Dynamics in the new 3 Series

In its competitive field, BMW is known for powertrains that achieve an outstanding combination of performance and fuel efficiency. In addition to the commendable mileage ratings of the 3 Series’ gasoline engines, the newest evidence of BMW’s EfficientDynamics approach is the new twin-turbo diesel engine of the likewise new 335d Sedan model, which combines the new-age diesel performance that has swept European motoring in recent years with truly remarkable Miles per Gallon.

The new 335d Sedan: power, torque and remarkable fuel efficiency. All with refinement and sound worthy of a BMW

In Europe, where fuel prices have historically been – and remain – much higher than in the U.S., vehicle manufacturers have achieved dramatic gains in the performance, smoothness, quietness and emission control of diesel engines…while maintaining the diesel’s historic superiority in fuel efficiency. Now, with the new 335d Sedan, BMW brings this progress to the U.S., with brand-new technology that meets the U.S.’ strictest emission standards.

Like all ’09 BMW gasoline engines, the 335d’s new diesel is constructed with a weight-saving aluminum cylinder block – something that’s not taken for granted given the diesel’s much higher compression pressures. (All BMW engines have aluminum cylinder heads.) It is an inline 6-cylinder engine maintaining a defining BMW tradition that means exceptional smoothness and unique sound.

In addition, several diesel-specific technologies of this new engine contribute to its achievement of true high performance, diesel fuel economy and clean exhaust:

Common-rail direct fuel injection. One of the most important innovations of recent diesel development, this has replaced the individual-cylinder or distributor-type injection systems of earlier diesel engines.

Common Rail (CR) means that a single, very high-pressure fuel-delivery pump supplies all cylinders, the fuel traveling along a common “rail” or distributor line. From there, fuel is injected at extremely high pressure (1800 bar/2645 lb./sq in.) directly into the cylinder.

The basic novelty of common-rail injection was to divorce the production of fuel pressure from the actual injection process; this was necessary to give the diesel engine what gasoline engines have long had, namely completely electronically controlled fuel injection. CR also facilitates multiple injections per combustion cycle. In all, this was a breakthrough that made possible dramatic strides in diesel power, efficiency and emission control.

Piezo injectors. A further breakthrough, already applied by BMW in the 335i (and other BMWs) models’ twin-turbo gasoline engines. With direct injection, the injectors – that critical component injecting fuel into each cylinder’s combustion chamber – are subject to especially high temperatures and pressures. Instead of most injectors’ conventional electrical valves, a “stack” of piezo crystals reacts lighting-fast to impulses from the engine electronics governing the injector needle’s opening stroke and duration for ultra-precise control. This, too, facilitates major advances in fuel economy and emission control, in gasoline, as well as diesel engines.

Variable Twin Turbo technology. In contrast to the two small, equal-size turbochargers of BMW’s twin-turbo 6-cylinder and V-8 engines, the diesel employs two turbos of different sizes.

At low engine speeds, intake air does pass through the large turbo, but it’s the smaller, lower-inertia one that does the air compressing (turbocharging). Thanks to its optimum efficiency within this rpm range, it provides effective boost for driving from a standstill up to modest acceleration rates and driving speeds. So it is that this engine develops a good 390 lb-ft. of torque at as low as 1500 rpm – a remarkable achievement that will amaze first-time 335d drivers and continue to thrill those who drive this BMW regularly.

With increasing engine speed, the larger turbocharger begins to take over: first as a pre-compressor for the smaller one, then progressively until it becomes the primary turbo. The engine reaches its maximum of 425 lb-ft. by 1750 rpm, and then maintains this immense torque level until 2250 rpm going on to reach its peak power of 265 hp at 4200 rpm.

Diesel combustion, power and torque characteristics. In its most basic distinction from gasoline engines, a diesel engine achieves its combustion not with a sparkplug, but by much “harder” compression of the fuel-air mixture; the 335d engine, for example, has a compression ratio of 16:5:1, vs. 12.0:1 in today’s ultra-high-performance BMW M gasoline engines and the 10.2:1 of the 335i twin-turbo gasoline unit. For one thing, this requires a significantly stronger engine structure; indeed, the 335d engine weighs more than its 335i counterpart.

The diesel combustion process also produces very different torque and power characteristics. Whereas the 335i engine reaches a maximum torque of 300 lb-ft. @ 1400-5000 rpm and a maximum power of 300 hp @ 5800 rpm, the 335d attains its maximum torque of 425 lb-ft. @ 1750-2250 rpm and its maximum power of 265 hp @ just 4200 rpm. In general, diesels have this low-speed-torque, lower-rpm character and in their vehicular application, they are geared differently. The 335d, for example, comes only with automatic transmission – an automatic is the ideal partner for a diesel engine – and its final drive ratio is 2.81:1, vs. 3.46:1 for the 335i with automatic transmission.

Diesel engines also employ a different fuel, the product of a different refining process from that of gasoline. The two fuels are not interchangeable; gasoline cannot be used in a diesel engine, and vice versa. Their prices typically diverge; at any time or in any location, demand may be different for the two, and government taxation policies for gasoline and diesel fuel also diverge.

Stellar pulling moxie, full-bore acceleration – and fuel efficiency. The huge torque output of 425 lb-ft. at relatively low engine speeds speaks for itself; 335d drivers will marvel at this engine’s robust response at low to medium speeds. The peak power output of 265 hp also speaks for itself, as does the resulting 0-60-mph time of 6.0 sec. While official EPA mileage estimates are not yet available, preliminary tests indicate 23 mpg city and 33 highway.

Most advanced exhaust gas management: SCR catalyst with AdBlue injection

BMW Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance optimizes emission management by incorporating an oxidation catalyst placed close to the engine, a diesel particulate filter housed in the same unit, and an SCR catalyst with urea injection. Apart from filtering out even the smallest particles from the flow of exhaust gases, this combination ensures effective reduction of nitric oxides (NOX) by way of a chemical reaction within the exhaust system initiated by the injection of a small dose of urea referred to as AdBlue. The ammonia (NH3) generated in this process within the SCR catalyst subsequently converts the nitric oxides (NO and, respectively, NO2) in the exhaust gas into environ¬mentally compatible nitrogen (N2) and vapor (H2O).

BMW has developed a two-tank system for AdBlue ensuring convenient use of this new technology with all the benefits and ease required by the customer: The amount of AdBlue required in each case is drawn from the active tank comprising approximately 1.6 gallons by means of a dosage pump. And since the urea solution would freeze at a temperature of −11oC, this active tank, as well as the dosage pipes are heated.

AdBlue technology by BMW: reduced emissions without additional service appointments

The active tank is connected to a second reservoir, the so-called passive tank. With its additional capacity of approximately 4.5 gallons, this passive tank offers a plentiful supply of the urea solution required within the car. The average range provided on this supply capacity is indeed sufficient to have the tank system replenished as part of normal scheduled maintenance.

From the active tank AdBlue is delivered to the dosing valve and atomized into the exhaust emissions. Consistent distribution of AdBlue within the flow of exhaust emissions is ensured by the SCR mixer. The ammonia generated in this way in the hot emission gas subsequently acts in the SCR catalyst as a reduction agent and converts environmentally harmful nitric oxides into nitrogen and water vapor in a process referred to as selective catalytic reduction.

This process gives the special SCR catalyst its name with the SCR system as such being masterminded by highly efficient engine management. A nitric oxide sensor, finally, provides information on the concentration of NOX in the exhaust emissions.

The large amount of AdBlue provided in the reservoir enables the customer to go on driving as before without having to change service intervals or observe any particular requirements, thus benefiting from the advantages of this environmentally friendly emission technology throughout the entire running life of the car without any additional service or visits to the workshop. During the first four years or 50,000 miles, the replenishment of AdBlue will be covered as part of the BMW Scheduled Maintenance program: not only will there be no additional inconvenience, but no addition cost during that period.

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328i and 335i models

Two quite distinct inline 6-cylinder gasoline engines power all other 3 Series models; these remain unchanged in the new ’09 models.

328i models: 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine, naturally aspirated

In the 328i models – Sedan and Sports Wagon, rear-wheel- and all-wheel-drive models – a 3.0-liter unit with advanced, weight-saving magnesium/aluminum composite construction and Valvetronic variable valve lift provides smooth, sonorous and fuel-efficient power.

Valvetronic, a patented BMW innovation, varies valve lift to regulate engine power; when the driver steps down on the accelerator pedal, instead of a throttle opening wider, intake-valve lift increases. A throttle imposes a restriction to incoming air; Valvetronic eliminates this restriction, significantly enhancing efficiency particularly at low to medium speeds. This is reflected in excellent fuel economy, plus very spontaneous response to that accelerator pedal. Valvetronic also enhances engine smoothness in idling and gentle driving, and makes for excellent cold starting.

This engine delivers 230 hp @ 6500 rpm and has a 7000-rpm redline, so it is in the great tradition of smooth, powerful and high-revving BMW gasoline engines. Yet its torque peak of 200 lb-ft. occurs at relatively low engine speed for a gasoline engine – 2750 rpm – so it’s also a responsive partner in everyday driving, not requiring frequent shifting to maintain a brisk pace with the standard 6-speed manual transmission. 0-60-mph times for the 328i Sedan are 6.3 sec. for the manual, 6.9 sec. for the automatic; 2008 EPA city/highway mileage ratings are 18/28 mpg with manual, 19/28 with automatic. Acceleration times and EPA ratings vary for the Sports Wagon, and for the Sedan and Sports Wagon in their xDrive (all-wheel-drive) versions.

335i models: also 3.0-liter inline 6, twin-turbo, even more brilliant performance

The 335i Sedan and its AWD stablemate 335i xDrive are powered by a totally distinct 3.0-liter inline 6, with an aluminum block, different bore and stroke dimensions, and most importantly twin turbochargers. High-pressure direct fuel injection with piezo injectors, a concept shared with the 335d diesel engine, and special turbo-related cooling features complete the description of an engine that has garnered almost delirious praise in the enthusiast media and beyond. It develops a full 300 hp @ 5800 rpm, has the same 7000-rpm redline as the 328i engine, and generates a fulsome 300 lb-ft. of torque all the way from 1400 to 5000 rpm – a somewhat diesel-like characteristic.

Here the twin turbochargers are both small, each of them serving 3 of the 6 cylinders. Their small size enables them to respond quickly to the driver’s demands reducing turbo engines’ historical “turbo lag” to a minimum. This engine does not have Valvetronic, as turbocharging works best on a gasoline engine with a conventional throttle. On-the-road performance is stunning: 0-60 mph in just 5.4 sec. with manual transmission, 5.6 with automatic; and that broad, generous torque band produces abundant acceleration even at lower speeds in the upper gears. EPA mileage ratings are equally impressive: 17/26 mpg with either transmission for the 335i, slightly less for the xDrive version.

Transmission choices: 6-speed manual or automatic, shift paddles optional

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All 3 Series transmission choices are 6-speeds. The manual gearbox, standard on all models, is engineered to provide what buyers want when they choose it: precise control and a high level of driving pleasure.

BMW also places a high priority on active driving pleasure with its automatic transmissions. Recent refinements to the 3 Series’ automatics have improved their sportiness, precision and efficiency: a torque converter that slips less, quicker shifting, finer adaptation to driving style and conditions. All BMW automatics include a Sport mode that quickens shifting and holds the lower gears longer; and a Manual mode that allows the driver to take charge of virtually all shifting.

Steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles are added on all automatic 3 Series models with the Sport Package, and include a Direct Selection feature: When the driver is motoring along in Drive and makes a shift via paddle, the transmission goes into the Manual mode.

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BMW iDrive, 4th generation

In the 3 Series, BMW’s iDrive system of controls and displays is offered in combination with the optional Navigation system. In the new 3 Series Sedans and Sports Wagons, iDrive enters its 4th generation building upon this pioneering development, while making it more natural, more intuitive, simpler and more elegant in its functionality – and more esthetically pleasing and enjoyable. In offering this new generation of iDrive, the
3 Series joins the new 7 Series that is also being introduced this autumn.

More intuitive operation, expanded functions

With the 2002 7 Series, BMW initiated a new direction in the control of vehicle features and functions; via a multi-menu color display and a mouse-like controller usable by driver and passenger alike, a potentially crowded landscape of buttons and knobs was supplanted by a computer-logic control path.

An overarching attribute of iDrive was the separation of control (via the console controller) and display (the centrally placed iDrive monitor). This basic arrangement remains; the controller has been further developed and the display has evolved markedly.

Positioned centrally in the instrument panel, the new control display sets higher standards for logical, readily understood menus and attractive graphics. The controller has been refined for comfortable, intuitive selection and activation of functions via standardized turn, push and tilt motions, while being augmented with new direct-selection keys for specific menus, plus more of the Programmable Memory Keys that were added to the system in the 3 Series in 2007-08.

Greater functionality, satisfying to use: controller with direct-selection keys.

Benefiting from the newest biomechanics R&D, the state-of-the-art controller operates with tactile precision and clearly structured motions. New control elements, menu schemes and graphic representations in the control display become evident upon first use, yet user appreciation grows over the longer term. A graphic depiction of the controller in the display itself helps orient the user to the next control step; the rotation, pressing and tipping motions generally correspond to those of a computer mouse.

Thus interpreted, rotation of the controller takes the user through menu selections; pressing it makes the choice. Tilting the controller to the left or right effects navigation through various menu levels. Via clear graphic organization in the form of stacked layers and onscreen depiction of controller movements, the user enjoys highly intuitive navigation. All menus are structured according to a consistent scheme, so that one is almost immediately at ease; menus are broad so that the user can view relatively numerous options without switching to another level. Also, functions are arranged so that in longer-term use the most important options are reached more rapidly.

An additional new refinement is four direct-selection keys, placed adjacent to the controller, for the most frequently used menus. These allow quick selection of CD, radio, phone and navigation menus, and are augmented by three further keys of general utility: one takes the user directly to the start menu (MENU), one to the most recently active menu (BACK), and the third (OPTION) presents various options within the current area. Thus searches are likely to be shorter, or unnecessary.

Familiar and proven, yet now more useful: Programmable Memory Keys.

An iDrive enhancement recently introduced in various BMW models represents a further user convenience: Programmable Memory Keys. When first introduced, there were six of them; now there are eight. Lined up above the audio controls, these allow the user to capture and store favorite or frequently used functions (radio stations, phone numbers, navigation destinations for example) on various keys and recall them instantly. The stored functions can be as specific and detailed as a navigation map in the preferred scale or an audio balance setting. And because the keys are sensitive not just to being pressed but also to being merely touched, one can see the stored function on the control display by lightly touching the key. If it’s the right one, the user need only press the key and it’s there, ready to use.

High-resolution display, preview maps and full-screen images.

With its 8.8-in., high-resolution monitor, the new iDrive displays remarkably attractive images. It’s a system appropriate to the vehicle it’s in, achieved via up-to-date hard- and software. White-on-black menu lists; effective symbols and icons; contemporary graphics; and clear, consistent color-coding are among the elements that enhance not only function but also esthetics.

Menu structures, too, make finding desired functions easier. In the Start Menu, all functional areas served by iDrive are listed. Selecting a given item leads to its menu layer, where the options of that level are also listed. This consistency in navigation assists in orienting the user, as does the “stacking” of menu layers in the display. Visual assists further contribute to clarity. And if the user gets to a place where he or she didn’t mean to be, the Back key usually reverses the error.

User-friendlier Navigation

This overall refinement of functionality means simpler and more enjoyable use of the optional Navigation. Full-screen map displays offer outstandingly detailed views of the geography; maps as well as specific symbols can be shown in 3-dimensional form. Selected points of interest along the travel route appear with near-photographic realism.

Mere input of destinations reveals the new system’s impressive capabilities. If the destination appears on a list in the system, a preview map appears as the user scrolls the list; this can help distinguish between places with similar or identical names. If a destination (or a phone number) needs to be entered manually, this is done with a new, circular “speller” that makes the entry go more quickly.

Convenient combination of voice entry and controller operation.

Yet, another iDrive innovation is its ability to combine voice and controller entry called Multi-mode Input. The user can go back and forth between the two methods, while actually inputting; indeed, voice recognition can remain active during input via controller and the user can modify an input via voice. Voice recognition – BMW calls it Voice Command – is activated by its function key on the steering wheel, and de-activated either upon completion of the action or by pressing the key again. Voice Command is simplified by visual display of the available commands, yet its capabilities go further in that numerous synonyms of these commands are also recognized.

This newly enhanced iDrive introduces a very significant step forward in the operation of automotive features and functions. Greater efficiency, improved logic and clear, attractive displays help define and advance the 3 Series’ unique product character. The new iDrive helps the freshened 3 Series Sedan and Sports Wagon create a user experience that is truly unique.

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BMW xDrive

Increasingly, customers – particularly those who drive in snowy winter conditions – want all-wheel drive. In the 3 Series, five models – with new “xDrive” model designations – incorporate BMW’s unique and advanced AWD system of the same name.

This permanent, electronically controlled system varies the split between front- and rear-wheel driving torque according to driving conditions to produce an incomparable degree of comfort, traction and agility. Via a smooth, precisely controlled central multi-disc clutch, it directs torque to the wheels where the traction is best, reacting amazingly quickly to each change in driving conditions.

In most normal driving situations, xDrive apportions 40% of the driving torque to the front wheels, 60% to the rear to provide a typical BMW rear-wheel-drive handling feel. Sensors continuously and sensitively monitor the four wheels, detecting even the tiniest amount of slip; torque distribution adjusts in fractions of a second to match changing conditions. It all occurs so quickly, in fact, that the system almost seems to be anticipating slip; the driver is unlikely to perceive the need to adjust the torque split before xDrive accomplishes it.

Enhancing xDrive’s quick and precise action is the networking of xDrive and Dynamic Stability Control, the traction and stability system that’s standard on all BMW models. As part of BMW’s overall Integrated Chassis Management (ICM), this powerful and capable networking helps calibrate xDrive torque distribution and other chassis functions to instantaneous conditions. Thus xDrive and DSC react to varying road traction or abrupt steering, braking or acceleration by the driver, always endowing the vehicle with optimum stability and agility.

Via ICM, xDrive and DSC detect any incipient excessive over- or understeer, adjusting the front/rear torque split to avoid these tendencies. If undesirable oversteer is sensed, the multi-disc clutch is completely closed, sending the maximum possible torque to the front wheels. If excessive understeer is detected, xDrive opens the clutch completely, sending all the torque to the rear wheels. In true BMW tradition, the driver enjoys optimum vehicle dynamics under a wide range of driving and road conditions. Finely dosed application of individual wheel brakes compensates for side-to-side traction variations, as well: this aspect of DSC was improved upon the current 3 Series’ introduction, via new analog brake actuation in this situation, as well as other stability-related or anti-lock brake interventions.

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Sedan prices

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BMW Motorsport Director, Mario Theissen, says: “Although we will not be represented by a works team at this year’s 24-hour race, our Customer Racing programme ensures that our fans will still see plenty of BMW racing cars and BMW works drivers. We will be particularly interested in how the new BMW M3 GT4 performs, which is fielded by Schubert Motorsport in cooperation with ‘sport auto’. Jörg Müller and Andy Priaulx are two former overall winners in the Eifel. Spectators can certainly look forward to an exciting weekend.”

The BMW M3 GT4, the youngest addition to the Customer Racing product range offered by the BMW Motorsport Distribution division, made its debut on the legendary Nordschleife in front of many BMW fans at last weekend’s 56th ADAC Westfalenfahrt. After four hours, Müller and Übler were victorious in the SP10 class, and finished 30th overall.

The Nordschleife at the Nürburgring has played a very special role in the history of BMW. BMW drivers have enjoyed countless successes there since the first 24-hour race was held in 1970. Last year alone, one third of the 150 cars that completed the 24-hour race were BMW made. With 114 class victories, BMW is by far the most successful manufacturer in the history of the event.

To date, the marque has 18 overall victories to its name, and has even achieved a one-two on eight occasions. Most recently, the BMW M3 GTR enjoyed double success in 2004 and 2005. Jörg Müller was a member of the winning team back in 2004, while Priaulx was triumphant in 2005.