Richmond Hill, ON.  The BMW 3 Series is the essence of the BMW brand. For five decades, this icon has stood for sporty driving pleasure, unmistakably attractive design and consistent progress. A legacy to which every generation of the BMW 3 Series is committed. The new, fully electric BMW i3 enhances the familiar character of the BMW 3 Series with additional, unique features. 

As the next model in the Neue Klasse, it represents a technological quantum leap into a new era. The first battery-electric BMW 3 Series launches as the BMW i3 50 xDrive, which has an electric motor on both the front and rear axles. The combined system power output is 463 hp[1] while maximum torque is 476 ft-lb. The highly efficient sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology, together with the new BMW Panoramic iDrive and Heart of Joy, delivers driving pleasure on a level never experienced before. With BMW Symbiotic Drive, the assisted driving experience is also entering a new era. The BMW i3 also stands for a modern interpretation of the hallmark design features of a BMW Sedan.

As a representative of the new design language, the new BMW i3 is immediately recognizable as a BMW 3 Series – assured, dynamic, and intelligent. The hallmark BMW sporty silhouette proportions are reflected in the new 2.5-box design. Notable features are the long wheelbase, the greenhouse that slopes towards the rear and the short overhangs. The four-eyed face is familiar, yet still new. The BMW grille and twin headlights merge into an innovative light signature, creating a powerful and expressive unit. The rear end, featuring horizontal rear lights, further highlights precision and technological progress. The boldly flared wheel arches emphasise the sporty, wide stance of the new BMW i3.

Sportiness and driving pleasure are invariably embedded in the DNA of the BMW 3 Series. The new BMW i3 maximizes the capabilities of the all-new EV architecture, offering impressively precise, effortless, and assured handling. The Heart of Joy high-performance computer shapes the BMW i3 driving experience, with responses that are ten times faster than in previous systems. Together with three other high-performance supercomputers, the Heart of Joy forms the centrepiece of the new software and electronics architecture.

The new BMW i3 stands out for its excellent suitability for long journeys. Its estimated range is up to 700 kilometres (according to preliminary BMW AG tests based on the EPA’s test procedure standards). DC charging capacities of up to 400 kW also drastically reduce charging times. Sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology provides the prerequisites for this rapid progress. It comprises highly efficient electric motors, 800-volt technology, and new high-voltage batteries with new cylindrical cells. The cell-to-pack design enables high energy densities at pack level and a flatter high-voltage battery. The BMW i3 also features the bidirectional charging functions Vehicle-to-Load, Vehicle-to-Home and, at a later stage in Canada, Vehicle-to-Grid charging functions.

The BMW i3 will be manufactured at the BMW Group plant in Munich, which is the home plant of BMW. The plant in Milbertshofen, in the north of Munich, has been producing premium vehicles for more than a hundred years. Over the last four years, the plant has seen significant modernization: Alongside a new body shop, a cutting-edge vehicle assembly area and logistics space has been constructed. The new buildings are in their final stages of expansion. Production of the new BMW i3 for the Canadian market will start at the end of 2026 and deliveries are expected in the first half of 2027.

Design. The core of the brand reinterpreted: modern, timeless, and unmistakeable.

In line with BMW's new design language that debuted with the iX3, the i3 embodies a contemporary take on the distinctive design elements synonymous with the BMW brand. At the same time, the BMW i3 combines future-oriented dynamics with the hallmark proportions of a sporty BMW sedan. The DNA of the BMW 3 Series, which has been successful for decades, is immediately apparent in its modern 2.5-box design.

Precise lines and striking surfaces characterize the clear, reduced external appearance of the BMW i3. The modern interior has a sporty and inviting design. Advanced digitalization shapes the user experience just as fundamentally as the hallmark BMW driver orientation.

2.5-box design with distinctive surfaces, long wheelbase and short overhangs.

The outline of the new BMW i3 maintains the classic, sporty proportions typical of BMW. With a modern 2.5-box design, the i3 is unmistakably identifiable as a BMW. 

The appearance is defined by the long wheelbase, the striking surfaces, and the short overhangs. The look of the design is both modern and dynamic. Short overhangs and powerfully shaped wheel arches emphasize the sporty stance. A distinctive design feature is the greenhouse, set back from the main structure. In combination with the flared wheel arches, this creates a powerfully athletic shoulder surface. The precise character line, positioned low on the body surface, brings the BMW i3's visual centre of gravity closer to the road. 

Concealed window seals ensure a direct, harmonious transition between the glass surfaces and the bodywork. When the BMW Digital Key Plus or physical key fob are near, the flush-mounted door handles automatically extend. 

Familiar, yet new: The front of the BMW 3 Series – a symbiosis of geometry and light.

The front end of the new BMW i3 presents the face of the Neue Klasse in a distinctive, modern form. The iconic BMW grille and twin headlights seamlessly integrate with the front sensors, creating a unified visual element that exemplifies the harmony of geometry and light. With meticulous precision, they effectively highlight the broad design of the vehicle. 

The light signature, arranged horizontally, spans nearly the whole front. Two daytime driving lights on the left and right with integrated turn indicator function create a new, modern look for the hallmark BMW four-eye face. The optional BMW Iconic Exterior Illumination further enhances the visual depth effect of the BMW grille. Precise contour lighting emphasizes the attractive look.

Occupying its spot in the "valley" of the sculptured hood, the redesigned BMW roundel sits above the grille. The front is dynamically inclined towards the road in a shark-nose design, thus emphasizing the overall sporty character.

BMW Iconic Exterior Illumination for customizable lighting effects.

The new BMW i3 comes to life with its light animation as soon as the driver approaches the vehicle. The Welcome Light Animation begins on the exterior of the vehicle and continues in the interior. The Welcome and Goodbye Animations vary depending on the equipment level. The optional BMW Iconic Exterior Illumination offers three impressive lighting animations. Balanced, Relaxed and Excited are available. Customers can individualise the Welcome Light Animation of their BMW i3 to their personal taste.

Powerful rear, horizontal light signature.

Similar to the front of the vehicle, the rear of the new BMW i3 features a contemporary and dynamic design language. The athletic shoulders with strongly inset greenhouse are a characteristic feature of the rear end. The prominently flared wheel arches emphasize the width of the sedan and its broad stance on the road. Located at the lower rear, a diffuser element emphasises the dynamic qualities of the BMW i3.

Strongly horizontally aligned rear lights feature a new three-dimensional light signature and extend far into the prominent shoulders. Two light elements per side reinterpret the familiar L-shaped BMW rear lights in a new, abstract form. At the same time, they underscore the width and the distinctive character of the BMW i3. The BMW roundel is again located in the "valley" between the rear lights. 

Expressive: New Le Castellet Blue metallic paint finish. 

A total of eleven different exterior colours will be available at the market launch of the new BMW i3. The new metallic colour Le Castellet Blue is exclusive to the range. Solid, frozen, and metallic finishes are also available. 

Interior: An inviting experience space – driver-oriented, digital, and modern. 

The interior of the BMW i3 brings the design language of the Neue Klasse to life with clear intensity. The interior design is dynamic, airy, and modern and stands for optimal driver orientation, redesigned user interaction, and a harmonious interplay of geometry, light, and sound. Digital and real content merge through the coordinated design of the ambient light and the graphics on the central display and the BMW Panoramic Vision.

The Free-Cut Design Central Display is angled slightly towards the driver. The lines of the instrument panel flow horizontally on both sides into the dynamically designed door panels. This creates an enveloping wrap-around effect for the passengers, which continues throughout the interior. The standard Panoramic Roof with Climate Glass, in combination with the large window areas, creates a feeling of space flooded with light.

Driver orientation: Precise and intuitive.

The BMW Panoramic Vision and the optional BMW 3D Head-Up Display project driving-relevant information directly into the driver's line of sight. This eliminates the need for cockpit displays behind the steering wheel, which is now completely redesigned. For the first time in a BMW 3 Series, it has a centre spoke in the upper section. In addition to distinctive thumb rests for improved ergonomics, it has multifunction buttons for intuitive operation. This follows the hallmark BMW principle of "Hands on the Wheel, Eyes on the Road". An M Steering Wheel with a flattened, dynamic design and spokes at the four and eight o'clock positions will also be available.

The Free-Cut Design Central Display equipped with matrix backlight technology is also positioned right next to the steering wheel, angled towards the driver for even more direct driver orientation.

The BMW i3 offers customers comprehensive options for personalization in the areas of lighting, sound, displays and drives via My Modes. 

Multifunction Seats. 

The new BMW i3 comes with sporty and elegant seats that provide a high level of comfort and secure lateral support. Multifunction Seats are available as an option.

The BMW i3 features electrically operated door latches front and rear. The centre console between the driver and passenger seats includes a storage area with inductive charging function, the gear selector, and physical buttons for parking brake and hazard warning lights. 

Choice of numerous interior designs. 

The BMW i3 features precisely coordinated interior designs with its selection of materials and hues. The standard Veganza upholstery is available in Agave Green, Digital White, Castanea, and Black. Black Merino Leather from BMW Individual can also be optioned.

Sporty style with the M Sport Package. 

The M Sport Package is available as an option for the new BMW i3. Among other things, it includes the M Aerodynamics Package, Dark Blue M Sport Brakes, a Sport Steering Wheel, and exterior mirror projection with M logo.

Display and operating system, digital user experience. Modern digital technology meets hallmark BMW driver orientation.

For decades, BMW vehicles have been regarded as leaders in intuitive operation and exceptional ergonomics. This also applies to the latest BMW Panoramic iDrive display and operating system with BMW Operating System X in the new BMW i3. The entire system adheres to one principle: the right information, in the right place, at the right time. It is controlled by ergonomically optimized analog and digital control elements. Many of the BMW i3's innovations in the area of display and control technology are protected by patent applications.

BMW Panoramic Vision: Focus on driver orientation.

At the heart of the display and operating system is the BMW Panoramic Vision. This is a newly developed type of display in which information is projected onto a specially coated area in the lower part of the windscreen that stretches from A-pillar to A-pillar. The content shown in this area is always visible and forms the visual basis of the entire display and operating concept. Key driving information is displayed on the left-hand side, clearly structured and in the driver’s line of sight, without restricting their view of the road ahead. The contents shown in the central and right-hand areas of the display can be personalized and are visible to all occupants.

BMW 3D Head-Up Display: Animations enable spatial perception.

The optional BMW 3D Head-Up Display integrated above the BMW Panoramic Vision projects selected content directly into the driver’s line of sight for their exclusive benefit. This display enables particularly precise spatial perception – for example in the case of navigation instructions, or information from the driver assistance system. The contents of the BMW 3D Head-Up Display and the BMW Panoramic Vision are perfectly coordinated and complement each other, for a consistent, clearly structured display experience.

Free-Cut Design Central Display. 

The 17.9-inch Central Display in Free-Cut Design is integrated into the BMW Panoramic iDrive as a further essential control element. It features advanced matrix backlight technology with a resolution of 3,340 x 1,440 pixels, for a brilliant display that is easy to read in all lighting conditions. The specific shape in the Free-Cut Design allows for ergonomically optimal positioning, and thanks to advanced menu structure with QuickSelect, it offers comfortable, simple and intuitive operation via touch. There is a menu on the Central Display containing widgets that can be moved to the BMW Panoramic Vision by drag and drop. Up to six widgets can be freely arranged in this way to enable quick access to frequently used functions. Using the multifunction steering wheel, further contents and submenus of the widgets can be displayed in the BMW Panoramic Vision.

New multifunction steering wheel with Shy Tech operating elements. 

The multifunction steering wheel employs the Shy Tech philosophy, meaning buttons are only illuminated when the corresponding functions are available. The controls for driving assistance and parking functions are located on the left side, while controls for infotainment functions such as telephone or media player are on the right. These functions can be operated via a special control panel that provides haptic feedback. This enables drivers to control key functions safely and accurately without needing to take their eyes off the road. The keys’ logical arrangement supports intuitive use and contributes significantly to the overall ergonomic design of the system.

Customizability as a key feature of the system. 

Contents, widgets and displays are individually configurable, allowing them to be adapted to personal preferences. Users can select colours, display schemes, and background images to create a personalized digital experience. There is a wealth of options enabling users to customise the user interface design in Personal Mode in line with their own preferences, enabling advanced individualization of displays, interactions and vehicle-related settings. Further My Modes such as Sport, Efficient and Silent add to the range of personal setups available to customers. 

The BMW ID opens the door to the customizable driving experience with BMW Panoramic iDrive. Up to seven different individuals can sign in to the vehicle with their BMW ID, allowing them to enjoy every drive to the fullest with their individual settings. The personalization process begins with initial registration in the vehicle, which is done by scanning a QR code in the Central Display using a smartphone. The personal BMW ID is then added to the car and the user is guided through the main steps of initial setup, which can also be started prior to vehicle handover via the My BMW App if desired. At the same time, the vehicle is automatically stored in the My BMW App along with the corresponding profile. All personal vehicle settings, such as the configuration of the BMW Panoramic Vision, media favorites, recent destinations, seat settings with entry and exit configuration, and much more, are now automatically available for every journey provided the profile has been linked to a BMW Digital Key Plus or physical key. Before setting off, a message greeting the customer by name will automatically appear in the Central Display – along with their personal profile picture, if desired.

The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant.

The multimodal operating logic of BMW Panoramic iDrive combines touch, haptic and voice-based interactions. A key role is played by the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, the operating concept in the new BMW i3. It enables the control of numerous vehicle functions, navigation destinations and media contents using natural language, without the need for defined voice commands. The self-learning voice assistant can be activated in the usual way with the prompt “Hey BMW” or by pressing a button on the steering wheel’s right-hand control panel. Following initial setup, the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant is positioned in the centre of the BMW Panoramic Vision by default and is always able to react appropriately to the specific context. If desired, the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant can make proactive suggestions based on usage behavior and more. This intelligence is further enhanced by the BMW Operating System X, which considers significantly more contexts, such as driving situations, environmental analysis, and interior recognition.

The AI technology used is a Large Language Model (LLM), a generative AI that understands language and is capable of formulating its own responses. This makes for more dialogue-oriented voice interactions; it enables intuitive and intelligent exchanges and supports access to external knowledge bases, cloud-based services and media contents as well as the control of vehicle functions. Linking the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant to an Amazon account allows the user to search for and stream music, access the latest news, and use a wide range of other content with ease.

The interplay between BMW Panoramic Vision, optional BMW 3D Head-Up Display, Central Display, and multifunction steering wheel – controlled by BMW Operating System X – creates a consistent, clearly structured display and operating concept. Physical and digital operating elements combine to create a unified user experience that is consistently designed with driver orientation and ergonomics in mind.

The BMW Digital Key Plus becomes the preferred vehicle key. 

This means that smartphones and smartwatches from all leading manufacturers (incl. Apple, Samsung, Google) can be easily set up to work as a vehicle key. Ultra-wideband (UWB) and Bluetooth technology are used to enable smartphone and vehicle to communicate with one another at close range. The UWB technology allows the user’s location to be pinpointed extremely precisely while also ensuring the highest possible vehicle access security (certified according to the Car Connectivity Consortium’s standard).

The BMW Digital Key Plus has further benefits to offer in addition to highly convenient vehicle access. Customers can share the digital key with others easily and securely using a messaging app, while defining individual roles and rights at the same time. It also enables the use of additional functions via the smartphone wallet, such as remote operation of the trunk lid.

BMW Operating System X with high update and upgrade capability.

The BMW Panoramic iDrive software is based on BMW Operating System X. It serves as an intelligent platform for the display and operating system and is consistently designed for a software-defined vehicle approach. The architecture is based on the Android Open-Source Project (AOSP) and offers a high level of update and upgrade capability. As a result, the system remains up-to-date in the long term and can be continuously expanded with new functions and digital services. The BMW Operating System X meticulously manages all aspects of interaction and guarantees that information is consistently presented in a context-sensitive manner aligned with the situation.

Superbrain high-performance computers and new architecture. Compute faster and update more flexibly.

At the heart of the new architecture are four superbrain high-performance computers. Each is assigned a core function in the new BMW i3: The Heart of Joy primarily manages driving dynamics, while separate computers are dedicated to automated driving and parking, infotainment, and essential and comfort functions like vehicle access and climate control. They offer up to 20 times higher computing power compared to previous BMW models.

Electronics in four zones: More efficiency, less weight. 

The four-zone electrical architecture reduces the complexity of the cable harnesses. In addition, the new BMW i3 uses Smart eFuses instead of classic fuses. This intelligent and flexible power protection combined with the zonal architecture enables shorter and thinner cables, saves weight, reduces energy consumption thanks to intelligent power distribution and increases overall vehicle efficiency. 

Over-the-air updates allow for continuous improvements. 

The new BMW i3 will continue to receive new functions, optimized performance, or AI-supported features via software updates long after purchase. With its superbrains, zonal electronics architecture and smart software, the new BMW i3 combines classic driving pleasure with digital intelligence, creating a unique symbiosis between human and machine. Future BMW models will feature an increasing number of electronics and software architecture developed for the Neue Klasse.

Driving experience.  Heart of Joy and BMW Symbiotic Drive for a new dimension of driving pleasure and the joy of assisted driving.

The new BMW i3 brings sportiness, precise handling, and long-distance comfort into the age of the Neue Klasse and make full use of previously unattainable potentials of electromobility. The Heart of Joy defines the brand-new driving experience – delivering greater accuracy, improved assurance, and heightened agility. In combination with the advanced suspension technology of the BMW i3, this creates a completely new dimension of driving pleasure. Multiple driving and parking assistance systems, which operate in synergy and securely with the driver while maintaining the unique BMW character, provide increased safety and convenience for everyday driving.

Heart of Joy: Ten times faster than previous systems. 

As one of four superbrains, the Heart of Joy, together with the BMW Dynamic Performance Control driving stack, forms the high-performance control unit of the BMW i3. Control systems in vehicles have a long tradition at BMW. It began back in 1979 with the first use of an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) in the BMW 7 Series. 

The Heart of Joy controls drive, brakes, some steering functions, and recuperation. It works at a new level and responds ten times faster than previous systems. The result is exceptionally effortless and assured handling. This allows the BMW i3 to navigate corners precisely and with a light touch for maximum accuracy. The Heart of Joy reduces the number of necessary control interventions. The resulting cornering behavior is more consistent and predictable, which contributes to an even greater feeling of safety.

Soft-Stop: The smoothest stopping process in BMW history.

The electric motors' precise control ensures the new BMW i3 decelerates smoothly without any jerks or braking noise. Soft-Stop ensures an unparalleled stopping process. 

In everyday driving, the recuperation brake takes over almost all braking operations in the BMW i3. The conventional brakes are only used during very sporty driving or emergency braking.

Suspension: Sporty and comfortable. Optional Adaptive M Suspension.

The new BMW i3 is distinguished by its hallmark high driving dynamics paired with long-distance comfort. It takes advantage of the architecture, which is uniformly designed for electric mobility. The new, flat high-voltage battery enables a low centre of gravity. As standard, the BMW i3 has a suspension with stroke-dependent shock absorbers. In addition to the two-joint spring strut front axle, it features a new five-link rear axle. Front and rear anti-roll bars with highly preloaded bearings are used for even more dynamic handling. Adaptive M Suspension will also be available on the i3.

BMW Symbiotic Drive ensures seamless interaction between the driver and the driver assistance systems. 

The optional Level 2+ driver assistance systems in the BMW i3 are designed for seamless interaction between assistance and driver inputs. The aim is not attaining the highest possible level of automation in every situation, but a safe driver assistance experience that offers maximum benefit and is always controllable. As a result, the driver always remains involved in an interplay of human and artificial intelligence. This allows acceleration, steering, or braking even when driver assistance is engaged, without instantly causing a deactivation of the assistance system. The clear operating logic and displays in the BMW Panoramic iDrive ensure that assisted driving behavior is intuitive and can be influenced at any time. The symbiotic interplay of driver and vehicle can also be experienced with active safety functions such as Lane Departure Warning. The driver's intent is inferred from steering inputs and the direction of vision, so that the system assists with warning and steering intervention only when the driver unintentionally drifts off his own lane or an impending collision is detected.

Drive and battery. Technological quantum leap: Sixth-generation electric drive with round cell high-voltage battery.

The sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology comprises a new drive with a fundamentally new high-voltage battery concept and 800-volt technology. The new development called Gen6 offers significantly longer ranges, even faster charging, up to 400 kW DC charging capacity and bidirectional charging functionality.

In addition to advanced, highly efficient electric motors, it includes fundamentally new high-voltage batteries with cylindrical cells. Compared to Gen5, the range is increased by 30 percent. The new BMW i3 has a projected range of up to 700 kilometres (estimated range according to preliminary BMW AG tests based on the EPA’s test procedure standards) while charging speeds are 30 percent faster. 

The new cylindrical cells used in the high-voltage battery have a diameter of 46 millimetres and a height of 95 millimetres. They have a 20 percent increase in volumetric energy density compared to the prismatic cells used in Gen5. 

Cell-to-pack design enables high energy density at pack level. 

The cells are integrated directly into the high-voltage battery without modular construction or structural elements. This cell-to-pack design enables high energy densities at pack level and saves weight and costs. 

In addition, the combination of cell design and cell-to-pack construction paves the way for the flat design of the Gen6 high-voltage battery. This is an in-house development and – starting with the cell and ending with integration into the vehicle – the result of BMW’s expertise in battery technology built up since 2008.

Pack-to-open-body construction allows for flat design. 

Thanks to the pack-to-open body concept, the battery housing in the new BMW i3 also functions as a structural component. The chassis has an open floor, which is closed by installing the high-voltage battery. The housing cover thus assumes the function of the vehicle underbody. 

The omission of this usual underbody saves weight and, combined with the high-voltage battery design, paves the way for the flat and aerodynamically efficient design of the BMW i3. Another advantage: The torsional rigidity of the body also benefits from the pack-to-open-body construction, which has a positive effect on driving dynamics. 

Energy Master: The highly intelligent control centre. 

The electrical and electronic components for the high-voltage battery can be found in the Energy Master positioned on top of the high-voltage battery. The Energy Master, developed in-house by BMW, provides electricity to the electric motors and the vehicle electrical system. It is also the interface for all data from the high-voltage battery. It ensures intelligent, efficient, and safe battery operation.

Two highly efficient electric motors with EESM and ASM technology.

The BMW i3 50 xDrive has an electric motor on the front and rear axles. Together, they provide a system output of 463 hp and 476 lb-ft of torque.

An electrically excited synchronous motor (EESM) designed for the 800-volt architecture is integrated into the rear axle, the primary drive axle. This EESM forms the centrepiece of the Gen6 drive technology of the Neue Klasse. It is based on a stator, which generates a rotating magnetic field by means of three-phase alternating current, and a rotor, which has electrically excited electromagnets. This design makes the EESM fundamentally different from motors with permanent magnets, as the magnetic field in the rotor can be flexibly regulated. This ability makes it possible to reduce the magnetic field at low load and thus avoid losses. On the other hand, particularly strong magnetic fields can be generated under high load. This results in high torque and constant power output up to maximum motor speed.

The entire system is controlled by an inverter, which converts the direct current of the battery into the required alternating current and at the same time ensures that the rotor is excited as well as all control and monitoring processes. As a result, EESM is always operated at optimum efficiency. Its technology distinctly sets it apart as a unique selling point in the competitive landscape. Its efficiency and performance development are among its most important advantages.

The EESM in the BMW i3 50 xDrive is supplemented by an asynchronous motor (ASM) on the front axle. The ASM works on the induction principle and is a compact and lightweight addition to the EESM. The ASM differs fundamentally in its rotor design: Instead of magnets or electrical excitation, the rotor consists of aluminium rods that are connected via short-circuit rings. The necessary torque is generated by induced currents that occur when there is a difference in speed – known as slip – between the stator field and the rotor. The ASM is particularly robust and resistant to heat and its compact, sustainable construction uses only iron and aluminium. The combination of both types of motors enables a technological quantum leap: Together, they reduce energy losses by 40 percent, reduce the weight of the drive system by 10 percent, and reduce manufacturing costs by 20 percent compared to the already powerful previous generation.

The EESM of the new BMW i3 is manufactured at the BMW Group plant in Steyr in Upper Austria, and the high-voltage battery at the BMW Group plant in Debrecen in Hungary. The BMW Group's Landshut plant is contributing the Energy Master. 

BMW Charging. Revolutionary advances in range and charging speed combined with innovative charging solutions.

As a further innovation, the new BMW i3 will have bidirectional charging functions. The energy stored in the battery can thus be used not only for the drive and the electrical consumers in the vehicle, but also for the following applications:

Vehicle-to-Load (V2L): This turns the new BMW i3 into a mobile power bank that provides electricity directly from the high-voltage battery. For example, to operate an electric barbecue on a weekend trip or to charge the battery of an e-bike with up to 3.7 kW. 

Vehicle-to-Home (V2H): Bidirectional charging turns the BMW i3 into a home energy storage system: In conjunction with the BMW Wallbox Professional, V2H allows the vehicle to function as a back up emergency power supply in the event of an outage. The ability to use the i3 as a storage unit for solar energy generated by home-fitted photovoltaic systems will become available in the future.

Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G): Available at a later stage in Canada, V2G will allow the BMW i3 to be integrated into the public power grid and feed energy from the vehicle's high-voltage battery back into the system.

Simple, convenient, digital: Charging becomes an experience.

The BMW i3 features many innovations for convenient and fast charging on the go. This includes, for example, the route optimized for charging planned according to individual criteria with automatic battery preparation for faster DC charging. Or the convenient charging stop with an intelligent charging flap that opens automatically and Plug & Charge for automatic payment authentication at select charging stations.

Route planning optimized for charging: The BMW Maps navigation system calculates a route optimized for charging, including charging stops, if the destination is outside the current range.

The driver determines the charging status at which charging stations and the destination should preferably be reached and which charging station providers should be preferred. By using AI, the system learns from past charging processes, for example, the realistically expected charging power, the susceptibility to faults or the exact location data of individual charging stations and includes the optimal charging station in the planning of the route. Customers receive dynamic charging information including the number of charging stations, charging availability and plug types. The expected duration and costs of charging stops are shown in advance.  Charging station reviews and nearby amenities such as  restaurants, playgrounds, restrooms, or shopping facilities  are also shown.

Battery preparation for faster DC charging: The battery preparation ensures that the high-voltage battery is brought to the optimal temperature before a charging process at a DC charging station. This increases charging capacity immediately after plugging in and shortens the charging time. When the driver actively routes to a DC charging station with BMW Maps, the BMW i3 automatically conditions (heats or cools) its battery. Alternatively, the function can be activated manually via the Central Display or the My BMW App. The current status of the battery temperature and the time remaining for battery preparation can be viewed at any time in the BMW i3 vehicle status and in the My BMW App.

Intelligent charging flap: The charging port is located on the rear right side of the new BMW i3While it’s possible to open the charging flap manually, it is no longer necessary as it will open automatically when the customer’s charging request is detected.. One of the triggers for opening is AI-supported: If the customer walks towards a known or learned charging point, the movement path reveals the charging intention, whereupon the flap opens. If no charging cable is connected, the charging flap closes automatically – as it does after the charging process is complete or when the vehicle is ready to drive.

NACS charge port standard: The new BMW i3 will be fitted as standard with a NACS (North American Charging Standard) charging port. This will provide i3 owners access to the vast Supercharger network, while a CCS (Combined Charging System) adapter allows access to other providers from coast to coast, thus ensuring that i3 owners are never far from a provider no matter where their journey takes them.

Sustainability in the product.  Holistic concept for conserving resources and reducing CO ₂ e emissions.

As with the BMW iX3, BMW is also taking a holistic approach to sustainability with the new BMW i3. The focus is on decarbonization along the entire life cycle – from product development, supply chain to production and use phase. 

The BMW i3 is thus making a contribution to achieving the CO₂e goals that the company has set for 2030, 2035 and 2050.

The CO₂e advantage is already apparent after 1–2 years of use. Depending on the drive variant, annual mileage, and source of the electricity used for charging, the new BMW i3 50 xDrive achieves a CO₂e benefit over a comparable model with an internal combustion engine1 after just 1–2 years of use.

Decarbonization in the supply chain.

A key starting point for reducing CO₂e emissions is targeted decarbonization along the supply chain. Renewable energy, increased use of secondary materials, and product and process innovations contribute to a significant reduction in emissions in the supply chain of all drive variants.

The result of this consistent approach can be proven by the emissions reductions achieved: CO₂e emissions in the supply chain were reduced by around 33 percent even during the product development of the BMW i3.

Innovative materials and technologies in construction.

The "Design for Circularity" principle is also systematically applied in the new BMW i3. This approach entails an enhanced utilization of secondary materials, strategic selection of materials, and the optimization of dismantling capabilities. 

In the front bumper of the BMW i3, 30 percent recycled plastic is used in the trim. In addition, the variety of materials in the entire bumper without attachments has been reduced from 15 to 7 materials compared to its predecessor (BMW 3 Series). Thanks to the extensive use of a plastic especially suitable for recycling, the proportion of recyclable plastics was increased from approximately 46 percent in the predecessor model to approximately 85 percent. This creates the basis for the recovery of high-quality recycled plastics from the vehicle.

Use of secondary materials in the new BMW i3.

The new BMW i3 consists of a total of around 30 percent of secondary materials: The proportion of secondary materials in the aluminium cast components of the new BMW i3 swivel bearings and hub carriers is 80 percent; the cast aluminium rims consist of 70 percent secondary aluminium. The housing of the Gen6 motor also consists of approximately two-thirds recycled aluminium.

The Gen6 battery cells of the BMW i3 high-voltage battery pack use a proportion of secondary materials for cobalt, lithium and nickel. Energy from renewable sources is also used in the production of anode and cathode material as well as in cell production. Compared to a previous Gen5 cell in the BMW i4, the CO₂e footprint in the cell supply chain was reduced by around 33 percent per Wh. Another example of the innovative use of materials and secondary materials is the engine compartment cover and the storage compartment under the hood of the BMW i3. The base material consists of 30 percent recycled marine plastic. This is post-consumer material made from used fishing nets and ropes. The starting material of the yarn for the textile of the headliner and the A-pillar in the BMW i3 consists of 100 percent recycled material.

In line with the sustainability goals of the BMW Group.

BMW’s commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and to Net Zero by 2050 at the latest is an integral part of the holistic 360° sustainability approach, which is anchored in the corporate strategy. The company has set itself ambitious, scientifically derived CO₂e targets for the coming years. For example, BMW intends to reduce its CO₂e emissions by a total of at least 40 million tons of CO₂e in 2030 and by around 60 million tons of CO₂e by 2035. This means an additional reduction of around 20 million tons of CO₂e in addition to the existing 2030 target.

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BMW Group in Canada

BMW Group Canada, based in Richmond Hill, Ontario, is a wholly owned subsidiary of BMW AG and is responsible for the distribution of BMW luxury performance automobiles, Sports Activity Vehicles, Motorcycles, and MINI.  BMW Group Financial Services Canada is a division of BMW Group Canada and offers retail financing and leasing programs and protection products on new and pre-owned BMW and MINI automobiles, as well as retail financing for new and pre-owned BMW Motorcycles. A total network of 51 BMW automobile retail centres, 26 BMW motorcycle retailers, and 31 MINI retailers represents the BMW Group across the country.

For more information, please contact:

Marc Belcourt

Director, Corporate Communications

BMW Group Canada

marc.belcourt@bmwgroup.ca                                               

Jean-Francois Taylor

Product and Technology Manager, Corporate Communications

BMW Group Canada

jean-francois.taylor@bmwgroup.ca

Munich. Please find the satellite and streaming details of the BMW Group Keynote as follows:

18 March 2026.

11:00 - 11:40 A.M. CET – Design Premiere of the new BMW i3. LIVE

Technical data TV satellite transmission:

Contact SNG: +49 (0) 179-5079009 (Torsten Jobmann)
Contact on site : +49 151 23456 889 (Tom Forster)

Live Stream available at:

https://www.live.bmwgroup.com/en/live-streaming/ and

on BMW Group YouTube: https://b.mw/IuTd3

Munich. In the BMW i3, as with the BMW iX3, the BMW Group applies a 360° approach to sustainability. At its core is decarbonisation throughout the entire vehicle lifecycle – from product development through the supply chain and production to the end of the use phase. In this way, the second Neue Klasse model also contributes to achieving the ambitious, overarching CO₂e targets the company has set itself.

CO₂e benefits already after 1-2 years of use.
Depending on the drive train variant, annual mileage and source of the electricity used for charging, the new BMW i3 50xDrive already achieves a CO₂e advantage over a comparable model with an internal combustion engine after one to two years of use[1].

Decarbonisation in the supply chain.
Targeted decarbonisation is a key starting point for reducing CO₂e emissions throughout the supply chain. The use of renewable energies, the increasing share of secondary material, and product and process innovations – for example, in the Gen6 cell and high-voltage battery – contribute to a significant emissions reduction across the entire supply chain.
The results of this systematic approach are demonstrated by the emission reductions achieved: Specific measures during product development of the BMW i3 lowered supply chain CO₂e emissions by about a third.[2]

Innovative materials and technologies for interior and exterior.
The “Design for Circularity” principle is also systematically applied in the new BMW i3. The concept incorporates gradually increased use of secondary materials, targeted reduction of material selection and optimised dismantling capability.
For example, the BMW i3 uses 30 percent recycled plastic in its front bumper trim. At the same time, the number of different materials used for the entire bumper, excluding mounted parts, was reduced from 15 to 7, compared to the predecessor model (seventh-generation BMW 3 Series). Due to the high use of a plastic particularly suitable for recycling, the proportion of recyclable plastic was increased from approximately 46 percent in the predecessor to about 85 percent[3]. This enables the recovery of high-quality plastic recyclates from the vehicle.
Another example of how the “Design for Circularity” principle is implemented in the new BMW i3 is the Econeer seat covers offered as part of the “Essential” equipment line, which are made from a recyclable textile composite. The basic material for the upper fabric is 100-percent recycled PET. The use of recycled PET granulate – as the base material for the polyester yarn required – significantly reduces CO₂e emissions and water consumption during manufacturing compared to primary material. The dismantling capability of the seat cover has also been improved to facilitate a material-specific separation at the end of the lifecycle.

Use of secondary materials in the new BMW i3.
The new BMW i3 consists of approx. 30 percent secondary materials in total[4]^: These include cast aluminium components, such front and rear knuckle, with 80 percent secondary material content, and cast aluminium wheel rims with 70 percent secondary aluminium.The housing for the rear electric motor, produced at BMW Plant Landshut, comprises up to two-thirds secondary aluminium. A portion of the energy used in production comes from renewable sources.
In the Gen6 battery cells of the BMW i3 high‑voltage battery, secondary materials are partially used for cobalt, lithium and nickel. Energy from renewable sources is used in manufacturing the anode and cathode materials, as well as for cell production. In comparison to the previous model’s Gen5 cell, CO₂e emissions were reduced by approx. 33 percent per watt hour.
Further examples of the innovative use of engineering and secondary materials include the engine compartment cover and the storage compartment under the BMW i3's bonnet. The starting material for these consists of 30 percent recycled maritime plastic – post-consumer material from used fishing nets and ropes – while the base material for the yarn used in the textiles for the headliner, A-pillar and parcel shelf consists entirely of recycled material.

Enhanced efficiency during use phase.
With the EfficientDynamics technology package, vehicle efficiency is optimised across all subsystems during the use phase.
This encompasses aerodynamics, lightweight construction, rolling resistance and overall energy management, for example. Efficientynamics has been employed by the BMW Group since 2007, across all drive technologies.

BMW Group Plant Munich undergoes extensive modernisation.
BMW Group Plant Munich is the BMW Group’s main plant.For more than a century, the plant has been producing premium mobility in Munich’s Milbertshofen district. Over the past four years, the site has been completely modernised: In addition to a new body shop, a state-of-the-art vehicle assembly was also built, including logistics areas. The new facilities are now in the final stages of construction. Production of the new BMW i3 will get underway here in 2026. Just one year later, the Munich location will transition its production portfolio to exclusively fully-electric vehicles for the Neue Klasse. As the BMW Group’s oldest automobile production site, the plant sources 100 percent of its external electricity requirements from renewable energy.

In line with BMW Group’s sustainable development goals.
The BMW Group’s commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and to reaching “net zero” no later than 2050 is an integral part of its holistic 360° approach to sustainability, which is anchored in its corporate strategy. The company has set itself ambitious science-based CO₂e targets for the coming years. The BMW Group intends to reduce its CO₂e emissions by a total of at least 40 million tonnes from 2019 levels by 2030.

Transparency through Product Carbon Footprint .
The BMW Group has published its vehicles’ Product Carbon Footprint, as validated by the German Technical Inspection Association (TÜV), for many years in the so-called Vehicle Footprint. This report is publicly available here for all drive trains of the new BMW 3 Series from the Start of Production and can also be accessed in the My BMW app. In this way, the BMW Group creates transparency around the percentage of secondary materials and CO₂e emissions across the vehicles’ entire lifecycle.

Munich. With the new BMW i3, the BMW Group is reaffirming its holistic approach to product sustainability – shining a light on a relevant dimension of product development that has been less visible up until now: health and well-being in the passenger compartment. To address this aspect of vehicle development, interior air quality, material selection and olfactory perception are systematically studied and evaluated at the company’s own odour laboratory.

Holistic product sustainability as a guiding principle.
The BMW Group considers sustainability throughout a vehicle's entire lifecycle – from raw material extraction through the supply chain and production all the way to the use phase and recycling. This 360° approach combines product sustainability, technological innovation and long-term company success. Health and well-being are embedded into product development and systematically integrated into processes and standards.

Interior air quality and its impact on health.
Vehicle interior air quality is an important factor for health and well-being inside the vehicle. Emissions from materials, as well as influences such as temperature and humidity directly impact vehicle occupants. When selecting materials for the vehicle interior, the BMW Group therefore pays close attention to avoiding emissions that could be detrimental to health. For more than 25 years, the company has relied on its own testing methods to measure and evaluate emissions and scent profiles in the vehicle interior. The latest findings from toxicology, health and sensory research are continuously applied to in-house standards that the BMW Group also actively shares in international standardisation and specialised bodies.
The aim is to ensure the interior has a scent that is authentic, discreet and high-end, reinforcing the brand's premium promise. The use of artificial fragrances is deliberately avoided.

Scent as a subconscious dimension.
The BMW Group deliberately addresses on scent in the vehicle interior, as this has a significant influence on the occupants’ health and well-being.
Scents act directly on the limbic system, evoking emotions and memories, and contributing to the subjective feeling of safety. A pleasant and subtle scent is therefore part of the premium experience and an expression of the brand's aspirations.
By minimising harmful emissions and selecting high-quality materials, the BMW Group acknowledges its responsibility for the health of its customers. Managing scent is therefore part of a holistic approach to sustainability across the entire lifecycle.

Inside the BMW Group scent laboratory.
At the BMW Group scent laboratory, materials, components and complete vehicle interiors are tested under realistic conditions. The analysis relies on the integration of modern measurement technologies and the trained sensory evaluation of BMW Group experts. Humans remain central to this process. This approach ensures compliance with legal requirements and adherence to internal quality standards. Scent is viewed as part of a multi-sensory, holistic experience. What matters most is not the individual component, but the interaction of all materials in the vehicle interior, which determines the overall olfactory experience.

Health and well-being as elements of product sustainability.
The new BMW i3 embodies an aspiration that applies to the entire BMW Group brand portfolio: In addition to a consistent decarbonisation strategy throughout the vehicle lifecycle, the model relies on a high percentage of secondary materials and innovative material concepts for the interior.
“Health and well-being are an integral part of product sustainability for us. Environmental factors and a growing health awareness are changing how we perceive our living spaces – including our cars. Our customers expect products that are designed to take their health and well-being into account. That is why interior air quality is a key product feature in our holistic approach to sustainability,” according to Nils Hesse, Vice President Product Sustainability at the BMW Group.

Munich/Arjeplog. The BMW 3 Series has been the embodiment of driving pleasure in the premium midsize class for five decades. All over the world, this icon of the BMW brand is renowned for its superior sportiness, precise handling and effortless agility, combined with long-distance driving comfort. As the latest generation BMW 3 Series is getting ready for launch, so is the first sedan model of the Neue Klasse: the fully electric BMW i3. Prototypes are currently undergoing a comprehensive test programme at the BMW Group winter test centre in Arjeplog, Sweden.

The BMW i3 will have its design premiere on 18 March 2026. The new fully electric model generation features a sixth-generation eDrive (Gen6). “The BMW i3 applies the sporty sedan’s typical characteristics to a completely new vehicle concept defined by the BMW 3 Series DNA. At the same time, pushing the conventional boundaries of electric mobility into new territory, thanks to the potential of our Neue Klasse,” says Mike Reichelt, Head of Neue Klasse BMW. The control unit consisting of the “superbrain” Heart of Joy and the BMW Dynamic Performance Control driving stack takes driving dynamics to an entirely new level. As the BMW i3 approaches series-production readiness, the test and development team is performing the final fine-tuning of driving dynamics components on the snow-covered roads and frozen lakes of Sweden.

Test drives for fine-tuning in extremely cold weather are a key part of vehicle testing. 
Endurance tests in freezing temperatures and wintry road conditions in Sweden’s extreme north are a long-standing BMW tradition. The snow-covered roads around Arjeplog and the specially prepared surfaces of frozen lakes provide the ideal environment for evaluating and fine-tuning drive and suspension systems Electronic control systems are a good example – the low friction coefficients of surfaces covered by snow and ice enable engineers to test, analyse and optimise the interactions of these systems under precisely reproducible conditions. This provides the foundation of the hallmark BMW driving pleasure. 

Highly innovative overall concept is key to an outstanding driving experience.
The Heart of Joy is one of four “superbrains” in the Neue Klasse. Complemented by the BMW Dynamic Performance Control software developed in-house, it forms the powerful new driving and dynamics control unit in the BMW i3, controlling the powertrain, brakes and some steering functions along with recuperation. Its responses are ten times faster than with previous systems. The result of this technological quantum leap is evident in the particularly effortless and exceptionally precise handling of the new BMW i3.

Even on slippery surfaces like those in Arjeplog, the Heart of Joy ensures agile propulsion. In addition, the extremely fast control of the two electric motors ensures superior driving stability. Only electric motors are capable of processing and executing the lightning-fast commands. This enables the BMW i3 to deliver a light-footed and comfortable drive in every situation. And with typical BMW 3 Series characteristics, it sets new standards in driving dynamics.

Even at the limits, the BMW i3 offers an extremely safe driving experience.
The new BMW i3 can be controlled with maximum precision. It responds instantly to steering inputs and creates a feeling of effortlessness. The Heart of Joy reduces the number of control interventions required – for example by the DSC system. The resulting cornering behaviour is more consistent and reproducible, giving the driver an even greater sense of assurance. In addition, the BMW i3 remains easy to control even when approaching the limits. The Soft-Stop function of the new BMW i3 is exceptional: precise control of the electric motors enables the smoothest stopping process in the history of the BMW 3 Series, without jerks and brake noise. The exceptional stability that the Heart of Joy provides, even on slippery surfaces like those found in Arjeplog, also improves efficiency. The precise control processes of the Heart of Joy allow the BMW i3 to recuperate energy as often and as intensely as possible, even when cornering, without compromising driving stability. “Sheer driving pleasure” redefined. 

Second model of the Neue Klasse: BMW i3 50 xDrive 
• Start of production: Second half of 2026
• Sixth-generation BMW eDrive (Gen6) with 800-volt technology
• Charging capacity: peak charging capacity up to 400 kW
• Electric drive unit with EESM technology on the rear axle and ASM technology on the front axle
• Max. system output: 345 kW/469 hp*
• 645 Nm torque*

* As this is a development-phase prototype, the figures given are provisional. Energy consumption information as per WLTP is not yet available. 

Leipzig. An era is coming to an end at the BMW Group plant in Leipzig. The serial production of the BMW i3 is now to come to an end, some eight and a half years after it was launched. A source of inspiration, a driver of innovation, a pioneer of locally emission-free driving pleasure: The list of attributes that have accompanied the BMW Group's first large-series production automobile with fully electric drive since its debut in 2013 is long. The BMW i3 (combined power consumption: 16.3 - 15.3 kWh/100 km according to WLTP, 13.1 - 14.0 kWh/100 km according to NEDC, CO₂ emissions: 0 g/ km) started out as an exotic specimen on the still barely tapped market for electric vehicles, developed into a classic with unmistakable charisma already in the course of its production period and goes down in the company's history as a pioneer of sustainable mobility.

For the BMW Group Plant Leipzig, the farewell to the BMW i3 is linked to the start of a new chapter in electric mobility. In a seamless transition, further e-drive components will be manufactured there with immediate effect in addition to producing high-voltage battery modules, which is already being done since May 2021. And already next year, the next generation of the MINI Countryman will be manufactured at the same location - with a fully electric drive, among other things. In this way, the electric mobility expertise of the workforce, which has been built up over the past years, will be used and advanced further. At the same time, the BMW Group Plant Leipzig becomes the first location in the company's global production network where BMW and MINI models are manufactured together.

The final anniversary: 250 , 000 units of electric driving pleasure made in Leipzig.

The BMW i3 ends its production run with an impressive homerun. Just a few days ago, the 250,000 unit of the compact e-vehicle was produced in Leipzig. This makes the BMW i3 the world's most successful electric vehicle in the premium compact segment. And contrary to what might be expected for a model that is being phased out, its popularity did not wane as it matured.

The BMW i3 has been sold in more than 74 countries around the world. In many markets, it achieved a significantly higher market share in the electric vehicle segment than the BMW brand in the area of conventionally powered cars. It also succeeded in inspiring additional target groups in the premium mobility offers from BMW. In the early years, more than 80 per cent of all BMW i3 buyers were new customers for the BMW Group.

The enduring appeal of the BMW i3, which is manufactured exclusively at the Leipzig site for the entire global market, is also due to its especially individualistic character. Its independent vehicle architecture consists of a drive module as an aluminium chassis, which carries the e-drive, the suspension and the high-voltage battery as well as a passenger cell made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) called the life module. This design, developed from the outset for pure e-mobility, made possible a particularly generous amount of space in the interior and a cockpit and centre console design which is both high-quality and very advanced. The same applies to the exterior design, which is still groundbreaking in its ninth year of production, and which is dedicated less to fashion or status than to technological avant-gardism.

Visionary technology standard-bearer with great symbolic power.

These characteristics have not only made the BMW i3 into a trailblazer for the transformation to CO₂-free mobility, but are also proof of how innovative the BMW Group is in a wide range of areas. "The BMW i3 has great symbolic power," says Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. He describes the development of the BMW i3 as a prime example of the "BMW way". This is characterised in particular by the courage to "pioneer topics, to do something different and not just follow the mainstream". This mindset continues to endure, according to Zipse, because "even the BMW iX, which is quite surprising in its capabilities, has its origins in this corporate culture".

The employees involved in manufacturing the BMW i3 at the BMW Group Plant Leipzig know all too well what this culture means in practice. After all, the BMW i3 was a visionary technology standard-bearer from day one, and not just because of its electric drive. With its Life-Drive architecture, it also set new standards in the field of intelligent lightweight construction. In Leipzig, innovative processes unique in the automotive industry have been established for moulding large-format car body parts from the particularly lightweight high-tech material CFRP. Today, the BMW Group has unique expertise in the industrial use of carbon fibre in body construction and aluminium in designing chassis components.

"The BMW i3 is a true pioneer and the epitome of pioneering spirit," says Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of Management for Production at BMW AG. "Thanks to the BMW i3, the Leipzig plant became the birthplace of e-mobility at BMW." With the expansion of the production of e-drive components, the Leipzig plant will remain "electric" in the future, says Nedeljković. "It will become the hub for electric mobility and supply our production network worldwide with components."

Innovation driver for e-mobility and multiple award winner.

Thanks to its model-specific technology developments, the BMW i3 has also become an innovation driver for the BMW and MINI brands in numerous other areas. The 135 kW/184 hp electric motor of the BMW i3s (power consumption combined: 16.6 - 16.3 kWh/100 km according to WLTP, 14.6 - 14.0 kWh/100 km according to NEDC, CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km) has been delivering urban driving fun and locally emission-free go-kart feeling in MINI style since 2020. The purely electric MINI Cooper SE (power consumption combined: 17.6 - 15.2 kWh/100 km according to WLTP, 16.9 - 14.9 kWh/100 km according to NEDC, CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km) has since become the most popular model variant of the British brand.

Originally developed for the BMW i3, the fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology is now being produced. It is used in numerous purely electric and plug-in hybrid models from BMW and MINI. The ramp-up of electric mobility will continue in the coming years. By 2030, every second BMW Group vehicle sold worldwide is to be fully electric.

The BMW i3 has received numerous awards during its production period. In Germany, it was awarded the "Green Steering Wheel” already in 2013, followed three years later by the "Golden Steering Wheel", also awarded by "Auto Bild" and "Bild am Sonntag". The design, vehicle concept, interior, sustainability, value retention and connectivity technology of the BMW i3 received further national and international awards and public survey successes. These include class victories in the competitions of the magazines "Auto Zeitung" and "auto, motor und sport", awards as "UK Car of the Year", "Green Car of the Year", "Classic of the Future" and "Swiss Car of the Year" as well as the "World Car Design Award", the "iF gold product design award" and the French "Trophée de l'argus".

Rethinking mobility: The holistic approach of the BMW i brand.

In addition to the all-electric drive, the BMW i3's outstanding eco-balance also stems from the choice of materials, which is fully geared towards sustainability and resource-conserving production. It was the first BMW Group model to receive an ISO certificate issued by independent auditors at the time of its market launch, confirming its optimised environmental performance throughout its entire life cycle.

Partly recycled raw materials are used for its outer skin made of thermoplastics. The plastic used in the interior is made op of 25 percent recycled material. The textiles used for the seat surfaces are made entirely from recycled fibres. The door panels of the BMW i3 are made of kenaf fibres. Eucalyptus wood from certified cultivation in Europe serves as the raw material for parts of the instrument panel.

The holistic concept for sustainability also includes the extensive use of renewable energy in the production of the BMW i3. Four wind turbines on the site of the BMW Group plant in Leipzig supply the electricity needed for its production. At an early stage, they made the Saxon location a pioneer for CO₂-neutral vehicle production, which has been standard in all BMW Group plants around the world since last year.

In addition, the BMW i brand has provided impetus for sustainable driving pleasure and a comprehensive transformation to CO2-neutral mobility in many ways and far beyond the development of electrically powered vehicles. These activities include the urban car-sharing service DriveNow (called SHARE NOW today) which for many users is the ideal opportunity to come into contact with electric mobility for the first time, as well as the services now known as BMW Charging and MINI Charging for convenient charging at home and for easily accessing public charging stations, and the BMW Group's participation in the European fast-charging network Ionity.

The perfect introduction to the world of e-mobility - and a reliable endurance runner.

For many customers, the BMW i3 became a constant companion early on in urban settings, for the daily commute and often far beyond. The frequent drivers among the "early adopters" above all praise the low energy and maintenance costs, but also how reliable the vehicle is and the cycle stability of its high-voltage battery. They report on brake pads that have not had to be replaced even after more than 250,000 kilometres, because a large part of the deceleration power is provided by recuperation when driving the BMW i3, and of the impressive long-term quality of the high-voltage battery, which leads to only a negligible reduction in range even after similarly long running times. The BMW Group took this positive experience as an opportunity to increase the maximum mileage associated with the eight-year warranty period for the battery from 100,000 to 160,000 kilometres at the beginning of 2020.

The BMW i3's high-voltage battery has undergone continuous development since its market launch, doubling its storage capacity while retaining the same installation space. With a cell capacity of 120 ampere hours (Ah) and a gross energy content of 42.2 kilowatt hours (kWh), it now enables ranges of up to 307 kilometres (BMW i3) according to WLTP.

The high-voltage batteries developed and produced by the BMW Group are used in other areas as well. Examples of this are the Streetscooter vans used by the German postal service and the city buses of the Turkish manufacturer Karsan, as well as motorboats with electric drives of the Torqeedo brand, for which they also serve as a source of energy. In addition, BMW i high-voltage batteries are used as stationary energy storage systems for electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind or solar power. The BMW Group plant in Leipzig also has such an energy storage farm. It consists of 700 interconnected BMW i3 high-voltage batteries in which the electricity generated by the four wind turbines on the plant site can be stored.

Locally emission-free, elegant and exclusive: The HomeRun Edition of the BMW i3s.

On its home stretch, the BMW i3 once again showcases the elegant and extravagant side of its character that has already been the subject of several limited special models. The BMW i3s HomeRun Edition, was treated to a Frozen paint finish from BMW Individual for the first time. This premiere is associated with a maximum of exclusivity: Only ten units of the BMW i3s HomeRun Edition have been produced.

An an exclusive for the BMW i3s HomeRun Edition, two new BMW Individual paint finishes have been added to the range: Frozen Dark Grey and Frozen Dark Red II. In addition the HomeRun Edition includes 20-inch light-alloy wheels in a double-spoke design, an electrically operated glass roof, solar control glazing and Adaptive LED headlights. The special models also come with the particularly high-quality Suite interior design, which includes Vernasca Dark Truffle leather upholstery, a leather instrument panel, a leather steering wheel with galvanised trim, a Carum Grey roof lining, Ambient lighting and the welcome light. Other options include heated seats, comfort access, alarm system, Real Time Traffic Information, Concierge Service, Park Distance Control and rear view camera. Also included are the Comfort package and Driving Assistant Plus, the Professional navigation system, telephony with wireless charging, the Harman Kardon hi-fi speaker system and online entertainment with music flat rate.

The production of the ten special models was a final highlight not only for the employees involved in its production at the BMW Group Plant Leipzig. Customers of the special models were able to witness the completion of the vehicles in the assembly hall for themselves.

Munich. The BMW i3 (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 13.1 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km) is sustainably on course for success - in both senses of the word. Almost seven years after its market launch, the purely electrically powered and thus locally emission-free compact model is still in continuous high demand. At the BMW Group plant in Leipzig, the 200 000th BMW i3 model rolled off the production line yesterday - almost silently as always. The BMW i3s (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 14.6 – 14.0 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km) with Fluid Black metallic paint finish and accents in BMW i Blue was produced for a customer from Saxony and will be delivered by the BMW branch in Leipzig.

The BMW i3 with 125 kW/170 hp and BMW i3s with 135 kW/184 hp are built in Leipzig for the entire world market on a dedicated production line and by specially trained employees. With the start of production in 2013, the plant in Saxony became a pioneer and centre of excellence for sustainable mobility. The BMW i3 was the BMW Group's first purely electrically powered large-scale serial model and also the company's first vehicle with a passenger cell made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). The Life module made of CFRP is part of a vehicle architecture specific to BMW i and designed for electric mobility from the outset. It is shaped in Leipzig from carbon fibre scrims and assembled in a unique process developed by the BMW Group. This is followed by the union with the drive module, the aluminium chassis, which bears the drive, chassis and high-voltage battery. State-of-the-art manufacturing processes ensure that the body construction and assembly of the BMW i3 in Leipzig takes only about half the time required for conventional vehicles.

BMW i3 as innovation driver for electric mobility and lightweight construction.

The success of the BMW i3 and the experience gained in developing and manufacturing it have significantly boosted progress in the fields of electric mobility and lightweight construction. In this way the BMW i brand has become the workshop of the future for the entire company. The drive of the BMW i3s now also powers the MINI Cooper SE (fuel consumption combined: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 16.8 – 14.8 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km) to provide purely electric driving joy. In addition, the gross energy content of the high-voltage storage unit was almost doubled from initially 22.6 to 42.2 kWh without changing its size. The range of the BMW i3 thus increased to between 285 and 310 kilometres in the WLTP test cycle.

Based on the know-how acquired with the BMW i3, numerous innovations have also been achieved in the fields of drive, power electronics and charging technology. The fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology is now ready for series production. It is used, among other things, in the new technology flagship of the BMW Group, the BMW iNEXT, which will be manufactured at the BMW Group plant in Dingolfing, with components from the BMW plant Landshut, from 2021 onwards. The high-tech material CFRP is for example now also contributing to intelligent lightweight construction in the BMW 7 Series.

Leipzig as a location for the future: Battery module production to start in 2021.

The BMW Group plant in Leipzig will continue to make a significant contribution to expanding electric mobility in the future. The site will become part of the BMW Group's international production network for battery modules as early as 2021. By 2022, the BMW Group will invest more than 100 million euros in establishing battery module production in Leipzig. In future, the lithium-ion cells supplied, will be assembled into standardised modules in a highly automated process. These will then be assembled together with the connections to the vehicle, the control units and the cooling units in an aluminium housing specific to each model. By 2022 more than 150 employees will be working in the battery module production in Leipzig.

In this way, the expertise gained at this BMW i3 production site is consistently used for manufacturing electrified vehicles in Germany. The BMW Group plant in Leipzig, where in addition to the BMW i3, models of the BMW 1 and 2 Series with conventional and plug-in hybrid drive are also manufactured, is thus even more comprehensively equipped for the "Power of Choice" approach in the company's model strategy in the future.

Pioneer for premium electric mobility in the city and for an overall understanding of sustainability.

The BMW i3 was developed as a revolutionary new vehicle concept for individual mobility in urban areas. With the BMW i3, the BMW Group has provided significant impetus for change in the field of inner-city transport, which has also inspired other car manufacturers to devote more attention to electric mobility. Today, the BMW i3 is not only still the best-selling premium car in its segment, but also a world-renowned symbol of locally emission-free driving in the city and for commuting between home and work.

According to a 2019 study by the German Automobile Club (ADAC), customers benefit not only from ecological but also from significant economic advantages. According to the calculations, the total costs for a BMW i3 or BMW i3s are on average around 20 percent lower than for a BMW model with a combustion engine that is comparable in terms of engine performance and equipment. All expenditures for the acquisition, operation and depreciation of the vehicles were taken into account, with a holding period of five years each and a total mileage of 75 000 kilometres. Thanks to the now increased state subsidies for electrified vehicles, the lead of the BMW i3 and the BMW i3s in terms of economy is currently even greater.

In addition, the BMW i3 represents a new understanding of premium mobility, which is also strongly characterised by sustainability beyond the purely electric drive. Its roof is made of recycled CFRP at the BMW Group plant in Leipzig. Painting its plastic outer skin requires 75 percent less energy and 70 percent less water compared to conventional processes. 25 percent of the materials used for the thermoplastic exterior parts were either recycled or produced from renewable resources. A high proportion of renewable raw materials and recycled materials is also used in the interior. Production of the BMW i3 at the BMW Group plant in Leipzig is 100 per cent CO₂ neutral. Wind turbines on the factory premises supply the electricity required for production.

The outstanding life cycle assessment of the BMW i3 has already been confirmed by an ISO certificate issued by independent auditors immediately after its market launch. To this end, experts from TÜV Süd analysed all relevant data and evaluations, from which the environmental balance of the BMW i3 for the entire vehicle life cycle was derived, from raw material extraction and production to use and recycling. According to the study, the use of energy from the EU-25 electricity mix already resulted in a greenhouse gas potential reduced by around 30 percent compared to similar vehicles with conventional drive systems. When operated exclusively with regeneratively generated energy, such as wind or solar power, the CO₂ footprint was even reduced by more than 50 percent.

Fuel consumption, CO₂ emission figures and power consumption were measured using the methods required according to Regulation VO (EC) 2007/715 as amended. The figures are calculated using a vehicle fitted with basic equipment in Germany, the ranges stated take into account differences in selected wheel and tyre sizes as well as the optional equipment. They may change during configuration.

The figures have already been calculated based on the new WLTP test cycle and adapted to NEDC for comparison purposes. In these vehicles, different figures than those published here may apply for the assessment of taxes and other vehicle-related duties which are (also) based on CO₂ emissions.

For further details of the official fuel consumption figures and official specific CO₂ emissions of new cars, please refer to the “Manual on the fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions and power consumption of new cars”, available at sales outlets, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at https://www.dat.de/co2/.

In case of queries, please contact:

Wieland Brúch,
Product Communication BMW i and Electromobility

Tel.: +49-89-382-72652

E-mail: wieland.bruch@bmwgroup.com

Kai Lichte,

Head of Communication BMW Group Plants Leipzig, Berlin, Eisenach

Tel.: +49-151-607-38000

E-mail: kai.lichte@bmwgroup.com

Internet: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

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2020 technical specifications, wheels and tires and pricing. Please note that this information is specific to Canada and all specifications are subject to change without prior notice.

Munich. Trailblazer for sustainable mobility and endurance runner – within the six years following its launch, the BMW i3 has become an extremely successful model and a symbol of electric mobility. Since its market launch, it has been the most widely sold electric vehicle in the premium compact segment. More than 165,000 units have been sold worldwide to date. And since the car’s launch, sales figures have steadily increased year after year. The BMW i3 convinces in everyday use with a future-oriented interpretation of driving pleasure and versatile qualities reaching far beyond driving short distances in major metropolitan regions. This is underscored by the experience gained by electric car pioneers who regularly travel longer distances in their BMW i3 and have each completed more than 200,000 emission-free kilometres.

Thanks to its role as a visionary technology flagship and continuing sales success since its launch in 2013, the BMW i3 has acquired the status of an icon. The BMW Group will continue to further develop this vehicle and currently plans to extend production until at least 2024. Customers emphasize above all the reliability, durability and the practicable range of the BMW i3, whether in the heat of South Africa or in the cool north of Sweden. The first all-electric vehicle from the BMW Group has for years now proven everywhere to be a cost-effective means of transport that is fully suitable for day-to-day use. Customers who had their BMW i3 delivered shortly after its launch and since then have subjected both the vehicle and its original battery to a real endurance test, use sustainable mobility not only for daily commuting between home and the workplace, but also regularly for longer distances and even holiday trips.

Over 277,000 kilometres with the original set of brake pads.

“The vehicle concept of the BMW i3 is unique,” comments Helmut Neumann from the community of Titz in North Rhine Westphalia. “It looks so modern from the outside that people still turn around to catch a glimpse of it.” Neumann has been driving around locally emission-free since 2014 and even drove his BMW i3 BMW (60 Ah) (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 12.9 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) as far as Berlin and the Alps without any trouble. “Apart from the immense driving pleasure, the BMW i3 is simply an extremely economical car,” he says. “This applies both to power consumption and maintenance costs alike.” With an average power consumption of 13 kWh per 100 kilometres over the entire lifespan, energy costs are kept to an absolute minimum – not only compared with an automobile with combustion engine, but also with other electric vehicles. At an electricity rate of 30 cents per kilowatt-hour, Neumann’s energy costs are just EUR 3.90 per 100 kilometres.

An analysis by the German Automobile Club ADAC has already shown that in addition to ecological aspects, economical aspects speak in favour of the electric vehicle. In a comparison of overall costs, the BMW i3 was around 20 percent better in terms of size and performance than a comparable BMW model powered by a combustion engine. In addition to lower energy costs and high value retention, low expenditure for maintenance and wear also contribute towards cost-effectiveness. For the driver of a BMW i3, oil changes or defective exhaust systems are relicts of the past. Deceleration is usually effected by means of recuperation. Therefore, even after over 277,000 kilometres, Helmut Neumann has still not had to replace the brake pads and discs on his BMW i3 one single time.

Neumann is one of the customers who participated in the retrofit programme and substituted the 60 Ah battery of his BMW i3 with a gross energy content of 22 kWh for a 94 Ah high-voltage battery unit (BMW i3 (94 Ah): combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 13.6 – 13.1 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) with a higher energy content of 33 kWh. The new battery offers greater energy reserves. “This makes things simply more convenient on long journeys,” he says.

Consistent vehicle range confirms the quality of the high-voltage battery.

Experience obtained by customers who use a BMW i3 from the first years of production shows that even with the original battery, the achievable vehicle range decreases only marginally even after high mileage. This validates the BMW Group’s expectations in regards to the quality of the high-voltage battery unit. Not one BMW i3 high-voltage battery has had to be replaced due to premature ageing to date. As the battery’s potential is far from being exhausted when reaching the previously quoted 100,000 kilometres, the BMW Group has now extended its European warranty for the battery in new BMW i3 vehicles even further. The maximum mileage over a warranty period has been extended to 8 years and/or 160,000 kilometres.

The BMW Group has also developed solutions for re-using batteries that are no longer suitable for demanding use in automobiles. After a long life in cars they can still provide valuable service as stationary energy storage units. High-voltage batteries from pre-series vehicles and those handed in by customers participating in the BMW i3 retrofit programme are used on the grounds of the BMW plant in Leipzig as storage units for the green power produced there by means of wind turbines.

Offering a range that is actually achievable in practice, the BMW i3 meets the requirements of regular long-term use. Gabriele Forster from Austria immediately found the ideal drive and charge rhythm, for example. She made a conscious decision in favour of an environmentally friendly vehicle with which she now commutes every day between home and work. At midday and overnight she plugs her BMW i3 (60Ah) into a wall box, which is sufficient to cover a distance of around 200 kilometres each day with a battery that has a capacity of 22.6 kWh.

Robert Cleary from the US drives locally emission-free almost 150 kilometres every day. Only on one single occasion did he run out of power – about 50 metres from his front driveway. The problem was solved using an extension cable. Robert had already participated in field testing with the BMW Active E and in 2014 was therefore given a BMW i3 (60Ah) in the “Electronaut” version for electric vehicle pioneers. His car constantly provides a topic for discussion. Together with colleagues from his company, Robert initiated an electric vehicle workgroup that, among other things, advocates the provision of additional public charging stations. He is convinced that “electric driving strengthens environmental awareness”.

To Shaun Maidment from South Africa “range anxiety” is completely unknown. “I once drove the BMW i3 from Johannesburg to Cape Town. It took slightly longer, but it was okay,” he says. On normal workdays, he drives up to 300 kilometres, making use of customer visits to charge the battery. In 2014, Maidment opted for a BMW i3 (60 Ah) with Range Extender (combined fuel consumption: 0.6 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 13.5 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 13 g/km). However, he now considers the petrol-driven “emergency power generator” indispensable. “The Range Extender is essentially just a kind of assurance.” In order to further promote electric mobility in his home country, Maidment has launched a crowd funding platform designed to support the installation of further public charging stations in South Africa.

With a battery of the latest generation installed in the BMW i3 (120 Ah) (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 13.1 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km), whose gross energy content has now been extended to 42.2 kWh, it was possible to increase the vehicle range to values between 285 and 310 km as per WLTP test cycle and to 260 kilometres in everyday use. This equates to an increase of around 50 percent vs. the BMW i3 featuring a high-voltage battery of the first generation.

Sustainable driving pleasure – a characteristic feature of the BMW i3.

Even after many years of all-electric driving, customers are still fascinated by the spontaneous power and torque of the electric motor and the one-pedal feeling with which their vehicle decelerates by means of recuperation. “In the past, I have also tested other electric vehicles, also larger and faster ones,” says Rob van Roon from the Netherlands, “but none of them was as agile and easy to handle as the BMW i3.” Since the end of 2013, Roon has driven 276,000 kilometres with the first series production electric vehicle from the BMW Group, with another 25,000 having been added since March 2019 in a new BMW i3 (120 Ah). The new model only needs to be charged once a day, and van Roon usually knows how to make practical use of this. “Charging doesn’t necessarily mean waiting,” he says. “I spend the time doing administrative work or making phone calls, which demands my full attention.” On long journeys he has discovered the advantages of the quick charging stations from Ionity, which can be found at around 200 service areas along European long-haul routes. “If you can eat there, you can charge your car there,” he has noticed. Consequently, Rob van Roon and his family have driven their BMW i3 on trips taking them as far as the North Cape, the Algarve and Sicily.

In October 2013, Leif Carlsson from Sweden had already taken the first opportunity of a test drive in Stockholm. “After one single lap I was convinced – this is my car. It was the coolest drive I had ever experienced.” Today he still drives a BMW i3 (60Ah) with Range Extender every day and after travelling more than 216,000 kilometres, he enjoys the ideal balance between driving pleasure and sustainability. At first, it is sufficient to charge the car from conventional power sockets at home or at the workplace. In Sweden, there is no shortage of these even in multi-storey car parks, because there, auxiliary heating systems in automobiles are often supplied with electricity from the mains. Meanwhile, quick charging stations have been installed at workplaces and the network of public charging stations is becoming increasingly denser. Therefore, Carlsson now hardly ever uses the Range Extender. On the other hand, he still appreciates the auxiliary heating in his BMW i3 during the winter. The timer function works perfectly. When I get in the car to leave, the interior is warm and the windows free from ice and snow.”

For João Gonçalves from Portugal a test drive in the winter of 2013 was also enough. It was “Love at first sight – combined with many economical and ecological advantages.” Since then he has enjoyed every trip “to work, in his spare time and on holidays. My BMW i3 takes me simply everywhere.” He drives up to 250 kilometres a day and an opportunity to recharge the battery is always easily found during working hours at the office or when visiting customers. Meanwhile Gonçalves changed to a BMW i3s (120 Ah) (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 14.6 – 14.0 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km). The increased output of 135 kW/184 PS hp adds to driving pleasure and the high-voltage battery’s extended storage capacity “makes daily life even easier”, he says. “And longer journeys are now more comfortable and faster.” To prepare for long journeys Gonçalves uses the navigation system of the BMW i3. “It plans my route and indicates quick charging stations along the way, so I can be sure of reaching my destination without any problems.”

Munich. The BMW Group is working in close collaboration with power grid operator TenneT to devise groundbreaking solutions that will turn electric mobility into one of the mainstays of the energy revolution. An intelligent charge control system developed for BMW Charging can help to adapt electric vehicle charging in a way that keeps the power grid stable and makes optimum use of energy from renewable sources. Following successful deployment in the USA, the technology’s practicability has now also been demonstrated in Germany as part of a subsequent pilot project. Providing the platform for this new solution is the connectivity technology already included as standard in the all-electric BMW i3.

The BMW Group is aiming to offer its customers ways of charging their electrified vehicles as easily and cheaply as possible while minimising the associated emissions. The digital integration of electric vehicles into the power grid will make it possible to adjust vehicle charging with customers’ mobility requirements, grid stability and the availability of renewable energy all factored in. Intelligent charge control can therefore play a role in preventing power grid congestion and give priority to green electricity at the same time. As and when the customer’s mobility schedule allows, charging of suitably equipped electric vehicles can be briefly decreased – in the event of an electricity supply shortfall, for example – in order to reduce the load on the grid. Charging of the high-voltage battery will resume as soon as the supply bottleneck has been alleviated, ideally at a time when sufficient reserves of wind or solar energy have accumulated.

Intelligent charge control responds to signals from the grid operator.

The system of charge control developed for BMW Charging acts as a link between car and power grid. It registers the grid requirements signalled by the operator, making it possible to control the charging of plugged-in electric vehicles for optimum results – whether the vehicle is hooked up to the electricity grid at a public charging station, via a BMW Wallbox or using a domestic power socket. The signals are processed by the digital charge control technology and the vehicle’s connected electronics.

In the latest pilot project, the team succeeded in recording and processing signals from grid operator and project partner TenneT that indicated an imminent grid overload. This allowed charging to be temporarily decreased in selected BMW i3 cars in response. Electricity from renewable sources could then be integrated into the grid to optimum effect and there was no need to use backup power plants running on fossil fuels. The results from the pilot project represent further progress towards digital integration of electric vehicles into the power grid and pave the way for implementing this solution on a larger scale.

Electric mobility: turning a problem for the energy revolution into a solution.

As the number of electric vehicles on our roads continues to grow, so does the amount of electric power needed to fuel individual mobility. Considered in terms of total requirements, however, electric mobility is a relatively small factor. Independent studies predict that in Germany, for example, a fleet of two million electric vehicles would only increase electricity demand by around one per cent.

At the same time, intelligent charge control means electric mobility can help grid operators handle new challenges arising from the increasing input of renewable energy. These centre on precisely balancing supply and demand – i.e. power generation and consumption – both geographically and in terms of quantity. Wind electricity generated in the north of Germany, for instance, must be able to reach consumers in the south. This is made more difficult when the grid is already working at maximum capacity. Without intelligent charging, this can lead to congestion that has to be cleared rapidly. So, if a particular region is at risk of an electricity shortage, the usual response is to increase output from coal- or gas-fired power plants that can be brought on line at short notice.

Intelligent charging can help to keep the price of electricity stable.

Known as “redispatching”, these interventions in the power generation network generate costs in the region of €500 millions a year in Germany alone – and these must be met by the power grid operators. Intelligently controlled charging holds potential to cut these costs, as briefly decreasing vehicle charging eliminates the grid congestion, allowing wind power to flow smoothly and dispensing with the need to use fossil energy in power plants.

As integrating electric vehicles into the power grid and implementing intelligent charge control reduces redispatching costs, it can also help to limit expansion of the cross-regional network of power lines – and thereby restrict electricity price rises.

Contributions made to stabilisation of the power grid also provide the basis for energy-linked business models, as owners of electrified vehicles can actually earn money through intelligently controlled charging. This represents a milestone on the road to realising the BMW Group’s vision of offering electric vehicle drivers electricity for charging their cars that is both free and generated with zero emissions.

An all-encompassing electric mobility offering.

The BMW Group has been running a precursor to the pilot project in Germany for several years already. The ongoing BMW i Charge Forward initiative in California has seen intelligent charging control – according to the needs of both customers and the power grid – undergoing practical trials under everyday conditions with a fleet of over 300 electric vehicles. The local grid operator has backed the scheme with financial rewards. And as the drivers of the electric vehicles participating in the scheme ultimately pocket the bonuses, this is a win-win situation for all involved.

Richmond Hill, ON. BMW Group Canada is pleased to announce that the BMW i3 lineup has joined the MINI Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 on the list of vehicles that qualify for the Canadian iZEV (Incentives For Zero Emissions Vehicles) program introduced by the Canadian government in April, applicable to vehicles purchased on or after May 29, 2019.

To be eligible for the iZEV program, a vehicle must have a base-model manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of less than $45,000 for passenger vehicles with six or fewer seats. Higher priced variants (trims) of these vehicles, up to a maximum base MSRP of $55,00, are also eligible for the iZEV incentives.

The iZEV program applies to all model year 2018 and 2019 BMW i3 and i3s BEV and REX models, and model year 2018 and 2019 MINI Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 PHEV models, including dealer demonstrators with less than 10,000 on the odometer.  Rebates apply to new-vehicle leases as well as purchases. However, leased vehicles must be leased for at least 48 months to get the full amount. The rebate is 25% for a 1 year lease, 50% for a 2 year lease, and 75% for a

3 year lease.

The iZEV rebates are in addition to provincial zero-emissions rebate programs already in place in B.C. with buyers eligible for up to $5,000 toward a plug-in vehicle, and in Quebec, where purchasers are eligible for up to $8,000 for plug-in or fuel cell vehicles.

The new federal iZEV program supports the government’s goal to reach a threshold for zero-emissions new light-duty vehicle sales in Canada of 10 percent by 2025; 30 percent by 2030; and 100 percent by 2040.

For additional iZEV program details, please visit the Transport Canada website:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/road/innovative-technologies/zero-emission-vehicles.html

With the launch of the BMW i3 in 2013, the BMW Group established itself early as a pioneer in the field of electric mobility. Electrification is one of the key pillars of the Group's Strategy NUMBER ONE > NEXT. By 2021, the BMW Group will have five all-electric models: the BMW i3, the MINI Electric, the BMW i4 and the BMW iNEXT. By 2025, that number is set to grow to at least twelve models. Including plug-in hybrids – whose electrically powered range will increase significantly in the coming years – the BMW Group’s electrified product portfolio will then comprise at least 25 models.

2019 technical specifications, wheels and tires and pricing. Please note that this information is specific to Canada and all specifications are subject to change without prior notice.

Munich. Stefan Glowacz has reached his destination. After three months on the eternal ice, rough seas and steep rockfaces, the extreme climber and BMW Outdoor Ambassador has completed his longest adventure to date. The expedition "Coast to Coast" was dedicated to sustainable mobility. Glowacz (53) joined forces with young climbing talent Philipp Hans and photographer Thomas Ulrich to cross the eternal ice of the island of Greenland travelling by kite sled. The journey to and from Greenland was also emissions-free: Glowacz crossed the Atlantic on a sailing boat, and for the first and the final stage between Munich and the Scottish port of Mallaig the trio travelled in two purely electrically powered BMW i3 (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 13.6 – 13.1 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km).

Glowacz and his companions set off on their trip from BMW Welt in Munich, after which they not only crossed the stormy seas of the Atlantic but also the ice plateau of Greenland at an altitude of over 3 000 metres. With interim stops to charge the high-voltage batteries, the fully packed BMW i3 carried the adventurers and their equipment free of local emissions via Holland and Belgium to Scotland, where the 14.5-metre steel yacht "Santa Maria" was ready and waiting. A low-pressure system during the passage to Iceland and icebergs on the way to Disko Bay meant that even crossing to Greenland was quite an ordeal. The climb up the 700-metre high Greenland ice sheet, situated near to the coast, turned out to be more laborious than expected. The trio then took some 30 days to cross the island from west to east, covering a distance of more than 1 000 kilometres. The adventurers' schedule was repeatedly disrupted by temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees as well as days without wind that prevented them from using the kite to pull the sled.

Finally, adverse weather conditions put paid to their planned first ascent of a rockface at Scoresby Sound. Glowacz and Hans had to call off their climb attempt. "Too cold, too much snow and an icy wind," said the professional mountaineer, "so there was no chance to climb." To make up for this, the team was able to enjoy a different kind of natural spectacle on the way back to Iceland: northern lights provided a welcome change during nocturnal helm duty on board the "Santa Maria". After this, another violent storm and mountainous waves up to six metres high impressively demonstrated the forces of nature off the coast of Scotland, once again delaying the crossing. By contrast, the last stage of the trip on the road ran entirely to schedule. Covering a distance of some 2 000 kilometres from Mallaig to Munich, the adventurers were able to look back over what they had experienced in the previous weeks and months.

For years now, Stefan Glowacz has undertaken spectacular expeditions in which he has repeatedly come up against the forces of nature – always in a way that is compatible with the environment. In the same way as he does without technical aids when doing free climbing, he mainly uses his own muscle power when he travels to the rockfaces he climbs, far removed from human civilisation. So the choice of transportation was an important aspect of the "Coast to Coast" adventure, too. "The aim of this expedition is to inspire people to think and follow suit, as well as creating an even greater awareness of the issue of sustainability", says Glowacz. "So the outward and homeward journey in the BMW i3 was the icing on the cake to ensure a perfect sustainability expedition."

The figures for fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions and power consumption are calculated based on the measurement methods stipulated in the current version of Regulation (EU) 2007/715. The information is based on a vehicle with basic equipment in Germany; ranges take into account differences in wheel and tyre size selected as well as optional equipment and can change during configuration.

The information has already been calculated based on the new WLTP test cycle adapted to NEDC for comparison purposes. In these vehicles, different figures than those published here may apply for the assessment of taxes and other vehicle-related duties which are (also) based on CO₂ emissions.

For further details of the official fuel consumption figures and official specific CO₂emissions of new cars, please refer to the "Manual on fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions and power consumption of new cars", available at sales outlets, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at http://www.dat.de/angebote/verlagsprodukte/leitfaden-kraftstoffverbrauch.html.

Richmond Hill, ON.  BMW is pleased to announce the next chapter in the i3 story of electromobility; the new 2019 i3 and i3s with 120 ampere hours (Ah) batteries. Since its launch in 2014, the battery capacity of the i3 has grown from the original 60Ah, to 94Ah, and now 120Ah for 2019. With the high voltage battery cell capacity increased to 120 Ah and a gross energy content of 42.2 kilowatt hours (kWh), the new generation of high-voltage batteries enables the BMW i3 120 Ah and the BMW i3s 120Ah to achieve a range of up to 246 kilometres, nearly a 30% improvement from the 94 Ah model. The 2019 i3 REX model range is expected to be similarly improved, pending Natural Resoures Canada certification.

The BMW i3 is a visionary electric vehicle and an inspirational design that has helped to make BMW i so popular through its innovative mobility solutions with sustainability as a key defining element. The BMW i brand has established itself as a pioneer for forward-thinking mobility by offering such products while also adopting an all-embracing approach that takes into account the complete lifecycle, from raw material production, through the manufacture and operation of the vehicles to their later recycling.

Complementing the introduction of the new battery, a new exterior color, a new color for the optional Mega World upholstery and full LED headlights with cornering lights and automatic high beams, are also available for the BMW i3 and BMW i3s. iDrive 6.0, previously available only with the optional Navigation Professional, is now featured on the standard navigation system. Additionally, a Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless charging tray for your personal mobile devices is available for the first time.

New generation battery development: increased energy

The BMW eDrive technology enables drivers to enjoy emission-free mobility with instantaneous power delivery, efficient use of energy and an optimized range for everyday practicality that even extends beyond the demands of purely urban travel.

Like the electric motors, the high-voltage batteries are an integral part of the BMW eDrive technology used in BMW i automobiles and developed in-house the BMW Group. Based on research and development work conducted in close cooperation with the manufacturer of the individual battery cells, constant improvements to the battery packs’ power output, vehicle range, safety and durability have been achieved. Installed low in the floor of the vehicle, the new high-voltage battery is produced at the BMW plant in Dingolfing and consists of eight modules, each with twelve storage cells: the latest cell capacity of 120Ah along with a gross energy content of 42.2kWh. The exterior dimensions of the battery pack remain unchanged. When launched in 2014, the i3’s battery pack provided 60 Ah and 22.6kWh, while the second-generation battery introduced for 2017 offered a capacity of 94Ah and 33kWh.

The BMW i3, powered by a 170 hp electric motor, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds, while the BMW i3s with 180 hp completes the standard sprint in 6.9 seconds. The two models set the benchmark for sporty performance within their vehicle segment.

With its battery capacity increased to 42.2kWh, the latest version of the BMW i3 follows the brand's holistic concept; a responsible use of resources including not only locally emissions-free power but also material selection, production techniques and available mobility services. The BMW i3 120Ah and the BMW i3s 120Ah have a much more favorable CO2 footprint across the entire vehicle lifecycle – from raw material extraction and manufacture through to use and recycling – and this makes for significantly lower global warming potential than is the case with comparable, conventionally powered automobiles.

Design and Interior: great sense of roominess, sustainable materials.

The interior styling of the new BMW i3 and BMW i3s is rooted in the LifeDrive vehicle architecture. The carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell has a wonderfully spacious feel about it and is dominated by a sense of lightness. The design principle of the two four-seater models means there is no need for either fixed B-pillars or a transmission tunnel. Doors that open in opposite directions allow the occupants to get in and out with the greatest of ease.

New for 2019 exterior color choices is Jucaro Beige Metallic w/ Frozen Grey accents which replaces the outgoing Protonic Blue Metallic w/Frozen Grey accent.

Interior trim changes include Mega World now offering Electronic Brown Trim and Mega Carum Spice Grey SensaTec with Brown Cloth highlights. Tera World now includes higher quality Tera Dark Truffle Vernasca Leather. The BMW i3 and BMW i3s apply the concept of sustainability throughout, as other materials used are recycled plastics, renewable raw materials, natural fibers and open-pored, unbleached eucalyptus wood. Over 80 percent of the surfaces visible to the passengers are made from recycled materials or renewable resources. The available seat belts in BMW i Blue for the BMW i3s provide a splash of color in the interior.

Connectivity and Driver Assistance Systems.

BMW Connected bolsters the link between the i3 and the digital experience. Remote Services allow you to check if your windows are closed and doors are locked. You can also precondition the climate of the i3 for a comfortable temperature before your departure as well as warming the battery under certain conditions. On the eDrive tab, one can browse through various efficiency statistics, monitor your electrical consumption, energy recuperation statistics and observe your efficiency.

The driver assistance systems available for the 2019 BMW i3 and BMW i3s ease the driver’s workload and provide support in various traffic situations, as well as helping with longitudinal and lateral vehicle control. The optional Technology and Driving Assistance Package includes LED headlights with cornering lights, Active Driving Assistant, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Daytime Pedestrian Protection, Frontal Collision Warning with City Collision Mitigation, and Advanced Real-Time Traffic Information.

San Francisco/ Munich. At theGovernor’s Global Climate Action Summit (12–14September 2018) in San Francisco, the BMW Groupand PG&E present the results of their ChargeForward project in favour of maximizing the use of electricity from renewable resources to charge electric cars.

The main findings are:

•  Electric vehicles can help stabilizing the public grid and maximizing the portion of renewables.
•  Drivers are willing to change their charging habits in order to align with renewables, given the right messaging and incentives.
•  Energy companies can help increase daytime charging with renewables by supporting companies in adding workplace charging.
•  Sharing data with other drivers is a motivator for many participants.
•  Programmes like ChargeForward improve customers’ understanding of how the grid works, which helps them become more educated energy consumers.
  
  

The bottom line is that owners of all electrified cars could be able to make their high-voltage batteries available as a flexibility buffer for power generated from renewable sources. At the same time, they could receive bonuses by charging their vehicle at the best possible time of day – and therefore maximising the proportion of solar energy they use – whether they are at home or out and about and using a public charging facility.

„Our target is to offer charging power generated with the lowest possible CO2 emissions at most attractive prices to drivers of our electric cars", says Dr. Joachim Kolling, Head of BMW Group Mobility and Energy Services

"As California advances toward a carbon free economy, this collaboration demonstrates how utilities and automakers can partner to more efficiently utilize the grid through smart and managed charging. Together we are paving the way for the rapid growth of electric cars and achieving a clean and sustainable energy future", adds Steve Malnight, Senior Vice President, Energy Supply and Policy Pacific Gas & Electric.

ChargeForward brings CO2-neutral electric mobilityand efficient, environment-friendly electricitysupplyanother step closer together. The innovation project launched byBMW iand power supplier Pacific Gas&Electric (PG&E) in theSan Francisco Bay AreainCalifornia has been running since 2015. Currently,350 owners of electrified vehicles from the BMW and MINI brands who also have aPG&E supply contract are taking part in the pioneering fleet trial.

* End of short version. *

TheChargeForward pilot projectin Californiais stepping up the ways in which electric mobilitycan link with eco-friendly changes inenergy use. The project is bridging the gap between electric vehicles and the public gridwith at echnology that hasthe potential to make electric driving emission-free not only locally but across the board. Key elements here include daily forecasts from energy providers on when and how much electricity from renewable sources will be available on thegrid. Customer requirements and preferences regarding vehicle usage periods and parking times are also taken into account. The ConnectedDrive telematics unit fitted in all BMW vehicles and the BMW Connected app play a crucial role here.

When the ChargeForward project was launched in 2015, around 100 BMWi3 drivers downloaded a ChargeForward app which allowed flexible vehicle charging from the electricity grid. This meant the charging process could be paused when the grid enjoyed particularly high demand and then restarted when the peak had tailed off again. Drivers would be informed of any charging pauses by a message to their smartphone. As a customer only rarely needs to use the whole time their vehicle is parked for charging, in many cases they would be able to benefit from periods when electric isavailable at lower cost. This would also present an easy way for the energy company to avoid grid overloads and ensure consistent and therefore efficient supply.

Since2017, the results of the second phase of the project have shown how a flexible charging strategycan contribute not only to stabilising the energy grid but also increasing the proportion of green energy sourced forel ectric mobility. Around EarthDay earlier this year, carefully managed charging in sunny California enabled greater use of electricity generated from renewable sources. Around 350 BMW i car drivers participating in the ChargeForward project were prompted to charge their vehicles’ high-voltage batteries during the day. In this way, they prioritised those periods when solar energy was available in particularly large quantities. This meant approximately 56 per cent of the power they fed into their vehicles during the test period could ultimately be sourced renewably – and more than half of the project participants’mileage in their BMW i3carsduring the test was therefore completely CO2-neutral. By comparison, the average percentage of renewable energy for the US stood at just 22 per cent.

The Governor’s Global ClimateAction Summit in San Francisco brings together international representatives from politics and government, environmental associations, business and industry to discuss the impact of climate change and possible measures to counteract it. The event shines the spotlight on ways to reduce CO2emissions generated by humans. TheBMW Group is contributing to the summit in various ways –e.g. witha run-downof the conclusions from the phases of the ChargeForward project completed so far and a presentation of further initiatives aimed at integrating electric mobility into a sustainable and largely CO2-neutral energy supply system.

By pressing ahead with the ChargeForward project, BMW iand PG&E are showing their commitment to further incentivising intelligent charging and to incorporating electric vehicles into the public energy grid even more efficiently.In the near future, high-voltage batteries from electrified BMW and MINI cars should be able to not only take on as much renewably sourced electricity as possible, but also feed it back into the grid, when there is a shortage of electricity from renewable resources. By acting as temporary energy storage facilities, they can help to stabilise energy supply. For example, they can be used to cover load peaks inenergy generation from wind and solar power (e.g. on particularly windy or sunny days) and channel the energy stored back into the grid in the evening, whent he sun has set and demand is elevated.

About BMW i
BMW i is a BMW Group brand focusing on connected mobility services, visionary vehicle concepts and a new understanding of premium strongly defined by sustainability. BMW i is represented in 54 countries with the electric BMW i3, the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car and BMW iPerformance plug-in hybrid automobiles.

BMW i opens up new target groups for the company and serves as an incubator for innovations. Technologies which have debuted successfully in BMW i cars are carried over to parent brand BMW’s other models. BMW i is also associated with enterprises including DriveNow (car sharing), ReachNow (car sharing 2.0), ChargeNow (easy access to the world’s largest network of charging points), ParkNow (straightforward location, reservation and payment of parking spaces), the venture capital company BMW i Ventures (investment in start-up companies with a focus on urban mobility), BMW Energy (energy optimisation services) and the Centre of Competence for Urban Mobility (consultancy for cities).

In the event of enquiries please contact:

Wieland Brúch,
BMW i and Electric Mobility Communications

Telephone: +49-89-382-72652

E-mail: wieland.bruch@bmwgroup.com

Internet: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

E-mail: presse@bmw.de

Munich. The BMW i3 sets standards worldwide for driving pleasure in a purely electrically-driven vehicle. Key factors here are not only the increased output of the motor in the new BMW i3s, but also the innovative traction control system adapted specifically to the instantaneous power deliver of the BMW eDrive system. Presented for the first time in the new BMW i3s (270 Nm at 0 rpm, 135 kW / 184 HP, power consumption combined in European NEFZ test-cycle*: 14.3 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km), the system improves traction and driving stability in adverse weather and road conditions when pulling away, in active Brake Energy Regeneration phases and when accelerating out of tight corners. At the heart of this innovation is the control system’s 50-times-faster routine, made possible because – unlike conventional driving stability systems – the control process is now calculated directly in the powertrain instead of in a remote unit requiring long signal paths. This development provides further evidence of BMW i as a pioneer of innovative technology within the BMW Group.

“With their high levels of torque and instantaneous responses to every movement of the accelerator, electric motors already make significantly higher demands on driving stability systems than conventional power units,” explains Peter Langen, Head of Chassis Development at BMW.

That’s why the BMW engineers developed a new type of system geared squarely to the demands of electric mobility.
The positive impact of these shorter control cycles is not reserved for purely electrically driven cars; indeed, this innovative traction control system also optimises traction, driving stability and driving dynamics in vehicles with combustion engines. It will therefore be fitted in BMW and MINI models with front-, rear- and all-wheel drive to deliver noticeably greater assurance and driving pleasure when road conditions make pulling away difficult.

About BMW i
BMW i is a BMW Group brand focusing on visionary vehicle concepts, connected mobility services and a new understanding of premium strongly defined by sustainability. BMW i is represented in 54 countries with the BMW i3 electric car for urban areas, BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car and plug-in hybrid BMW iPerformance Automobiles. 
BMW i opens up new target groups for the company and serves as an incubator for innovations. Technologies which have debuted successfully in BMW i cars are carried over to parent brand BMW’s other models.
BMW i is also associated with enterprises including DriveNow (car sharing), ReachNow (car sharing 2.0), ChargeNow (easy access to the world’s largest network of charging points), ParkNow (straightforward location, reservation and payment of parking spaces), venture capital company BMW i Ventures (investment in start-up companies with a focus on urban mobility), BMW Energy (energy optimisation services) and the Centre of Competence for Urban Mobility (consultancy for cities).

^* Further information on official fuel consumption figures, specific CO2 emission values and the electric power consumption of new passenger cars is included in the following guideline: “Leitfaden über Kraftstoffverbrauch, die CO2 emissions und den Stromverbrauch neuer Personenkraftwagen” (Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars), which can be obtained from all dealerships, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1. 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at http://www.dat.de/en/offers/publications/guideline-for-fuel-consumption.html. LeitfadenCO2 (GuidelineCO2) (PDF ‒ 2.7 MB)

In the event of enquiries please contact:

Wieland Brúch,
Media Relations Manager BMW i and Electric Mobility

Telephone: +49-89-382-72652

Email: wieland.bruch@bmwgroup.com

Paloma Brunckhorst
Media Relations Manager BMW i, BMW iPerformance

Telephone: +49-89-382-22322

Email: Paloma.Brunckhorst@bmwgroup.com

Internet: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

2018 technical specifications, wheels and tires and pricing. Please note that this information is specific to Canada and all specifications are subject to change without prior notice.

Richmond Hill, ON.  Reinforcing its commitment to offer 25 electrified models –12 of which will be purely electric – by 2025, BMW Group will showcase five electric vehicles at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show including the North American premieres of the BMW i Vision Dynamics, MINI Electric Concept, BMW i3s, and a World Premiere vehicle that will be shown during the BMW Group press conference on Wednesday, November 29 at 8:50 a.m. PST at the BMW Stand in the Los Angeles Convention Center. The press conference will be livestreamed on www.BMWUSANews.com.

In addition, the BMW M3 CS will make its world premiere, and the BMW 8 Series Concept and the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo will make their North American premieres. The BMW Concept X7 iPerformance and the all-new BMW M5 will also be featured.

The BMW i Vision Dynamics is an all-electric, emission-free four-door Gran Coupe that accelerates from 0-100km/h in four seconds, has a top speed of over 200km/h with a range of 600 kilometres. The BMW i Vision Dynamics combines electric mobility with the core values of BMW – dynamism and elegance – and demonstrates how the product range and design language of BMW i can be further incorporated into other models. The new characterization of BMW i’s iconic window profile is a standout feature of the BMW i Vision Dynamics, offering all passengers equally striking views out of the vehicle to lend a shared driving experience – a factor that will become increasingly relevant as semi- and fully autonomous driving become closer to commonplace.

Fully electric vehicles will run across the BMW Group portfolio and MINI will showcase its take on future personal mobility in the city with the North American premiere of the MINI Electric Concept. Designed for use in urban areas, this MINI Electric Concept vehicle offers a window into how pure-electric day-to-day mobility might look in the years ahead. The concept vehicle brings the iconic design, city-dwelling heritage and customary go-kart feeling of the MINI brand into the electric mobility age. MINI will then present an all-electric series-production model in 2019.      

The new BMW i3s is a sportier and more powerful variant of the BMW i3, the best-selling compact battery-electric vehicle in the premium compact segment worldwide since it launched in 2014. The first ever BMW i3s provides an even sportier interpretation of silent mobility with zero emissions and features a high output 184 hp electric motor that generates peak torque of 199 lb-ft. The BMW i3s accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and has a top speed of 160 km/h.The BMW i3s uses a lithium-ion high-voltage battery developed by the BMW Group with a cell capacity of 94-ampere hours (Ah). Like the BMW i3, the BMW i3s applies the concept of sustainability throughout the interior and exterior of the vehicle, incorporating recycled plastics, renewable raw materials, natural fibres, and open-pored, unbleached eucalyptus wood in the design. The new BMW i3s will be available in Canadian showrooms in early 2018. MSRP has been announced at starting from $52,350.

The first-ever BMW M3 CS will make its world debut in Los Angeles. The special-edition model delivers a fine blend of high performance and complete everyday practicality. The extensive use of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic has kept the BMW M3 CS extremely light, around 25 per cent lighter than a standard M3. The M TwinPower Turbo technology six-cylinder inline engine yields 453 hp generating a peak torque of 443 lb-ft. The BMW M3 CS accelerates from 0-100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds and has a top speed of 280 km/h. The BMW M3 CS will be available to order starting in second quarter 2018. Pricing will be announced closer to market launch.  

The BMW 8 Series Concept marks the long-awaited return of the BMW 8 Series. The pinnacle of luxury for BMW, the BMW 8 Series Concept combines razor-sharp dynamics and modern luxury, and is a precursor to the BMW 8 Series Coupe that’s scheduled for launch in 2018. Its exterior brings together the past and the future: the body is unmistakably a BMW, but it also displays new design ideas and form-building techniques, offering a fresh interpretation of BMW styling cues.

The BMW X7 iPerformance Concept introduces a new model concept for the premium segment that utilizes BMW eDrive technology with a BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engine creating an exceptionally efficient and dynamic plug-in hybrid powertrain that excels in all driving situations, including running with zero local emissions. With a generously-sized, six-person interior, the BMW X7 iPerformance Concept offers an interior with a state-of-the-art infotainment system brimming with connectivity that provides an unmatched experience by any BMW past or present. As a result of the interplay between precise, pared-down forms and an open sense of space, the driver and passengers are immersed in a unique, modern setting.

The all-new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo is offered exclusively in the BMW 640i xDrive variant and has a distinct coupe-inspired aerodynamic design. Featuring the award-winning BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, the six-cylinder inline gasoline engine generates maximum output of 335 hp and peak torque of 332 lb-ft, accelerating from 0-100 km/h in just 5.3 seconds. The intelligent lightweight chassis construction paired to the standard eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission with paddle shifters, improved aerodynamics featuring BMW Active Kidney Grille, Air Curtains, Air Breathers and active rear spoiler, a double wishbone front suspension, and standard rear air suspension create a sporty and dynamic experience. The all-new 2018 BMW 640i xDrive Gran Turismo is available in showrooms now, with an MSRP of $76,700.

The BMW M5 has been regarded as the quintessential high performance sports sedan since its initial iteration launched in 1984. The 2018 BMW M5 marks the debut of the first ever M-specific all-wheel drive system, M xDrive, which allows the BMW M5 to reach new heights of dynamic performance and deliver poise in all driving situations. Thanks to a 4.4-litre V8 engine featuring M TwinPower Turbo technology, the BMW M5 produces 600 hp and 553 lb-ft of peak torque, skyrocketing from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds, making it the quickest and most agile to date. The 2018 BMW M5 will be available in showrooms during first quarter 2018, with an MSRP of $113,300.

                                                        -30-

BMW Group in Canada

BMW Group Canada, based in Richmond Hill, Ontario, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BMW AG and is responsible for the distribution of BMW luxury performance automobiles, Sports Activity Vehicles, Motorcycles, and MINI. BMW Group Financial Services Canada is a division of BMW Group Canada and offers retail financing and leasing programs and protection products on new and pre-owned BMW and MINI automobiles, as well as retail financing for new and pre-owned BMW Motorcycles. A total network of 48 BMW automobile retail centres, 20 BMW motorcycle retailers, and 30 MINI retailers represents the BMW Group across the country.

For more information, please contact:

Marc Belcourt, Director, Corporate Communications

BMW Group Canada

905-428-5078 / marc.belcourt@bmwgroup.ca                                 

Rob Dexter, Product and Technology Specialist

BMW Group Canada

905-428-5447 / robert.dexter@bmwgroup.ca

Barb Pitblado, Manager, Corporate Communications

BMW Group Canada  

905-428-5005 / barb.pitblado@bmwgroup.ca

Richmond Hill, ON. BMW is pleased to announce the latest BMW i3 including the first ever BMW i3s, as part of the BMW i portfolio which entails the most awarded models in the automotive history. The BMW i3 is the bestselling compact battery-electric vehicle in the Premium Segment worldwide since it was launched in 2014, with the sales curve showing a clear upward trend.

The design of the new BMW i3 and the exclusive first-ever BMW i3s has been altered to enhance the sporty, urban built yet elegant design of the model. Featuring a wider track, wheel arch molding and design lines that are vastly horizontal, the 2018 BMW i3 models have morphed into a versatile, urban, innovative efficiency mobility vehicle. For the first time, BMW also offers a more powerful and sportier version of the BMW i3 - the BMW i3s which can also be equipped with a Range Extender.

The 2018 BMW i3 and BMW i3s will celebrate their world premiere at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt in September 2017. MSRP will be announced closer to the Canadian market launch in early 2018.

Electric Driving: A new era of mobility.

The BMW i3 leads the way to a new era of mobility. It is recognized worldwide as a symbol of technology, sustainability and intelligent connectivity in the urban traffic environment, which is why it has become the best-selling electric car in the premium compact segment. The recipe for success of the BMW i3 has been enhanced thanks to refreshing styling accents, cutting-edge equipment features and new digital services, but also to the addition of a new model variant – the first ever BMW i3s. Keeping with tradition, the 2018 BMW i3 model will also be available with a Range Extender. By offering premium-quality, all-electric driving experience, meaning zero emissions and performance, in combination with the latest available connected technology, both model variants represent the future of urban mobility.

The BMW i3 has been the top-selling premium electric car in its class since 2014 worldwide. It is not just the visionary electric vehicles and inspirational design that help to make BMW i so popular, but also its innovative mobility solutions and the revolutionary new form of premium character, with sustainability as a key defining element. By offering such products while also adopting an all-embracing approach that takes into account the complete lifecycle – from raw material production, through the manufacture and operation of the vehicles to their later recycling – the BMW i brand has established itself as a pioneer for forward-thinking mobility.

Emission free mobility and performance.

The BMW eDrive technology enables drivers to enjoy emission-free mobility with instantaneous power delivery, efficient use of energy and an optimized range for everyday practicality that even extends beyond the demands of purely urban travel. The BMW i3 and the more powerful BMW i3s draw their energy from the lithium-ion high-voltage battery developed by the BMW Group with a cell capacity of 94 ampere hours (Ah). A range extender engine can be ordered as an option for both the new BMW i3 and the first ever BMW i3s.

BMW driving dynamics with instantaneous torque.

The agile handling characteristics of the BMW i3 have been optimized with the improved Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system. This comprehensively revised, faster responding traction control system guarantees confident handling under all driving conditions. Traction in less than ideal driving conditions have also been noticeably improved. Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) mode now boosts agility at higher speeds and during sporty cornering, even allowing mild and safely controllable drifts when grip levels are reduced.

The synchronous electric motor powering the new BMW i3 generates a maximum output of 170 hp. Its peak torque is 184 lb-ft, all of which is available instantly from standstill, in typical electric motor fashion. This means that stepping on the accelerator pedal immediately unleashes a thrilling burst of speed. The motor smoothly delivers the kind of performance that drivers expect from a BMW via a single-speed automatic transmission, with continuous power delivery that builds up the car’s speed. The new BMW i3 accelerates from 0 – 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds (preliminary). Its top speed is limited to 150 km/h.

The first ever BMW i3s: a thoroughly dynamic performer.

The first of its kind and more powerful BMW i3s incorporates a number of design elements all of its own that highlight its particularly dynamic character. Both the front and rear aprons are notable for their model-specific, powerfully shaped contours. At the front, the bumper inlay and its U-shaped surroundings are in black finish. The front facia’s side sections are bordered on their lower edge by accent strips in BMW i Blue or Frozen Grey that emphasize the width of the car, complementing the front facia. The accent in the closed BMW kidney grille is also painted in high-gloss black to give the grille a more prominent appearance. The rear apron of the first-ever BMW i3s is likewise composed of individually styled contours, while the black surround frames an extra-wide, body-colored inlay. On the first-ever BMW i3s, the roof line accent also sports the same high-gloss black finish as the A-pillars.

Underneath all of the design elements, the first-ever BMW i3s features a sports suspension that includes a 10-millimeter drop in height. The black wheel arch moldings’ emphasize an increase of 40 millimeters track width compared to the BMW i3 providing a stable stance and visually a broader presence. The BMW i3s comes standard with exclusive 20-inch light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design which are ½-inch wider than the previously available wheels. In addition the wheel arches in high-gloss black add 20 millimeters in width which optically enhance the vehicles size. Overall, the first ever BMW i3s is the most powerful BMW i3 to date and its sporty character is reflected via design elements highlighting width.

New high-performance motor and SPORT mode for BMW i3s.

The first ever BMW i3s provides an even sportier interpretation of silent mobility with zero emissions and features a high output 184 hp (preliminary) electric motor that generates peak torque of 199 lb-ft (preliminary). Its updated drive system includes modified motor control and specific taper roller bearings, which have been utilized to optimize power delivery and the performance curve at higher rpm. At the limits of the motor speed range, the power and torque of the enhanced drive system represent an improvement of up to 40 percent over the BMW i3. The driving dynamics and enhanced e-Driving abilities are significant especially at higher engine speeds when higher performance and higher torque is more noticeable.

The first-ever BMW i3s features sports suspension with specially developed springs, dampers and anti-roll bars. Drivers can now also select SPORT mode using the Driving Dynamics Control switch. This initiates more direct accelerator response and tighter steering characteristics to accentuate the car’s sporting edge. Just 6.8 seconds (preliminary) is enough to see the BMW i3s burst past 100 km/h on its way to a top speed of 160 km/h (preliminary).

A two-cylinder range extender gasoline engine is available as an option for all BMW i3 models. The engine drives a generator that produces power as required to feed electricity to the high-voltage battery which becomes available whenever necessary.

Design accents: A sporty yet elegant look.

The unmistakable, avant-garde exterior styling of BMW i3 has already picked up the iF Gold award for product design and the World Car Design of the Year award along with other accolades, and it has now been enhanced by a number of design touches that clearly convey the sporty and stirring driving experience on offer.

The trademark BMW i Black Belt, running from the trunk over the roof to the car’s rear end is now complemented by A-pillars and roof lines that also sport a black finish. In contrast to the BMW i Black belt, two new exterior paint colors Melbourne Red metallic and Imperial Blue metallic compliment the vehicle design. Besides these two new additions, customers can also choose from the non-metallic shades Capparis White and Fluid Black as well as Protonic Blue metallic and Mineral Grey metallic. A matte-chrome roof line accent on the BMW i3, as part of the black A-pillar and roof layer, add a touch of elegance. This design element also improves height perception, adding to the models stance as it widens towards the rear.

The restyling of the front and rear aprons places particular emphasis on the car’s width. The redesigned front contour highlights a wider stance with athletic characteristic. A chrome-design trim strip running across the full width of the rear and the positioning of the model and eDrive badges on the outer edges of the tailgate serves to reinforce this impression.

The new BMW i3 and the first-ever BMW i3s come equipped with Full-LED headlights as standard, which employ LED bulb units for low and high beams, as well as the daytime running lights. The new turn signal indicators also feature LED technology and are integrated into the front apron in the form of horizontal strips. This means that LEDs are now used for all lighting functions at the front of the vehicle too, as was already the case with the glass-covered rear light assemblies.

The new design elements highlight the enhanced character to emphasize a strong presence and sportiness. The BMW i3’s strong character is enhanced by the U-shaped feature line in matte black in the bumper. The horizontal LED indicators emphasize width even more. The rear shows off, the powerfully molded contours and the contrast in color between the black surround and the body-colored inlay.

Interior: great sense of roominess, sustainable materials.

Like the exterior design, the interior styling of the new BMW i3 and  first ever BMW i3s is rooted in the LifeDrive vehicle architecture. The carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell has a wonderfully spacious feel about it and is dominated by a sense of lightness. The design principle of the two four-seater models means there is no need for either fixed B-pillars or a transmission tunnel. Doors that open in opposite directions allow the occupants to get in and out with the greatest of ease.

The BMW i3 and BMW i3s apply the concept of sustainability throughout as other materials used are recycled plastics, renewable raw materials, natural fibers and open-pored, unbleached eucalyptus wood. Over 80 percent of the surfaces visible to the passengers are made from recycled materials or renewable resources. The available seat belts in BMW iBlue for the first ever BMW i3s only, provides a splash of color in the interior. Typical BMW i Brand lettering are also visible on the front floor mats.

Technology and Driver Assistance Systems.

The driver assistance systems available for the new BMW i3 and first-ever BMW i3s ease the driver’s workload and provide support in various traffic situations, as well as helping with longitudinal and lateral vehicle control. The Dirver Assistance Package offers Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go, Advanced Real-Time Traffic Information, Parking Assistant and Apple CarPlay.

Once a suitable parking space parallel to the road has been selected and the feature has been activated, the Parking Assistant takes control of acceleration, braking, gear selection and steering. Driving Assistance systems also include Daytime Pedestrian Protection, Frontal Collision Warning with City Collision Mitigation and Speed Limit Info.

The latest BMW iDrive 6 interface, ConnectedDrive with navigation features specially developed for electric mobility.

Both the new BMW i3 and first-ever BMW i3s come with the latest version of iDrive, which provides an intuitive interface for controlling numerous vehicle, infotainment, communications and navigation functions, specifically designed for BMW i. In vehicles equipped with the Navigation system Professional, the Control Display has a diagonal of 10.25 inches and an increased resolution of 1,440 × 540 pixels. The main menu is presented in the form of live tiles containing dynamic content. The voice recognition system has also been optimized with cloud based off-board processing of speech. With Natural Language Understanding available with the Navigation system Professional, spoken instructions can now be executed more quickly and naturally, i.e. when searching for an address or Point of Interest, or for searching music and phone numbers or dictating e-mails and SMS messages. Natural phrases such as “find coffee shops nearby” or “take me home” make for an effortless experience. When equipped with Apple CarPlay, additional smartphone apps can be seamlessly integrated within the vehicle’s operating system.

The enhanced BMW i ConnectedDrive offering ensures intelligent connectivity through services specially tailored to electric mobility. Specifically designed for BMW i, public charging stations and information about their availability can also be displayed on the navigation system’s map. When route guidance is activated, data about the route is also used to calculate the range shown in the instrument cluster as accurately as possible. Standard on the i3, the range map provides a visual representation of the current operating radius. With Navigation Professional, the dynamic range map draws a boundary representing the maximum range the vehicle could travel on its current charge status. It is also possible to display the different ranges achievable in each of the Driving Dynamic Control modes.

360° ELECTRIC: new charging cable, BMW i Charging Station.

360° ELECTRIC is a range of products and services that help make electric mobility a convenient, everyday experience. The functionality of the standard charging cable supplied with the first ever BMW i3s has been optimized and includes a temperature sensor. Charging at home is extremely user-friendly thanks to the BMW i Charging Station which can supply 7.2 kW of power to charge the high-voltage battery. This allows enough energy for an electric range of around 150 kilometres to be transferred in three hours – about five times quicker than with the standard Level 1 120 V charging cable. Drivers with a registered ChargeNow card have unrestricted access to the world’s largest network of public charging stations.

BMW Original Accessory: BMW TurboCord™ EV Charger.

Now available as a BMW Original Accessory the BMW TurboCord™ Electric Vehicle Charger can be purchased at authorized BMW Retailers for $ 720.00 MSRP. This premium charging solution provides BMW i and BMW iPerformance drivers with the ultimate charging experience – flexible dual-voltage (120 V / 240 V) capability and nearly three-times faster charging – all in the smallest, lightest UL-listed portable charger available. The BMW TurboCord™ EV Charger components have been specifically engineered by BMW to meet BMW Group standards and requirements,  featuring a convenient 6 metre charging cord, and provides two chargers in one.

Level 1 charging is readily available when plugged into any 120 V outlet and it also allows customers to charge up-to at 3.6 kW, nearly three-times faster than the standard occasional use cable (OUC) when used with a 240 V outlet (NEMA 6-20). Also integrated are such state-of-the-art safety features as unit and plug temperature monitoring, automatic shut-off and a rugged, waterproof, submersible enclosure (NEMA 6P) that enables users to safely and reliably charge indoor and outdoor.

Sustainability meets personal mobility.

BMW i is shaping the future of sustainable personal mobility. Its integrated concept focuses on responsible use of resources and incorporates material selection and innovative mobility services alongside emission-free driving. The BMW i3 is just as serious about the fun of driving, turning even a trip around town into an electrifying experience. The inspirational design of the BMW i3 expresses a new style, while the instantaneous power from the drive system provides an inspiring showcase for the dawn of a new era in mobility.

This car’s architecture was designed from the ground up with electric mobility in mind. Combining the latest technological innovations with an evolutionary development of the car’s design and the expansion of the model range has provided additional impetus for BMW’s now familiar take on premium electric mobility. The character profiles of the new BMW i3 and first-ever BMW i3s are focused more than ever on driving experience, which gives them all the ingredients required to strengthen their leading position in e-mobility and the BMW i success story.

Richmond Hill, ON. The new BMW i3 (94 Ah), was today declared the inaugural winner of the 2017 World Urban Car award at the New York International Auto Show.

“We are delighted and honoured that the BMW i3 has been recognized as the World Urban Car of the Year,” said Ludwig Willisch, Head of BMW Group Region Americas. “This award highlights BMW Group’s commitment to sustainable mobility through BMW’s first all-electric vehicle made primarily of carbon fibre. The design brief for the BMW i3 was to create a Mega City Vehicle for the cities of the future. Today, the new 2017 BMW i3 (94 Ah) provides more range paired with a high-level of dynamic performance, making it the perfect urban vehicle for people around the world.”

Launched in 2014, the born electric BMW i3 represents a new era of electro mobility offering a visionary design, a ground-breaking vehicle architecture, dynamic performance and innovative connectivity. No other car represents such a holistic approach to sustainability throughout the value chain.

World Car vice-chairman, Mike Rutherford, commented, “It's an award whose time has come. Everyday cars in many - perhaps most - parts of the world will have to become smaller if road and parking space is to be found for them in increasingly packed towns and cities whose populations are swelling annually. This year's winner in our inaugural World Urban Car category proves that these small vehicles don't have to be cheap, undesirable and unpleasant to drive. Quite the opposite. It is among the best value-for-money products on the market”.

The new 2017 BMW i3 (94 Ah) offers 50% increased battery capacity (33 kWh) thanks to the higher energy density of the lithium ion cells. The BMW i team worked to ensure that the battery dimensions remain unchanged while still offering a significant range increase. The driving performance figures of the 170 hp AC synchronous electric motor remain virtually unchanged. The motor propels the BMW i3 from 0 to 100 km/h in just over 7 seconds making the BMW i3 the sportiest and most efficient electric vehicle in the premium segment. With the introduction of the BMW i3 (94 Ah), BMW i now also offers a new BMW Home Charger Connect, a residential charging station designed for comfortable and fast home charging featuring additional connected functions.

Munich. BMW i will debut as the exclusive transportation partner at the Coachella Valley Music & Art Festival in 2017, providing VIP shuttle service and hospitality during the weekends of April 14-16 and 21-23. BMW’s sustainable, future-oriented brand will provide BMW i3 electric vehicles and BMW X5 40e iPerformance plug-in hybrid electric vehicles for transportation on and around the festival site.

A stand-out feature of the BMW i3 fleet at Coachella is a unique wrap that was created especially for the occasion, its design reflecting the creative and unconventional character of the event. BMW i8 plug-in hybrid electric sports cars with Coachella design will also take to the roads between Los Angeles and Palm Springs with a selected group of festival-bound celebrities and influencers on board.

Coachella is one of the world’s largest music festivals and provides an ideal stage for the BMW i brand: “The wealth of ideas the artists bring and the festival’s focus on sustainability create a unique atmosphere; Coachella is the birthplace for many trends, ideas and movements,” says Hildegard Wortmann, Senior Vice President Brand BMW. “BMW i is likewise a driver of pioneering innovations and the joy of sustainable mobility. We are positioning the sub-brand as open-minded, creative and inspiring – and Coachella provides an exceptional platform for this purpose, uniting creativity, passion and connectedness. We’re looking forward to an inspirational partnership.”

"Road to Coachella".

A social media campaign entitled “Road to Coachella” kicked-off the partnership on March 14. The campaign offers festival goers the chance to be entered into a drawing to win a festival pass by documenting their preparation for the festival and their own journey to Coachella Valley via social media using the hashtag #RoadToCoachella. 

Renowned composer and music producer Hans Zimmer (“Inception”, “Pearl Harbor”, “The Dark Knight” and “The Lion King”) has provided the soundtrack for a video promoting “Road to Coachella.

The three-minute piece, which debuted on April 9 on BMW’s YouTube Channel, is set to a Zimmer’s music and features the BMW i8 hybrid electric sports car, while providing a look at his preparations as he and his orchestra ready for their first-ever Coachella performance. Also featured in the video are fellow Coachella performers including Marshmello, Galantis, Ryan Rabin of Grouplove, Warpaint and Broods.

Furthermore, BMW i will invite visitors during the festival to visit the innovative BMW i Brand Lounge in the VIP Area, where they can experience up close the allure of BMW i and the unique Coachella design, co-developed with Garage Italia Customs.

About BMW i

BMW i is based around a wide-reaching concept designed to bring about sustainable and future-focused mobility. It is fuelled by visionary electric vehicles and mobility services, inspirational design and a new understanding of premium that is defined squarely in terms of sustainability and delights with innovative new vehicles. The design of the all-electric BMW i3 emission-free model for urban use is centred around sustainability, while the BMW i8 introduces us to the sports car of the future.

Munich. BMW i will debut as the exclusive transportation partner at the Coachella Valley Music & Art Festival in 2017, providing VIP shuttle service and hospitality during the weekends of April 14-16 and 21-23. BMW’s sustainable, future-oriented brand will provide BMW i3 electric vehicles and BMW X5 40e iPerformance plug-in hybrid electric vehicles for transportation on and around the festival site.

A stand-out feature of the BMW i3 fleet at Coachella is a unique wrap that was created especially for the occasion, its design reflecting the creative and unconventional character of the event. BMW i8 plug-in hybrid electric sports cars with Coachella design will also take to the roads between Los Angeles and Palm Springs with a selected group of festival-bound celebrities and influencers on board.

Coachella is one of the world’s largest music festivals and provides an ideal stage for the BMW i brand: “The wealth of ideas the artists bring and the festival’s focus on sustainability create a unique atmosphere; Coachella is the birthplace for many trends, ideas and movements,” says Hildegard Wortmann, Senior Vice President Brand BMW. “BMW i is likewise a driver of pioneering innovations and the joy of sustainable mobility. We are positioning the sub-brand as open-minded, creative and inspiring – and Coachella provides an exceptional platform for this purpose, uniting creativity, passion and connectedness. We’re looking forward to an inspirational partnership.”

"Road to Coachella".

A social media campaign entitled “Road to Coachella” kicked-off the partnership on March 14. The campaign offers festival goers the chance to be entered into a drawing to win a festival pass by documenting their preparation for the festival and their own journey to Coachella Valley via social media using the hashtag #RoadToCoachella. 

Renowned composer and music producer Hans Zimmer (“Inception”, “Pearl Harbor”, “The Dark Knight” and “The Lion King”) has provided the soundtrack for a video promoting “Road to Coachella.

The three-minute piece, which debuted on April 9 on BMW’s YouTube Channel, is set to a Zimmer’s music and features the BMW i8 hybrid electric sports car, while providing a look at his preparations as he and his orchestra ready for their first-ever Coachella performance. Also featured in the video are fellow Coachella performers including Marshmello, Galantis, Ryan Rabin of Grouplove, Warpaint and Broods.

Furthermore, BMW i will invite visitors during the festival to visit the innovative BMW i Brand Lounge in the VIP Area, where they can experience up close the allure of BMW i and the unique Coachella design, co-developed with Garage Italia Customs.

About BMW i

BMW i is based around a wide-reaching concept designed to bring about sustainable and future-focused mobility. It is fuelled by visionary electric vehicles and mobility services, inspirational design and a new understanding of premium that is defined squarely in terms of sustainability and delights with innovative new vehicles. The design of the all-electric BMW i3 emission-free model for urban use is centred around sustainability, while the BMW i8 introduces us to the sports car of the future.

2017 technical specifications, wheels and tires and pricing. Please note that this information is specific to Canada and all specifications are subject to change without prior notice.

Munich. This is what sustainable success looks like. The BMW i3 has won the 2016 “Golden Steering Wheel”, making it the first model taking part in the competition organised jointly by “Auto Bild” and “Bild am Sonntag” to have received the award for the second time in recognition of its groundbreaking lifecycle assessment. The world’s first ever premium automobile to be conceived from scratch for purely electrically powered mobility, the BMW i3 first received the “Green Steering Wheel” for being the “best new environment-friendly car” in 2013, even before its market launch. In the meantime, the BMW i3 (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) has taken to the road to demonstrate its qualities. With locally emissions-free driving pleasure and highly efficient power consumption, a pioneering design and intelligent connectivity, it impressed the jury of experts in a series of intensive practical tests. They selected the BMW i3 as the winner of the 2016 “Golden Steering Wheel” in the “Alternative Drives” category, with the award presented yesterday at a festive gala held at the Axel Springer publishing house in Berlin.

First awarded in 1976, the “Golden Steering Wheel” is one of the most prestigious awards in the European automotive sector. Now in its 41st year, the competition initially involved 36 current models being voted on by magazine readers in Germany and 20 other European countries. The BMW i3 finished first in its category in all 21 countries. The 21 reader favourites were then put to the acid test by a jury of specialists that included racing drivers, designers, technicians, digital experts, editors-in-chief and readers. Based on extensive test drives and detailed comparisons, the 57-strong international panel then went on to select award winners in each of the six categories, with “Alternative Drives” being introduced as a category for the first time this year. Here again, the BMW i3 was the clear winner, receiving the highest score from five out of the seven groups of experts.

Having now been on public roads all over the world for three years, the BMW i3 demonstrates how purely electrically powered and therefore locally emissions-free mobility can be combined with hallmark brand driving pleasure. Ever since its market launch, the BMW i3 has been the world’s most successful electric vehicle in the premium compact segment. In Norway, for example, the BMW i3 has been the top-selling vehicle of the entire BMW model range since 2015. In Germany its market share for this year to date is 20.2 per cent. Globally, almost 85% of BMW i3 customers are new to BMW.

In combination with resource-friendly materials and production techniques, the car’s model-specific features make for a holistic sustainability concept that won the “Green Steering Wheel” early on, along with numerous other awards, and the model still remains unique in the automotive sector to this day. At its market launch, the BMW i3 was the first vehicle with a TÜV-certified lifecycle assessment that is at least one third better than that of automobiles powered and produced in the conventional manner.

The expertise gained in the development of BMW i automobiles is now used for technology transfer to the core BMW Group brands. In addition to the use of CFRP in the body structure of the new BMW 7 Series, this is particularly reflected in the integration of eDrive technology in the BMW iPerformance models with plug-in hybrid drive. After the BMW iPerformance models of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, the BMW 3 Series Sedan, the BMW X5, the BMW 7 Series and the BMW X1 xDrive25Le iPerformance developed exclusively for the Chinese automotive market, the new BMW 5 Series Sedan with plug-in hybrid drive will also be launched in the spring of 2017. The first plug-in hybrid model of the MINI brand is due to follow in 2017.

Consistent progress in the area of eDrive technology further increases the appeal of the BMW i3. The BMW i3 (94 Ah) with extended battery capacity (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 12.6 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) achieves a range of up to 200 kilometres in everyday conditions and a range of up to 300 kilometres in the standard cycle. This surpasses the BMW i3 (60 Ah) – which is still available - by more than 50 per cent.

For further details on official fuel consumption figures, official specific CO2 emissions and power consumption of new cars, please refer to the "Manual on fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and power consumption of new cars", available at all sales outlets, from Deutschen Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at http://www.dat.de/angebote/verlagsprodukte/leitfaden-kraftstoffverbrauch.html. ManualCO2 (PDF ‒ 2.7 MB)

Munich. A collaboration between BMW Group Design and Garage Italia Customs has produced an innovative colour and material concept of two concept cars based on current BMW i models. The BMW i3 Garage Italia CrossFade and the BMW i8 Garage Italia CrossFade will be presented on 30 September 2016 at the start of the Mondial de l’Automobile 2016 in Paris. The premiere in the French capital will also serve as an outlook on edition models of the BMW i3 and the BMW i8. These models, which both feature an exterior design derived from the concept cars, will become available at the beginning of 2017.

The common feature of the two concept cars is a surface structure that emphasises the groundbreaking design and the innovative character of the models BMW i3 and BMW i8 in a fascinating way. The focus here is on a specific colour design that was developed on the basis of a common painting genre during the late 19th and early 20th century and which provides for a particularly expressive appearance. “Lapo Elkann is a pioneer in linking the disciplines of fashion, automobile and design. As a designer, I find this comprehensive approach particularly exciting,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design. “With BMW i, we have been successful in overcoming previous restrictions in automotive design through the use of entirely new materials. So the progressive expressiveness of the Garage Italia CrossFade Edition is perfectly in keeping with the BMW i3 and the BMW i8.”

In June 2016, Garage Italia Customs had already presented the BMW i8 Futurism Edition. This vehicle also featured a body surface concept that was inspired by the art of painting. The design of the BMW i8 Futurism Edition, which was created on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of BMW Italia, is based on the painting “Lampada ad Arco” by the futuristic artist Giacomo Balla. “Technological development and constant search for innovation are common key values to both Garage Italia Customs and BMW,” adds Lapo Elkann, Chairman and Founder of Garage Italia Customs. “BMW i automobiles provide our designers with ideal opportunities for an artistic exploration of the future of mobility. The CrossFade project was a great opportunity to create something beyond the traditional idea of car painting, generating amazing effects with a unique geometrical pattern.”

The design of the concept cars now being shown in Paris was inspired by optical colour mixing, a technique already used in Pointillism of the late 19th century. This painting technique involves the creation of motifs using small and evenly distributed dashes of colour. Because the neighbouring colours are not intermixed, but only blend together in the perception of the viewer, a particularly intensive radiance is created. The selective variation of size and spacing of the individual dashes permits the creation of both precise and harmonious colour gradients.

On the body surface of the BMW i8 Garage Italia CrossFade, the accurately defined colour changes between Protonic Blue metallic and Protonic Dark Silver metallic are used to intensively underscore the lines and surface contours. Moreover, the applied dashes of paint are triangular. Resulting from this geometrical shape, both the overall impression as well as the plug-in hybrid sports car’s dynamics already symbolised in the design are accentuated even further. The colour design was realised using a complex painting process in which the car finished in Protonic Blue metallic was initially covered with a stencil film. In this way, it was possible to create the desired geometrical pattern with exceptionally high precision when the second layer of paint in Protonic Dark Silver metallic was finally applied. Moreover, the interior follows the BMW i8 Garage Italia CrossFade’s exterior design with the smooth transition from the dark silver of the front end of the car to the pure blue of the rear end printed on Alcantara textile that now covers the central tunnel, the side panels and the headliner. The surface structure of the interior and the seats in Foglizzo leather, and Protonic Blue and perforated Alcantara is effectively accentuated by the contrasting colours.

In the case of the BMW i3 Garage Italia CrossFade, the colour transition on the front end and the side panels flows in a vertical direction. The amount of blue decreases as it rises upwards to merge with the black roof and bonnet. The smooth transition is created by a transparent foiling with imprinted circular dashes of colour that symbolise the driving pleasure offered by the electrically powered five door car and become larger with increasing height. The distinctive colour design is also to be found in the interior, where high-quality textile and Alcantara surfaces additionally emphasise the premium character of the car. Base colour in each case is Protonic Blue, which is now also optionally available for the BMW i3 and exclusively in conjunction with the 94 Ah high-voltage battery.

Richmond Hill, ON. … BMW Canada Inc. is pleased to introduce the 2017 BMW i3 compact electric car, featuring an upgraded battery pack with 50% increased capacity.

The 2017 BMW i3 with the new 94 Ampere-hour (Ah) battery has a capacity of 33 kilowatt hours (kWh) thanks to the higher energy density of the lithium ion cells. The battery dimensions remain unchanged while still offering a significant range increase. In everyday conditions, the new Battery Electric BMW i3, in varying weather conditions and with the air conditioning or heating turned on, can achieve a range of up to 200 kilometres combined (hwy/city)*, as verified by independent BMW testing cycles**.

The 2017 BMW i3 will continue to be available in a Range Extender variant which will also feature the new 94 Ah battery. When equipped with the Range Extender, if the driver requires additional range, the 2-cylinder gasoline engine is switched on once the battery is depleted to 6.5% state of charge and keeps the charge level of the battery constant while driving, providing an additional range of up to 150 km, thanks to a 25% larger fuel tank (9 litres).

The 2017 BMW i3 (94 Ah) arrives at Canadian BMWi Retailers in September with the following MSRPs:

BMW i3 94 Ah BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle  - $46,900

BMW i3 94 Ah REX with Range Extender      - $51,500

The pricing includes standard DC charging, previously a $750 option.

* Preliminary test results for BMW i3 94 Ah BEV. Range achievable according to BMW range testing cycle under everyday conditions in city environment, 20°C, heating/air conditioning,   preheating, COMFORT driving mode. Range dependent on a number of factors.

** Final Environment Canada figures still pending.

The driving performance figures of the 170 hp AC synchronous electric motor remain virtually unchanged. The motor propels the BMW i3 from 0 to 100 km/h in just over 7 seconds. This makes the 2016 BMW i3 both the sportiest and most efficient electric vehicle in its segment with an expected EPA electricity consumption of 12.6 kWh/100 km (NEDC).

With the introduction of the 2017 BMW i3 (94 Ah), BMW i now also offers a new BMW Home Charger Connect, a residential charging station designed for comfortable and fast home charging featuring additional connected function.

Higher storage density of the lithium ion battery cells.

The BMW i3 (94 Ah) sets a new benchmark in its segment with 94 ampere hours (Ah) cell capacity, 33 kWh total battery energy, and an electric range of up to 200 km combined (hwy/city)1 on one full battery charge.

The high-voltage battery of the BMW i3 consists of eight modules with twelve storage cells each and its capacity has increased by more than 50% without any changes in exterior dimensions. By optimizing the cell-internal packages with more electrolyte and adapting the active material, BMW and Samsung SDI have succeeded in increasing cell capacity to 94 Ah and overall battery energy to 33 kWh of which 27.2 kWh can be effectively used. The previous battery of the BMW i3 (60 Ah) produced 22 kWh (gross)/19 kWh (net).

The lithium ion cells used set themselves apart in the competitive field by achieving a special balance between high energy density, cycle stability and safety in the case of an accident. The high-voltage battery also has an advanced thermal management system that keeps the battery operating in the optimal temperature range, which further enhances performance. For example, the coolant of the air conditioning system is responsible for cooling the high-voltage battery very effectively, while a heating system can also be used to warm the battery to ensure the optimal operating temperature before starting off. The High-voltage battery is covered by an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty

Munich. Powerful, agile, interconnected and, above all, locally emission-free: Thanks to these qualities, the all-electric BMW i3 is now also increasingly proving its worth as an emergency vehicle for police forces, rescue services and fire departments. BMW is offering the world’s first premium vehicle designed from the start for solely electric mobility, featuring a range of optional extras specifically aligned to the requirements of emergency forces, thereby opening up new fields of action for electric mobility within the urban environment.  Authorities Bavaria, Milan, Los Angeles and London have meanwhile added the first BMW i3s to their emergency vehicle fleets. And another special version is in use for locally emission-free cash transport in the Polish capital of Warsaw.

The BMW i3 features a vehicle architecture that was specifically developed for electric and plug-in models. The key elements are the carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cabin and an aluminium chassis comprising all drive and suspension components. This construction method helps to provide the four-metre-long, five-door car not only with a remarkably spacious and variable interior, but also a small turning circle as well as agile and safe handling characteristics. A high seating position and excellent all-round visibility offer the ideal prerequisites for use in urban traffic conditions. The 125 kW/170 hp electric motor accelerates the standard BMW i3 (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 12.9 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) from 0-100 km/h in just 7.2 seconds. The car’s lithium-ion high voltage battery permits a vehicle range of up to 160 kilometres in day-to-day operation.

The specific equipment featured in the BMW i3 is the result of more than 50 years of experience in the field of emergency vehicle development. Thus BMW is the only car manufacturer that is able to offer police, rescue and fire service task forces a range of equipment ex works that is exclusively aligned to each individual requirement. Depending on the area of use, the vehicles are provided with the corresponding design foils and roof bars. A special signalling system, front and rear flashers as well as pressure-chamber loudspeakers ensure that other road users are warned in good time when the BMW i3 is on an emergency assignment. The range of equipment also includes a preliminary setup for digital radio.

Moreover, thanks to a permanently installed SIM card, it is possible to make use of intelligent networking technology inside the BMW i3 to make work easier for emergency personnel. The ConnectedRescue system, which is based on BMW Connected Drive, offers the optional possibility of transmitting from the control centre to the vehicle all important information – including address, reason for assignment and contact person – clearly and intuitively operable and readable. The transmitted target coordinates or addresses can directly serve the navigation system’s route guidance, meaning that manual input of the navigation destination is no longer required. In this way, transmission errors are eliminated. The driver can concentrate fully on the traffic whilst the team prepares directly for the assignment. This enhances both safety and efficiency of rescue forces.

The BMW i3 is also conquering unusual business areas. The latest example is the Polish Idea Bank, which uses the BMW i3 in Warsaw for a pick-up service that is uncommon in the banking business. Shop owners are able to request via an app the BMW i3 in use as a security car to pay in their daily takings conveniently, directly and in front of their own shop door.

Further information on BMW emergency vehicles can be found on the Internet at www.bmw-behoerden.de

About BMW security vehicles:
For over 50 years now, BMW has been developing state-of-the-art security vehicles in collaboration with national and international authorities. Aligned to the respective local regulations and directives, all models offer maximum security, economy and innovative technology. Preparations for specific optional equipment features are already taken into account during product development and production is implemented parallel to the respective series vehicles. ConnectedRescue is offered initially in Germany. www.connectedrescue.de

About BMW i:

BMW i is a brand of the BMW Group and stands for visionary mobility and vehicle concepts, progressive design and a new understanding of premium that is strongly defined by sustainability. BMW i is represented worldwide with the vehicles BMW i3 (electric vehicle for metropolitan areas) and BMW i8 (sports car of the future with the fuel economy of a small car), as well as with a large number of mobility services within the field of electric and interconnected mobility.

The BMW Group

With its three brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 30 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2014, the BMW Group sold approximately 2,118 million cars and 123,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2014 was approximately € 8.71 billion on revenues amounting to € 80.40 billion. As of 31 December 2014, the BMW Group had a workforce of 116,324 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

www.bmwgroup.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupview
Google+: http://googleplus.bmwgroup.com

Donington , 25 August 2015. BMW will be lining up for the FIA Formula E Championship once again in 2015/16 . The second season of the race series gets underway in Beijing on 17 October 2015, and BMW will be on hand as the Official Vehicle Partner.

The futuristic BMW i8 sports car (fuel consumption combined: 2.1 l/100 km / 134.5 mpg imp; CO2 emissions combined: 49 g/km) will once again see action as the Safety Car in the trailblazing race series for electrically-powered formula machines. And the all-electric (and therefore emission-free) BMW i3 (energy consumption combined: 12.9 kWh; CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km) will perform the role of Medical Car, as it did in the series’ inaugural season. Added to which, a pair of BMW C evolution electric scooters and a BMW X5 xDrive40e plug-in hybrid (fuel consumption combined: 3.4–3.3 l/100 km / 83.1–85.6 mpg imp; CO2 emissions combined: 78–77 g/km; figures based on the EU test cycle, may vary depending on the tyre format specified) will be making their Formula E debuts, as models from other BMW Group brands join the BMW i cars in the eDrive family .

“BMW i and Formula E make a great match,” said Jörg Reimann, Vice President BMW Brand Experience. “The world governing body of motor sport, the FIA, is branching out in a new and extremely interesting direction with the FIA Formula E Championship – and we have been on board from the outset. The series got off to a highly successful start in its first year on the calendar, with its all-electric formula racing cars, tight street circuits running through the heart of major world cities and innovative ideas engaging fans via social networks. BMW has been involved in Formula E from the word go. It signed up as the Official Vehicle Partner to supply the BMW i8 Safety Car and BMW i3 Medical Car. And this commitment has given the company a platform on which to press its claim as a leader in electric mobility. We’ve succeeded in bringing the driving pleasure for which BMW is renowned to the attention of millions of people in major cities around the world. The ball is very much rolling now; in 2014 and 2015 we laid the foundations for a successful partnership, and it’s one which will continue into the second season of the championship in 2015/2016.”

Formula E will become an “open” championship in its second season. Compared with the inaugural edition of the series, in which all the cars were technically identical, eight of the ten teams will line up for the new season with their own technology. The technical changes will be concentrated on the powertrain – specifically the electric motor, the inverter, the transmission and the cooling system – and see the cars differing in terms of speeds, soundtrack and, above all, efficiency levels over the race distance.

The 2014/15 Formula E calendar featured e leven races in ten countries on three continents. Ten teams took their places on the grid for that opening season, each with two drivers at the wheel of standardised cars . Nelson Piquet Jr. wrapped up the title in the final race in London – and duly took his place in the history books as the first ever champion in this new series.

The new season will begin on 17 October 2015 and again take in eleven races in ten countries.

For further information on FIA Formula E go to: www.fiaformulae.com

Further information on official fuel consumption figures and specific CO2 emission values of new passenger cars is included in the following

guideline: “Leitfaden über Kraftstoffverbrauch, die CO2-Emissionen und den Stromverbrauch neuer Personenkraftwagen” (Guideline for fuel

consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars), which can be obtained free of charge from all

dealerships, from the Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at

http://www.dat.de/en/offers/publications/guideline-for-fuel-consumption.html.

The 2015/2016 season: Official FIA Formula E Vehicle Partner extends its line-up of models featuring new BMW eDrive technology.

The eDrive technology introduced through BMW i since 2013 will be carried over gradually into models from the core BMW brand. It will be included in the following vehicles as part of the Formula E race series.

BMW C evolution.

BMW Motorrad is supplying the FIA Formula E organisation with two BMW C evolution electric scooters for use as shuttles. The scooters enable zero-emission riding:

• Range in everyday use on battery-electric power only (EU):
  100 kilometres (62 miles)
• Maximum output: 35 kW (47.5 hp)
• Maximum torque: 72 Nm (53 lb-ft)
• Top speed: 120 km/h / 75 mph (electronically governed)
• 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph): 6.2 seconds; 0 – 50 km/h (31 mph): 2.7 seconds
• Innovations: reverse assist, Torque Control Assist, four riding modes, ABS, hybrid chassis, TFT colour display, LED daytime running light and sidelight, electrical safety to passenger car standard.

BMW X5 xDrive40e.

Available from autumn 2015, the BMW X5 xDrive40e plug-in hybrid will be deployed as the Official FIA Formula E Rescue Car over the course of the new Formula E season and has been adapted to the technical requirements of the FIA.

• Range on electric power only (EU): up to 31 kilometres (19 miles)
• Overall range: over 800 kilometres (497 miles)
• System output: 313 hp
• Maximum system torque: 450 Nm (332 lb-ft)
• Top speed: 210 km/h / 130 mph (120 km/h / 75 mph on electric power only)
• 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph): 6.8 seconds

Modifications to comply with FIA Formula E requirements:

• Bank of LED lights and stroboscope light
• FIA radio equipment and transponder integrated into the vehicle electronics
  
  

BMW i3.

The battery-electric BMW i3 will continue as the Official FIA Formula E Medical Car. Two BMW i3 cars will be supplied for the electric race series:

• Range on electric power only (EU): up to 160 kilometres (100 miles)
• Maximum output: 170 hp
• Maximum torque: 250 Nm (184 lb-ft)
• Top speed: 150 km/h / 93 mph (governed)
• 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph): 7.2 seconds

Modifications to comply with FIA Formula E requirements:

• Bank of LED lights, fire extinguisher, paintwork and decals
• FIA radio equipment and transponder integrated into the vehicle electronics
• Attachment points for medical equipment
  
  

BMW i8.

The BMW i8 is the most progressive sports car of our times and, by combining the performance and appeal of a sports car with small car fuel economy, created a new segment as the first sustainable sports car. It offers zero-emission driving in town (eDrive) and efficient sports car performance out of town, where a highly turbocharged and efficient 1.5-litre petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology also comes into play.

With its revolutionary vehicle concept – which brings together a carbon-fibre passenger cell, aluminium chassis and benchmark aerodynamics for its segment (Cd: 0.26) – the BMW i8 represents the company’s technological cutting edge.

The BMW i8 will continue as the Official FIA Formula E Qualcomm Safety Car through the second season of Formula E. The modifications to the two new Safety Cars are far more performance-oriented and they have been adapted to meet the FIA’s technical regulations ahead of the new season, which gets underway in Beijing on 17 October.

The new BMW i8 Safety Car is the world’s first vehicle equipped for inductive charging with 7.2 kilowatts of power using Qualcomm Halo™ prototype technology . This allows the high-voltage battery of the BMW i8 to be fully recharged in around one hour only.

• Range on electric power only (EU): up to 37 kilometres (23 miles)
• Overall range: over 600 kilometres (373 miles)
• System output of FIA Formula E Safety Car: approx. 380 hp
• Maximum system torque: > 570 Nm (420 lb-ft)
• Top speed: 250 km/h / 155 mph (using electric power only: 120 km/h / 75 mph)
• 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph): < 4.4 seconds; 80 – 120 km/h (50 – 75 mph): 2.6 seconds

Modifications to comply with FIA Formula E requirements:

• Certified safety cell – bolted and bonded to load-bearing elements of the body. Use of patented tube joints.
• New bank of LED lights and stroboscope light
• FIA radio equipment and transponder integrated into the vehicle electronics
• 2 x additional 12V sockets with 25A fuse
• Carbon-fibre racing seats
• Carbon-fibre centre console
• Six-point safety belt
• Removal of interior trim and airbags
• Modified trim elements on safety cell
• Modified position of safety belts
• Official decals

Technical modifications to the new BMW i8 Safety Car over the standard production car:

Chassis

• Modified chassis mount points and upper wishbones
• Custom-made Bilstein springs / dampers
• 15 mm lowered chassis

Wheels / tyres

• 20” ATS racing rims: black, powder-coated
  (front: 245/ 35 R20, rear: 285/ 30 R20)
• Michelin Pilot Super Sport sports tyres

Brakes

• Motorsports brake discs and callipers (six-piston at the front, four-piston at the rear)
• Improved ventilation / cooling for the front discs
  Direct in-flow of air via the front spoiler and deflector plates
• Modification to the rear section of the underbody (additional air intakes, spoiler) and airflow to the brake discs via supply tube and deflector plates

Aerodynamics

• Kidney grille split at half height
  Modified front-end airflow
• 850-watt fan (front)
• Number of dynamic pressure flaps in fan shroud increased
• Modified bonnet outlet cover and airflow
• Modified air deflectors
• New air deflectors and air deflector plate on the underfloor of the car
• Rear window replaced by plastic cover with air outlets
• Sound absorption panelling for the engine removed
• Two additional fans in the engine compartment
• C-pillar ventilation removed
• Lower-mounted engine soundproofing removed
• New anti-roll bar bearings
• Extension of diffuser below the combustion engine (75 mm)
• Heat insulation for the exhaust system
• Additional carbon-fibre spoiler lips at the rear
• Additional diffusers on the underfloor of the car (front and rear)

High-voltage battery

• Battery cell modified for testing purposes, now has higher electric output (+ approx. 10 kW)

Modified roll cage

• Seamlessly drawn precision pipe (25 CrMo4)
• Yield strength: 640 Nm/mm²
• Tensile strength: 695 Nm/mm²
• Bolts quenched and tempered
• Roll cage weight: 48 kilograms
• First FIA-certified BMW i8 roll cage

New inductive prototype charging system (Qualcomm Halo™)

• BMW i8 FIA Formula E Qualcomm Safety Car is the world’s first vehicle to offer 7.2 kW inductive charging based on Qualcomm Halo™ prototype technology
• Tested under all extreme climatic conditions
• EMC-approved

Munich. Please notice: On 25 August 2015, 4 pm, a press release on the continuance of BMW’s partnership with FIA Formula E will be published in BMW Group Press Club. The official announcement will take place in Donington Park/ UK during official FIA Formula E tests.

Picture material will be produced in Donington Park on site to be published
at 04.00 pm CET in BMW Group press club as well.

Berlin. Electric car sharing represents an important pillar of the BMW Group’s efforts to help create a sustainable model for urban mobility, reduce traffic volumes and improve the quality of life in cities. In order to bring this goal within reach through partnership with cities, the BMW Group set up a Centre of Urban Mobility Competence in early 2015. The team of experts brought together under its roof are working with cities and the relevant stakeholders to develop sustainable concepts for future mobility in urban areas. Today’s press conference signals the official start of operations at the BMW Competence Centre.

At the same time, 100 all-electric BMW i3 cars are now available for DriveNow car sharing customers in Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. In London the BMW i3 was already added to the DriveNow fleet in May, and other cities in Germany and Europe will soon follow suit.

DriveNow has added more than 470,000 customers around the world over the last four years, including 430,000 in Germany (120,000 in Berlin). Since 2013, DriveNow has been running 60 all-electric BMW ActiveE cars in Munich and Berlin as part of the WiMobil and ePlan research projects. They have performed outstandingly well in day-to-day use and will now be replaced by 40 BMW i3 cars in Berlin, 30 in Hamburg and 30 in Munich. “Our customers have enjoyed using the BMW ActiveE cars as much as the conventional vehicles in our fleet,” says Nico Gabriel, managing director of DriveNow. “This initiative has enabled us to put around 3,000 people per month behind the wheel of an all-electric vehicle for the first time – and, in so doing, spark their enthusiasm for electric mobility. The introduction of the BMW i3 into our fleet is the logical next step, and will soon be followed by a range of others in Germany, Europe and around the world,” adds Gabriel.

Electric car sharing acts as a catalyst for electric mobility.

Another key element for the BMW Group is the important role electric car sharing has to play in driving forward electric mobility as a whole in Germany. Vehicles involved in electric car sharing schemes boost the use of charging points in cities – and on a more predictable basis. This rapidly makes electric mobility visible and more easily accessible to local people, turning it from a niche activity into an everyday reality. It breaks down barriers and eases the pathway into electric mobility.

eCarsharing is an important component of sustainable urban mobility concepts.

Electric mobility and car sharing represent two important building blocks for the BMW Group when it comes to working with cities to develop revolutionary mobility concepts. As Dr Bernhard Blättel, Vice President Mobility Services at BMW AG, explains: “A significant change has taken place within the BMW Group. In line with our strategic goals, we are setting out to establish ourselves as the leading supplier of premium products and premium services for personal mobility worldwide. We are witnessing the changes our customers and society as a whole are making and we are taking them on board. Our aim is to work towards developing a higher quality of life in cities with ample space for urban living. Set up at the start of this year, the Urban Mobility Competence Centre has since provided us with a team of experts who are working with cities and the associated stakeholders to develop and implement new concepts for future urban mobility. In the BMW Group’s view, it is possible to further improve mobility for people living in urban areas. It is not a contradiction in terms to improve mobility and at the same time ensure cities offer a high quality of life for the people who live there.”

The quality of life in our increasingly densely populated cities can be improved significantly by putting public spaces to different use. One way we can achieve this is by freeing up a large portion of the parking areas currently required. To make this possible, mobility concepts and frameworks need to be in place which can spark people’s enthusiasm for urban mobility beyond their own car. Local public transport continues to provide the backbone of mobility services in urban areas. Complementing local public transport with car sharing schemes and other modes of transport, and creating seamless intermodal connections, allows people to use all the routes through a city. This results in a significant reduction in the volume of cars looking for parking spaces and in the number of parking spaces required, not to mention improvements in air quality and noise emissions.

The recently published main points of the German federal government’s car sharing legislation fundamentally address this approach. The legislation enables cities to offer parking privileges for car sharers over private car users in the public interest. On the assumption that these kinds of incentives apply in equal measure for users of station-based and non-station-based car sharing, cities would be able to make substantial progress when it comes to extending the reach of sustainable mobility.

The same applies to Germany’s electric mobility legislation, which, among other things, gives cities the option of designating parking areas exclusively for electric vehicles. This can also help local authorities meet their aims when it comes to limiting vehicle emissions. Indeed, authorities can combine such an approach with a well-thought-through strategy for sustainable urban development to set the tone and embark on a course towards creating an environment that provides a higher quality of life.

BMW Group is a leading provider of mobility solutions; Urban Mobility Competence Centre paves the way.

The BMW Group has recognised the changing nature of the challenges it faces when it comes to mobility and broadened its corporate strategy accordingly. The company’s strategic roadmap runs up to 2020 and is clearly defined: the BMW Group aims to be the leading supplier of premium products and premium services for personal mobility worldwide. Alongside DriveNow, this involves other services such as ParkNow and ChargeNow. The substantial pressure on parking in central areas of cities around the world gives rise to considerable traffic caused by people looking for parking spaces – and with it unnecessary emissions. For drivers, this is often the most unpleasant part of a journey. ParkNow serves as an integrated platform on which to manage parking using both public areas and private spaces.

The benefits for users are clear. But there are also advantages when it comes to parking space monitoring in cities if parking tickets can be paid for online and the number of ticket machines reduced. Depending on parking demand, it is also possible to use real-time information in cars to manage traffic by showing drivers the likelihood, based on a learning algorithm, of a space being available on a given street. If there are no parking spaces available in a particular area, this allows traffic caused by people looking for spaces there to be avoided from the outset. This idea can be extrapolated to provide another parking management option – i.e. pegging parking prices to current demand.

The intermodal route guidance function integrated into the navigation system of the BMW i3 moves things forward another step. When route guidance is activated, this function shows not only the most efficient route to the desired destination by car, but also an intermodal connection, should this provide the most efficient solution. For example, a switch onto local public transport – using precise timetable data – or a rental bike can be integrated into the route guidance process. The intermodal route guidance function, which will be introduced gradually across all the BMW Group’s vehicles, allows additional traffic to be avoided and the driver to be pointed actively in the direction of alternative local public transport options.

The technical and conceptual solutions we have detailed here are all part of the BMW Group’s constantly expanding portfolio. Working together intelligently, they open the door to new forms of urban traffic management in the years ahead. Our long-term vision is for cities to offer an enhanced quality of life, in which more efficient organisation of mobility solutions helps to create a new environment in which to live. The top priority of the Competence Centre is to safeguard mobility for all users at its current level at the very least. Deprivation or coercion are not an option. Instead, the types of mobility available will be improved and coordinated so effectively that people will adopt them as a logical consequence.

Munich/ London. The carsharing service DriveNow is commencing with the extension of its vehicle fleet with the addition of the BMW i3. As from today, DriveNow customers in London are able for the first time to use the all-electric premium model by BMW i. This will be followed by the global roll-out of the BMW i3 in DriveNow vehicle pools in the summer of 2015 at several German locations and somewhat later in further European cities. With the addition of the BMW i3 to the DriveNow fleet, BMW i is now implementing a strategic initiative for the promotion of electric mobility, the preparation of which has been in process with the deployment of the BMW ActiveE electric vehicle.

Starting today, DriveNow customers in the British capital will have access to 30 BMW i3s. “eCarsharing reduces traffic congestion and emissions in cities,” explains Peter Schwarzenbauer, Executive Board member of the BMW AG, on the occasion of the premiere in London. “I am pleased that with the BMW i3, we are now able to offer our DriveNow customers unique driving pleasure combined with easy access to electric mobility.”

Carsharing relieves inner cities.

Based on user surveys and traffic analyses it is now already possible to perceive the positive effect of flexible, station-independent carsharing services on mobility behaviour in congested areas. Therefore, services such as DriveNow are seen to a large extent as an ideal supplement to local public transport, which together make the changeover to multimodal mobility without a private vehicle an attractive alternative to owning a car. At the same time, the possibility of renting a vehicle spontaneously and fuss-free and being able to return it anywhere within the urban area offers a great potential in acquiring additional target groups for carsharing.

The rapidly growing acceptance of carsharing is decisive in alleviating traffic congestion. According to the Federal Carsharing Association, more than a million citizens in Germany already belong to the movement. According to company surveys, 38 percent of DriveNow customers have sold a personal vehicle as a result of using the carsharing scheme. In many cases, this applied to older and less efficient vehicles. Customers state that the most important reason for this is that thanks to free floating carsharing, they are able to use a car spontaneously if needed and also feel they are being adequately provided for by local public transport services.  

Advantages for DriveNow customers in inner cities: Londoners avoid the city congestion toll with the BMW i3.

Moreover, thanks to DriveNow and similar services, entirely new perspectives arise in the promotion of locally emission-free mobility in urban areas. For example, the use of the electrically powered BMW ActiveE in DriveNow fleets in Munich, Berlin and San Francisco has boosted interest in the experience of driving an all-electric vehicle enormously. As a result, since March 2013, it has been possible to introduce the option of electric mobility to around 3,000 DriveNow customers in Germany each month, making an overall total of 100,000 customers. With the inclusion of the BMW i3, eCarsharing at premium level becomes even more attractive, whilst at the same time conquering further markets.

Therefore, the BMW i3 proves to be an ideal innovator of eCarsharing, with which it will be possible to achieve a reduction not only in traffic congestion, but also in emissions within the urban area. In London, it is exempt from the inner city congestion toll charged for conventionally powered automobiles. So DriveNow customers also benefit financially when they drive a BMW i3 through the city centre. In other major cities in which similar access restrictions apply or are planned, eCarsharing is an ecologically and economically sensible alternative.

The prerequisite for the success of eCarsharing programmes is the cooperation between providers and local authorities. The most crucial issue in this respect is the availability of public charging stations as well as privileged parking spaces for electric vehicles and carsharing fleets. This is of vital importance for flexible carsharing in particular. DriveNow maintains a permanent dialogue with municipal governments. User data on the electric BMW ActiveE, which has been deployed in Munich and Berlin since 2013, provide important information for the development of a requirement-oriented charging infrastructure.

With the introduction of the BMW i3 in London, DriveNow users will initially have access to approximately a dozen charging stations within the entire operative area. In Berlin, DriveNow customers now already have more than 150 charging stations at their disposal for the BMW ActiveE. By the middle of 2016, a further 420 charging points will have been added, 20 of which are designed for DC quick-charging. A further 700 charging stations can be installed in succession if required. Currently, the Munich city council is adopting an initial decision in favour of supporting electric mobility, which also comprises the development of a public charging infrastructure. Moreover, the electrification of several streets in the city centre with the Light and Charge streetlamp produced by BMW i is planned for 2015.

In order to secure the success of electric mobility, BMW is pushing ahead, together with partners from politics, the energy sector and the automotive industry, with charging infrastructure projects throughout Europe and the USA. These include a joint initiative with Volkswagen and ChargePoint for around
100 DC quick-charging stations in the USA, the project SLAM (quick-charging network for axes and large cities) for a total of 600 AC and DC quick-charging stations in Germany and the EU-funded initiative TEN-T for an infrastructure throughout Europe.

About DriveNow

DriveNow, the joint carsharing venture between the BMW Group and Sixt SE, offers high-class premium vehicles of the brands BMW and MINI for rent in major European cities according to the free floating principle. DriveNow currently has more than 450.000 members worldwide. The vehicles can be rented and returned anywhere within a predefined operative area. Registered customers reserve and book the vehicles using either the DriveNow app or the website. DriveNow currently exists in Munich, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Hamburg, Vienna and London as well as in San Francisco/USA. Around ten further DriveNow locations in Europe and a further ten in North America are in preparation.

About BMW i

The BMW i brand stands for visionary vehicles and mobility services, inspiring design and a new understanding of premium that is more strongly defined on the basis of sustainability. With BMW i, the BMW Group assumes a holistic approach: BMW i redefines the understanding of individual mobility with tailor-made vehicle concepts, a strong focus on sustainability along the entire value chain and a number of mobility services.

Munich. With the Green Car of the Year Award 2015, the BMW i3 has added a further trophy to an impressive raft of honours in its first year on the market. It was chosen for this award, presented by Green Car Journal at the Los Angeles Auto Show 2014, as the first dedicated all-electric vehicle in the premium segment. This latest honour, which adds to a long tally of awards the BMW i3 has picked up over the past months, is a further endorsement of this model’s unique sustainable mobility concept. More than 12,000 BMW i3s have already been sold since November 2013. The presence of more and more of these vehicles on the roads of cities all over the world is clear proof that it is now possible to successfully mate zero tailpipe emissions with premium-class driving pleasure, and that this groundbreaking combination is here to stay. One year after its launch, the BMW i3 is already the third best-selling all-electric automobile on the market.

Early adopters of the BMW i3 in Germany praise its sporty performance in particular. This is based on a 125 kW/170 hp electric motor, which offers highly responsive acceleration, and advanced chassis engineering. These drivers mainly use their BMW i3 for everyday urban driving and for commuting to work. For the most part they charge the lithium-ion battery overnight, at home. These first customers’ main reasons for buying the first electric vehicle from the BMW Group are its integrated sustainable mobility concept and BMW’s acknowledged technological expertise. Stand-out features of the BMW i3 in the eyes of its first German customers are its carbon-fibre (CFRP) passenger cell, renewable interior materials, mature powertrain engineering, state-of-the-art connectivity, and styling which these customers perceive as “futuristic”. 

Demand for this electric vehicle, which can optionally be supplied with a range extender, is outstripping expectations. Both in number and diversity, the string of awards the BMW i3 has picked up – starting before the market launch and continuing on an upward trend ever since – is quite exceptional. In Germany, no sooner had pre-launch sales begun than the BMW i3 won the Green Steering Wheel 2013 award – one of the categories in the Golden Steering Wheel competition hosted by Auto Bild and Bild am Sonntag – and was voted best car in its class in auto, motor und sport’s Best Cars 2014 awards.

It also won two readers’ awards from Auto Zeitung magazine, plus the Auto Trophy 2013 and the Green Mobility Trophy 2014.

On the international stage, too, the successful market launch of the BMW i3 was accompanied by very positive ratings in opinion polls and independent expert reviews. Highlights to date include the UK Car of the Year Award, the Next Green Car Award, the Green Car of the Year Award, the Fleet Hero Award and a class win in the Sunday Times Top 100 Cars list (all of these in the UK), the Special Jury Award in the Swiss Car of the Year Award and a win in the French Trophées de l’Argus awards. In April 2014, a jury of motoring journalists from across the world named the BMW i3 World Green Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year.

The BMW i3’s groundbreaking and individualistic exterior and interior design also earned it many other accolades, including the German Design Award, the iF gold product design award and the Automotive Interiors Expo Award, while the French edition of GQ magazine named BMW i Head of Design Benoit Jacob “Designer of the Year”. In further tributes, Auto Bild voted the BMW i3 Design Innovation of the Year, and readers of Auto Bild Klassik named it Classic of the Future.

The latest honour, the Green Car of the Year Award 2015, presented at the LA Auto Show, is a further tribute to the BMW i3’s all-round sustainable mobility concept. The evaluation by Green Car Journal was based on the BMW i3’s zero emissions at the point of use, its innovative lightweight design and the high percentage of sustainably produced materials used in its manufacture. Green Car Journal specialises in reporting on sustainable, efficiency-enhancing technologies and pioneering trends in the automotive industry and has been hosting the Green Car of the Year Award annually at the LA Auto Show since 2005. This year’s show is open to the public from 21 to 30 November.

Munich. The BMW i Remote App for the Samsung Gear S smartwatch has garnered international success: the innovative app by BMW earns a prize in the “Software and Mobile Apps” category at the renowned CES Innovation Awards in New York.

The international Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is held each January in Las Vegas, with the forthcoming event taking place from 6 to 9 January 2015. With 3,500 exhibitors, the CES is among the world’s biggest consumer electronics trade fairs. The lead-up to the show sees the presentation of the coveted CES Innovation Awards in 20 product categories on 11 November 2014.

Selecting the winning submissions are teams of judges made up of independent industrial designers, engineers and media representatives. The “Software and Mobile Apps” category is guided by criteria such as functionality, aesthetic appeal, user-friendliness and innovative edge. It places the BMW i Remote App for the Samsung Gear S among the global front-runners in mobile apps.

Innovative, simple to operate and highly functional.
The BMW i Remote App for the Samsung Gear S smartwatch is an application which seamlessly connects BMW i drivers to their vehicle via their wristwatch. The app was developed to allow direct access to important information in real time. The app displays all key information at a glance on the smartwatch’s home screen: in the case of the BMW i3, for example, it shows not only the time but also the electric range available, the battery charge level and – during the charge process – the estimated charge time remaining. Using the touch display to click on the data sent to the Gear S by the BMW i Remote App opens a submenu with more detailed information presented in the typically classy colours and style of BMW i. A further submenu informs the user of the vehicle’s current status, i.e. whether any of the doors, windows or the boot are open.

Advance regulation of the onboard climate, which can likewise be controlled by the Samsung Gear S, is an important factor in extending the car’s range. In this way, the interior can be conveniently preheated while the vehicle is still connected to the power supply. This does not affect the charging process.

The BMW i Remote App for the Samsung Gear S is further evidence of how rapidly BMW can respond to the fast pace of innovation on the connected car front by drawing on BMW ConnectedDrive services and apps to deliver smart solutions.

Munich. Six wins thanks to Efficient Dynamics: with its current range of models and engines, BMW has achieved outstanding success in the 2014 "Green Mobility Trophy" awards presented by the automobile magazine "Auto Zeitung". Based on a reader survey, the awards were won by the Munich premium automobile manufacturer in six out of a total of seven categories. Three of these class victories were achieved by automobiles of the new BMW i brand, while two others went to the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition and the 4-cylinder petrol engines with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology. The triumph was rounded off with BMW being voted the "Most environment-friendly brand" of the year. The vote recognises both consistent development work and the courage to pursue innovative concepts aimed at reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emission levels on an ongoing basis by means of Efficient Dynamics.

13 733 "Auto Zeitung" readers took part in this year's vote. The BMW i3 achieved an especially impressive result. The purely electrically powered 5-seater won in two categories and attracted the highest share of the vote in the entire competition. It was named "Best electric car" with a clear 30 per cent share of the vote. And it won the "Best lightweight construction car" with a remarkable 31.1 per cent. These two results show that both BMW eDrive technology and the lightweight construction concept featuring a passenger cell made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) and an aluminium chassis are regarded as sound solutions for sustainable mobility.

The plug-in hybrid sports car BMW i8 - developed according to the same engineering principle - likewise finished first. Having achieved third place in its class last year, this time round the BMW i8 was named "Best hybrid car" with 20.9 per cent of the vote - just a few weeks after its market launch.

BMW achieved two more class victories with conventional drive technology. The BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition prevailed against 20 competitors to win the title of "Best economical diesel". The mid-range sedan is powered by a 120 kW/163 hp 4-cylinder diesel engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology, accelerates in 8.0 seconds from zero to 100 km/h and has an average fuel consumption of 4.1 litres per 100 kilometres and a CO2 figure of 109 grams per kilometre on the EU test cycle. The BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition impressed survey participants with this combination of driving pleasure and efficiency to gain 19.3 per cent of the vote, defending its title from last year. The current 4-cylinder petrol engines in the BMW engine portfolio secured an award with similarly unambiguous results. In the vote for the "Best downsizing engines", 18.7 per cent of readers chose the 2.0-litre engines with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and an output of up to 180 kW/245 hp.

Finally the diverse range of successful concepts and technologies for sustainable mobility is reflected in the result of the vote for the "Most environment-friendly brand". BMW clearly led the way in this category, too, with a share of 22.6 per cent of the vote. The combination of sporty flair and efficiency that is characteristic of the entire model program produced by the Munich-based premium automobile manufacturer thus gained BMW its sixth title of the 2014 "Green Mobility Trophy".

For further details on official fuel consumption figures, official specific CO2 emissions and power consumption of new cars, please refer to the "Manual on fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and power consumption of new cars", available at all sales outlets, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at http://www.dat.de/angebote/verlagsprodukte/leitfaden-kraftstoffverbrauch.html. ManualCO2 (PDF - 2.7 MB)

Munich. There are many facets to the sustainable character of the BMW i3. BMW i represents a prime example of “next premium”, the next generation of luxury headlined by the sustainability of its materials. The ambience this creates on board the BMW i3 can be experienced by the driver and passengers in considerable depth – and the international jury of experts for the Automotive Interiors Expo Award 2014 are now among its fans. The jury handed the electrically powered BMW i3 the title of Production Interior Vehicle Design of the Year. The third edition of these awards – which recognise exceptionally innovative concepts and solutions in the field of interior design – were held yesterday at the Automotive Interiors Expo in Stuttgart.

The selection and use of materials is central to the BMW i brand’s all-embracing sustainability concept. This applies on a large scale to the use of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) in the passenger cells of BMW i cars and also comes into play in many details of their interior design. The hallmark LifeDrive architecture creates new scope for optimising the use of space on board the car and for the design of the interior. The colour and trim concept includes extremely extensive use of renewable raw and recycled materials, as well as wood and leather surfaces treated using environmentally sound methods.

The BMW i3 sets out to showcase sustainability through its design, as reflected by its cutting-edge, futuristic looks. The large, clear surfaces and bright ambience represent an expression of clean air and zero emissions. Large glass surfaces showcase the car’s lightweight design and lend the interior an airy, lounge-like character, while also offering the driver a better view over the road. Comfortable entry and a raised seating position are complemented both front and rear by exceptional freedom of movement thanks to an unbroken footwell extending across the full width of the interior.

The car’s innovative, exclusive aura is accentuated by signature BMW i design features and new materials, whose stand-out attributes are visible to the eye and palpable to the touch.  

25 per cent (by weight) of the plastic used in the interior of the BMW i3 is recycled. The textiles selected for the seat surfaces are made entirely from recycled fibres, ensuring the surfaces display impressive naturalness and quality. The textiles for the roofliner, interior trim, boot lining, instrument panel and floor mats are likewise the product of a sustainable production process. The door trim panels of the BMW i3 are made from kenaf fibres, a plant from the mallow family whose natural structure remains recognisable after the treatment process. Eucalyptus wood from certified plantations in Europe provides the raw material for parts of the instrument panel, while the leather set aside for the interior of the BMW i3 is tanned in a natural process using extract of olive leaves.

This rigorous sustainability-focused selection of materials allows the design of the interior to play a major role in securing the BMW i3’s outstanding level of environmental compatibility. Moreover, it provides an immediate window into the all-embracing concept underpinning the world’s first premium car developed from the outset to be driven purely on electric power.

Monaco. Under the theme of “Energy efficiency and its contribution to sustainable economic growth”, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Johnson Controls and The Climate Group held the fourth Euro-Mediterranean Energy Efficiency Forum (EEF) on 24 and 25 March 2014. The forum was launched in 2009 by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and Johnson Controls, to be joined in 2010 by its third partner, The Climate Group. The Euro-Mediterranean event takes its lead from the well-known Energy Efficiency Forum North America, which has been held annually in the USA since 1990. At this year’s EEF event in Monaco, decision-makers from politics, business and society demonstrated options and opportunities for securing a sustainable future for the environment and the economy. The organisers invited BMW i executives as guest speakers to apprise the forum of forward-looking mobility solutions by the BMW Group. Dr Julian Weber, Head of Innovation Projects E-Mobility for the BMW Group, provided insights into BMW i. The brand BMW i stands for visionary vehicles and mobility services, inspiring design and a new understanding of premium that is strongly guided by sustainability.

In parallel with the Energy Efficiency Forum, Olivier Dufieux, BMW i Aftersales Manager & Charging Infrastructure, BMW Group France, presented the first two production vehicles from the BMW i brand at Europe’s largest e-mobility fair, the EVER Monaco, held concurrently at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco conference and congress centre. From 25 to 27 March 2014, experts on eco-friendly vehicles, renewable energy and sustainable developments meet there for an exchange of views.

BMW i supports the 10th anniversary of The Climate Group, a longstanding partner of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

On the evening of 25 March, more than 150 international guests from politics, business, sport and music were invited by The Climate Group and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation to attend an exclusive fundraising gala dinner in the celebrated Empire ballroom of the Hôtel de Paris. The evening began with a cocktail reception in the palace, for which a fleet of BMW i3 cars provided the shuttle service for guests. HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco took the opportunity to join Dr Nicolas Peter, Head of Sales Region Europe BMW Group, in driving the sporty BMW i8 plug-in hybrid to the Hôtel de Paris: “I was thrilled about the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the BMW i8. In Monaco we support the driving of low emission vehicles and I hope that we will see more of these cars on our roads,” commented the ruling prince.

BMW i: visionary mobility solutions for a sustainable future.

With its BMW i brand, the BMW Group is rigorously pursuing its corporate strategy and culture. As far back as 1973, the BMW Group was the very first company in the motoring sector to appoint an environmental officer. Ever since then, the Group has reaped numerous accolades in recognition of its commitment to sustainability. The BMW i brand espouses a holistic approach: with its tailor-made vehicle concepts, sustainability throughout the value added chain and complementary mobility services, BMW i redefines the concept of individual mobility.

“BMW i combines in the most concentrated form what the BMW Group stands for: long-term thinking and responsible action,” said Dr Julian Weber. “That is why we are particularly delighted to be taking part in the Energy Efficiency Forum and the supporting events in Monaco from 25 to 27 March. The very enthusiastic feedback we are getting here confirms that with our two premium vehicles – the all-electric BMW i3 and the sporty BMW i8 plug-in hybrid – we have caught the pulse of the times. At the same time, it is an incentive to continue to pioneer sustainable and tailor-made mobility solutions going into the future as well.”

Further information and picture material on the first two production models from the BMW i brand can be found using the following links:
BMW i3
BMW i8

Munich. The BMW i3 achieved the highest rating of five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests governing occupant protection and child protection that coincided with its market launch. As expected, the electric car matches the performance of the best conventionally powered vehicles in its segment in the area of passive safety. The Integral safety concept covers everything from collision avoidance to Intelligent Emergency Call and also meets requirements above and beyond Euro NCAP.
Its revolutionary new vehicle concept allows the BMW i3 to offer customers not only smile-inducing driving pleasure and outstanding environmental performance, but also top marks in terms of safety. An integral safety concept put together for the BMW Group’s first all-electric model includes everything from driver assistance systems focusing on collision avoidance, via passive safety to the Intelligent Emergency Call function – and complies with all global accident protection standards.

The aim of BMW’s integral safety concept is to achieve an optimum combination of active and passive systems that is geared to real-life traffic and accident situations. Among the active measures included as part of this concept are preventive systems which help the driver to avoid accidents. The Driving Assistant Plus system available for the BMW i3 includes both Collision Warning and Pedestrian Warning with braking function. Unique in the segment, this system helps – in urban traffic, in particular – to either prevent collisions or significantly reduce the intensity of the impact. Meanwhile, precisely defined load paths, generously sized deformation zones, a passenger cell whose strength allows it to serve as a survival space, and electronically controlled restraint systems with precisely interlinked functionality team up to optimise occupant protection if a crash is unavoidable. Likewise unique in this segment is the Intelligent Emergency Call function with automatic vehicle location and accident severity detection – a standard feature in the BMW i3. This system, which automatically establishes a telephone link with a call centre, thus cutting down the time it takes for the rescue services to be alerted, earned the BMW Group the special Euro NCAP Advanced Award from the European crash testing institute in 2010. As things stand, the standard testing process still does not include the Intelligent Emergency Call function in its assessments. Legal requirements stipulating the inclusion of a system of this kind in all newly registered vehicles across the EU will not come into force until 2015.

The effectiveness of all the passive safety systems in the BMW i3 was analysed during the car’s development process in numerous crash tests conducted by the BMW Group’s accident research specialists and in cooperation with independent experts. As part of this process, all the accident scenarios referred to for vehicle registration processes and consumer protection tests around the world – above and beyond Euro NCAP testing – were taken into account, including an impact by another vehicle against the rear of the BMW i3 and a roll-over situation.

An extremely rigid passenger cell made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and the precise interplay of its restraint systems allowed the BMW i3 to record outstanding results for adult occupant and child occupant protection in the Euro NCAP crash test. The testers noted an exceptionally low risk of injury in both front and side impacts, as well as in the Pole Side Impact test. Particularly striking here was the low degree of deformation in the CFRP passenger cell, which also enhances the effectiveness of the restraint systems.

Munich. The BMW i3 hits the road – with the sheer driving pleasure typical of the brand and an officially confirmed environmental footprint. A few days prior to the market launch on 16 November 2013, the first thoroughbred electric model from the BMW Group with an ISO certificate 14040/14044 for the environmental footprint provided by independent inspectors is now being launched. This certifies that the BMW i3 complies entirely with the demanding targets defined during development for the environmental impacts generated during sourcing, production, usage and subsequent recycling. The Declaration of Validation for the product-related environmental footprint of the BMW i3 issued by the Technical Inspectorate TÜV SÜD confirmed the methods and the results of the relevant analyses. By comparison with conventional automobiles of its size and performance, the BMW i3 has greenhouse potential reduced by values between 30 and over 50 percent.

The certificate in conformity with the ISO standard is not simply a quality seal for the BMW i3 but also provides a confirmation of the holistic approach of the new BMW i brand for sustainable, individual mobility. “For the first time in the history of the BMW Group, we already defined sustainable targets for a newly designed vehicle over the entire value chain during the early strategic phase,” explained Ulrich Kranz, Senior Vice President BMW i. “The inspection looked at the entire life cycle from extraction of raw materials and manufacture, through usage to recycling, in order to take account of all environmental aspects. The fact that this approach and its results are now being verified by a neutral agency demonstrates that we have adopted a pioneering roadmap,” commented Kranz.

The certification procedure carried out by TÜV SÜD Management Service GmbH included a detailed review of the data used for the environmental footprint study implemented on the BMW i3, the production process and the results obtained from analysis based on clearly defined criteria. 

The experts stated in their conclusion that all the requirements of the ISO standard 14040/44 were complied with when the environmental footprint study was carried out and that the methods applied were compliant with the most advanced engineering standards. The accuracy of all the input data and the environmental information was also confirmed. This result confirms that the environmental footprint of the BMW i3 also meets the most stringent international standards.

The electric drive naturally provides the most important feature in the environmental footprint of the BMW i3. The engine’s efficiency is significantly higher than in petrol or diesel engines. If generation of the electricity supplied to the high-voltage battery is also taken into account, there is further scope for optimising the environmental friendliness. The high share of recycled materials and the energy efficient production process are reducing the environmental impact of the BMW i3 even further. A greenhouse potential reduced by around 30 percent is already achieved by using energy from the EU 25 electricity mix, which takes account of all electricity generation in the European Union. A value improved by more than 50 percent compared with conventional automobiles results as soon as the BMW i3 is powered exclusively by energy generated from renewables, for example, wind or solar power.

The reduction of the greenhouse or CO2 footprint documented in the environmental footprint of the BMW i3 also resulted from a large number of individual measures which had never been implemented with comparable consistency, as was explained by Ulrich Kranz: “The sustainability targets defined for BMW i automobiles have attained the same status as cost or weight criteria in the course of the development process. Every single component and each individual process stage has been accurately reviewed and analysed by us from the perspective of sustainability. This road route took us to a lot of innovative and pioneering solutions.” This approach will be transferred also to other model lines in order to further intensify the BMW Group long term strategic commitment towards ecological, economical and social sustainability.  

The innovations realised in the BMW i3 range from the unique LifeDrive architecture with a passenger cell manufactured from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and an aluminium chassis for mounting the engine, chassis, high-voltage battery and crash structures, and an exceptional array of materials used in the interior.

Leather tanned with olive-leaf extract, environmentally refined wood from certified cultivation in Europe and the tangible use of natural fibres in the instrument panel and the door panels mean that users are actually able to experience the premium character defined by sustainability. 25 percent by weight of each of the plastics used in the interior and the thermoplastics in the exterior have been derived from recycled material or renewable raw materials.

A maximally high proportion of raw materials capable of recycling and energy-efficient manufacturing procedures also plays a role in the application of aluminium and CFRP to optimise the environmental footprint. Most of the lightweight alloy components of the BMW i3 are made up of so-called secondary aluminium. This is not obtained from aluminium ore but from melted production scrap and can be produced using up to 95 percent less energy. Furthermore, primary aluminium also makes a contribution to the sustainability of the BMW i3 since it is produced using energy generated from renewable resources.

The BMW Group makes use of its unique expertise in the area of industrial CFRP production to manufacture the Life Module. The aim is to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to creating maximally sustainable manufacturing processes. Around ten percent of the CFRP used in the passenger cell is made of recycled materials. For example, offcuts from the manufacture of CFRP components can be returned to the production stages in a process specially developed for BMW i automobiles. This reduces the need for raw materials from the carbon-fibre plant located at Moses Lake (USA). The facility produces the raw material for all the components manufactured from CFRP in the BMW i3. 100 percent of the energy required to manufacture the carbon fibres is produced from locally generated hydropower. The electricity for production of BMW i automobiles at the Leipzig plant also comes exclusively from renewable energy sources.

This is the first time that wind turbines have been used at the plant of an automobile manufacturer in Germany to supply electricity directly for production purposes on site.

•  Market launch of the BMW i3 heralds the dawn of a new era in electric mobility; the new BMW i brand presents the BMW Group’s first volume-produced model driven purely by electric power; visionary design; revolutionary vehicle architecture; familiar BMW driving pleasure; innovative connectivity; future-focused premium character strongly defined by sustainability; product substance unmatched by any rival is rooted in the well-founded research and development work carried out as part of project i and the superior technological expertise of the BMW Group.

•   The BMW i3 is an uncompromising and attractive solution to personal mobility requirements of the present and the future in urban areas; first premium car worldwide purpose-designed to run purely on electric power – and therefore emission-free; specially developed LifeDrive architecture, BMW eDrive drive technology, customary BMW rear-wheel drive and revolutionary lightweight design underpin the perfect balance of driving pleasure, range and weight; the BMW i3’s carbon footprint is around a third smaller than that of the BMW 118d – the World Green Car of the Year 2008 – or around 50 per cent smaller if the car is running on power generated from renewable sources.

•   Passenger cell (Life module) made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP); drivetrain technology, high-voltage battery, chassis, crash and structural functions integrated into the aluminium Drive module; DIN kerb weight: 1,195 kilograms; low centre of gravity; even weight distribution; spacious interior with four seats; slightly raised seating position; opposing “coach” doors; torsional stiffness of CFRP passenger cell structure allows the omission of B-pillars; centre tunnel has also been omitted, thanks to the positioning of the electric motor directly on the driven rear axle; boot capacity: 260 – 1,100 litres.

•   Groundbreaking design based around signature BMW i design language; faithful visualisation of sporting capability and efficiency; distinctive proportions; hallmark BMW i colour scheme, including exterior “black belt”; distinctive side view exuding lightness – with stream flow lines and large window surfaces; short overhangs; enclosed BMW kidney grille; bespoke design for the headlights and rear light clusters with U-shaped LED arrangement; rear lights integrated into the fully glazed tailgate.

•   Innovatively designed interior with a clear emphasis on spaciousness, cutting-edge functionality and a future-focused premium character; clear structuring provided by a surface design based on the layering principle; lightweight seats; exceptionally high proportion of naturally treated materials, recycled materials and renewable raw materials; start/stop button and bespoke gear selector lever on the steering column; instrument cluster and Control Display in freestanding monitor form; iDrive operating system and Driving Experience Control switch fitted as standard; four equipment lines available: Atelier, Loft, Lodge and Suite.

•   BMW eDrive technology including electric motor and high-performance lithium-ion battery developed and manufactured independently by the BMW Group; hybrid synchronous electric motor developed specifically for the i3, maximum output: 125 kW/170 hp, peak torque: 250 Nm (184 lb-ft); power sent to the rear wheels via an integrated differential gear; lithium-ion high-voltage battery with usable energy capacity of 18.8 kWh; intelligent drivetrain and charge management using power electronics developed by the BMW Group; battery can be recharged from a domestic power socket, BMW i Wallbox or public charging station.

•   Sporting driving characteristics and excellent agility; acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.2 seconds, 0 to 60 km/h (37 mph) in 3.7 seconds and from 80 to 120 km/h (50 to 75 mph) in 4.9 seconds; top speed, electronically limited: 150 km/h (93 mph); turning circle: 9.86 metres.

•   Energy consumption: 12.9 kilowatt hours per 100 kilometres (62 miles) in the EU test cycle; more efficient than any competitor, efficiency further optimised through specific BMW EfficientDynamics technology, such as Brake Energy Regeneration, ECO PRO and ECO PRO+ mode including coasting function; range under everyday conditions: 130 – 160 kilometres (approx. 80 – 100 miles) when COMFORT mode is engaged using the Driving Experience Control switch; range can be increased by 20 kilometres (12 miles) when ECO PRO or ECO PRO+ mode are activated; additional option: two-cylinder range extender petrol engine developing 25 kW/34 hp maintains a minimum charge level and boosts range to around 300 kilometres (185 miles).

•   Sophisticated chassis technology enables a well-balanced combination of agile handling and impressive ride comfort; MacPherson single-joint spring strut front suspension; five-link rear axle mounted directly to the Drive module; Electric Power Steering; DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) including DTC (Dynamic Traction Control); 19-inch forged light-alloy wheels as standard.

•   Intelligent lightweight design, e.g. a CFRP passenger cell, aluminium chassis, instrument panel with magnesium supporting structure and weight optimisation of all components specially developed for the i3; comprehensive safety concept with precisely defined crash zones in the Drive module, extremely torsionally stiff passenger cell and electronically controlled restraint systems.

•   Varied range of BMW ConnectedDrive features, including standard BMW i functions; connectivity via a SIM card fitted in the vehicle; BMW TeleServices and Intelligent Emergency Call as standard; optional Driving Assistant Plus with camera-based Cruise Control including Stop & Go function, Traffic Jam Assistant, Speed Limit Info and No Passing Info display, pedestrian recognition and Collision Warning with light city braking function, Proactive Driving Assistant; optional parking assistance package with PDC at the front, rear view camera and fully automatic Parking Assistant; optional Comfort Package with features including a rain sensor, Cruise Control with braking function, automatically dimming rear-view and exterior mirrors; also available are BMW Online Entertainment, Concierge Services, Real Time Traffic Information, use of the flinc car sharing network (only in Germany for the time being) and other mobility services specific to BMW i.

•   Services specific to BMW i available as part of 360° ELECTRIC: BMW i Wallbox enabling convenient battery charging at home, ChargeNow card allowing customers to use public charging stations without the need for cash, innovative mobility services, intermodal route guidance via smartphone app, MyCityWay and ParkatmyHouse.

•   Extensive standard equipment, including Navigation system Professional with dynamic range display, USB and AUX-in sockets, hands-free facility for telephone, air conditioning, leather steering wheel, LED daytime driving lights, Park Distance Control (PDC) with rear-mounted sensors, charging cable for use with a domestic power socket.

•   All-embracing sustainability concept across the entire value chain; carbon fibre production at Moses Lake, USA, and vehicle assembly at BMW Plant Leipzig using 100 per cent renewable energy; BMW i packages for using eco power to charge the high-voltage battery; innovative sales concepts for flexible access to personal mobility.

Please find attached the press kit "The BMW i3".

Presskit available in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Chinese.

Leipzig/Munich. The BMW Group entered a new era in automotive construction today with the start of series production of the BMW i3. The world’s first premium electric vehicle to be purpose-designed for this form of drive system is the result of an all-encompassing development approach targeted at reducing fuel consumption and emissions in urban areas. Exceptionally high standards of sustainability and resource efficiency have also been achieved in the selection of materials and production processes employed. This is the first time that carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) has been used in automotive volume production. The body structure of the BMW i3 consists entirely of this extremely lightweight and durable material, allowing the extra weight of the batteries for the electric drive system to be cancelled out. By industrialising the manufacturing process for CFRP, the BMW Group has become the first company worldwide to make its use in vehicle production economically viable.

At the Leipzig plant alone, some €400 million has been invested in new structures and machinery for the production of BMW i models and 800 new jobs have been created. The production network for BMW i also sees key components for the BMW i3 manufactured at BMW Group plants and joint venture facilities at Moses Lake in the USA and Wackersdorf, Landshut and Dingolfing in Germany. The company has invested a total of around €600 million in the BMW i production network and generated over 1,500 jobs.

Series production of the BMW i3 got under way today in the presence of the Minister President of the state of Saxony, Stanislaw Tillich, Mayor of Leipzig, Burkhard Jung, and BMW AG Board Member for Production, Harald Krüger. The first BMW i3 off the line has been recruited as the lead car for the International Berlin Marathon on 29 September and was handed over to German marathon runner Jan Fitschen. Deliveries of the BMW i3 to customers in Germany and other European countries will begin in November, with the car’s launch in the USA, China and other markets to follow in early 2014.

“Today represents a milestone in our company’s development,” said BMW production chief Krüger. “We are making history with the BMW i3. Not only is our first electric car about to hit the road, we are also completely redefining sustainability with regard to personal mobility thanks to groundbreaking technologies and processes.” Indeed, the entire value chain is firmly committed to sustainability and efficiency: “We require 50% less energy and 70% less water, and source the electric energy for production of the BMW i models CO2-free from the wind turbines at the plant,” added Krüger. This huge reduction in energy and water consumption can be attributed primarily to the elimination of the traditional painting process for steel and aluminium bodies.

Stanislaw Tillich was delighted that this new chapter in automotive history would be written in the federal state he heads: “I’m proud that, in BMW, we have such an innovative carmaker here in Saxony and that BMW is building the i3 at its plant here in Leipzig. This proves that Saxony is an attractive location in terms of its research and educational institutions, its infrastructure and, most importantly, its highly qualified and motivated people.”

Leipzig’s mayor Burkhard Jung concurred: “The BMW plant has been a boon for our city from the beginning and continues to act as a growth engine for jobs. With BMW also basing production of its electric vehicles here, the prospects for the local area are extremely healthy.”

Chicago. It was undoubtedly the shot of the tournament and triggered riotous applause from golf fans at the BMW Championship on Saturday: Hunter Mahan (USA) fired a spectacular ace on the 17th hole (par 3, 190 metres). This hole-in-one helped Mahan to an impressive round of seven under par. Above all, however, the 31-year-old is now the proud owner of a BMW i3, which was launched just a few weeks ago and is not yet available in the USA. As the world’s first premium automobile designed from scratch purely for electrical mobility, the BMW i3 is the first production vehicle built predominantly from carbon.

In shooting his ace, Mahan went one better than former world number one Rory McIlroy (NIR). Prior to the start of the third Playoff tournament on the PGA TOUR, the winner of the 2012 BMW Championship had taken the opportunity to test drive the BMW i3 and was impressed by the speed and handling of Mahan’s new car. Will he take the Northern Irishman for a ride in his new BMW i3? “I’ll have to think hard about that. After all, it is a really cool car and I am one of the first to get my hands on it. Rory will have to ask very nicely… But seriously: I am very impressed by the BMW i3. It looks awesome and it is great to know that it is completely zero-emission. So far I have only been able to sit in the car briefly, but I am really looking forward to driving the BMW i3.”

Although the BMW i3 has found its way into the hands of a new owner, the pros still have one more chance to win a new set of wheels at the BMW Championship, which will now be concluded on Monday after rain suspended play on Sunday: the first player to hit an ace on the eleventh hole will be rewarded with the breath-taking BMW M6 Gran Coupé. Given Jim Furyk’s record-equalling round of 59 on Friday – the American became only the sixth player in the history of the PGA TOUR to card a sub-60 round – and Mahan’s dream shot, it would be quite fitting at such an eventful BMW Championship for someone to get their hands on the second Hole-in-One Car too.

The caddie who receives a full college scholarship from the Evans Scholars Foundation courtesy of Mahan’s masterstroke will also be delighted. BMW’s donation for the first hole-in-one of the tournament will cover his or her 100,000 dollar costs.

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