WORLD PREMIERE IN TOKYO: THE NEW BMW M3 SALOON

Munich/Tokyo. At the 40th Tokyo Motor Show 2007, which will take place in the
Japanese capital from 27th October to 11th November, BMW will be celebrating a
world debut of a very special kind. The BMW M3 Saloon will be presented to the
public for the very first time. With the launching of this new model the German
premium car manufacturer is once again extending its range of BMW M3 models by
the addition of a four-door version. Moreover, two fascinating Asia premieres
await visitors to the show in Tokyo. Firstly, coupe and convertible versions of
the new BMW 6 Series set new standards in dynamics, motoring refinement and
exclusivity. Secondly, the new BMW 1 Series Coupe is the embodiment of ultimate
driving fun in the compact segment. A further highlight of the Tokyo Motor Show
2007 is the BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid. This concept study of BMW's first
all-hybrid vehicle impressively demonstrates the potential of a combination of
the internal combustion engine and electric drive when implemented in a form
that complies with BMW brand values. With the BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid, the
prerequisites have been created to achieve for the first time a decisive
advantage in driving dynamics as well as fuel consumption and emissions through
the employment of hybrid technology.
Furthermore, customers in Japan can look forward to many more model, engine and
equipment innovations. Coupe and convertible versions now also complement the
BMW 3 Series in Japan. The new BMW X5, the first BMW to feature up to seven
seats, guarantees a new standard in driving dynamics, superiority and traction.
In contrast, the BMW Z4 Roadster and BMW Z4 Coupe being presented in Tokyo
stand for the promise of ultimate driving pleasure for two people. For the
first time, visitors to the Tokyo Motor Show will be able to see the BMW
Hydrogen 7, which features a bivalent 191kW/260 bhp twelve-cylinder engine that
runs on petrol and hydrogen, paving the way to a mobility that is independent
of fossil fuels and free from pollutants.
The organisers of the 40th Tokyo Motor Show and the more than 250 international
exhibitors are expecting around 1.5 million visitors. The exhibition space at
the Makuhari Exhibition Centre has now been increased by more than 10 percent
to almost 45 000 square metres. The German premium manufacturer BMW is using
Asia's most significant motor show as a platform for demonstrating its power of
innovation, predominantly in the fields of drive technology, driver assistance
systems, comfort functions and safety.
The world premiere of the BMW M3 Saloon in Tokyo follows only a few weeks after
the sales launch of the sporty and elegant BMW M3 Coupe. As a top athlete in
the four-door saloon segment and an individualist amongst high-performance
sports cars, the vehicle has immediately succeeded in capturing a unique
position. Thanks to the racing genes of the newly developed 4.0-litre V8
high-revving power unit delivering 309kW/420 bhp, the saloon is capable of
achieving a most impressive driving performance. Acceleration from 0-62 mph is
achieved in a mere 4.9 seconds, whilst top speed is electronically limited to
250 km/h (155 mph).
The new BMW 6 Series models will present themselves on the occasion of their
Asian premiere as particularly attractive innovations. Featuring discreetly
modified optics, the elegant sport coupe and the dynamic luxury convertible
both convey the promise of ultimate driving pleasure. Equipment features such
adaptive headlights and variable light distribution, Active Cruise Control with
Stop & Go function for automatic distance control in moving traffic and when
travelling at walking speed, lane departure warning system with vibration
signal on the steering wheel, Head-up Display, BMW Night Vision and high-beam
assistant document cutting-edge technological advancement in the field of
driver assistance systems and comfort functions. In addition, the BMW 6 Series
now features crash-active headrests that reduce the danger of cervical spine
injury in the event of a rear end collision.
The innovations being presented at the Tokyo Motor Show 2007 significantly
reflect the BMW EfficientDynamics development strategy in the field of drive
technology. This is evident in a range of current, medium-term and long-term
concepts for reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emissions - from the current
model range and the BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid to the luxury hydrogen-powered
saloon BMW Hydrogen 7.
With the BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid the German premium manufacturer has
combined the world's first Sports Activity Coupe with a hybrid drive concept
that has never been realised before. The result is the first BMW hybrid
vehicle. This hybrid concept facilitates significantly better driving dynamics
than those achieved by conventional hybrid vehicles and a reduction in fuel
consumption of up to 20 percent compared to a similar vehicle featuring just a
petrol engine. Innovative ActiveHybrid technology facilitates the utilisation
of the efficiency advantages that electric drive offers not only in city
traffic, as was previously the case, but also when travelling at high speeds.
BMW ActiveHybrid is an inherent part of the BMW EfficientDynamics development
strategy, which today is already leading to BMW production vehicles that
combine driving pleasure with impressive economy. For example, the BMW 135i
Coupe enthuses not only through the promise of unparalleled driving fun, but
also through extremely low fuel consumption in relation to its performance
potential. The top version of the BMW 1 Series Coupe debuting in Asia features
a 3.0-litre straight six engine with Twin Turbo technology and direct petrol
injection (High Precision Injection). The 225 kW/306 bhp engine catapults the
two-seater from 0-62 mph in just 5.3 seconds. Average fuel consumption in an EU
test cycle is 9.6 litres/100 km.
For many years now the BMW EfficientDynamics strategy has led to numerous
groundbreaking innovations. These include fully variable valve control
VALVETRONIC as well as the composite magnesium-aluminium crankcase for the BMW
straight six engine. It has only 57 percent of the weight of a conventional
grey cast block and is around 24 percent lighter than a comparable aluminium
case. For example, six-cylinder engines featuring VALVETRONIC and a composite
magnesium-aluminium crankcase are employed for the models BMW X5 3.0si, BMW
630i, BMW 330i as well as for the BMW Z4 Roadster 3.0si and the BMW Z4 Coupe
3.0si being presented at the Tokyo Motor Show 2007.