BMW X5 awarded the "autonis" 2007 for the most attractive design.

Munich. At the Frankfurt International Motor Show 2007 yesterday , the
BMW X5 was voted winner of the competition "autonis" - best
new design 2007 - in the category off-road vehicles. The new version of
the BMW X5, which was launched on the German market in March 2007,
managed to assert itself well ahead of its class competitors. The
result is proof that this unique Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) by BMW
not only impresses through superior driving characteristics, but is
also perceived by the general public as an exceptionally attractive and
stylish vehicle. In a reader survey, the car magazine "auto motor
und sport" had determined the most appealing new vehicles launched
within the last twelve months. Voting was effected solely according to
visual criteria, whereby readers were able to allocate plus and minus
points for the design of the vehicles they assessed. No vehicle in any
other segment was mentioned as often and judged as positively as the
BMW X5. Those taking part in the survey also gave noticeably high marks
for the design of other new BMW models. The BMW 5 Series won second
place in the luxury class category. The BMW 1 Series and the BMW 3
Series Convertible were also readers' favourites, managing to seize
third place in the classes for compact vehicles and convertibles
respectively. Moreover, the new MINI contributed to a further class
victory for the BMW Group, becoming clear winner of the
"autonis" in the small car category. Successful design is not
evident at first glance. Without a doubt, the design of BMW and MINI
vehicles is striking and always leaves a positive impression. This is
precisely the goal BMW Group designers aspire to achieve with their
work. They design vehicles that not only appeal to people at first
glance, but also achieve a sustainable visual effect. BMW chief
designer Adrian van Hooydonk explains: "We designers wish to make
owning a BMW an experience, and we aspire to establish a relationship
between people and their product that is continually deepened."
Consequently, the design of a BMW is always synonymous with authentic
product substance, and as such it renders this substance perceptible
and discernable to the customer. Initially, it arouses the attention of
the beholder through an aesthetic appearance that reflects the identity
of the premium brand BMW. Moreover, it consistently sparks emotions
that result in a vehicle design that permanently exceeds expectations
and binds the customer to the product and the brand. In this way, the
design becomes a success factor for the entire company. Basis of design
development: The "Collective Intelligence" principle. The
design of an automobile is seen as a crucial purchase criterion that
increases both driving pleasure and resale value. The BMW X5 owes its
excellent position in this field to a fundamental design strategy that
is utilised in the design of all BMW Group vehicles. Part of this
strategy is a specific form of cooperation known within BMW Group
Design as "Collective Intelligence". For example, in addition
to market and market-related criteria, demands implemented by
specialists in the field of aerodynamics, safety, ergonomics or series
production compatibility are increasingly incorporated into design
development. Therefore, there is a necessity in every phase for
different skills of the highest level. For example, when a designer
furnishes a concept, he then teams up with a modeller who transfers the
sketches in a 1 to1 format into a three-dimensional model made of clay,
an industrial building material. Additionally, a design engineer is
involved during the entire development phase up to realisation, a
person who is able to relate to the two experts' proposals and
"defend" the development process in alignment with the
technical requirements of series production in the countless
coordination rounds. These three specialists form the core of a
successful design team within the BMW Group. When selecting colleagues,
the BMW Group attaches the utmost importance not only to exceptional
know-how, but also to an ability to cooperate. The "Collective
Intelligence" principle is based on willingness to share knowledge
in order to be able to fully exploit the collective pool of specialised
information and experience as a collective community. At BMW Group
Design, competition and teamwork belong together. At the same time
colleagues at the BMW Group are permanently exposed to tough internal
competition. Several designers work simultaneously and consistently on
the design of the same model. The combination of rivalry and teamwork
results in a highly creative and fruitful working atmosphere. Each of
the team members knows he or she is ultimately pulling together with
all of the other colleagues. Thus, rivals even consult each other
during a competitive phase. Head of BMW Group Design, Christopher E.
Bangle, aspires to motivate his colleagues through the power of a
mutual vision. "Individual freedom and teamwork do not contradict
each other", he says. "Our employees do not work for their
own benefit, but for the benefit of the customer, the vehicle and the
brand." Thanks to the decidedly collaborative working method at
BMW Group Design, the individual skills of each colleague from
different specialised fields generate enormous creative potential. In
this way a whole is created that is much more effective than the sum of
its individual parts. The success of this principle is evident.
Numerous awards document impressively BMW's outstanding core competence
in the development of premium vehicles that fulfil the highest
standards in innovation, dynamics and attractiveness. BMW vehicles
consistently receive awards for exceptional design, whether from
specialist juries or as a result of public surveys. In addition to the
internationally recognised red dot award 2007 for outstanding product
design, the BMW Group was also presented with the prize for the
"Design Team of the Year".