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.