Munich. Thanks to its combination of expressive design and outstanding brand-typical driving dynamics, the new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe (fuel consumption combined: 7.1 – 4.2 l/100 km, CO2 emissions combined: 162-110 g/km*) has everything it takes to continue the seven-year success story of the BMW Gran Coupe in the compact segment too. In order to accentuate its athletic character even more and tailor the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe to the needs and requirements of motorsport-enthusiastic customers, BMW also offers a wide range of M Performance Parts from the date of launch in November 2019.

Developed by BMW M Gmbh experts with their many years of motorsport expertise and countless victories on the world’s race tracks, these components meet the highest requirements with regard to performance, production quality and design. The M Performance Parts are not only visually attractive, but also integral elements of the light-weight construction concept. All components are perfectly matched to the specific character to the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe.

Attractive and functional details for more distinctive visual appeal.
A number of individual options enable the customer to enhance the exterior of the new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe to give it even more dynamic looks. The M rear spoiler in high-gloss black not only adds an attractive touch of visual flair, but also optimises the air stream around the car and positively affects driving behaviour thanks to reducing lift. The high-gloss black model inscriptions as well as the round M Performance stainless steel tail pipe finishers with titanium outer pipe and carbon fibre casing enhance the rear view of the car greatly. The high-gloss black mesh-style M front ornamental grille gives the front a highly dynamic look. The Carbon M Performance exterior mirror caps add both discreet yet distinctive details to the side view of the car. Like all carbon fibre components they are hand-crafted, sealed with a clear finish and given a high-gloss polish for an impressive depth effect. The structure, which is so characteristic for this material, makes these carbon-fibre reinforced plastic components very impressive to look at.

Luxurious as well as racing-style interior flair.
The interior of the new BMW 2 Sereis Gran Coupe can also be upgraded with various M Performance Parts. The most distinctive visual detail is the M Performance steering wheel. Its extremely high-grip alcantara handling area features large thumbrests and special underlining. The steering wheel gives the driver the feeling of becoming one with the car, which is essential for dynamic and safe driving. The red centre marking further supports this. Another visual highlight is the silver-grey, hand-sewn cross-stitch on the steering wheel rim. The carbon fibre/alcantara steering wheel trim rounds off the impressive look perfectly. The shift paddles of the M Performance steering wheel can also be ordered in an M Performance version with carbon fibre fabric instead of the standard chrome surface for versions of the BMW 2 Sereis Gran Coupe with 7-speed double-clutch, 8-speed Steptronic or 8-speed Steptronic sports transmission. The sporty-luxurious ambience is rounded off by the M Performance floor mats with M Performance inscription, a pennant in the hallmark M colours and a surround in leather look including decorative seam in contrasting colours.

Top-level dynamic performance thanks to sports brake system.
Not only insiders know that it isn’t engine power alone that leads to success, but above all braking performance. And since this insight from motor racing can also be applied to road use, the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe may also be equipped with an M Performance brake system featuring highly distinctive red brake saddles. Its larger, inner-vented and perforated lightweight construction brake discs offer further improved braking response, optimised deceleration even under extreme conditions as well as maximum resilience.

18 and 19 inch complete wheel sets add athletic character.
The 18 inch M Performance Y-Spoke Styling 554 M forged wheels and the 19 inch M Performance Double Spoke Styling 555 M complete wheel sets emphasise the sporty character of the BMW 2 Series Grand Coupe. In Jet Black matt they add yet another athletic touch to the car’s sporty visual appeal. An especially charismatic highlight is added in the case of the 19 inch wheel thanks to the burnished finish with matt clear lacquer giving the car a eye-catching bicolour look. The 18 inch M Performance Y-Spoke Styling 554 M forged wheel is also available as a complete winter wheel set. Whoever prefers a bicolour wheel in the cold time of the year too, there is the 18 inch M Performance Double-Spoke 556 M Bicolour light alloy wheel (Cerium Grey, burnished).

Experience the M Performance spirit even when the car is stationary.
The thrilling motorsport atmosphere generated by the M Performance Parts is not only limited to when you are driving the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe but also when you get in and out. For example the M Performance slide set for the LED door projectors is a very eye-catching option, allowing you to project your clear commitment to sporty driving onto the asphalt. The M Performance key holder made of high-quality alcantara with carbon fibre insert builds anticipation for the driving experience to come and makes the look and feel of pure driving pleasure come alive. Thanks to the internal hex screw in M Light Blue, the car key is firmly connected to the holder and therefore effectively protected from being scratched or damaged. The M Performance tyre bags made of high-quality and resilient plastic material not only make storing and transporting the wheels a clean and safe affair, but also bring a racing feel to your garage thanks to their distinctive M Performance design. And each bag is clearly marked so allocating tyres is easy.

Munich. The desire for individualisation remains unbroken. With M Performance Parts, BMW offers sports-oriented customers the opportunity to customise their cars according to their preferences. With the new BMW M240i M Performance Edition, BMW M is now launching a special series in line with this trend. It has been designed to express the athletic appeal of the compact sport coupé even more. The Edition model already features many high-grade exterior components from the M Performance accessory program ex works. These have been harmonised with care and enhance the sporty appearance and dynamic appeal of the powerful Coupé even further. Carbon fibre or black detail parts provide distinctive contrasts to the Alpine White paintwork. The BMW M240i M Performance Edition is powered by a 250 kW/340 hp inline 6-cylinder engine with M Performance TwinPower Turbo Technology (combined fuel consumption:  8.5 – 7.7 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 195 – 176 g/km)*.

Powerful statement and outstanding athleticism. 
The athletic look of the compact sports coupé is highlighted especially by the large 19 inch light alloy wheels, fitted with 225/35 R19 (front) and 245/30 R19 (rear) mixed tyres. The high-quality double-spoke forged wheels are finished in bicolor Orbit Grey and have a diamond polished visible side; at the front the special edition features  areodynamics parts consisting of air guides, splitter and bumper front section, whose spoiler lip is finished in matt black. The radiator grille including kidney grille bars is also in black. The partly painted rear diffuser and a carbon-fibre rear spoiler add to the car’s expressive appeal. Here, too, carbon fibre and black colours create an impressive contrast to the car’s white paintwork.

Carbon fibre tailpipe trim with embossed M logo underline the motor racing character of this edition model. Carbon fibre outside mirror caps and the side sill attachments with foiled M Performance inscription round off the dynamic appearance of the BMW M240i M Performance Edition.

Uncompromising quality and performance. All M Performance components have been developed especially for the BMW M240i incorporating the full motor sports know-how of BMW M GmbH and are perfectly harmonised with each other. Together they optimise the aerodynamic flow pattern around the car thereby optimising its handling and driving performance. The BMW M240i M Performance Edition is assembled exclusively in the BMW Leipzig plant.

Consistently sporty, with optional BMW xDrive.
The powerful BMW M240i M Performance Edition can be ordered either with a 6-speed manual gearbox or an 8-speed Steptronic sports transmission. In addition BMW xDrive is optionally available for the high performance coupé. In this case the car always comes with automatic transmission. The compact sports car boasts impressive performance figures. In conjunction with the all-wheel drive (combined fuel consumption: 8.0 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 184 g/km)* it sprints from zero to 100 km/h in only 4.4 seconds, the top speed being 250 km/h for every drive variant.

The BMW M240i M Performance Edition is limited to 750 units and will be available from July 2017.

* The fuel consumption figures were calculated based on the ECE test cycle, dependent on the choice of transmission and the configuration of the drivetrain.

BMW, one of the world’s most successful premium carmakers, also boasts an excellent position in the all-wheel-drive market, a segment it first entered 30 years ago. Around one in three BMW cars sold around the world is now equipped with the intelligent BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system. BMW’s success in this segment has been driven not only by the ever-popular BMW X models but also by all-wheel-drive models based on the other model series, from the BMW 1 Series to the BMW 7 Series. Across these model series, a large choice of AWD models is offered in a wide range of engine versions. At the same time, BMW continues to refine this technology and take it in new directions. By offering BMW xDrive in combination with a hybrid drive and with a front-wheel-drive platform, the company has repeatedly demonstrated its proficiency in the all-wheel-drive field, proficiency that will secure BMW’s position at the forefront of this sector well into the future. Today, BMW offers more than 110 models – of either transmission type – with BMW xDrive in 12 different model series, as well as the plug-in hybrid BMW i8 sports car and the compact BMW 225xe with electrified all-wheel drive.

The focus from day one: traction and dynamics.
BMW’s first foray into the all-wheel-drive market came with the unveiling of the BMW 325i “Allrad” at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in 1985. From the outside, the newcomer didn’t immediately reveal its inner qualities, so its performance when the journalists took it out on the test track was even more of an eye-opener. This very first BMW all-wheel-drive system not only improved traction away from surfaced roads and in adverse weather conditions, but also made for more dynamic handling through corners. “The new BMW is the new champion when it comes to handling,” was the verdict of the testers from German car magazine Auto Zeitung not long after the first unveiling.

Today, the intelligent BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system takes typical BMW driving dynamics to new levels. The current generation of this system is controlled by the Integrated Chassis Management (ICM) system, which ensures that xDrive always responds appropriately at the earliest possible moment, based on reliable sensing and monitoring of the current driving situation. The interventions may be performed either entirely by BMW xDrive, or by xDrive in combination with Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) or Dynamic Performance Control (DPC). The resulting fast and precise control of drive power distribution ensures typical BMW handling characteristics even under extremely dynamic cornering.

The all-wheel-drive system is biased towards the typical BMW rear-wheel-drive characteristics. That is to say, on the all-wheel-drive models a greater share of the drive power is sent to the rear wheels, even under normal driving conditions. This maintains the typical BMW precise steering response, with virtually no torque steer. For crisp turn-in and high tracking stability, the latest-generation BMW xDrive system starts increasing the amount of power sent to the rear wheels as soon as the vehicle enters a corner, further enhancing the driving pleasure for which BMW is a byword.

BMW all-wheel-drive technology: continuous evolution since 1985.
The full-time all-wheel-drive system featured on the BMW 325i “Allrad” of 1985 split the drive power in a ratio of 37 to 63 per cent between the front and rear wheels. In response to wheel speed differences, visco locks in the transfer case and rear differential were capable of providing a virtually rigid connection between the front and rear wheels, in order to improve traction and stability. This model’s name was soon changed to BMW 325iX, and from 1988 it was offered in a “touring” version as well (lower-case spelling up to and including the E46 series).

1991: BMW 525iX.
Three years on, BMW introduced an all-wheel-drive model in the BMW 5 Series too. For the first time, the power split was now electronically controlled. The newly developed system featured multi-plate clutches that allowed the default 36:64 front-to-rear power split to be varied seamlessly and automatically in line with driving conditions. Initially a hydraulically controlled multi-plate clutch was used at the rear axle, but this was later replaced by electronically controlled selective braking intervention. The system monitored the driving situation using wheel speed signals from the Anti-lock Braking System, supplemented by further information about brake status, engine speed and throttle valve position.

From the outset the all-wheel-drive system of the BMW 525iX was a class apart. The electronic control system delivered a very fast and precise response, resulting in safe, neutral handling characteristics even in difficult driving conditions, such as on wet roads or snow. In the BMW 5 Series, too, the first all-wheel-drive models were offered in both Sedan and touring versions.

1999: The Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) opens a new chapter.
In the run-up to the new millennium, a highly innovative vehicle concept from BMW made its sensational debut. The BMW X5, the first Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), impressed customers with driving dynamics that were unmatched among other all-terrain vehicles of the time. The outstanding all-wheel-drive system played a big part in this. A planetary gear system split the drive power in a ratio of 38:62 per cent between the front and rear wheels, while electronic control systems such as DSC (Dynamic Stability Control), ADB-X (Automatic Differential Brake) and HDC (Hill Descent Control) ensured the new BMW X5 was both sporty on the road and equipped to handle challenging conditions off the beaten track.

In the years following the successful launch of the SAV concept, there was no let-up in the fast pace of all-wheel-drive development at BMW. The next year, 2000, a model-specific version of the BMW X5’s all-wheel drive technology became available for the fourth generation of the BMW 3 Series.

2003: BMW xDrive makes its debut in the BMW X3 and BMW X5.
Four years on from the debut of the BMW X5 in 1999, BMW kept up the momentum by launching the SAV concept in a further vehicle segment. The new BMW X3 was more compact than the BMW X5 and offered even more agile handling. It set new benchmarks and remained the only premium model in its class for years to come.

The newly developed BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system, which was introduced in the same year in both the BMW X3 and the BMW X5, soon extended BMW’s lead in the AWD segment. Based on an extremely fast-acting electronic multi-plate clutch in the transfer case, xDrive worked in tandem with the Dynamic Stability Control system (DSC) to continuously adapt the drive power split to the current driving situation. In addition to wheel speed, for the first time the electronic control system also took into account Dynamic Stability Control data, for example about steering angle, accelerator position and lateral acceleration. This is what makes BMW xDrive the world’s first, and still only, “intelligent” all-wheel-drive system. Unlike conventional all-wheel-drive systems, which only react when at least one wheel is already spinning, xDrive is able to detect a risk of oversteer or understeer at the very first signs, and proactively corrects this by redirecting the flow of drive power.

In the years that followed, the BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system was fitted not only on the X models but also on the xDrive versions of the BMW 3 and 5 Series Sedan and Touring models. By the time the second generation of the BMW X3 was introduced in 2010, more than 600,000 units of this series had already been sold worldwide. A little earlier, sales of the BMW X5 – which entered its second generation in 2006 – had topped the one million mark.

2008: SAC with Dynamic Performance Control and hybrid drive.
With the two Sports Activity Vehicles now firmly established in their respective segments, in 2007 BMW went on to present the world’s first Sports Activity Coupe. Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA), the brand-new BMW X6 elevated the typical dynamic character of the BMW X models to a new level of intensity. For the first time, the intelligent all-wheel-drive system was combined with Dynamic Performance Control (DPC), which varies the drive power split between the rear wheels when cornering to ensure unrivalled agility and stability, even under sudden throttle changes or on overrun. In 2009, the BMW Active Hybrid X6 demonstrated a further perfect pairing – between BMW xDrive and hybrid propulsion. Meanwhile, in the same year, BMW M GmbH added two very special models to its range of high-performance sports cars. With an M-tuned BMW xDrive system, including Dynamic Performance Control, the BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M boasted performance that was previously unknown in the all-wheel-drive market.

2009 also saw the arrival of a new X model, the BMW X1. For many years to come, the BMW X1 was destined to remain the only vehicle of its kind in the premium compact segment. Its intelligent BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system, like that of the new BMW X3 (2010), was also combinable with Performance Control. This system selectively brakes the wheel on the inside of a turn while simultaneously increasing engine power, resulting in quick and precise turn-in to corners and taking the agile handling of both models to new levels.

BMW xDrive also available for other model series.
The steady advance of the BMW X models has been accompanied by an increase in the number of xDrive versions offered in the other BMW model series too. Designed to improve cornering agility and precision, BMW xDrive provides an enhanced driving experience and an optimal combination of dynamics and comfort. So it was only a matter of time before this intelligent drive technology made its debut in the BMW 7 Series as well, in 2009. In spring 2012, the first all-wheel-drive Coupe and Convertible models were then offered in the sporty BMW 6 Series. BMW xDrive can also be specified on the current BMW 3 and 5 Series and, since 2013, on the Convertible, Coupe and Gran Coupe models of the new BMW 4 Series.

Driving progress ever forward.
BMW took things forward in the premium mid-sized segment with the launch of the BMW X4 in 2014. The new Sports Activity Coupe offers a unique blend of driving enjoyment, sophisticated style and contemporary practicality. It comes with BMW xDrive as standard and is available in a wide range of engine versions. In the same year, BMW also presented the third generation of the BMW X5, the second generation of the BMW X6, and M Sport versions of both models. BMW xDrive also made its debut in the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. This was a debut with a difference, being the first time BMW had combined its intelligent all-wheel-drive system with an all-new front-wheel-drive format.

With the BMW i8, unveiled in 2014, the BMW Group took a bold new step in new directions – which also extended to the all-wheel-drive system. This 2+2-seater sports model is powered by a highly advanced plug-in hybrid drive system that pairs an internal combustion engine driving the rear wheels with a high-performance electric motor driving the front wheels.

Focused on the future: BMW xDrive meets BMW eDrive.
BMW’s latest all-wheel-drive models bring technology advances that are firmly focused on the future of mobility. The BMW i8 was followed by the international launch of the first production plug-in hybrid model from the BMW core brand: the BMW X5 xDrive40e. Thanks to full-time BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive and eDrive BMW EfficientDynamics technology, this Sports Activity Vehicle mates thrilling and effortless sporty performance with outstanding efficiency. Intelligent hybrid power management synchronises the operation of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor to maximise efficiency at all times, while also responding perfectly to the driver’s demands. The drive from the two power units is transferred to the road via the full-time BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system.

BMW 7 Series: Integral Active Steering combinable with BMW xDrive.
In September 2015, the sixth generation of the BMW 7 Series makes its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA). This high-end BMW luxury model pioneers groundbreaking innovations on all fronts, and will be available with BMW xDrive from its market launch in October. The new luxury sedan will also be the first model to allow intelligent all-wheel-drive to be combined with Integral Active Steering – that is to say with passively steering rear wheels.

Please find attached the complete press kit for download.

BMW, one of the world’s most successful premium carmakers, also boasts an excellent position in the all-wheel-drive market, a segment it first entered 30 years ago. Around one in three BMW cars sold around the world is now equipped with the intelligent BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system. BMW’s success in this segment has been driven not only by the ever-popular BMW X models but also by all-wheel-drive models based on the other model series, from the BMW 1 Series to the BMW 7 Series. Across these model series, a large choice of AWD models is offered in a wide range of engine versions. At the same time, BMW continues to refine this technology and take it in new directions. By offering BMW xDrive in combination with a hybrid drive and with a front-wheel-drive platform, the company has repeatedly demonstrated its proficiency in the all-wheel-drive field, proficiency that will secure BMW’s position at the forefront of this sector well into the future. Today, BMW offers more than 110 models – of either transmission type – with BMW xDrive in 12 different model series, as well as the plug-in hybrid BMW i8 sports car and the compact BMW 225xe with electrified all-wheel drive.

The focus from day one: traction and dynamics.
BMW’s first foray into the all-wheel-drive market came with the unveiling of the BMW 325i “Allrad” at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in 1985. From the outside, the newcomer didn’t immediately reveal its inner qualities, so its performance when the journalists took it out on the test track was even more of an eye-opener. This very first BMW all-wheel-drive system not only improved traction away from surfaced roads and in adverse weather conditions, but also made for more dynamic handling through corners. “The new BMW is the new champion when it comes to handling,” was the verdict of the testers from German car magazine Auto Zeitung not long after the first unveiling.

Today, the intelligent BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system takes typical BMW driving dynamics to new levels. The current generation of this system is controlled by the Integrated Chassis Management (ICM) system, which ensures that xDrive always responds appropriately at the earliest possible moment, based on reliable sensing and monitoring of the current driving situation. The interventions may be performed either entirely by BMW xDrive, or by xDrive in combination with Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) or Dynamic Performance Control (DPC). The resulting fast and precise control of drive power distribution ensures typical BMW handling characteristics even under extremely dynamic cornering.

The all-wheel-drive system is biased towards the typical BMW rear-wheel-drive characteristics. That is to say, on the all-wheel-drive models a greater share of the drive power is sent to the rear wheels, even under normal driving conditions. This maintains the typical BMW precise steering response, with virtually no torque steer. For crisp turn-in and high tracking stability, the latest-generation BMW xDrive system starts increasing the amount of power sent to the rear wheels as soon as the vehicle enters a corner, further enhancing the driving pleasure for which BMW is a byword.

BMW all-wheel-drive technology: continuous evolution since 1985.
The full-time all-wheel-drive system featured on the BMW 325i “Allrad” of 1985 split the drive power in a ratio of 37 to 63 per cent between the front and rear wheels. In response to wheel speed differences, visco locks in the transfer case and rear differential were capable of providing a virtually rigid connection between the front and rear wheels, in order to improve traction and stability. This model’s name was soon changed to BMW 325iX, and from 1988 it was offered in a “touring” version as well (lower-case spelling up to and including the E46 series).

1991: BMW 525iX.
Three years on, BMW introduced an all-wheel-drive model in the BMW 5 Series too. For the first time, the power split was now electronically controlled. The newly developed system featured multi-plate clutches that allowed the default 36:64 front-to-rear power split to be varied seamlessly and automatically in line with driving conditions. Initially a hydraulically controlled multi-plate clutch was used at the rear axle, but this was later replaced by electronically controlled selective braking intervention. The system monitored the driving situation using wheel speed signals from the Anti-lock Braking System, supplemented by further information about brake status, engine speed and throttle valve position.

From the outset the all-wheel-drive system of the BMW 525iX was a class apart. The electronic control system delivered a very fast and precise response, resulting in safe, neutral handling characteristics even in difficult driving conditions, such as on wet roads or snow. In the BMW 5 Series, too, the first all-wheel-drive models were offered in both Sedan and touring versions.

1999: The Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) opens a new chapter.
In the run-up to the new millennium, a highly innovative vehicle concept from BMW made its sensational debut. The BMW X5, the first Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), impressed customers with driving dynamics that were unmatched among other all-terrain vehicles of the time. The outstanding all-wheel-drive system played a big part in this. A planetary gear system split the drive power in a ratio of 38:62 per cent between the front and rear wheels, while electronic control systems such as DSC (Dynamic Stability Control), ADB-X (Automatic Differential Brake) and HDC (Hill Descent Control) ensured the new BMW X5 was both sporty on the road and equipped to handle challenging conditions off the beaten track.

In the years following the successful launch of the SAV concept, there was no let-up in the fast pace of all-wheel-drive development at BMW. The next year, 2000, a model-specific version of the BMW X5’s all-wheel drive technology became available for the fourth generation of the BMW 3 Series.

2003: BMW xDrive makes its debut in the BMW X3 and BMW X5.
Four years on from the debut of the BMW X5 in 1999, BMW kept up the momentum by launching the SAV concept in a further vehicle segment. The new BMW X3 was more compact than the BMW X5 and offered even more agile handling. It set new benchmarks and remained the only premium model in its class for years to come.

The newly developed BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system, which was introduced in the same year in both the BMW X3 and the BMW X5, soon extended BMW’s lead in the AWD segment. Based on an extremely fast-acting electronic multi-plate clutch in the transfer case, xDrive worked in tandem with the Dynamic Stability Control system (DSC) to continuously adapt the drive power split to the current driving situation. In addition to wheel speed, for the first time the electronic control system also took into account Dynamic Stability Control data, for example about steering angle, accelerator position and lateral acceleration. This is what makes BMW xDrive the world’s first, and still only, “intelligent” all-wheel-drive system. Unlike conventional all-wheel-drive systems, which only react when at least one wheel is already spinning, xDrive is able to detect a risk of oversteer or understeer at the very first signs, and proactively corrects this by redirecting the flow of drive power.

In the years that followed, the BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system was fitted not only on the X models but also on the xDrive versions of the BMW 3 and 5 Series Sedan and Touring models. By the time the second generation of the BMW X3 was introduced in 2010, more than 600,000 units of this series had already been sold worldwide. A little earlier, sales of the BMW X5 – which entered its second generation in 2006 – had topped the one million mark.

2008: SAC with Dynamic Performance Control and hybrid drive.
With the two Sports Activity Vehicles now firmly established in their respective segments, in 2007 BMW went on to present the world’s first Sports Activity Coupe. Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA), the brand-new BMW X6 elevated the typical dynamic character of the BMW X models to a new level of intensity. For the first time, the intelligent all-wheel-drive system was combined with Dynamic Performance Control (DPC), which varies the drive power split between the rear wheels when cornering to ensure unrivalled agility and stability, even under sudden throttle changes or on overrun. In 2009, the BMW Active Hybrid X6 demonstrated a further perfect pairing – between BMW xDrive and hybrid propulsion. Meanwhile, in the same year, BMW M GmbH added two very special models to its range of high-performance sports cars. With an M-tuned BMW xDrive system, including Dynamic Performance Control, the BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M boasted performance that was previously unknown in the all-wheel-drive market.

2009 also saw the arrival of a new X model, the BMW X1. For many years to come, the BMW X1 was destined to remain the only vehicle of its kind in the premium compact segment. Its intelligent BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system, like that of the new BMW X3 (2010), was also combinable with Performance Control. This system selectively brakes the wheel on the inside of a turn while simultaneously increasing engine power, resulting in quick and precise turn-in to corners and taking the agile handling of both models to new levels.

BMW xDrive also available for other model series.
The steady advance of the BMW X models has been accompanied by an increase in the number of xDrive versions offered in the other BMW model series too. Designed to improve cornering agility and precision, BMW xDrive provides an enhanced driving experience and an optimal combination of dynamics and comfort. So it was only a matter of time before this intelligent drive technology made its debut in the BMW 7 Series as well, in 2009. In spring 2012, the first all-wheel-drive Coupe and Convertible models were then offered in the sporty BMW 6 Series. BMW xDrive can also be specified on the current BMW 3 and 5 Series and, since 2013, on the Convertible, Coupe and Gran Coupe models of the new BMW 4 Series.

Driving progress ever forward.
BMW took things forward in the premium mid-sized segment with the launch of the BMW X4 in 2014. The new Sports Activity Coupe offers a unique blend of driving enjoyment, sophisticated style and contemporary practicality. It comes with BMW xDrive as standard and is available in a wide range of engine versions. In the same year, BMW also presented the third generation of the BMW X5, the second generation of the BMW X6, and M Sport versions of both models. BMW xDrive also made its debut in the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. This was a debut with a difference, being the first time BMW had combined its intelligent all-wheel-drive system with an all-new front-wheel-drive format.

With the BMW i8, unveiled in 2014, the BMW Group took a bold new step in new directions – which also extended to the all-wheel-drive system. This 2+2-seater sports model is powered by a highly advanced plug-in hybrid drive system that pairs an internal combustion engine driving the rear wheels with a high-performance electric motor driving the front wheels.

Focused on the future: BMW xDrive meets BMW eDrive.
BMW’s latest all-wheel-drive models bring technology advances that are firmly focused on the future of mobility. The BMW i8 was followed by the international launch of the first production plug-in hybrid model from the BMW core brand: the BMW X5 xDrive40e. Thanks to full-time BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive and eDrive BMW EfficientDynamics technology, this Sports Activity Vehicle mates thrilling and effortless sporty performance with outstanding efficiency. Intelligent hybrid power management synchronises the operation of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor to maximise efficiency at all times, while also responding perfectly to the driver’s demands. The drive from the two power units is transferred to the road via the full-time BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system.

BMW 7 Series: Integral Active Steering combinable with BMW xDrive.
In September 2015, the sixth generation of the BMW 7 Series makes its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA). This high-end BMW luxury model pioneers groundbreaking innovations on all fronts, and will be available with BMW xDrive from its market launch in October. The new luxury sedan will also be the first model to allow intelligent all-wheel-drive to be combined with Integral Active Steering – that is to say with passively steering rear wheels.

Please find attached the complete press kit for download.

BMW has always been synonymous with driving pleasure in all vehicle classes. The fact that customers and fans also agree with this summation is once again confirmed by the readers’ poll conducted by German motoring magazine “sport auto”. Cars from the BMW Group received the top scores in four classes. The BMW 335i was voted the best sedan car up to € 50,000 for the third time in three years. The BMW M3 Sedan was the favorite among readers for the second year in a row in the sedans/estates up to € 100,000 class.

Also for the second time in a row, the BMW M235i took pole position in the category for coupés up to € 50,000. In the compact cars class, the BMW M135i easily succeeded in fighting off the competition. As in the previous year, the BMW M550d xDrive took second place in the diesel class, once again underlining the leading role of the BMW Group as a supplier of vehicles that combine sporty performance with maximum efficiency.

Double victory for M Performance automobiles.
In the compact class and in the coupés up to € 50,000, the BMW M135i (26.7 percent of the votes cast) and the BMW M235i Coupé (38.3 percent of the votes cast) once again beat off the competition. Both vehicles have a six-cylinder engine with M TwinPower turbo technology, ensuring spontaneous responsiveness, an exceptional thirst for revs and outstanding refinement (fuel consumption combined BMW M235i: 8.1 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 189 g/km; BMW M135i: 8.0 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 188 g/km*).

Triple win for the BMW 335i Sedan.
For the third time in a row, the readers of “sport auto” put the BMW 335i in top place in the sedans up to € 50,000 category. The key factor for the continuing success of the sports sedan is its in-line six-cylinder engine with BMW TwinPower turbo technology. The 225 kW/306 hp in-line six-cylinder engine makes particularly impressive play with the typical BMW virtues of instantaneous responses, an exceptional thirst for revs and outstanding refinement. The combination of a turbocharger that operates according to the twin scroll principle with direct high precision injection and VALVETRONIC guarantees an unbeatably efficient balance between driving pleasure and fuel consumption (fuel consumption combined BMW 335i: 7.9 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 186 g/km*).

The defending title-holder BMW M3.

Garnering 39.4% of reader votes, the BMW M3 had no difficulty defending its title as best sedan up to € 100,000, actually managing to increase its share of the vote in its second year on the market. The fifth generation of the BMW M3 (fuel consumption combined: 8.8 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 204 g/km*) is powered by a newly developed six-cylinder in-line engine. The high-revving unit with M TwinPower Turbo technology offers maximum output of 317 kW/431 hp. Peak torque of 550 Nm (406 lb-ft) is available across a broad rev band and exceeds the maximum offered by the previous BMW M3 by almost 40 percent. A rigorously applied lightweight design concept has brought about a weight reduction of around 80 kilograms. Fuel consumption and emissions are down by 25 percent. The BMW M3 Sedan takes just 4.1 seconds to sprint from 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) – when fitted with the optional seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission – and also catches the eye as a strong performer out on the track as well as in everyday use.

The “sport auto Award” has been presented by German motoring magazine “sport auto” since 1980. It is one of the leading German awards for sporting cars and is highly coveted by manufacturers. In 2015 a total of 230 models were nominated in 30 series-production categories and a further 10 tuning classes. In this, the 23rd year of the awards, 13,601 readers took part in the poll via survey postcard, online survey or one of the “sport auto” digital channels.

Placings at a glance:

Winner – Compact Cars: BMW M135i.

Winner – Coupés up to € 50,000: BMW M235i Coupé.

Winner – Sedans/Estates up to € 50,000: BMW 335i.

Winner – Sedans/Estates up to € 100,000: BMW M3.

Second place – Diesel Cars: BMW M550d xDrive.

Second place – Convertibles up to € 50,000: BMW M235i Convertible

Second place – Convertibles up to € 100,000: BMW M4 Convertible

Second place – Coupés up to € 100,000: BMW M3 Coupé

Third place – Sedans up to € 100,000: BMW M5 30 Years

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).

* Fuel consumption figures were calculated based on the ECE test cycle, dependent on tire format.

Please find attached the Specifications of the BMW 2 Series Convertible M235i, valid from 03/15.

Munich. At BMW the letter M signals the presence of high performance and a very special brand of sporting allure. And now Original BMW Accessories from the M Performance range can be specified for the new BMW 2 Series Convertible, stylistic and technical modifications combining to elevate the joy of sporty driving to even higher levels.

Extra dynamism for the exterior.
Side skirts and skirt decals with M Performance lettering lend the BMW 2 Series Convertible extra sporting appeal, as does the rear diffuser. They also match up nicely with the exclusive front grille with black trim surround and the carbon exterior mirror caps. BMW M Performance accent strips which run along the flanks of the car below the crease line inject fresh visual momentum, while attractive BMW M Performance 19-inch light-alloy wheels in 405 M and 624 M styling advance the cause of exclusive sportiness. The 624 M can be ordered in either a bi-colour (matt black / milled) or a polished variant. A stainless steel silencer with chromed tailpipe embellishers and inscribed M logo ensures the car signs off in dynamic fashion. Customers can also specify the tailpipe embellishers in carbon.

High-quality carbon for a more sporting interior.
The BMW M Performance Accessories range offers a host of finely matched products made from high-quality carbon (some combined with Alcantara) for the interior of the BMW 2 Series Convertible. These include the selector lever trim or – in manual cars – the gearshift lever with Alcantara gaiter, as well as a handbrake grip likewise with Alcantara gaiter. The centre console trim, centre armrest and interior trim strips can also be retrofitted in carbon as accessories. Alcantara steering wheels with carbon trim, which can be specified with or without an integrated Race Display, are impressively grippy and provide a sporty feel.

Like the easy-care BMW M Performance floor mats with eye-catching M Performance lettering, the attractive BMW M Performance pedal covers and footrest in stainless steel also emphasise the sporting character of the BMW 2 Series Convertible. Another highlight feature is the BMW M Performance key case, with its sophisticated Alcantara/carbon material combination and blue hex bolt. LED door sill plates in stainless steel with illuminated M Performance lettering even bring a sporty sense of occasion to climbing aboard.

Boosting performance with the BMW M Performance Power Kit.
The BMW M Performance Power Kit for the BMW 220d Convertible (fuel consumption combined: 4.7–4.4 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 124–116 g/km)* boosts engine output by 11 kW/14 hp – from 140 kW/190 hp to 151 kW/204 hp – and cuts the car’s 0 – 100 km/h time by 0.3 seconds. To this end, the engine control unit (including engine data update) and the other hardware components, such as the larger-capacity intercooler, work together to maximum effect. However, despite the higher engine output, there is no increase in fuel consumption in the ECE test cycle. Another highlight for connoisseurs of sporty driving is the BMW M Performance limited-slip differential, which reduces slip through the driven wheels when one loses grip. This allows it to optimise traction and thus give the car’s on-limit handling even greater precision. The BMW M Performance lightweight sports brake discs optimise deceleration (even in the wet) thanks to their special perforation and grooving, and reduce unsprung mass thanks to their lower weight. They also accentuate the car’s sporting profile, especially if light-alloy wheels with an open design are fitted.

Original BMW Accessories increase the value of the car.
In contrast to many third-party products, Original BMW Accessories – which include the range of BMW M Performance Parts – are always matched perfectly to the model in question and are permitted for use with that vehicle. The car’s warranty, moreover, remains unaffected. All of which means the high-quality selection of Original BMW Accessories enhances not only the car’s driving pleasure, but its value as well.

* The fuel consumption figures were calculated on the basis of the ECE test cycle, depending on the tyre format selected.

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 fuel consumption, 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).

Munich. The BMW 2 Series Coupe takes brand-typical driving pleasure to a new dimension. The sportiest vehicle in the premium compact segment fascinates with powerful drive technology and exceptionally agile handling characteristics. The BMW M235i Coupe (fuel consumption combined: 8.1 l/100 km, CO2 emissions combined: 189 g/km), which offers the extremely intensive experience of superior dynamics, recently put on a spectacular performance in the centre of the South African metropolis Cape Town. The city’s streets became a stage for a “drift mob show” featuring the BMW M235i Coupe, professional stunt drivers and a Hollywood film crew that documented the sensational happening in a video clip. On 30 July 2014, the drift mob video starring the BMW M Performance automobile will celebrate its online debut on the new communication platform www.bmw.com/BMWstories.

Please find attached the specifications of the BMW 2 Series Coupe M235i xDrive, 228i, valid from 07/2014.