Los Angeles. BMW M is immersing itself in the young and diverse Los Angeles art scene, having started a new collaboration with Joshua Vides and the BMW X4 M Competition. This collaboration with the internationally renowned artist from the USA, whose works play with the perception of objects as a sketch and blur the boundaries between drawing and reality, has produced a hand-painted BMW X4 M Competition, its dynamism emphasised thanks to Joshua Vides’ unmistakable style and application of black lines on a white background. The son of Guatemalan immigrants has been a great fan of the BMW brand since childhood. For him, this collaboration represents the fulfilment of a long-cherished dream.

The global premiere of the BMW X4 M Competition x Joshua Vides took place at the exclusive showroom [SPACE] by BMW in The Grove in Los Angeles. This also hosted a merchandising collection dedicated to BMW and BMW M designed by Joshua Vides. He is selling a limited edition of the collection through his own channels this year. Pro-skateboarder Ishod Wair, who is also a great BMW M enthusiast, posed for the catalogue with the car. This collection also includes items of clothing such as t-shirts and hoodies, as well as everyday items like thermos cups, and even interior decoration products like carpets – all featuring logos in the style of Joshua Vides. On the evening before the official premiere, the artist had celebrated an exclusive sneak preview of the BMW X4 M Competition x Joshua Vides at [SPACE] by BMW with family and friends. The unique car was presented there to selected guests on 7th October as part of a preview with works by Joshua Vides. The vehicle will be available for viewing by the general public from 8th October, before it is transferred to the BMW M GmbH vehicle fleet in November.

“As the BMW brand continues to develop, we are always open to cultural developments as well,” said Jens Thiemer, Senior Vice President Customer and Brand BMW: “With his ideas and his vision, Joshua Vides is one of the outstanding figures and opinion leaders in the world of art, lifestyle and culture. The collaboration with JV will see BMW benefit from his influence and his pictures by reaching and captivating new target groups.” Markus Flasch, CEO BMW M GmbH, emphasised that this is “the very first time that a High Performance Sports Activity Vehicle from BMW M acts as the focal point for one of our exclusive collaboratons.” Josh has understood how to use his artistic talents to provide the perfect setting for the design and the lines of this vehicle. “His incomparable style addresses young consumers all around the world and strengthens the BMW M brand consciousness in the expressive luxury segment,” said Markus Flasch.

Joshua Vides: “I am extremely happy to have been able to work with BMW and BMW M in this project. Ever since I was about seven or eight years old, I have wanted to own a BMW. It was just unbelievable to be able to apply my own ideas to the design of a BMW X4 M Competition.”

His aim for the project? “I wanted the car to look as great as possible on the stand. This is the first time I have worked with speed lines like the ones you see giving the impression of fast movement in cartoons or films. I am very pleased with the result.“

Joshua Vides has been a true BMW enthusiast since childhood. He grew up in a deprived suburb of Los Angeles, where he seldom caught a glimpse of a BMW or BMW M vehicles. In fact, it was so rare that seeing a BMW drive past was enough to make him stop and think. His fascination with the brand continued to grow, as did his desire to buy his own BMW one day. After an extremely varied career path saw Joshua Vides working as barista, fireman, glazier, delivery driver, then as a graphic designer for a range of streetwear labels – he found his vocation as an artist. He made his breakthrough by producing artistic decoration for a world-famous sports shoe, which then led to collaboratons with globally renowned companies and to his own collections.

In 2021, Joshua Vides opened his Matte Black Coffee cafe in Los Angeles, designed entirely in his black-and-white style. Visitors to the cafe will be able to admire his installation dedicated to BMW for some weeks – this consists of spinning steering wheels and other works of art.

Joshua Vides has now fulfilled his childhood dream of owning a BMW – not once, but twice. In addition to an alpine white BMW M3 E46, which he purchased in 2004, he also owns a diamond black 1989 BMW M3 E30. His love for BMW is now etched on his skin; while making his first trip to Munich in September, he visited BMW Welt to admire the treasures from the BMW Classic area and was so impressed that he decided to get a tattoo of the BMW logo on his forearm.

BMW M GmbH is refreshing the high-performance models of the Sports Activity Vehicle BMW X3 and the Sports Activity Coupé BMW X4 two years after their launch. In addition to new design features drawn from the BMW X3 and BMW X4, which have likewise been revised, along with M specific changes and a new operating concept, the new BMW X3 M Competition and the new BMW X4 M Competition also offer increased pulling power. The most powerful BMW in-line 6-cylinder petrol engine with a peak output of 375 kW – now also used in other BMW M models – has a maximum torque which has been increased by 50 Nm to 650 Nm, enabling a 0.3-second improvement in the time required for the standard sprint from 0 to 100 km/h to 3.8 seconds. This puts the BMW X3 M Competition and the BMW X4 M Competition on a par with high-performance sports cars. The top speed is electronically cut off at 250 km/h. This limit is raised to 285 km/h in conjunction with the optional M Driver’s Package.

High-revving and with motor racing expertise.

The in-line 6-cylinder engine in the BMW X3 M Competition and BMW X4 M Competition now features the forged lightweight crankshaft of the BMW M3 and M4 models. Its extremely torsion-resistant design enables transmission of the particularly high torque, while its low weight and reduced rotating masses also benefit the engine’s revving power. The in-line 6-cylinder engine’s racetrack-proven cooling system is designed to enable an exceptionally high level of output and includes two laterally positioned radiators in addition to the central one. There is also an additional engine oil cooler and a separate transmission oil cooler. BMW M GmbH motor racing expertise is also evident in the design of the oil supply system, which is geared towards dynamic racetrack operation. The engine’s weight-optimised oil pan has two separate chambers and an integrated suction channel. An additional suction stage enables the map-controlled oil pump to deliver lubricant from the smaller oil sump, which serves as a volume buffer. In this way, a reliable oil supply is guaranteed at all times, even during extreme longitudinal and lateral acceleration.

M sports exhaust and 8-speed M Steptronic transmission.
The standard M sports exhaust system in the BMW X3 M Competition and BMW X4 M Competition enriches the engine sound characteristic of BMW M automobiles with the addition of a distinctly sonorous quality, especially when under intense load and at high engine speeds, thereby giving the sound even more of a motor racing touch for a particularly emotional driving experience – while fully retaining day-to-day practicality. The infinitely variable flaps of the M sports exhaust system allow for a highly varied sound production. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via an 8‑speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic. In addition to fully automatic gear changes, it also enables manual shifting with sequential selection of the drive position. In addition to the new M gear selector in the centre console, shift paddles on the steering wheel are also available for this purpose. In manual mode, multiple downshifts can be made to the lowest possible gear so as to be able to harness the engine drag torque for braking purposes. When accelerating, no forced upshift is triggered even when the engine is revved up.

M xDrive all-wheel drive system with rear-wheel orientation.
The M xDrive all-wheel drive system also contributes to the high agility of the BMW X3 M Competition and BMW X4 M Competition, combining the traction benefits of power transmission to all four wheels with the proven dynamic qualities of classic rear-wheel drive. The electronically controlled M xDrive – which is networked with the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system – only directs part of the drive torque to the front axle when the rear wheels reach the limits of their power transmission capabilities. At the touch of a button, the driver can influence not only how the driving stability control works but also the distribution of drive torque between the front and rear wheels. The centrally controlled interaction of the M xDrive all-wheel drive system with the Active M Differential ensures loss-free transmission of engine power.

Superior driving dynamics in hallmark M style.
The BMW X3 M Competition and the BMW X4 M Competition provide an exceptional level of driving dynamics potential. Outstanding values in the areas of longitudinal and lateral acceleration, handling and deceleration go hand in hand with a high level of driving stability, neutral self-steering response and comfort characteristics that enhance suitability for day-to-day use and lengthy trips. The basis for this combination of agility, dynamics and precision that is so typical of BMW M automobiles is suspension technology that perfectly matches the high engine output and the M xDrive all-wheel drive system. The standard adaptive M suspension with specific set-up and electronically controlled dampers ensures both a high level of day-to-day comfort and extremely direct road contact, with limited wheel and body movement. The damping forces are ideally suited to cope with every situation on the road and set individually for each wheel at continuously varying levels by means of interior electromagnetically controlled valves. The basic characteristic of the dampers can be influenced at the touch of a button. Driving precision and response are based on extensive measures to reinforce the body and suspension attachment, for example an M specific strut package. The electromechanical M Servotronic steering and DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) also contribute to the typical M driving experience. In M Dynamic Mode, this system allows additional wheel slip to generate the self-steering response that is typical of M, enabling controlled drift manoeuvres when used on the race track, for example.

M compound brake system and 21-inch wheels as standard.
The performance characteristics of the BMW X3 M Competition and the BMW X4 M Competition are complemented by the high efficiency of the standard M compound brake system. The brake calipers bear the M logo and are finished in blue as standard or in high-gloss black or red on request. The perfectly matched overall package for maximum performance also includes the 21-inch wheels with mixed tyres in 255/40 ZR21 at the front and 265/40 ZR21 at the rear. One new feature is the M forged wheel 892M Star Spoke in Jet Black burnished, which saves 2 kilograms of weight per wheel. As an alternative, the well-known M light alloy wheel 765M V-Spoke is likewise available in Jet Black burnished.

Larger BMW kidney grille and a more striking front section.
The new BMW X3 M Competition and the new BMW X4 M Competition have the enlarged BMW kidney grille with its now one-piece frame and headlights that are around ten millimetres flatter, drawn from the likewise refreshed BMW X3 and BMW X4. A black bar in which the iCam is positioned provides visual separation of the BMW kidney grille, the frame of which is also finished in high-gloss black, as are the typical M double kidney bars. The radiator grille also features a vehicle-specific logo: X3 M or X4 M. In addition to the standard adaptive LED headlights with Matrix function, the BMW Laser Light with a range of up to 650 metres is now also available as an optional extra. BMW M GmbH has designed the M specific front apron to be even more expressive. One particularly striking feature is the new, vertically arranged and elongated side air intakes: these are angled down towards the spoiler lip in a bend towards the centre of the vehicle, where they follow the hexagonal shape of the central air intake. They are framed by trim elements in high-gloss black, which is also used for the caps of the aerodynamically optimised M exterior mirrors and the characteristic M gills integrated in the air breathers, as well as the rear spoiler on the BMW X4 M Competition.

Distinctive rear aprons in a new design and new paint finishes.
The BMW X3 M Competition has the full ‑LED‑ rear lights of the refreshed BMW X3 with a black surround and narrower illuminated graphics. The lower section of the rear apron is M specific and finished in high-gloss black. The large diffuser is flanked on the right and left by the tailpipe pairs of the M sports exhaust system, which are finished in black chrome. The new rear apron of the BMW X4 M Competition features a wide, offset insert in the shape of an anvil. Like the lateral air‑curtain‑panels, which also accommodate the now vertical reflectors, this is finished in high-gloss black, ensuring a particularly powerful overall impression. The two pairs of tailpipes in black chrome also frame the diffuser on the BMW X4 M Competition. In addition to M Carbon Black metallic and M Brooklyn Grey metallic, there are two new paint finishes reserved exclusively for the M Competition models of the X3 and X4 series in Germany, namely M Marina Bay Blue metallic and M Sao Paulo Yellow. In addition, a wide range of BMW Individual paint finishes are available for the first time such as the matt finish Frozen Marina Bay Blue metallic.

M typical interior with new accents.
The BMW X3 M Competition and the BMW X4 M Competition feature M sports seats with electrically adjustable headrests and illuminated M logo as standard. In addition to the extended Merino leather upholstery in four colour combinations, the BMW Individual extended Merino leather upholstery in Tartufo is also available as an option. The air vents have new galvanised trim, the interior trims are now finished in dark Rhombicle aluminium as standard, and the new open-pore ash variant is available as an option. The M leather steering wheel with multifunction features contrast stitching in the BMW M colours and an open 6 o'clock spoke.

BMW Live Cockpit Professional with intelligent networking.
The new BMW X3 M Competition and the new BMW X4 M Competition come equipped with BMW Live Cockpit Professional including Connected Drive as standard. Intelligent networking including innovative digital services based on BMW Operating System 7 – such as BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, Connected Music and Remote Software Upgrade – enable particularly intense interaction between driver and vehicle. Intuitive multi-modal operation has been further optimised: depending on the situation, the driver has a choice between touch operation on the Control Display, the tried-and-tested BMW Controller, the multifunction buttons on the steering wheel and voice control. A Harman Kardon surround sound system now comes as standard for a superb audio experience. BMW Live Cockpit Professional offers a fully digital display network: the high-resolution instrument cluster behind the steering wheel and the Control Display each have a screen diagonal of 12.3 inches. The fully digital instrument display offers, among other things, the M View with specific displays adopted from the BMW M8 models. M specific display content is also available with the optional BMW Head‑Up Display. The cloud-based navigation system BMW Maps offers particularly fast and precise calculation of routes and arrival times, real-time traffic data updates at short intervals and free text input for selecting navigation destinations. In addition, BMW Maps with Connected Parking provides drivers with even more detailed support in the search for a vacant parking space near their destination. What is more, On-Street Parking Information and ParkNow services are integrated in the range of BMW Maps functions.

Smartphone integration and BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant.
Another standard feature is optimised smartphone integration. Android Auto can now also be used with the vehicle’s operating system in addition to Apple CarPlay. Here, the driver can view all the important information from the apps on the Control Display and also – in intelligently processed form – in the instrument cluster and the optional Head-Up Display. The capabilities of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant are being expanded on an ongoing basis. With the digital companion, naturally spoken instructions can now be used to regulate the air conditioning, open and close the windows or change the driving experience switch modes, for instance. It can also access the new News app, which reads out the latest news to passengers, and learn routines that increase comfort and driving pleasure in certain situations.

Remote Software Upgrade and BMW Drive Recorder.
BMW Operating System 7 now also includes Remote Software Upgrade. This means that the BMW X3 M Competition and the BMW X4 M Competition always remain up to date with the latest software. The upgrades can include different content from new services to improved vehicle features and can be loaded "over‑the‑air". It is also possible to integrate additional vehicle functions in the vehicle at a later date, such as the new BMW Drive Recorder, which records video images around the vehicle.

New control island from the current BMW M3 and M4 models.
Originating from the current BMW M3 and M4 models, the newly designed control island on the centre console includes two new buttons in addition to the specific M gear selector with Drivelogic rocker switch, the BMW Controller and the red engine start button, which is now positioned here. The set-up button provides direct access to all settings options for the engine and suspension: it is used to access a menu in the Control Display that lists the current vehicle settings. Two individually configured variants of the M set-up can be permanently stored and retrieved at any time using the two M buttons on the steering wheel. The M Mode button can be used to influence the activities of the driver assistance systems as well as the displays in the instrument cluster and in the Head‑Up Display at the touch of a button, thereby enabling a driving experience to be created that is appropriate to the situation and typical of M in each case.

Driving Assistant Professional available for the first time.
The BMW X3 M Competition and the BMW X4 M Competition come with all the modern driver assistance systems of the BMW X3 and BMW X4. In addition to the Driving Assistant, the Driving Assistant Professional is available as an option for the first time. It includes Active Cruise Control with improved functionality in the city, intersection warning with additional city braking function, emergency lane assistant and the improved steering/lane guidance assistant. The 3D environment visualisation in the instrument cluster provides an overview of which Driving Assistant Professional assistance systems are activated and what functions they offer. The optional Parking Assistant Plus now also includes the reverse assistant, which helps retrace a completed line in reverse. Parking Assistant Plus uses Park View, Panorama View and 3D Top View to create a 360-degree image of the vehicle and its surroundings from various perspectives. Meanwhile, the driver can have a three-dimensional live image of their vehicle and its surroundings transmitted to their smartphone by means of Remote 3D View.

Jerez de la Frontera. This event is a permanent fixture on the MotoGP community’s calendar. On the Saturday of the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez de la Frontera, BMW M GmbH traditionally unveils the BMW M Award winner’s car. In the 2019 season, this award for the fastest qualifier in MotoGP will be presented for the 17^th time. The BMW M Award is a permanent feature of BMW M’s ‘Official Car of MotoGP’ commitment, which goes back as far as 1999. At the end of this season, the winner of the BMW M Award can look forward to another real highlight: an exclusive BMW X4 M Competition in Toronto Red Metallic.

The 510 hp BMW X4 M Competition (fuel consumption combined: 10.5 l/100 km [26.9 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 239 g/km) is one of the models with which BMW M GmbH has expanded its offering of high-performance cars in the sports activity vehicles and sports activity coupés sectors. It has distinctive motorsport genes and offers driving dynamics at the highest level.

“Each year we are excited to see which BMW M Award winner’s car BMW M GmbH will surprise us with at the start of the MotoGP European season here at Jerez de la Frontera. And I have to say that they have presented another real highlight once again this season with the BMW X4 M Competition,” said Pau Serracanta, Managing Director of the Commercial Department of Dorna Sports, at the unveiling. “We are very proud that in BMW M GmbH we have had a strong and reliable partner at our side for 20 years now. And it’s fantastic that BMW M GmbH honours the top performances of our riders with such a terrific award as the BMW M Award. I’m sure that this fantastic BMW X4 M Competition will give our riders that extra bit of motivation to give it their all in qualifying. After all, everyone wants to be presented with this high-performance car as the winner’s car at the end of the season.”

“We’re delighted that the BMW M Award has been such a coveted award in the MotoGP family for many years,” added Vladimir Bistrivoda, Head of MotoGP Collaboration at BMW M GmbH. “The BMW M Award is a significant part of our long-standing, successful partnership with MotoGP for us as well. For this reason, it is important to us that we present something special as a prize each year. For the 2019 season, we chose our new BMW X4 M Competition. It combines athleticism, performance, passion and adrenalin – attributes that it shares with the MotoGP and the performances with which its riders wow crowds at the racetrack. We wish all MotoGP riders the best of luck and are excited to see who will receive the BMW M Award at the final round in Valencia.”

In the BMW X4 M Competition, the most powerful straight-six petrol engine ever seen in action in a BMW M car provides the muscle for stunning performance attributes. The newly developed high-revving unit with M TwinPower Turbo technology generates maximum output of 375 kW/510 hp from its 3.0-litre displacement, together with peak torque of 600 Nm (442 lb-ft). The new high-performance engine teams up with an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic and uses the new M xDrive all-wheel-drive system to channel its power to the road. The centrally controlled interaction between M xDrive and the Active M Differential at the rear axle allows the all-wheel-drive system to split the engine’s power between the four wheels as required to deliver optimal traction, agility and directional stability. The BMW X4 M Competition sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.1 seconds.

The already sporty appearance of the car is underlined by the paintwork in Toronto Red Metallic, the full leather, Merino Adelaide Grey upholstery, as well as further fittings highlights such as M Sport Seats, the M Competition Package and the M Sport Exhaust System. An additional special feature is the BMW M Award winner’s car exclusively has the Carbon Exterior Package, which will be launched later this year.

The BMW M Award is one of the many BMW M activities as the ‘Official Car of MotoGP’. Since 2003, the MotoGP rider with the best results in qualifying has been rewarded with an exclusive, individually designed BMW M car at the end of the season. As with the scoring system for the race, the riders receive points for their positions in qualifying at each Grand Prix weekend. The rider who has picked up the most points at the end of the season wins the coveted BMW M Award.

The record holder is Marc Márquez, who has already claimed the BMW M Award six times in a row. Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner each have three wins to their name. Jorge Lorenzo has been honoured as the best qualifier twice to date while Sete Gibernau and Nicky Hayden have each won the award once.

For more information about BMW M GmbH and the involvement as the “Official Car of MotoGP”, see: www.bmw-m.com

Munich. The BMW M GmbH is extending its range of high performance models in the segment of Sports Activity Vehicles (SAV) and Sports Activity Coupes (SAC). The high-performance character so typical of BMW automobiles will be passed on to two further BMW X models, the series development of which has already been kicked off. During the DTM racing weekend at the Nürburgring (7 – 9 September 2018), prototypes of the BMW X3 M and the BMW X4 M will be test driven on the circuit. Thus, the camouflaged pre-series vehicles will be making their first public appearance precisely where the dynamic driving qualities of the BMW X3 M and BMW X4 M will reach their final level of maturity. The Nürburgring is the traditional setting for the completion of the ultimate testing and tuning programme for the specific overall M package comprising drive system, suspension and aerodynamics.

With large air intakes at the front, specific M features for optimised aerodynamics and an exhaust system with four tailpipes integrated into the rear apron, the vehicles already bear the characteristics of a BMW M model at an early stage of their development phase. The technological highlight of the BMW X3 M and the BMW X4 M is a newly developed straight six-cylinder engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology and high-revving characteristics. 

Part of the development process is the specific tuning of the M xDrive technology introduced for the first time in the new BMW M5. This technology is deployed in the BMW X3 M and the BMW X4 M to ensure constant supreme and performance-oriented transfer of engine power to all four wheels. The M-specific further development of the intelligent four-wheel drive system guarantees maximum traction and loss-free distribution of drive torque for achieving extremely dynamic handling characteristics. In interaction with the active M rear axle differential, cornering dynamics, agility and precision in the driving behaviour of the BMW X3 M and the BMW X4 M are lifted to a level unrivalled within the competitive environment. 

“With their M specific performance characteristics, the BMW X3 M and the BMW X4 M will set benchmarks in terms of dynamics in their respective vehicle segment,” says Frank van Meel, President BMW M GmbH.

With the development of its latest model innovations, the BMW M GmbH is once again breaking into an additional segment. The BMW X3 M and the BMW X4 M render it possible for the first time to experience superior performance, agility and precision also in a Sports Activity Vehicle and a Sports Activity Coupe of the premium mid-range class. Thus, the BMW M GmbH is consistently continuing its successful strategy of dynamic growth with new and particularly attractive vehicle concepts.