Munich. The BMW Group is expanding its revolutionary driving experience with BMW M Mixed Reality, which breaks down the boundaries between the physical and virtual worlds through state-of-the-art VR/MR technologies. The vehicle itself becomes the controller - a unique 3D interaction between driver, vehicle and environment.

"Mixed reality" refers to the fusion of of physical and digital worlds into a seamless experience. BMW M first presented mixed reality technology at the Web Summit in Lisbon in November 2022 and has been continuously developing it ever since.

With BMW M Mixed Reality, fans and first movers can immerse themselves in a digital world while physically sitting at the wheel of a BMW M vehicle and controlling it.

First-ever multisensory multiplayer

The possibilities of virtual reality are boundless: On a secret mission, you enter the BMW M Garage and from there, you ascend to the top of the BMW M Rooftop Circuit. Surrounded by skyscrapers, two BMW M Mixed Reality customers now race against each other virtually in a multiplayer mode A new feature is that spectators with personified avatars can virtually watch the race live from the BMW M Mixed Reality Bridge. They do not have to be physically present in the area where the multiplayers are driving. They can be virtually connected using devices like the Meta Quest or Apple Vision Pro.

BMW M Mixed Reality will be presented again in Lisbon this year. For BMW M fans, BMW M Mixed Reality has been available in the singleplayer mode since autumn 2023 as part of the BMW M Driving Experience in Maisach, the world's first driving experience for customers.  

For BMW M fans, BMW M Mixed Reality has been available in the singleplayer mode since fall 2023 as part of the BMW M Driving Experience in Maisach, the world's first driving experience for customers.  The pilot project began this year at the BMW M Performance Driving School in California, USA.

Merging reality and the virtual world

The new BMW M Mixed Reality Rooftop Circuit was also a highlight at the presentation of BMW M Mixed Reality. Drivers had to evade virtual obstacles and collect BMW M coins in a shimmering metropolis. The BMW M135 vehicles were used, which thanks to technical refinements can be used as M Mixed Reality vehicles.

This includes very precise GPS positioning on the road surface in order to transfer position and movement to the virtual world. Every acceleration, every turn and every braking manoeuvre is transmitted to the virtual world without latency thanks to precise sensor technology and signal processing. Not only the movements of the vehicle are transmitted, but also those of the driver.

The technology for this is already integrated into the standardised in-vehicle systems of all BMW and BMW M automobiles. These systems are so precise that no additional sensors are required.

Another key element is the VR headset that the driver wears to experience the digital world. This headset must be connected to the vehicle's internal systems in order to synchronise movements and data in real time. Thanks to this equipment, various BMW M models can be used for BMW M Mixed Reality, regardless of the drive system. This includes vehicles with a conventional combustion engine such as the BMW M2 or BMW M4 as well as models with a fully electric powertrain such as the BMW i5 M60. In the future, BMW M can also imagine offering the new BMW M5 with M Mixed Reality. The technology is flexible and can be adapted to different vehicle platforms to provide a consistent and immersive mixed reality experience.

Digital innovations for the driving experience

BMW Group Mixed Reality is an answer to what future virtual experiences in the automotive sector could look like. At the current stage of development, it enables perfect controllability in every driving situation. Drifting will also be possible in the future, although no date has yet been set for when customers will be able to have this experience.

MINI also benefits from the BMW Group Mixed Reality umbrella: There are also plans to offer customers a multi-sensory mixed reality driving experience.

In addition, further applications in the field of vehicle development and professional training are already being investigated. For example, there is potential as a valuable addition to existing simulator driving in the dynamic driving area, without compromising driving safety, or in the development of driver assistance systems. On existing racetracks, a Professional Track Trainer could in the future display content such as the ideal line and braking points to drivers in order to train them to drive even more precisely. Current AR headset technology is not yet accurate enough for this ambitious use case.

In the event of enquiries please contact:

Corporate Communications

Christophe König, Head of BMW M GmbH and BMW M Motorsport Communications

Telephone: +49-176-601-56097

E-mail: Christophe.Koenig@bmw.de

Alexandra Landers, Head of Product and Brand Communication BMW

Telephone: +49-89-382-30871

E-mail: Alexandra.Landers@bmw.de

Internet: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

E-mail: presse@bmw.de

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2023, the BMW Group sold over 2.55 million passenger vehicles and more than 209,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2023 was € 17.1 billion on revenues amounting to € 155.5 billion. As of 31 December 2023, the BMW Group had a workforce of 154,950 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products.

www.bmwgroup.com

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/

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BMW regularly presents limited special series of particularly dynamic vehicles so as to sharpen the brand core: Sheer Driving Pleasure. Meanwhile a look ahead to future developments is provided by eye-catching concept cars that reflect the essence of the brand's pure DNA. The public response to both is reflected in the result of this year's readers' vote organised by the magazine "Auto Bild Sportscars". In two rating categories, readers voted BMW Group models "2015 Sports Car of the Year": the "Serial Production Coupés" class was won by new BMW M4 GTS, while in the "Concept Cars" category, the BMW 3.0 CSL Homage was able to attract the majority of votes.

BMW M4 GTS continues its winning streak.
By winning the "Serial Production Coupés" category, the BMW M4 GTS has built on the success of the BMW M4 Coupé and the BMW 435i Coupé, which were voted Sports Car of the Year in 2014 and 2013 respectively. The BMW M4 GTS underpins its sports car status with a lap time of 7:28 minutes on the legendary Nürburgring-Nordschleife. This performance is enabled by a three-way coilover suspension specially harmonised for the BMW M4 GTS, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres in the sizes 265/35 R19 at front and 285/30 R20 at rear, intelligent lightweight construction with the use of aluminium, carbon fibre, composite materials and high-strength steels and a high-performance in-line 6-cylinder petrol engine with M TwinPower Turbo Technology. Due to the innovative water injection - used for the first time in a serial production vehicle - the engine delivers an output of 368 kW/500 hp and a torque of 600 Nm from a capacity of 3.0 litres (combined fuel consumption: 8.5 l/100 km; CO2‑emissions combined: 199 g/km)*. This enables the BMW M4 GTS to accelerate in 3.8 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h, reaching a top speed of 305 km/h (cut off).

BMW 3.0 CSL Homage wins the "Concept Cars" category.
The victory of the BMW 3.0 CSL Homage was a premiere: it attracted the most votes in the "Concept Cars" category which was offered for the first time - and it won by a very clear margin. This concept study was presented at this year's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este as the BMW design team's tribute to the legendary BMW 3.0 CSL - the timeless, classic BMW coupé icon of the 1970s.

The BMW 3.0 CSL Homage translates the character of the original into the contemporary age, reinterpreting it in a new and exciting way. Cutting-edge materials were used to build this concept car, including carbon fibre (CFRP). The high-tech material is used extensively in the BMW 3.0 CSL Homage, moving the philosophy of lightweight construction forward to the current state of the art. As in the 1970s original, the lines of the BMW 3.0 CSL Homage express pure dynamic performance: striking air deflectors, powerful wheel arches and a prominent roof and rear spoiler frame an elongated body. The front air deflector serves to ventilate the engine compartment while the wings above the rear wheels ensure optimum air flow around the vehicle. Small camera rear mirrors further reduce aerodynamic drag. The large rear spoiler increases surface pressure on the powered rear axle, thereby improving power transmission. An Air Curtain and Air Breather guarantee optimum wheel arch ventilation and air extraction. The 21-inch light alloy wheels in matt and high-gloss Bi-Color finish add a particularly striking touch. Air deflection blades in the wheel rim gaps additionally optimise aerodynamics.

Further top placements for BMW models.
In addition to the category winners, there were other BMW models that gained podium positions. In the category "Serial Production Sedans", the BMW M5 "30 Years of the M5" finished second, as did the BMW X6 M in the category "Serial Production SUVs". The BMW M135i came third in the category "Serial Production Compact Cars".

The "Auto Bild Sports Cars of the Year" readers' vote was held this year for the 14th time. The title "Sports Car of the Year" is among the most important awards for sports-style vehicles in the automobile sector in Germany, and it is highly coveted among all vehicle manufacturers. There were 142 models to choose from for the readers' vote in 2015. Drawn from test and road reports of the last 12 months, the vehicles were classified in 18 categories – eight for serial production vehicles, eight for tuning vehicles and one category each for small-series vehicles and concept cars respectively. The awards were presented today at the Essen Motor Show Race Night.

The BMW placements at glance:

Serial Production Coupés, winner: BMW M4 GTS.

Concept Cars, winner: BMW 3.0 CSL Homage.

Serial Production Sedans, 2nd place: BMW M5 "30 Years of the M5".

Serial Production SUVs, 2nd place: BMW X6 M.

Serial Production Compact Cars, 3rd place: BMW M135i.

For further details on official fuel consumption figures, official specific CO2 emissions and power consumption of new cars, please refer to the "Manual on fuel consumption, CO2 emissions
and power consumption of new cars", available at all sales outlets, from
Deutschen Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at http://www.dat.de/angebote/verlagsprodukte/leitfaden-kraftstoffverbrauch.html. Manual CO2 (PDF ‒ 2.7 MB)

Please find attached on location pictures of the BMW M135i.