New York/Munich. An international jury of 98 motoring journalists has awarded the BMW iX3 (BMW iX3 50 xDrive: energy consumption, combined: 17.9–15.1 kWh/100 km (WLTP); CO₂ emissions, combined: 0 g/km (WLTP); electric range: 678–805 km (WLTP); CO₂ class(es): A)* not one but two titles. The first Neue Klasse model was named the 2026 “World Car of the Year”, beating out competitors across all powertrain categories. In addition, the BMW iX3 won the 2026 “World Electric Vehicle” accolade. During extensive test drives, the model impressed the jury with its outstanding performance and driving dynamics, as well as its standout technology features. For the BMW Group, this marks the tenth and eleventh title wins at the prestigious World Car Awards. Earlier, on 26 February, Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, was named “World Car Person of the Year” for 2026.   

The BMW iX3 is the first Neue Klasse model. It was presented at the IAA Mobility 2025. An instant success, it has established a new design language and set standards for driving dynamics and performance. A range of up to 805 kilometres, battery charging at up to 400 kW and an energy consumption of just 17.9–15.1 kWh/100 km (WLTP) demonstrate the outstanding abilities of the new BMW iX3. The new BMW Panoramic iDrive brings innovation to the interior. The high-performance control unit Heart of Joy and BMW Dynamic Performance Control take driving pleasure to an entirely new level. Plenty of compelling reasons for the expert jury at the World Car Awards to declare the BMW iX3 the 2026 “World Car of the Year” – and thus the standout new vehicle on the international automotive markets – following extensive test drives. On top of that, the model won the 2026 “World Electric Vehicle” title. The awards were announced at the 2026 New York International Auto Show (1–12 April 2026).

The success of the BMW iX3 is based on the independent assessment of 98 journalists from 33 countries. They gave their detailed evaluations after test driving the various vehicles involved in the competition. The organisers of the World Car Awards collected and documented this data, which formed the basis for the final verdict. The BMW iX3 beat out 57 high-class contenders to take the “World Car of the Year” title. A total of 43 vehicles were in the running for the title of “World Electric Vehicle”.

Mike Reichelt, Head of Neue Klasse BMW, says: “We are happy with this fantastic accolade for the BMW iX3, the first representative of our Neue Klasse. The BMW iX3 marks the beginning of a new era at BMW – in terms of design language, range, charging capacity as well as driver assistance – and BMW Panoramic iDrive. Above all, the BMW iX3 represents the next generation of Sheer Driving Pleasure powered by the Heart of Joy. The innovations from the Neue Klasse will benefit our entire product portfolio.”

The BMW iX3 represents the technological quantum leap of the Neue Klasse.
As the first Neue Klasse model, the BMW iX3 brings a new era of driving pleasure to the road. The completely new design language of the fully electric Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) makes for a distinctive appearance. The interior is defined by the new BMW Panoramic iDrive infotainment system. It is based on BMW Operating System X, which ensures excellent update and upgrade capability as well as context-sensitive, situationally aware control of all display and operating elements. The BMW Panoramic iDrive combines four key elements to form a unique display and operating system. The BMW Panoramic Vision is a newly developed information projection from A-pillar to A-pillar in the lower part of the windscreen with permanently visible, clearly structured information displays. It is complemented by the 17.9-inch, Free-Cut Design Central Display with high-resolution matrix backlight technology for intuitive touch control. The other two elements are the optional BMW 3D Head-Up Display and the multifunction steering wheel with Shy Tech controls.

The BMW iX3 50 xDrive is powered by two electric motors that together deliver 345 kW/469 hp and 645 Nm of torque. It accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and has a top speed of 210 km/h. At the heart of the new electronics and software architecture are four superbrain high-performance computers. Each is assigned a core function in the BMW iX3. The Heart of Joy manages driving dynamics, with additional computers controlling automated driving and parking, infotainment and essential and comfort functions. These superbrains offer up to 20 times higher computing power compared to previous BMW models. The Heart of Joy and the BMW Dynamic Performance Control software developed in-house deliver a confident and precise driving experience, perfect traction, efficient recuperation and – thanks to precise control of the electric motors – the smoothest stopping process in BMW history.

The sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology comprises a new drive with a fundamentally new high-voltage battery concept and 800-volt technology. It enables significantly longer ranges, faster charging at up to 400 kW and support for bidirectional charging functions. The high-voltage battery in the BMW iX3 50 xDrive now provides 108.7 kWh of usable energy, enabling a range of up to 805 kilometres on the WLTP cycle. At a DC fast charger, energy for up to 372 kilometres of range¹ can be added to the battery in 10 minutes.

Oliver Zipse named “World Car Person of the Year”.

The development of the Neue Klasse is inextricably linked to Oliver Zipse. As Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG from 2019, he guided the company through a period of profound changes and strategic transformation. This is when the groundwork was laid for the Neue Klasse models, marking the extraordinary transformation of the BMW brand. The jury explained: “Under his leadership, BMW has pursued a technology-open approach to electrification, digitalisation and sustainability, while maintaining a strong focus on brand identity and profitability. Zipse’s steady, engineering-led leadership has helped shape BMW’s direction in a rapidly evolving global automotive landscape.”

The jury members provide more than 413 million readers with information about automobiles.
The World Car Awards are presented annually, based on the verdicts of an international jury. The awards were created in 2003 to recognise outstanding innovations and new products from around the world. Over more than 20 years, they have firmly established themselves as a complement to national and regional awards. The jury members’ test results help more than 413 million readers worldwide with their purchasing decisions, making the award one of the most coveted accolades in the international automotive industry.

Vehicles eligible for “World Car of the Year” must be produced in volumes of at least 10,000 units/year. They must also be priced below the luxury-car level in their primary markets. Models eligible for “World Electric Vehicle” must be produced in volumes of at least 5,000 units/year. Another requirement is that a vehicle must have been on sale in at least two major markets – China, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Latin America, USA – on at least two separate continents within the period 1 January 2025 to 30 March 2026. In addition to the “World Car of the Year” and “World Electric Vehicle” titles, this year’s event features awards in a further four categories.

Tenth and eleventh World Car Award wins for the BMW Group.
Prior to this year, the BMW Group had already won nine titles at the World Car Awards since the event was launched. The BMW 3 Series win of the “World Car of the Year” award in 2006 was a particular highlight. The two titles won by the Bavarian premium carmaker in 2026 see the new BMW iX3 add to the latest string of awards won by BMW models. Other recent events where the first Neue Klasse model scored successes were the “Best Cars” awards of German “auto motor und sport” magazine and the “Car of the Year Awards 2026” of British “What Car?” magazine. In addition, the BMW iX3 was named “Car of the Year” in several other countries and received the “Golden Steering Wheel” award for “Best Innovation” from “Auto Bild” and “Bild am Sonntag,” both published by Axel Springer Verlag (Germany).

Munich/Stuttgart. With a total of seven wins in the categories “Sports”, “Crossover”, “Power Nakeds”, “Adventure Touring”, “Tourer/Sports Tourers”, “Enduros/Supermotos” and “Entry-level”, as well as two second places and one third place, BMW Motorrad achieved its best result ever in this year’s reader’s choice award for “Motorcycle of the Year 2026” by the magazine MOTORRAD. 

“I am delighted, along with the entire BMW Motorrad team, about these ten awards, including seven category wins for the first time. The fact that three M models again achieved first place in the readers' choice is a strong endorsement of the appeal of our 
M model range. And the first-time victory of our BMW F 450 GS is clear proof of the great acceptance of this new off-road talent in the 48 hp A2 riding license class. On behalf of the entire BMW Motorrad team, I would like to sincerely thank the readers of MOTORRAD magazine for their great support. These awards are also a great confirmation of our ambition to inspire our customers and fans with a highly attractive and innovative product range, offering the best products in each segment, and to consistently consolidate our leading position in the premium motorcycle market,” said Markus Flasch, CEO of BMW Motorrad, commenting on the results of this year's readers' choice. 

In the “Sports Bikes” category, the BMW M 1000 RR continues to dominate this highly competitive and fascinating segment for the sixth year in a row. With its unique mix of sporty riding dynamics on country roads, top racetrack performance and state-of-the-art safety systems and its highly emotional design, it is once again in first place in the readers' favor for 2026. 

With the uncompromisingly dynamic BMW M 1000 R powerhouse, a second M model from BMW Motorrad has once again taken the top spot. With its unrivalled chassis technology and aerodynamics, the BMW M 1000 R opens dimensions of riding dynamics previously reserved for purebred superbikes in its segment, taking the top step of the podium in the “Power Nakeds” category. The BMW R 1300 R - with its strong character - also took second place in this category. 

Together with the BMW S 1000 XR, the powerful long-distance sports bike 
BMW M 1000 XR is now the third M model from BMW Motorrad to lead the field for the third time in succession. With an engine output of 148 kW (201 hp), an empty weight of just 223 kg and chassis technology and aerodynamics designed for high performance on the open road, long distance touring and fast laps on the race track, the BMW M 1000 XR is the benchmark in its segment and immediately secured first place in the "Crossover" category as it did last year. 

Together with its sister model, the BMW R 1300 GS Adventure, the BMW R 1300 GS further cemented the cult status of the BMW boxer GS models by taking first place in the “Adventure Touring” category. With their iconic design, powerful engine, outstanding handling and convincing on-road and off-road riding characteristics, both models once again confirm the Bavarian dominance in this hotly contested segment.

With the BMW F 900 GS, BMW Motorrad has conquered the top position in the “Enduro/Supermoto” category for the second time in a row. With its greatly enhanced off-road capabilities and significant weight reduction compared to its predecessor, the 
BMW F 900 GS was once again able to take home the category victory. 

The BMW R 1300 RS is another repeat winner. Following the resounding victories of recent years with the BMW R 1250 RS, its successor, the BMW R 1300 RS, can also celebrate itself as a winner in the "Tourer/Sports Tourer" segment. Thanks to its excellent all-round qualities in the areas of riding dynamics, sportiness and touring suitability, it was able to keep the strong competition at bay once again. In this category, the touring icon BMW R 1300 RT also took an additional third place. 

With the BMW F 450 GS, BMW Motorrad conquers the top position in the "entry-level" category for the first time and presents a genuine and authentic BMW GS for the 48 hp A2 riding license class. Its low weight, superior performance and balance between agility and stability ensure a particularly intuitive riding experience both on and off-road. And with its technical innovations, the BMW F 450 GS clearly defines the benchmark for sporty adventure bikes in its class. 

In the “Modern Classics” category, the two models BMW R 12 and BMW R 12 nineT once again secured a top placement with a second-place finish, impressing with their combination of classic and minimalist design, modern technology, and the legendary air/oil-cooled boxer engine.

The 28th edition of MOTORRAD magazine's Motorcycle of the Year 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, which are the most important motorcycle and scooter readers' choice awards in Europe, took place in Ludwigsburg on 17 March 2026. 

You will find press material on BMW motorcycles in the BMW Group PressClub at https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en.  

Munich. BMW has achieved a triple success in the “Best Cars” readers’ poll conducted by German “auto motor und sport” magazine. In the “Large SUVs/Off-road Vehicles” category, 14.1 per cent of the votes cast went to the BMW iX3 (BMW iX3 50 xDrive: energy consumption, combined: 17.9–15.1 kWh/100 km (WLTP); CO₂ emissions, combined: 0 g/km (WLTP); electric range: 678–805 km (WLTP); CO₂ class(es): A)**, the first Neue Klasse model, enabling it to beat 69 competitors. Readers also awarded the BMW 2 Series Coupé the “Best Car” title in the “Compact Class” for the fifth consecutive year. And the BMW 3 Series took first place in the “Medium Class” category, with 12.4 per cent of the votes in a field of 26 competitors. Around 95,000 readers took part in what was the 50th iteration of the poll. With 480 models in 13 categories presented both online and in the “auto motor und sport” print edition, there were more vehicles to choose from than ever before.

In addition, January 2026 saw four BMW model series win awards at the “Car of the Year Awards 2026” of British car magazine “What Car?”. The BMW 4 Series was once again voted “Coupé of the Year” by the magazine’s editors and experts. For the third time in a row, the award for “Performance Car of the Year” went to the BMW M3 Competition Touring with M xDrive (fuel consumption, combined: 10.4 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions, combined: 234 g/km (WLTP), CO₂ class: G)**. Like no other model in its class, it combines performance with everyday usability, adding another chapter to the success story of BMW M models. BMW also won the “Luxury Car of the Year” award, which went to the BMW X7. The BMW iX3 achieved a particularly noteworthy result. The all-electric model won two major “What Car?” accolades, “Car of the Year 2026” and “Premium Electric SUV of the Year”. With these latest awards, BMW is continuing the string of successes it achieved in prestigious national and international competitions in 2025, with BMW vehicles from a wide range of market segments coming out on top in public polls, owner surveys and expert jury decisions.

Triumphs for the BMW iX3: “Car of the Year” in numerous countries.
Presented at the IAA Mobility 2025, the new BMW iX3 was an instant success. It establishes a new design language and sets standards for driving dynamics and performance. A range of up to 805 kilometres, battery charging at up to 400 kW and a consumption of just 15.1 kWh/100 km (WLTP) demonstrate the outstanding abilities of the new BMW iX3. The new BMW Panoramic iDrive stands for innovation in the interior, while the Heart of Joy high-performance control unit and BMW Dynamic Performance Control enable driving pleasure on an entirely new level. These qualities also impressed the experts. The motor journalists at “Auto Bild” and “Bild am Sonntag”, two German publications from Axel Springer Verlag, honoured the BMW iX3 with the “Golden Steering Wheel” for “Best Innovation”. First awarded in 1976, the “Golden Steering Wheel” counts among the most prestigious accolades of the European automotive industry.

Other awards naming the BMW iX3 as the outstanding new vehicle included “Top Gear’s 2026 Car of the Year” (UK), “Swiss Car of the Year 2026”, “Car of the Year” at “Electrifying.com” (UK) and first place in the “Full Electric” category at the “LR66 Automobile Awards” (France). In addition, there were technology awards such as being included among “The Best Inventions of 2025” by “Time Magazine” (US). “Carwow” in the UK presented the BMW iX3 with its “Tech Trailblazer Award” at the “Car of the Year Awards 2026”. “Carwow” Germany honoured BMW Panoramic Vision, which made its debut in the first Neue Klasse model, as the year’s “automotive innovation”. High praise also came from Alma Media, one of Finland’s leading media companies. Experts from the daily newspaper Iltalehti, the business and financial newspaper Kauppalehti, and the online marketplaces Nettiauto and Autotalli, voted the BMW iX3 the “Best Electric Car of the Year” 2025. A jury member explained: “This may be the first competition the iX3 wins, but once it enters next year’s international awards, there will be plenty of trophies to come ...” For the readers of “Auto Zeitung” (Germany), it was already clear that the BMW iX3 deserved the “Auto Trophy” in the category “Best Electric SUV above 50,000 euros”. The BMW iX3 was also eagerly awaited on the Chinese market. Numerous media outlets described the model as the “Most Anticipated All-Electric SUV”.

BMW 5 Series: accolades for Sedan and Touring.

The BMW 5 Series added to its successes of the past years: the specialists at “Top Gear”, one of the most renowned names in motoring journalism in the UK and beyond, declared the BMW i5 Touring their “Best EV Estate”. At the “Auto Express New Car Awards” (UK), the BMW 530e (fuel consumption, combined: 8.4–8.0 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions, combined: 197–181 g/km (WLTP), CO₂ class: G)**^,1 was voted the “Premium Hybrid Car of the Year”. The automotive journalists at the French-language “Le Guide de l’auto” in Canada ranked the BMW 5 Series first in the categories “Mid-Size Luxury Cars” and “Electric Luxury Vehicles”, viewing both the all-electric and ICE versions as the outstanding vehicles in their respective segments. Expert verdicts also determine the awards presented by “Car and Driver”, one of the largest and oldest automotive magazines in the US. Here, the editors awarded the BMW i5 Sedan the “Editors’ Choice” accolade in the “Electric Mid-Size Luxury Sedan” category. “Carwow” in Spain crowned the BMW 5 Series its “Most Comfortable Car” of 2025. Readers of German “Auto Zeitung” magazine awarded the “Auto Trophy” for “Best Electric Sedan” to the BMW i5. The BMW 5 Series also won “Best Upper/Luxury Cass” honours. And the BMW 5 Series triumphed at the “Auto Bild Company Car Awards” as well. Readers voted the model series the overall winner in the “Upper Medium Class” category. The editors explained: “With its digital offensive, strong driving dynamics and the all-electric i5 variant, the Munich carmaker strikes a chord with company car drivers.” “Auto Bild” and “Bild am Sonntag” (Germany) awarded the “Golden Steering Wheel” in the “Upper/Luxury Class” category to the BMW M5 Touring (energy consumption, weighted, combined: 18.1–17.7 kWh/100 km and 5.5–5.2 l/100 km (WLTP); CO₂ emissions, weighted, combined: 124–118 g/km (WLTP); CO₂ classes: with discharged battery G, weighted, combined D; fuel consumption with discharged battery: 11.0–10.7 l/100 km (WLTP))**^,1. The high-performance model earned the highest points score of any car entered in this prestigious competition, thereby adding its name to the long list of BMW M award winners. 

Big wins: BMW 7 Series, BMW X7, BMW X6, BMW X5 and BMW iX.

An award for the most comfortable way to drive a BMW: at its “Electric Car Awards 2025”, British magazine “What Car?” declared the BMW i7 the “Best Electric Luxury Car”. In early 2025, the BMW X7 was named “Luxury Car of the Year” by the same magazine and successfully defended its title again this year. In South Africa, “Car Magazine”, one of the country’s leading automotive magazines, annually selects its “Top 12 Best Buys”. The editorial team chose the BMW 7 Series as its “Luxury Car”. Another set of awards presented in South Africa is the “Cars.co.za” “Consumer Awards”. This is based on a combination of expert assessments and owner surveys. The winning “Premium SUV” was the BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport (fuel consumption, combined: 8.2–7.8 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions, combined: 215–204 g/km (WLTP), CO₂ class: G)**. In the category “Best SUV above 60,000 euros”, readers of “Auto Zeitung” (Germany) awarded the “Auto Trophy” to the BMW X5.

In the US, the BMW X5 received the “Car and Driver Editors’ Choice” award in the “Mid-Size Luxury SUV” and “Hybrid Mid-Size Luxury SUV” categories. The BMW 7 Series won the “Editors’ Choice” accolade in the “Full-Size Luxury Sedan” class, while the BMW i7 won the same award in the “Electric Full-Size Luxury Sedan” segment. The BMW X7 stood out for the jury as a “Full-Size Luxury SUV”, as did the BMW iX in the “Electric Mid-Size Luxury SUV” category. The results for the largest battery-electric BMW model were confirmed by J.D. Power’s “Electric Vehicle Experience Ownership Study” (US). The verdict: No model – irrespective of the type of powertrain – has more satisfied owners. This was also supported by the assessment of the “American Automobile Association” in its “AAA Car Guide”. The largest US automobile club and mobility service provider combines consumer and safety ratings with editorial expertise and named the BMW iX xDrive50 the “Overall Winner” and winner in the “Midsize SUVs” category. The BMW iX secured further wins in the “New Car Awards” of “Auto Express” (UK). The magazine’s experts awarded the model the “Large Premium SUV of the Year” and “Premium Electric Car of the Year” titles. 

One of the most important quality and satisfaction surveys worldwide is the “J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study” (APEAL). This US study focuses on emotional and subjective assessments. The BMW X6 won in its segment and also achieved the highest score of all vehicles included in the study. 

Strong performance from mid-range models.

The BMW 3 Series and 4 Series models, along with the BMW X3 and BMW X4 Sports Activity Vehicles, are important pillars of the company’s global market success. They represent a combination of sporty driving dynamics, exacting design and excellent everyday usability in key segments. “Car and Driver” (US) awarded the BMW 3 Series and BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé its “Editors’ Choice” accolade in the “Compact Luxury Sedan” segment, with the BMW i4 equally successful in the “Electric Compact Luxury Sedan” category. The BMW 4 Series and BMW X4 won their respective classes in the “J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study” (APEAL).

The BMW X3 grew more modern, distinctive and sporting in 2024. It impresses with a new design language, a comprehensive powertrain portfolio and a premium ambience marked by an individual style, complemented by BMW Operating System 9, BMW iDrive with QuickSelect and Digital Premium and an advanced range of assistance systems. With these qualities, the BMW X3 scored highly in its first full year on the market. Its visual appearance impressed readers in the “autonis” poll conducted by “auto motor und sport” magazine (Germany), netting it first place in the “Large SUVs/Off-road Vehicles” category. It also collected an “Editors’ Choice” award from “Car and Driver” (US) in the “Compact Luxury SUV” category. At the “New Car Awards” of “Auto Express” magazine (UK), it was named “Mid-size Premium SUV of the Year”. “Car Magazine” in South Africa likewise declared the BMW X3 the winner in this category, as part of its “Top 12 Best Buys” listing. The BMW X3 impressed owners as much as experts in South Africa, and the BMW X3 30e xDrive M Sport (energy consumption, weighted, combined: 16.7 kWh/100 km and 3.3 l/100 km (WLTP); CO₂ emissions, weighted, combined: 76 g/km (WLTP); CO₂ classes: with discharged battery G, weighted, combined B; fuel consumption with discharged battery: 8.2 l/100 km (WLTP))**^,1 was also a winner at the “Cars.co.za” “Consumer Awards”. In Germany, readers of “Auto Zeitung” magazine awarded the “Auto Trophy” in the category “Best SUV between 30,000 and 60,000 euros” to the BMW X3. In the reader poll conducted by “Auto Bild Sportscars”, the top model in the series, the BMW X3 M50 (fuel consumption, combined: 8.3 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions, combined: 189 g/km (WLTP); CO₂ class: G) was named “Auto Bild Sportscar of the Year” 2025 in the “SUVs up to 100,000 euros” category.

The BMW Z4 is currently available as the BMW Z4 Final Edition for a limited time period, demonstrating once again that sheer driving pleasure is an intrinsic part of the BMW brand’s DNA. The “Sport Auto Award” poll of “Sport Auto” magazine (Germany) saw the BMW Z4 M40i (fuel consumption, combined: 8.4–8.0 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions, combined: 197–181 g/km (WLTP), CO₂ class: G)* take victory in the “Convertibles/Roadsters up to 100,000 euros” category by a large margin, with 31.1 per cent of the votes cast.

Compact, dynamic and equally successful with electric powertrains.

The entry-level model in the BMW product portfolio is the BMW 1 Series. In the “Auto Zeitung” readers’ poll, the series won the “Auto Trophy” in the category “Best Small Cars, City Cars & Compacts” with 15.7 percent of the votes cast; the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé took victory as the “Best Medium Class” vehicle. The BMW 2 Series Coupé received the “Car and Driver Editors’ Choice” accolade (US) in the “Sport Compact Luxury Coupé” category. At the “Auto Express New Car Awards” (UK), the model series won the “Coupé of the Year” award. The BMW 2 Series also dominated the compact class in the “autonis” poll conducted by “auto motor und sport” magazine (Germany). The BMW 2 Series Coupé won with 40.8 per cent of the votes, followed by the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé in second place with more than 26 per cent of the votes cast. In the US, the BMW X1 led its segment in the “J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study” (APEAL). It also won the “Car and Driver Editors’ Choice” accolade (US) in the “Subcompact Luxury SUV” segment. The award from “Le Guide de l’auto” (Canada) in the “Subcompact Luxury SUVs” category went to the BMW X1/BMW X2. The readers of “Auto Zeitung” magazine awarded an “Auto Trophy” to the BMW iX1, highlighting the comprehensive range of drive systems BMW offers in this vehicle segment.

BMW winning prestigious brand awards as well.

The numerous awards won by BMW models and BMW technology also reflect positively on the BMW brand. The “Kelley Blue Book Consumer Choice Award” (US) is an accolade based on actual purchasing and ownership decisions; BMW took “Best Car Styling Luxury Brand” honours. At the “Which? Awards” (UK), BMW received the “Electric Car Brand of the Year” award. In the “autonis” reader poll conducted by "auto motor und sport” magazine (Germany), BMW was voted “Design Brand of the Year”. And in the “Auto Trophy” poll of “Auto Zeitung” (Germany), the magazine’s readers awarded BMW the “World’s Best Brand” accolade.

Munich. BMW M models impress customers worldwide and are equally recognised by expert juries and readers of leading automotive publications. Numerous awards received in 2025 underscore the strength and relevance of the BMW M performance and high-performance portfolio.

The BMW M5 Touring (energy consumption, weighted, combined: 18.1–17.6 kWh/100 km and 5.3–5.0 l/100 km (WLTP); CO₂ emissions, weighted, combined: 119–114 g/km (WLTP); CO₂ classes: with discharged battery G, weighted, combined D–C; fuel consumption with discharged battery: 10.9–10.7 l/100 km (WLTP)**^,1) achieved outstanding results in its first full year on the market. The model prevailed in the renowned “Golden Steering Wheel” competition organised by “Auto Bild” magazine and the Sunday paper “Bild am Sonntag” (both published in Germany). In this, the 49th iteration of the contest, the experts crowned the BMW M5 Touring the winner in its class, awarding it more points than any other vehicle of any class represented in the event. The high-performance model’s third Touring generation features an M Hybrid powertrain that combines an exhilarating V8 engine with a BMW eDrive motor integrated into the transmission, for a system output of 535 kW/727 hp. With its versatile luggage capacity of 500 to 1,630 litres, the BMW M5 Touring provides excellent everyday usability. This advantage was not lost on the jury, which also rated the high-performance model ahead of the other finalists in its class in all driving disciplines, as well as in terms of value for money and efficiency.

The readers of German “Auto Bild Sportscars” magazine honoured the BMW M5 models with the 2025 “Auto Bild Sportscars of the Year” award in the “Executive and Luxury Class” (BMW M5 Sedan: energy consumption, weighted, combined: 17.6–17.2 kWh/100 km and 5.0–4.8 l/100 km (WLTP); CO₂ emissions, weighted, combined: 114–108 g/km (WLTP); CO₂ classes: with discharged battery G, weighted, combined C; fuel consumption with discharged battery: 10.7–10.5 l/100 km (WLTP)**^,1). The readers’ poll by “auto motor und sport” and “MO/OVE” (both published in Germany) focused on outstanding technology. 12,755 readers of these publications participated and chose the powertrain of the BMW M5 as the winner of the 2025 “Tech Award” in the “Most Innovative Plug-in Hybrids” category.

Readers of car magazines clearly rank the BMW M3 at the top of its class.
At the 2025 “Auto Bild Sportscars of the Year” awards, readers voted the BMW M2 (fuel consumption, combined: 10.2–9.7 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions, combined: 230–221 g/km (WLTP); CO₂ class: G) the winner in the “Compact Sportscars over 50,000 Euros” class and awarded the BMW X3 M50 (fuel consumption, combined: 8.3 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions, combined: 189 g/km (WLTP); CO₂ class: G) the top spot in the “SUVs up to 100,000 Euros” category. The uncontested number one in the “Compact Executive Class” was the BMW M3 CS Touring (fuel consumption, combined: 10.5 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions, combined: 238 g/km (WLTP), CO₂ class: G). Since the start of 2025, this car has combined motor racing DNA and everyday usability more successfully than ever before. The magazine’s editors concluded that when it comes to performance, all roads lead to the BMW M3 CS Touring.

The BMW M3 also left its competitors behind in the “Sedans and Estate Cars up to 100,000 Euros” class of German “sport auto” magazine’s readers’ poll. Garnering 39.7 per cent of the votes, it took the 2025 “sport auto Award”. Equally successful in the 33rd iteration of this competition was the BMW Z4 M40i (fuel consumption, combined: 8.7 litres/100 km; CO₂ emissions, combined: 197–195 g/km (WLTP); CO₂ class: G) with manual transmission, winning in the “Convertibles and Roadsters up to 100,000 Euros” class.

Silver and Bronze “OttoCars” for “ BMW M Electrified ” at “AutoVision Awards”.
Electrification is a long-established part of the BMW M model portfolio, represented by vehicles such as the BMW M5 plug-in hybrid or the battery-electric BMW i4 M60 xDrive Gran Coupé (energy consumption, combined: 20.9 kWh/100 km (WLTP); CO₂ emissions, combined: 0 g/km (WLTP); electric range: 433–551 km (WLTP); CO₂ class: A). Like everything at BMW M, this technology is deployed with the aim of testing the limits of what can be achieved – and moving them into new territory through innovation. Communications campaigns inform customers of the latest electrified products. In this context, the “BMW M Electrified” webisodes (produced by ATTIC Film) were particularly successful. A jury composed of film and multimedia producers, marketing and advertising experts and media representatives honoured the series during the IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich (Germany) by awarding it the “Silver OttoCar” trophy. In addition, the jury was so impressed with the series’ major impact on the brand that it also awarded “BMW M Electrified” the “Bronze OttoCar” trophy in the “Brand Image” category. The “AutoVision Awards” are organised by “Filmservice International”. They recognise outstanding corporate films and advertising productions in the automotive and mobility sectors and are among the industry’s most coveted prizes.

Munich. The BMW Group, together with its partners, has won the globally renowned JEC Composites Innovation Award for series-production exterior components in automobiles. The award was presented at the JEC World Premiere in Paris and recognizes innovations in the development of sustainable materials for the automotive industry.

Innovation and sustainability in automotive engineering.

In June of 2025, the BMW Group first announced the use of natural composites made from flax fibre in the design of series-production vehicles. The award in the "Automotive & Road Transportation Parts" category recognizes BMW Group’s successful integration of these innovative materials. BMW Group’s decision to use natural fibre composites for visible components in series-production vehicles is the most comprehensive application within the industry to date.

Collaboration enables technological breakthrough.

The innovative use of fibre composites is the result of years of research and development work and intensive cooperation with partners Bcomp Ltd., Cobra Advanced Composites Co. Ltd. and PPG Wörwag Coatings GmbH & Co. KG. Together, the consortium succeeded in overcoming a major technical challenge: ensuring the natural fibre composites developed would meet the complex requirements for series production required across the structure of the vehicle, including the high quality needed for the roof panel.

Contribution to CO₂e reduction and lightweight construction.

The use of natural fibres helps to reduce the CO₂e footprint of future vehicle models and has an impact on lightweight construction goals. Material tests show that superior exterior and interior components can be manufactured from these natural fibres.

A concrete example is the use of natural flax fibre composites instead of carbon fibre composites in the roof panels of future models. Replacing carbon roof panel with flax fibre panels can achieve a reduction in CO₂e emissions of around 40% during production plus addition end-of-life considerations.

Collaboration as a success factor.

The development of innovative natural flax fibre composites is the result of successful and intensive collaboration with internal and external partners. Cross-departmental and cross-company cooperation has led to new and innovative solutions in materials and manufacturing processes. Through BMW Group’s use of interdisciplinary expertise, it has been possible to develop forward-looking products and consistently promote sustainability in automotive engineering.

Dr. Herbert Negele, Head of Materials Development and Lightweight Construction, emphasized the importance of BMW Group’s collaborative approach: "At BMW Group, we are committed to thinking and acting responsibly. This premise requires the continuous development of our materials towards sustainability, while continuing to meet the high demands of functionality, lightweight construction and design. The JEC Award confirms our approach and motivates everyone involved in the project to continue along this path.”

Munich. BMW models have achieved outstanding results at two prestigious German awards events. The BMW iX3 (BMW iX3 50 xDrive: energy consumption, combined: 17.9–15.1 kWh/100 km (WLTP); CO₂ emissions, combined: 0 g/km (WLTP); electric range: 679–805 km (WLTP); CO₂ class(es): A)** – the first Neue Klasse model – won the “Golden Steering Wheel” as the “Best Innovation” of 2025. Another one of the “Golden Steering Wheels” awarded by German “Auto Bild” and “Bild am Sonntag” went to the BMW M5 Touring (energy consumption, weighted, combined: 18.1–17.6 kWh/100 km and 5.3–5.0 l/100 km (WLTP); CO₂ emissions, weighted, combined: 119–114 g/km (WLTP); CO₂ classes: with discharged battery G, weighted, combined D–C; fuel consumption with discharged battery: 10.9–10.7 l/100 km (WLTP))** ^,1, which effortlessly took the win in the “Upper/Luxury Class” category. The readers of German “Auto Zeitung” likewise considered BMW models superior. They voted for BMW vehicles as overall champions in no fewer than eight vehicle classes. The victorious models range from the BMW 1 Series to the BMW 5 Series, from the BMW iX1 to the BMW X5. Vehicles powered by conventional internal combustion engines were as successful as battery-electric models like the new BMW iX3. In addition, BMW defended its title of “World’s Best Brand”.

“We offer our customers the ability to choose from a full range of exciting products across all segments, with all types of powertrains. The prestigious ‘Golden Steering Wheel’ and ‘Auto Trophy’ awards are a clear validation of our strategy, our products and the appeal of our brands,” said Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. “Since its world premiere in September, the BMW iX3 has been a sensation: pre-orders are even exceeding our high expectations, demonstrating an extraordinary level of customer interest. The fact that the BMW iX3 has now won two of Germany’s most prestigious automotive awards, even before its official market launch, underscores the pioneering role and the uniqueness of the BMW iX3.”  

“Golden Steering Wheel” – 49 years of honouring the most significant new vehicle models.
The “Golden Steering Wheel” is awarded by German “Auto Bild” car magazine and German weekly newspaper “Bild am Sonntag”, both published by Axel Springer SE. It counts among the most prestigious accolades of the European automotive industry. First presented in 1976, these annual awards honour outstanding new vehicles released on the German market. The nominations for the 49th iteration of the event comprised 72 new models from 2025. Based on readers’ votes, three models in each vehicle class progressed to the finals at the German DEKRA-Lausitzring race track. Here, the top competitors faced a jury of race car drivers, industry experts and motor journalists from “Auto Bild” and “Bild am Sonntag”. Following comprehensive tests, the jurors awarded points ranking the vehicles’ everyday usability, quality, sustainability, powertrains and driving characteristics. Value for money and efficiency also formed part of the assessment.

Motor journalists award BMW iX3 “Golden Steering Wheel” as “Best Innovation”.

The 2025 IAA Mobility show in Munich saw the world premiere of the new battery-electric BMW iX3 – the first Neue Klasse vehicle. The new BMW iX3 establishes a new design language and sets standards for driving dynamics and performance. A range of up to 805 kilometres, battery charging at up to 400 kW and a consumption of just 15.1 kWh/100 km (WLTP) demonstrate the outstanding abilities of the new BMW iX3. Other highlights include the BMW Panoramic iDrive, which combines four central elements into one powerful unit. With the high-performance Heart of Joy central computer and BMW Dynamic Performance Control, the new BMW iX3 takes driving pleasure to an unprecedented level. That was also the motor journalists’ assessment as they awarded the BMW iX3 the “Golden Steering Wheel” for “Best Innovation”, thus adding to the large BMW trophy collection. Since 2019, at least one of the coveted awards has gone to Munich every year.

Top score and class win for BMW M5 Touring.

The BMW M5 Touring won the “Golden Steering Wheel” in the “Upper/Luxury Class”. The performance car’s third generation features a new M Hybrid powertrain that combines an exhilarating V8 engine with a BMW eDrive motor integrated into the transmission, for a system output of 535 kW/727 hp. With its versatile luggage capacity of 500 to 1,630 litres, the BMW M5 Touring offers even more everyday usability than a sedan – an advantage that was not lost on the jury. They also rated the performance model ahead of the other finalists in its class in all driving disciplines, as well as in terms of value for money and consumption. Overall, the BMW M5 Touring scored a higher points total than any other vehicle – of any class – in this year’s “Golden Steering Wheel” contest.

“Auto Trophy”: renowned award, historic success.

German car magazine “Auto Zeitung” has presented its “Auto Trophy” awards since 1987, making this one of the German automotive industry’s most established awards events. In 2025, there were around 400 models/brands in 18 classes to choose from, reflecting the wide range of vehicles available on the German market. Between 10 September and 21 October 2025, a total of 9,872 readers took part in the poll, registering their votes online or sending in ballot papers by mail. In the end, the magazine’s readers awarded BMW and its vehicles a total of nine “Auto Trophies”. Never before has a manufacturer been so successful in this established readers’ poll. The result even surpasses the brand’s very good achievement in 2024, when BMW garnered eight first places, and confirms that readers hold the current BMW model portfolio in very high esteem.

These are the classes where BMW models or the BMW brand came out on top:

“Best Small Cars, City Cars & Compacts”: BMW 1 Series (15.7%)*.

“Best Medium Class”: BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé (19.4%)*.

“Best Upper/Luxury Class”: BMW 5 Series (25.4%)*.

“Best SUV between 30,000 and 60,000 euros”: BMW X3 (19.7%)*.

“Best SUV above 60,000 euros”: BMW X5 (14.1%)*.

“Best Electric Sedan”: BMW i5 (20.5%)*.

“Best Electric SUV under 50,000 euros”: BMW iX1 (18.3%)*.

“Best Electric SUV above 50,000 euros”: BMW iX3 (17.9%)*.

“World’s Best Brand”: BMW (22.1%)*.

* Share of votes cast.

** Consumption and emissions data:

The figures for fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions, energy consumption and range are for vehicles as offered on the German market. All data are based on the new WLTP test cycle. Energy consumption and emissions data refer to the German Passenger Car Energy Labelling Regulation (EnVKV).

¹ For plug-in hybrids: weighted, combined (EC AC charge weighted).

Munich/Parsdorf. With the publication of its Environmental Impact Statement 2024, all BMW Group operations in Parsdorf are now part of the European environmental register, EMAS. In addition to the BMW Group Cell Manufacturing Competence Centre (CMCC) and test-parts logistics, the pilot plant for high-voltage batteries in Parsdorf has been included in the environmental impact statement and EMAS registration for the first time. EMAS stands for the “Eco-Management and Audit Scheme”, which claims to be the most stringent environmental management system in the world. “We are very pleased with the EMAS registration of all our operations in Parsdorf, which underlines that our processes operate at a very high level – both economically and environmentally,” says Hansjörg Schilp, director of the CMCC and pilot plant for high-voltage batteries in Parsdorf. “The entire team has done an outstanding job.”

EMAS: Strict requirements and high environmental standards

To be listed in the EMAS Register, companies must fulfil strict requirements and adhere to rigorous environmental standards. EMAS is a globally recognised framework that enables organisations to manage and continuously improve their environmental impact. A key element of the EMAS environmental management system is the international environmental management standard ISO 14001. EMAS also focuses on measurable improvements, transparency and legal certainty. Auditing aims to support companies in continuously improving their environmental performance – for example, by using energy and material more efficiently and reducing emissions, wastewater and waste from their sites. Beyond these direct environmental impacts, EMAS also addresses and evaluates indirect aspects, including the sustainability of products, procurement and supply chains, contractor practices and the environmental impact of employees commuting to work. (Source: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/wirtschaft-konsum/wirtschaft-umwelt/umwelt-energiemanagement/emas-umweltmanagement-guetesiegel-der-europaeischen#systematisches-umweltmanagement-mit-emas)

Efficient operations and concepts for the circular economy

The validated environmental impact statement and the resulting inclusion in the EMAS Register by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) for Munich and Upper Bavaria underscore the rigorous environmental standards upheld by the BMW Group in Parsdorf. Battery cell production at the CMCC, one of the three Parsdorf facilities, is powered entirely by electricity from 100% renewable energy sources. Hot water for process ventilation is generated using waste heat recovered from various primary processes, and all three Parsdorf facilities utilise heat pumps in their operations. “On our pilot lines for battery cells and high-voltage batteries, we are focusing on reducing the use of critical raw materials and energy, avoiding solvents and developing innovative circular economy approaches,” explains Schilp. Raw materials represent a significant cost factor for battery cells and high-voltage batteries. Efficient and responsible use of these resources is therefore necessary and also makes economic sense. The BMW Group is gaining valuable insights in this area in Parsdorf. Residual materials from the production process are collected and, wherever technically feasible, reintegrated into the value-creation cycle at the BMW Group’s Competence Centres through direct recycling. This innovative procedure enables residual materials from battery cell production, as well as whole battery cells, to be mechanically dismantled into their components.

Transparent reporting: Environmental impact statement now online

The environmental impact statement for the BMW Group’s Parsdorf  operations (CMCC, pilot plant for high-voltage batteries and test-parts logistics) has been independently reviewed by TÜV SÜD Umweltgutachter GmbH and is now available online at: www.bmwgroup-werke.com/produktionskompetenz/de.html

How the cell is created: Production steps for sample manufacturing at the CMCC

Cell manufacturing at the CMCC in Parsdorf begins with electrode production: Here, the base material, comprising, for example, graphite for the anode and nickel oxides for the cathode, with binders and solvents, is metered and mixed in a precisely measured ratio. This creates the so-called “slurry” – which means wafer-thin metal foils are coated and then compressed after drying. In technical jargon, this is referred to as “calendering”. The highest level of precision is required: The foil is just a few micrometres thick – in other words, thinner than the threads of a spider web – while the coating is in the micrometre range. During cell assembly, the coated foils, referred to in the jargon as calendered electrodes, are coiled into so-called “jelly rolls” using the separator and inserted into the cell housing. The cells are filled with electrolyte, then charged for the first time and finally checked for functionality and quality.

Parsdorf pioneers: How the BMW Group builds Gen6 high-voltage batteries

Parsdorf is also home to the BMW Group’s largest pilot plant for Gen6 high-voltage batteries, where production processes are developed and tested before large-scale production begins at the series plants in Debrecen (Hungary), Irlbach-Straßkirchen (Lower Bavaria), Shenyang (China), San Luis Potosí (Mexico) and Woodruff (USA). More than 350 employees have been building initial high-voltage battery prototypes here since 2023. In the meantime, these batteries have also been delivered to the vehicle plant in Debrecen, Hungary, where they were installed in test vehicles for the Neue Klasse. For series production, the BMW Group sources battery cells for its high-voltage batteries from leading cell manufacturers, who produce the cells to the company's specifications. The highest technical standards apply. Upon receipt of goods, additional measurements – such as voltage checks – are carried out. Next comes cell clustering, where the battery cells are connected to coolers. This step ensures optimal insulation and cooling of the cells. The cell clusters and cell contact system are then laser-cleaned and welded with pinpoint precision. The in-line inspection continuously monitors each weld seam in real time. An innovative foaming process follows, ensuring that all elements are protected as a mechanical unit. The foam thus guarantees the safety, stability and durability of the high-voltage battery. The housing is then closed, sealed and riveted. In the final assembly step, the Energy Master – the central control unit – is installed onto the high-voltage battery. A permanently elastic sealing adhesive is applied to ensure a reliable seal. Finally, each high-voltage battery undergoes a 100% end-of-line inspection to ensure quality, safety and function.

Munich. Overall excellent performance in crash protection and well equipped with state-of-the-art crash avoidance technology – these are the requirements for a 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme). The MINI Cooper 3-door and the MINI Aceman have been awarded this top rating by the European Consumer Protection Institute for their safety in all engine versions. The top rating was also achieved through the extensive standard equipment with safety-related driving assistance systems.

Fourth NCAP top rating for the current MINI family.
The top ratings for the MINI Cooper and MINI Aceman are not the first awards for the current MINI family: the all-electric MINI Cooper and MINI Countryman have also already been awarded five stars for their high level of safety.
The two latest top marks in the Euro NCAP rating once again underline the brand’s commitment producing vehicles that are not only extremely attractive but also particularly safe.

Top rating in four safety categories.
The MINI Cooper three-door achieves a safety compliance rating of 83 % in the occupant protection category and 82 % in child safety. With a rating of 81 % for pedestrian protection and 77 % for safety assistants, the model is certified as having a high level of safety overall – especially in the small car segment.
The MINI Aceman achieved very strong results, scoring 83 % for occupant protection and 87 % for child safety, and also scored well for pedestrian protection (77 %) and safety assistants (79 %).

All model variants impress in terms of safety.
The 5-star Euro NCAP rating applies to all engine variants of each model: the three-door MINI Cooper C, MINI Cooper S and MINI John Cooper Works, as well as the MINI Aceman in the MINI Aceman E, MINI Aceman SE and MINI John Cooper Works Aceman variants, all performed well in passive and active safety tests.

Euro NCAP: Europe-wide benchmark for safety.
Euro NCAP is an initiative by automotive associations and government agencies to assess the safety of new vehicles. The aim is to improve the protection of occupants and other road users. The ratings awarded by the Euro NCAP testing institute are a Europe-wide benchmark for accident safety and are continuously being tightened.

In case of queries, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Julian Kisch, Spokesperson Product Communications MINI
Phone: +49-151-601-38072
E-Mail: julian.kisch@mini.com

Micaela Sandstede, Head of Communications MINI
Phone: +49-176-601-61611
E-mail: micaela.sandstede@bmw.de

Munich. A double title win in the “Best Cars” poll of German car magazine “auto motor und sport” sees BMW celebrating a successful start to 2025. Readers voted the BMW 2 Series Coupé the class winner in the compact segment for the fourth time in succession, with a 13.2 per cent share of the vote. As in the previous year, the BMW X1 took first place in the “Compact SUV/Off-road Vehicle” category. It garnered 8.4 per cent of the votes cast. Around 95,000 readers took part in the 49th edition of the prestigious “Best Cars” awards. From a total of 462 models, they chose one overall winner and one import winner in each of 13 vehicle classes. 

Three more current BMW models won awards at the 2025 “Car of the Year Awards” organised by British car magazine “What Car?”. As in the year before, the BMW 4 Series was victorious in the “Best Coupé/Convertible” category. The BMW M3 Touring took “Best Performance Car” honours with its combination of outstanding driving dynamics and great everyday usability. This was another model that repeated its success from the year prior. The “Best Luxury Car” title once again went to the BMW X7, as it did in 2024.

With these latest awards, BMW is continuing the string of successes it achieved in prestigious national and international competitions in 2024, which saw BMW vehicles from a wide range of market segments come out on top in both reader surveys and expert jury decisions.

New BMW 5 Series overall winner of “German Car of the Year” 2025.

At the end of 2024, a jury of 40 motoring journalists crowned the new BMW 5 Series “German Car of the Year”. In doing so, they declared the executive sedan’s latest generation the best new car released on the German car market over the previous twelve months. The new BMW 5 Series Sedan and Touring models particularly impressed the jury with their hallmark driving dynamics combined with long-distance comfort and a wide choice of powertrains. In addition to plug-in hybrids and highly efficient internal combustion engines, the portfolio also includes the all-electric BMW i5 Sedan and BMW i5 Touring models.  

But the “German Car of the Year” award was just one of the numerous accolades that the new BMW 5 Series won in the course of 2024. It also came first in the 2024 “World Luxury Car” competition. A jury of around 100 international motoring journalists declared the new BMW 5 Series the winner out of a field of 13 luxury vehicles.

In the UK, “Fleet News” magazine honoured the BMW 5 Series with its “Best Executive Car” title. Renowned British car magazine “Autocar” gave the new BMW 5 Series its “Autocar Award 2024” in the “Best Hybrid” category.

Triumphs for BMW: “Golden Steering Wheel” and “Auto Trophy”.

The voting for the coveted 2024 “Golden Steering Wheel” awards saw the new BMW 540d xDrive Touring (combined, WLTP (EnVKV): fuel consumption 6.5 litres/100 km; CO₂ emissions 171 g/km, CO₂ class F) victorious over its competitors in the “Executive Car” category. The BMW 3 Series also won a “Golden Steering Wheel”, as “Best Used Car”, in recognition of its outstanding durability. Awarded by German car magazine “Auto Bild” and the weekly “Bild am Sonntag”, this trophy is among the most renowned accolades on the European car market. The “Golden Steering Wheel” winners have been determined annually since 1976, by a jury of experts.

“Auto Bild” and the car valuation company “Schwacke” also crowned the BMW 540d xDrive Touring its “2024 Residuals Champion” (“Wertmeister”). They expect it to experience the lowest depreciation in its class over the next four years.

The success story of the new BMW 5 Series continued in 2024 at the 37th edition of the “Auto Trophy” awards organised by German car magazine “Auto Zeitung”. Readers of the print edition and users of “autozeitung.de” voted it the winner in the “Executive Class/Luxury Class” category. This was not the only accolade for BMW at the 2024 “Auto Trophy” event. The Munich-based premium car manufacturer received a total of eight awards. BMW won the “Auto Trophy” “Best Brand” poll with 22.4 per cent of all votes cast. The new BMW 1 Series came out on top in the “City Cars/Small Cars/Compact Class” segment. With a 26.1 per cent share of the vote, the BMW 3 Series landed a clear victory in the compact executive class. Readers of “Auto Zeitung” were equally impressed with the new BMW X3 and awarded it a commanding first place in the “SUVs from 30,000 to 60,000 euros” category. Finally, the BMW X5 once again won the storied award in the “SUVs from 60,000 euros” price bracket. The BMW iX took first place in the “Electric SUVs from 50,000 euros” segment, while the BMW iX1 triumphed as the best “Electric SUV up to 50,000 euros”.

All-electric BMW models enjoy international success.

Numerous additional awards emphasise the global importance of all-electric BMW models on the international market. In February 2025, the “Automobile Journalists Association of Canada” presented the BMW i4 with the prestigious “Canadian Electric Car of the Year” award for the second time. For the Canadian jury of experts, the inspiring performance and excellent range of the BMW i4’s electric powertrain were as important to their decision as its impressive braking system and the quality of its interior.

In the United States, the BMW i4 made it onto “Car and Driver” magazine’s 2024 “Editors’ Choice” list in the “Electric Car” category. The BMW iX received the renowned publication’s coveted accolade in the “Luxury Electric SUV” segment, while the BMW i7 got the nod in the “Luxury Electric Cars” category. The BMW i4 eDrive40 (combined, WLTP (EnVKV): energy consumption 18.6 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions 0 g/km, CO₂ class A) received the “Zero-Emission Vehicle Award” (ZEVAS) as the “Top Compact/Coupé” at the 2024 Los Angeles Auto Show.

The British car magazine “Diesel&EcoCar” honoured the BMW i5 as the “Best Electric Executive Car” in 2024, while the BMW iX won in the “Best Electric Luxury SUV” category. The BMW i7 was awarded the “Best Electric Luxury Car” title.

In Germany, BMW collected additional accolades in the second edition of the “Auto Trophy Elektro” event organised by car magazine “Auto Zeitung”. The BMW i5 Sedan received the most votes in the electric sedan segment while the BMW iX1 took first place in the “Electric SUVs up to 50,000 euros” class. Moreover, the 2024 “Auto Trophy Elektro” award for the “Most Sustainable Brand” once again went to BMW, as it did in the year before.

In Denmark, the all-electric BMW i5 won the “Car of the Year 2024” award. Finnish car magazine “Tekniikan Maailma” named the  BMW i5 eDrive40 (combined, WLTP (EnVKV): energy consumption 18.0–17.9 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions 0 g/km, CO₂ class A) its “Winter Car of the Year” in the “Best BEV Car” segment. And in the 2024 UK “Car of the Year Awards”, the BMW i5 came out on top in the “Best Executive Car” category.

Accolades for the new BMW 3 Series.

The BMW 3 Series won the 2024 “autonis Award” for best new design of the year in the “Compact Executive” bracket. It made first place in the reader’s poll of German car magazine “auto motor und sport”, ahead of the BMW 4 Series Coupé/Gran Coupé. The BMW 3 Series also received further honours on the international stage. In the UK, it was voted “Best Plug-in Hybrid Large Car” by “Diesel&EcoCar” magazine. The same publication also named the BMW 3 Series Touring its “Best Plug-in Hybrid Estate Car”. Another trophy came from the United States. The US car magazine “Car and Driver” included the BMW 3 Series in its 2024 “Editors’ Choice” list, in the “Entry-Luxury Car” category. In 2024, a total of 13 BMW models made it onto the renowned editorial team’s list of recommended vehicles. Meanwhile, the BMW X1 brought home a clear victory in the German “Auto Bild” car magazine’s SUV category for company cars (“Firmenwagen Award 2024”).

BMW collected no fewer than four accolades at the “sport auto Award 2024” event. The annual readers’ poll, organised by car magazine “sport auto” for the past 32 years, saw the BMW Z4 M40i (combined, WLTP (EnVKV): fuel consumption 8.7 litres/100 km; CO₂ emissions 197 g/km, CO₂ class G) win the “Convertibles and Roadsters up to 100,000 euros” category. The most votes in the “Coupés up to 75,000 euros” segment went to the BMW M240i Coupé xDrive (combined, WLTP (EnVKV): fuel consumption 8.8–8.7 litres/100 km; CO₂ emissions 200–199 g/km; CO₂ class G). Readers voting in the “Sedans and Estate Cars up to 100,000 euros” class favoured the BMW M3 Competition (combined, WLTP (EnVKV): fuel consumption 9.8 litres/100 km; CO₂ emissions 224–222 g/km; CO₂ class G) with a resounding 38.3 per cent share.  An equally overwhelming victory went to the BMW M4 Competition (combined, WLTP (EnVKV): fuel consumption 9.8 litres/100 km; CO₂ emissions 223–221 g/km, CO₂ class G) in the “Coupés up to 150,000 euros” category.

With the “Paul Pietsch Award”, BMW won one of the most prestigious accolades of the 2024 automotive year. In their vote for the most important automotive innovation of the year, the expert jury of German car magazine “auto motor und sport” chose the BMW Highway Assistant. It enables drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel for longer periods of time. This increases comfort on long-distance journeys.

In case of queries, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Cypselus von Frankenberg, Product Communication BMW Automobiles

Telephone: +49-89-382-30641

E-mail: Cypselus.von-Frankenberg@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 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 2024, the BMW Group sold over 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 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 economic success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. Sustainability is a key element of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy and covers all products from the supply chain and production to the end of their useful life.

www.bmwgroup.com

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Michigan, USA. At an award ceremony at the 2024 Center for Automotive Research Seminar, Altair presented the BMW Group with this year’s prestigious Enlighten Award in the Sustainable Process category, celebrating the premium manufacturer’s progress in innovation. The annual award recognizes innovative lightweight construction and sustainability solutions across the global automotive industry that reduce carbon emissions, minimize water and energy consumption, and promote materials reuse and recycling.

The BMW Group received the award for the BMW M Visionary Materials Seat on the grounds that the research project is a precursor of future product development: Standout achievements were the sustainable seat design and the focus on the entire product lifecycle, making it one of the most innovative and visionary sustainable developments in the global automotive sector.

In addition to BMW M GmbH as the project owner, BMW Group Designworks was responsible for the design, color and material concept of the seat in collaboration with the BMW design team. The project was realized in close cooperation with several partners: Automotive Management Consulting GmbH, Bcomp Ltd, Gradel Lightweight Sàrl and Lasso Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH.

Key themes: design for circularity, lightweight construction and attractive product

As a platform for research on the development of future materials, the award-winning seat focuses on the following key themes: 

First, driving the use of plant-based materials and, as part of design for circularity, raising the share of secondary raw materials and increasing recyclability at the end of the lifecycle.

In addition, the team aimed to develop an attractive product in terms of its appearance, quality, lightweight construction and functionality. The minimalist design leaves the lightweight seat structure visible, highlighting its status as a core component. Intensive lifecycle assessments (LCA) complemented the design at each stage of development.

Falco Hollmann, Innovation Manager Lightweight Design & Sustainability at BMW M GmbH, accepted the award: “We are showing today what will be possible tomorrow with existing technologies and materials in order to take our efforts to reduce emissions and conserve resources to the next level. This is about more than just substituting materials; it is above all about designing for circularity.”

Use of natural materials

The core premise of the project was to make the leap to the future while working within today’s framework. The evaluation of available material classes with a high SQR (secondary raw material quota) showed that natural materials are the ideal complement. For example, the seat features natural fibers, fiber composites, leather alternatives and algae-based polymers.

Carbon footprint reduced by 90 percent

The seat’s CO₂e footprint is 90 percent lower than a BMW M carbon bucket seat made today, thanks to the use of ultra-light, robotically-wound fiber composite seat support structures and materials of natural origin as well as the high recycling rate. In addition, lower module complexity and the use of materials grouped by type make it easier to recycle the seat at the end of its lifecycle. The additive manufacturing processes used are also groundbreaking: A new technology made it possible to completely eliminate support structures, chemical post-treatment and finishing from the M BMW Visionary Materials Seat. Other priorities included a flat value creation chain and a minimum of finishing steps to save energy and conserve resources.

Lessons learned for future processes 

“One of our biggest lessons was the balancing, in other words, how to model our process chain to generate missing primary data,” explains Roberto Rossetti, Head of Development Total Vehicle-Lifecycle at the BMW Group. “The data obtained provides new insights, both in terms of today’s negative contributing factors and the design of tomorrow’s processes. This experience provides a solid foundation for continuously improving sustainability and developing innovative solutions for forward-thinking mobility.”

Munich. With a brace of victories in the “Best Cars” competition, BMW has backed up its successful end to 2023 with a similarly fruitful beginning to 2024. The BMW 2 Series Coupé wrapped up class victory in the compact segment for the third time in succession, while the BMW X1 led the way in the “compact SUV” category. The “Best Cars” award – voted on by readers of German motoring magazine “auto, motor und sport” and in its 48th edition this year – is one of the most prestigious in the European automotive industry. Almost 100,000 respondents took part in the survey, selecting one overall winner and one “imported car” champion from a field of 455 models across 13 vehicle categories.

The start of 2024 was also marked by class victory for the new BMW 5 Series Sedan in the “Large Car” category of the “Women's Worldwide Car of the Year” award. 75 female automotive journalists from 52 countries picked out their favourites from a total of 62 vehicles in five categories. Intended to showcase the influence of women in the automotive industry and presented for the 14th time this year, this prize takes into account factors such as safety, quality, price, design, ride comfort, everyday usability and environmental impact. The new BMW 5 Series Sedan won over the jury members with its electrified drive system line-up (including the fully electric BMW i5), as well as its spaciousness, advanced technology and now fully vegan interior.

This successful beginning to the year saw BMW building on its run of success in a large number of awards in 2023. Models from the premium brand’s current range claimed numerous prizes in both its home market of Germany and its most important sales regions internationally. The winners stretched across all the relevant categories, with compact models, luxury vehicles and high-performance sports cars from BMW M GmbH all making waves. As well as vehicles powered by combustion engines, the readers and juries also recognised a strikingly high number of representatives from BMW’s constantly expanding electric mobility range.

“We’re very proud that our various BMW vehicles have won awards in so many national and international competitions. This also shows that we have attractive models in all segments that excite people,” says Jochen Goller, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Customer, Brands, Sales. “The response to our models with all-electric drive systems is particularly pleasing. This ties in with the strong demand from customers and supports the BMW Group’s commitment to ramping up electric mobility in all areas.”

Newcomer to the ranks of high-performance models and a fully electric Sports Activity Vehicle both win a “Golden Steering Wheel”.

The “Golden Steering Wheel” presented by German publications “Auto Bild” and “Bild am Sonntag” is one of the most prestigious distinctions in the European car industry. BMW took two of these coveted trophies back to Munich in 2023. The BMW M3 Competition Touring with M xDrive (fuel consumption, combined: 10.4 – 10.1 l/100 km [27.2 – 28.0 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions, combined: 235 – 229 g/km in the WLTP cycle) ranked first in the “sports cars” category and the fully electric BMW iX1 topped the “compact class”.

Both models added a string of other international awards to their collections over the course of 2023. For example, the first ever BMW M3 Touring – which combines the dynamic prowess of a high-performance car with impressive levels of practicality – was elected sports car of the year in the category for vehicles costing up to 120,000 euros by readers of “Auto Bild Sportscars” magazine. And acclaimed British TV programme “Top Gear” honoured the BMW M GmbH newcomer with the title “All The Car You'll Ever Need” in its “Car of the Year” awards.

The BMW iX1 collected a trio of awards in China, including “All-Electric Premium SUV of the Year”. It also won the French “Automobile Award 2023” in the “Green Tech” category and the “autonis Award” bestowed by readers of “auto, motor und sport” to the year’s most attractive new design.

Fully electric BMW i5 enjoys immediate success around the world.

The new BMW 5 Series Sedan and BMW i5 also claimed an “autonis” prize. Now also available with a fully electric drive system for the first time, the new edition of the world’s most successful business sedan was also named “Car of the Year” by Portuguese magazine “Frontline”. The BMW i5 was also presented with equivalent awards in Norway and Denmark, both particularly important markets for electric vehicles. Norwegian daily “Dagbladet” teamed up with online portals “DinSide” and “Elbi24” to celebrate the BMW i5. While in Denmark, the i5 fought off competition from six other models to gain the most votes for “Car of the Year” in a final round made up exclusively of fully electric models. The jury of 20 Danish motoring journalists chose the BMW i5 as their winner by a large margin.

Chinese publication “Auto World” crowned the BMW i5 as “Most Anticipated Premium Executive Sedan of the Year”, and the fully electric business sedan also collected three awards in Great Britain: “The Car Expert” put the BMW i5 in top spot in its “Best Large Car Award”, it was named “Premium Car of the Year” in the “2024 Electrifying.com Awards” and the “Comfortable Cruiser” topped its class in Carwow’s “Car of the Year Awards 2024”.

The awards underscore the ability of the new BMW i5 Sedan to win people over with numerous different qualities: from character-rich design, a unique balance between sportiness and comfort, innovative equipment features and progressive digital services to a drive system whose power is matched by its capability over long distances. And it also uses latest-generation BMW eDrive technology to transfer the brand’s signature dynamic ability to the road with zero local emissions. In addition, adaptive recuperation and an intelligent combination of heat pump technology for heating and cooling the interior, drive system and high-voltage battery help to give the BMW i5 eDrive40 Sedan (electric power consumption, combined: 18.9 – 15.9 kWh/ 100 km in the WLTP cycle) a range of 498 – 582 kilometres (309 – 362 miles) in the WLTP cycle.

BMW’s electric mobility offensive is recognised with awards.

The BMW brand’s fully electric model line-up as a whole enjoyed a successful year worldwide in 2023. As well as the BMW iX1 and BMW i5, this was particularly true of the BMW i7 and BMW i4. In Great Britain alone, these two models were both among the winners in seven awards. Both won the “Auto Express New Car Award” in their respective vehicle classes. The BMW i4 also claimed the “Pocket-lint Award” and “Business Car Award”, and the BMW i7 celebrated success in both the “What Car? Electric Car Awards” and the “What Car? Car of the Year Awards”. The fully electric luxury sedan racked up five prizes in China, too, including the “Car of the Year” distinction from leading online magazine “sohu.com”.

There was also much to celebrate in France and the USA, where the BMW i7 was given the “Best Overall and Best Value” rating from “Money” magazine and praised by “wards auto” magazine for its standout luxury ambience and digital user experience with BMW Theatre Screen in the rear compartment. Renowned US magazine “car and driver” named both the BMW i4 M50 (electric power consumption, combined: 22.5 – 18.0 kWh/ 100 km in the WLTP cycle) and BMW i4 eDrive40 M50 (electric power consumption, combined: 19.1 – 16.1 kWh/ 100 km in the WLTP cycle) among the “Best 10” of 2023.

Top marks and distinctions for the BMW 3 Series and BMW 4 Series ranges, the BMW M2 and the BMW X3.

BMW set the seal on a successful year in Germany with a two-pronged triumph. The BMW 3 Series and BMW X3 closed out 2023 with class victory in the coveted “Auto Trophy”. The BMW 3 Series Sedan and BMW 3 Series Touring, for example, took clear victories in the hotly contested midsize segment of the readers’ survey conducted by German title “Auto Zeitung”, racking up 19.0 per cent of the vote. This was the seventh class win in a row for the 3 Series. Meanwhile, the rugged aura, interior spaciousness and commitment to electrification of the BMW X3 helped it account for 15.3 per cent of the votes cast and therefore the highest points total in the high-volume vehicle segment of “SUVs costing 30,000 – 60,000 euros”.

The BMW 3 Series was a particularly prolific award-winner in Great Britain. In the “Business Car Awards”, the 3 Series won the “Best Premium Car” prize, and it also gained entry to the “Hall of Fame” of “Fleet News” magazine as the “Most Reliable Company Car”. The BMW 3 Series won twice in the “What Car? Used Car Awards”, topping both the “Used Executive Car” category and overall “Used Car of the Year”. And then there was the “Best Used Hybrid Executive Car” distinction for the BMW 330e Sedan (fuel consumption, combined: 1.9 – 1.4 l/100 km [148.7 – 201.8 mpg imp]; electric power consumption, combined 20.1 – 18.1 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions, combined: 43 – 32 g/km in the WLTP cycle). The plug-in hybrid model also tasted success in the USA, where “Money” magazine described it as “Best for Handling”.

Adding to the wave of success enjoyed by the BMW 3 Series, the BMW 4 Series – with its standout sporting appeal – also enriched the brand’s glittering international reputation in the premium midsize segment. The best example of this came in the BMW 4 Series Coupé and BMW 4 Series Convertible’s showing in the “What Car? Car of the Year Awards” in Great Britain. The closed-roof two-door won the “Coupe of the Year” for the third year in succession in 2023. And this year its open-top sister model also won the “Convertible of the Year” award.

Two other British awards were claimed by the BMW M2. It was voted “Best Performance Car” in “The Car Expert Awards”, and the compact high-performance sports car also took the title of “Performance Car of the Year” in the “Auto Express New Car Awards”.

_{Official fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, electric power consumption and electric range figures were determined based on the prescribed measurement procedure in accordance with European Regulation (EC) 2007/715 in the version applicable. Where a range is shown, the WLTP figures take into account the impact of any optional extras.}

_{Only official figures based on the WLTP procedure are available for new models that have been type tested since 01.01.2021. In addition, according to EU Regulation 2022/195, the NEDC values will no longer be included in the EC certificates of conformity as of 01.01.2023. Further information on the WLTP and NEDC measurement procedures can also be found at www.bmw.de/wltp.}

_{Further information on official fuel consumption figures and specific CO2 emission values of new passenger cars is included in the following guideline: 'Leitfaden über den Kraftstoffverbrauch, die CO2-Emissionen und den Stromverbrauch neuer Personenkraftwagen ' (Guide to the fuel economy, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars), which can be obtained free of charge from all dealerships, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at https://www.dat.de/co2.}

In the event of enquiries please contact:

Corporate Communications

Cypselus von Frankenberg, Product Communication BMW Automobiles

Telephone: +49-89-382-30641

E-mail: Cypselus.von-Frankenberg@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 2022, the BMW Group sold nearly 2.4 million passenger vehicles and more than 202,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2022 was € 23.5 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.6 billion. As of 31 December 2022, the BMW Group had a workforce of 149,475 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.}

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Munich. When others need help, they are there: Cristiano Alano, Anke Boysen, Markus Entter and Thomas Fahnauer are the winners of the 12th BMW Group Award for Social Responsibility. The official ceremony was held on 14 September in Munich. The Award pays tribute to employees worldwide who are active as volunteers. Each winner receives prize money of 10,000 euros for their project.

The BMW Group Award shines a light on social commitment at the company, inspires others to get involved and promotes social initiative among the workforce. “Every year, this award ceremony fills me with tremendous pride. It’s great that we have associates who take responsibility and are committed to helping others – and it’s amazing what they are able to accomplish in their free time. With this Award, we pay tribute to this dedication and send a clear message: If everyone gives just a little bit of their time for others, we can achieve so much together,” said Ilka Horstmeier, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, People and Real Estate, Labour Relations Director, and patron of the award.

Helping people in need  

The BMW Group Award is highly regarded within the company and forges connections between volunteers. This year, once again, more than 100 associates competed for one of the four awards. From these, the judges selected 11 projects for the final round, with all nominees attending the award ceremony. All of these dedicated employees have one thing in common: They donate their time and their know-how to improve the lives of people who are socially disadvantaged or in need. All finalists receive 2,500 euros each for their initiatives.

Here are this year’s four award-winners

Markus Entter, winner of the employee vote, works at the BMW Group in Munich and volunteers as a hospice helper at St. Vinzenz Hospiz in Augsburg. He accompanies those who are seriously ill on the last stage of their life’s journey. With empathy, compassion and the gift of time, he helps dispel people’s fear of death and dying. When practical help is needed, he prepares light meals, brings food and drinks to hospice patients, or simply assists the carers. He also provides relatives with emotional support.

Cristiano Alano, winner of the Vera and Volker Doppelfeld Award, works at BMW Group Plant Araquari in Brazil and advocates for disadvantaged young people in an impoverished district of the city of Joinville. Social mobility through a good school education is the aim of the initiative ASSOCIAÇÃO PROJETO RESGATE. Alano is especially dedicated to fostering character development and encouraging young people to be more confident and independent. As a mentor, he teaches them techniques for resolving social issues.

Anke Boysen, who works at the BMW Group in Munich, is passionate about training rescue dogs for aid missions. As a dog handler with the ISAR Germany Foundation, she even accompanies the rescue dog team on missions worldwide – most recently, following the earthquake in Turkey. The specially trained rescue dogs are able to find people who have become buried and help save lives. 

Thomas Fahnauer,who works at BMW Group Plant Araquari, volunteers with the ONG Esperanca Brasil initiative, building simple homes for homeless people out of wooden pallets. He was motivated by the sometimes appalling living conditions of people in Brazil who often do not have a decent home. The wooden pallets were previously used as packaging material for ship transportation. Their continued use also helps the project contribute to climate protection.

BMW Group Award: Invitation to join in

Taking social responsibility is part of the BMW Group’s identity. To this end, the company has encouraged social engagement among its employees for years. The BMW Group Award for Social Responsibility honours the personal commitment of its associates in a unique way. Together with the SOCIAL DAYS and SOCIAL DRIVE IT platform, it is one of the three pillars of SOCIAL DRIVE, which pools employees’ volunteer activities. The SOCIAL DAYS held to mark various occasions aim to promote interest in social commitment among associates and encourage them to get actively involved. The SOCIAL DRIVE IT platform offers a wide range of activities and gives dedicated employees the opportunity to find supporters for their projects, giving further momentum to social commitment.

Munich. Today, TIME reveals its annual list of the Best Inventions, which features 200 extraordinary innovations. To compile the list, TIME solicited nominations from TIME’s editors and correspondents around the world, and through an online application process, paying special attention to growing fields—such as the electric vehicle industry, green energy, and the metaverse. TIME then evaluated each contender on a number of key factors, including originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact.

Of the new list, TIME’s editors write: “The result is a list of 200 groundbreaking inventions (and 50 special mention inventions)—including life-mapping artificial intelligence, diamonds made from excess carbon in the air, and the most powerful telescope ever—that are changing how we live, work, play, and think about what’s possible.”

The full list is available here: time.com/best-inventions-2022

Colour change at the touch of a button.

The BMW iX Flow featuring E Ink is a unique vehicle capable of changing its entire body colour at the touch of a button and was first revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show 2022 in Las Vegas.  By making it possible to alter the body colour and display different patterns, the BMW iX Flow opens up a whole new way of personalising the driving experience.

A variable exterior colour can also contribute to wellness in the interior and to the efficiency of the vehicle. This is done by taking account of the different abilities of light and dark colours when it comes to reflecting sunlight and the associated absorption of thermal energy. A white surface reflects a lot more sunlight than a black one. By implication, heating of the vehicle and passenger compartment as a result of strong sunlight and high outside temperatures can be reduced by changing the exterior to a light colour. In cooler weather, a dark outer skin will help the vehicle to absorb noticeably more warmth from the sun.

In both cases, selective colour changes can help to cut the amount of cooling and heating required from the vehicle's air conditioning. This reduces the amount of energy the vehicle electrical system needs and with it also the vehicle's fuel or electricity consumption. In an all-electric car, changing the colour in line with the weather can therefore also help to increase the range. In the interior, the technology could, for example, prevent the dashboard from heating up too much.

E Ink technology itself is extremely energy efficient. Unlike displays or projectors, the electrophoretic technology needs absolutely no energy to keep the chosen colour state constant. Current only flows during the short colour changing phase.

Millions of paint capsules in a custom wrap.

Electrophoretic colouring is based on a technology developed by E Ink that is most well-known from the displays used in eReaders. The surface coating of the BMW iX Flow featuring E Ink contains many millions of microcapsules, with a diameter equivalent to the thickness of a human hair. Each of these microcapsules contains negatively charged white pigments and positively charged black pigments. Depending on the chosen setting, stimulation by means of an electrical field causes either the white or the black pigments to collect at the surface of the microcapsule, giving the car body the desired shade.

Munich. The BMW Group’s #NEXTGen 2020 streaming event excited fans of the BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad brands around the world, but also impressed experienced design experts. Indeed, a jury assembled by the German Design Council named the innovative presentation format as an iF Design Award 2021 winner in the Communication discipline. The Gold Award – the highest distinction in the competition – was presented to the virtual design world premiere of the BMW iX which, as the highlight of #NEXTGen 2020, attracted particular attention. The jury noted that the reveal for the BMW Group’s new technology flagship had set new standards in communication: “Thanks to BMW, fully digital events have levelled up. Innovative and mysterious, this is high-end, state-of-the-art programming for our times. What a beautiful and inviting way to introduce the new fully electric BMW iX.”

Public curiosity in the BMW iX was stoked ahead of #NEXTGen 2020 by the informative and entertaining “Chasing iNEXT” infotainment series produced in the style of streaming platforms. The innovative unveiling was then staged in a specially created aesthetic using sophisticated studio technology and virtual effects. “The design team of the fully digital streamcast event #NEXTGen 2020 by the BMW Group pushed virtual production to the max by adding augmented reality layers, as well as creating beautiful design-worlds,” continued the statement from the iF Design Award jury.

“We are delighted to receive the Gold Award and would like to express our sincere thanks to the jury,” said Alexander Bilgeri, Head of Corporate Communications Strategy, Messaging, Communication Channels for the BMW Group. “Our infotainment series ‘Chasing iNEXT’ and the presentation of the BMW iX were key elements of #NEXTGen 2020. We opened doors for the film crew to our development departments which otherwise remain closed, and this enabled an unprecedented delve behind the scenes of our Research and Innovation Centre (FIZ). The design presentation of the iX provided the grand finale of ‘Chasing iNEXT’, and the iF Gold Award is a fantastic compliment to all BMW Group employees.”

Stefan Ponikva, Vice President BMW Brand Experience, adds: “A massive thank you to the jury. The development of #NEXTGen in 2019 gave the BMW Group a new and innovative in-house format which could underpin our claim to innovation leadership in the field of communication as well. #NEXTGen offers us a high degree of creative freedom when it comes to communicating our philosophy and our content on the BMW Group channels and those of its brands. We are breaking completely new ground and adapting our communications activities to the landscape of the digital age and our customers’ requirements. This involves setting new trends and we are delighted to have won this important prize.”

With the presentation format chosen for #NEXTGen 2020, the BMW Group factored in both the technological possibilities of the digital era and the requirements of the ongoing pandemic. The content released online to date, which can be accessed at www.bmw.com/nextgen, provides a far-reaching insight into the FIZ. Presented alongside the BMW iX were a series of other trailblazing vehicle concepts, such as the MINI Vision Urbanaut and BMW Motorrad Concept CE 04, as well as fascinating and entertaining video clips focusing on artificial intelligence, the new BMW Driving Simulation Centre, electric drive systems, connectivity and virtual collaboration. Film contributions, interviews and panel discussions provided background information on the latest technologies, collaborations and future trends involved in shaping the face of individual mobility in the future.

The BMW Group also collected six other iF Design Awards this year. “The BMW Individual – Symbols of Suprematism” campaign and the artwork for “THE 8” earned the company two further distinctions in the Communication category. The BMW i Interaction EASE was presented with an iF Design Award in the Professional Concept discipline. And the BMW Concept i4, BMW M4 GT3 and BMW iX all gained recognition for their design excellence in the Product category. 

The iF Design Award is regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious seals of quality for outstanding design achievements. The winners are decided by a jury of international design experts in an array of categories such as Product Design, Packaging Design, Architecture, User Experience, Service and Communication Design. Alongside exterior design, the criteria for the renowned award, which has been presented annually since 1953, include the degree of innovativeness, ergonomics, functionality and environmental compatibility on display.

The BMW Group received the following distinctions at the iF Design Award 2021:

iF Gold Award                #NEXTGen 2020                         Discipline: Communication
iF Design Award            BMW iX                                        Discipline: Product
iF Design Award            BMW Concept i4                          Discipline: Product
iF Design Award            BMW M4 GT3                              Discipline: Product
iF Design Award            THE 8 Artwork                              Discipline: Communication
iF Design Award            The BMW Individual –                  Discipline: Communication
                                      Symbols of Suprematism
iF Design Award            BMW i Interaction EASE              Discipline: Professional Concept

Munich. The ongoing commitment of BMW to transformation and digitalisation has earned the brand several awards once again this year. The readers of motoring magazines Auto Bild & Computer Bild and auto, motor und sport / Moove singled out innovative connectivity features and digital services for special praise. They were particularly impressed by BMW’s strategic development of digital products and services, as well as the brand’s seamless integration of smart devices and its intuitive operating concept. 

The BMW Digital Key topped the rankings in this year’s Connected Car Awards presented by Auto Bild & Computer Bild. The smartphone-based digital car key allows owners to lock and unlock their vehicle easily and safely. They can also send a Digital Key for their car to as many as five other people. And there is also the option of releasing a special Digital Key with limited rights (e.g. restricted maximum speed and acceleration, stereo volume, etc.), which is ideal for novice drivers, for example.

More than 11,000 of the readers who cast their votes in the Car Connectivity Award 2020 poll conducted by the auto, motor und sport / Moove magazines judged the BMW 3 Series to be the car with the most innovative connectivity features in the “Connected Cars” category. The BMW 3 Series was the first model range to be equipped with the voice-controlled BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant based on the digital operating concept BMW Operating System 7.0. Another connectivity highlight is Remote Software Upgrade, which enables customers to keep their vehicles supplied with the latest software updates. Here, new functions can be imported into the car quickly and easily over the air. 

Meanwhile, BMW Driving Assistant Professional collected the most votes from readers in the “Driver Assistance Systems Safety” category. This tech package features Steering and Lane Control Assistant including the new Active Navigation and Emergency Lane Assistant functions. And Assisted View allows the workings of the individual Driving Assistant Professional assistance systems to be shown in real time in the instrument cluster through 3D visualisation of the surrounding area.

Christoph Grote, Senior Vice President Digital Car, BMW Group, expressed his appreciation for the awards: “On behalf of the whole team at BMW I would like to sincerely thank all the readers involved for the three awards,” he said. “For us, these distinctions represent the best reward and motivation – above all, because the readers have decided the outcome. This vote of confidence from you confirms to us that we are heading in the right direction, and we will continue to do everything we can to delight our customers over and over again.”

The ongoing expansion of connectivity towards a digital, emission-free future is – alongside automated driving – one of the central areas of activity through which the BMW Group is driving forward its strategic transformation of the mobility sector.

Munich. At the International Motor Show (IAA) 2019 in Frankfurt, the BMW Group presented itself using a new stand concept featuring an unusual media concept for the first time and since the L.A. Autoshow 2019 with an additional innovative press conference visual design. For the two, together with the Creative Lead Agency Meiré and Meiré (Cologne) and the Communication Agency Elastique. (Cologne) developed and implemented design & animation concepts, BMW has now been awarded a "Red Dot Award: Brands & Communication Design 2020" each. The Red Dot Award is one of the most internationally renowned design prizes; the jury consists of 40 proven experts from all over the world. 

BMW merges real and digital elements at its motor shows. 
The future of driving pleasure was the central motif of the new BMW motor show concept at the Frankfurt motor show in 2019. In order to convey this feeling, the designers focused less on facts and figures but on specific materials from the vehicle's exterior and interior instead and shaped these into hyper-real animated statements. Animations, film and sound were combined to dramatic effect on the LED surfaces to be perfectly integrated into the ultra-modern trade fair stand. The BMW Concept 4, one of the most important motor show innovations, was staged using attention-grabbing augmented reality, which also convinced the Red Dot Award jury.

Innovative: modular design system for BMW Group press conferences. 

Corporate Communications also chose a new design approach for the press conference and introduced eleven digital, interconnected rooms for the BMW Group and its product and sub-brands. The spatial feeling is created using 3D elements, light and lines. The look and feel of the rooms also corresponds to the respective brand core. 

All necessary design & animation elements were produced modularly in hundreds of individual elements. The design system structured in this way allows all contents to be freely combined, reducing production times to a minimum and ensuring high design quality. 

Thanks to this flexible system, it was possible to conduct a completely digital press conference from Munich at short notice as an alternative to the Geneva Motor Show at the beginning of March, in only two days and without any loss of design quality.

Munich. The new BMW 3 Series range has once again raised the bar for sports performance in the premium mid-size segment with its superior powertrain and chassis technology. The latest-generation BMW 3 Series Sedan and BMW 3 Series Touring models are also built to excite with their new and extremely precise – yet still recognisably BMW – styling and their cutting-edge innovations in the areas of control/operation, driver assistance systems and connectivity. Indeed, their attractive design and advanced connectivity technology helped the sporty Sedan and dynamic, elegant Touring to secure a brace of wins in readers’ surveys recently conducted by the motoring magazines auto, motor und sport and Moove. The BMW 3 Series was judged to be the best new car design of the year, earning it the Autonis 2019 award. It also led the way in the Car Connectivity Award’s blue-riband discipline, claiming the title of best-connected car in the Connected Cars category.

BMW picked up three more accolades in this year’s edition of the Car Connectivity Award. In a poll of the magazines’ readers, the BMW Live Cockpit Professional, the Driving Assistant Professional package and the Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System each took top spot in their respective categories. The winning systems already enhance driving pleasure, safety and comfort in several of the brand’s model ranges. The prizes were presented yesterday at an awards ceremony in Stuttgart.

Captivating design, progressive connectivity: a double success for the new BMW 3 Series.

The design of the new BMW 3 Series is a modern take on the sporting elegance for which BMW is renowned, and winning the Autonis 2019 delivers striking evidence of how much it appeals to popular taste; with 32.3 per cent of the votes, the new BMW 3 Series was the clear winner in its class. This was the 14th time a readers’ vote had decided the Autonis winners. More than 13,700 readers of auto, motor und sport took part in the latest poll and were asked to choose their favourites from 100 new models spanning ten vehicle classes.

The Car Connectivity Award is also put to a public vote, with over 12,000 readers of auto, motor und sport and Moove participating in its sixth edition. Standout systems and technologies from BMW in the areas of connectivity, navigation, driver assistance and audio attracted the most votes in four of the eleven categories. The new BMW 3 Series was victorious in the Connected Cars category, taking 35.7 per cent of the votes. The new BMW 3 Series Sedan was the brand’s first new model to be offered with the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant as an option. And the new BMW 3 Series range also offers an exceptional array of online-based functions for increasing comfort and convenience, safety and driving pleasure – from Real Time Traffic Information, On-Street Parking Information, hazard warning, BMW Online services, Remote Services and the BMW Digital Key to the seamless interaction between the car and the driver’s digital devices via BMW Connected. 

BMW also collects awards in the Navigation, Safety and Sound categories.

The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant is part of the BMW Live Cockpit Professional system, which was judged to be the best new product in the “Navigation systems” category with 33.5 per cent of the votes. As well as connected navigation and the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, this equipment feature also includes the new BMW Operating System 7.0 – which comprises a fully digital screen grouping made up of the instrument cluster and Control Display, plus customisable graphics. It also enables multimodal operation via the touchscreen display, iDrive Controller, steering wheel buttons or voice and gesture control.

In the “Safety assistance systems” category, the Driving Assistant Professional package was crowned the readers’ favourite with 29.6 per cent of the votes. Its range of functions includes Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, the Steering and lane control assistant, the Lane Keeping Assistant with active side collision protection, the Evasion Assistant, Cross Traffic Alert, road priority warning, wrong-way warning and the reversing assistant. The latest version of the Driving Assistant Professional now also features real-time 3D visualisation of the surrounding area using graphics in the instrument cluster, plus – depending on the model – the Lane Change Assistant. It therefore represents the state of the art in driving assistance systems and helps the BMW Group to pave the way for automated driving.

In the “Sound systems” category, the Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System – available for the BMW 5 Series, BMW 6 Series, BMW 7 Series, BMW 8 Series, BMW X5, BMW X6 and BMW X7 – accounted for every second vote cast. Boasting a fully active ten-channel amplifier, dynamic equalizing, as many as 20 partly illuminated speakers and up to 1,508 watts of music power (depending on the model specified), the system delivers a beautifully precise and multifaceted acoustic experience whose pristine quality can be enjoyed from all seats in equal measure.

Munich . A total of five BMW Group brand models received the internationally renowned “iF Design Award 2017”: A high-class jury honoured the MINI VISION NEXT 100, the ROLLS-ROYCE VISION NEXT 100, the BMW Motorrad VISION NEXT 100 as well as the BMW Concept X2 in the category “Mobility / Professional Concept” for their innovative design and their future-oriented technologies. The coveted “iF Gold Award 2017” went to the BMW 5 Series Sedan in the category “Automobiles / Product”. With this prize, the jury affirmed yet again the outstanding work performed by BMW design.

Five “iF Awards 2017” were bestowed on Designworks – A BMW Group Company for products in the areas of mobility, lifestyle, user interaction and sport. The jury acknowledged the lifestyle shoe Puma X-CAT and the Revlon Pro Brushes, a series of ergonomic make-up brushes, and the tracked excavator 1050K Crawler, which was designed in collaboration with John Deere. Moreover, the BMW Racing Wheelchair, which was designed as a competition wheelchair for the Paralympics, and the concept BMW Vision Ride Helmet, a motorcycle helmet concept with Head-Up Display, each received an iF Award.

The accolades were awarded within the framework of the festive iF Design Awards Night 2017, taking place for the sixth time at the BMW Welt in Munich. For many decades now the “iF Design Award” has been recognised as one of the world’s most significant design prizes and is acknowledged as a seal of quality for excellence in the field of design. In addition to the exterior appearance and shape of the product, the criteria of the renowned accolade, which has been awarded annually since 1953, also include the level of innovation, ergonomics, functionality and environmental aspects.

Gold Award for BMW 5 Series Sedan

The jury comprising 58 international design experts decided that the “iF Gold Award 2017”, the highest accolade bestowed by the renowned “International Forum Design”, should go to the BMW 5 Series Sedan for its innovative concept and dynamic, elegant design in the category “Automobiles / Product”.

In their judgement, the jury emphasised above all the clear precision of the sporty design, the brand-related recognisability of both interior and exterior as well as the balance between emotionality and visual presence.

Four BMW Group vehicles each received an “iF Award 2017” in the category “Mobility / Professional Concept”:

Personalised mobility: MINI VISION NEXT 100

MINI is regarded as an ideal and flexible mobility partner in large cities. Digitalisation and networking are increasingly changing the way we travel each day, with the most rapid and noticeable change taking place in the urban environment. With the MINI VISION NEXT 100, MINI is responding to several major issues pertaining to urban mobility. Will cities of the future still have sufficient space for an emotional and individual form of mobility? What will become of the fundamental idea of MINI, the smart utilisation of space? What solutions will MINI offer in a world that will in future become increasingly digitalised and interconnected? The innovative core idea of the MINI VISION NEXT 100 is to create a resource-friendly form of individual mobility. The slogan “Every MINI is my MINI”, refers to an innovative Interpretation of “car sharing”. The MINI of the future is readily available at all times, collects its driver fully autonomously from the desired location and adapts itself to his or her very own personal lifestyle.

Luxury mobility of the future: ROLLS-ROYCE VISION NEXT 100

The Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100 is the marque’s first ever pure ‘Vision Vehicle’ and defines the future of luxury mobility. The Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100 presents a completely personal, effortless Rolls-Royce experience and provides a fully authentic look into the demands and desires of the wealthy connoisseur of the future. Rolls-Royce proposes a no-compromise, fully autonomous, coachbuilt, personalised vision, hand-built from the most advanced materials and powered by a zero emissions powertrain. Patrons are cocooned in the futuristic but handcrafted ‘grand sanctuary’, guided by The ‘Voice of Eleanor’ who is digitally connected to every aspect of their lives, acting as virtual assistant and chauffeur. The Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100. A vision of the future of luxury.

Connected design: BMW Motorrad VISION NEXT 100

The BMW Motorrad VISION NEXT 100 uses the possibilities available in the digital world to raise the analogue driving experience on a motorcycle to a new level whilst keeping its history in mind. The focus remains on the experience of freedom. The result is the intelligent networking of driver, motorcycle and the environment. The BMW Motorrad VISION NEXT 100 is an homage to the ultimate driving experience. Without a helmet or other protective clothing the rider perceives centrifugal forces, acceleration, wind and nature.

The novelty in the compact segment: BMW Concept X2

With the BMW Concept X2, the Munich-based premium brand has successfully combined a coupe concept with the body of X models, developing a novelty in the compact segment. The unique character of the BMW Concept X2 is already reflected in its proportions. Whilst the large wheels and the characteristic two-box design underscore the functional X model character, the vehicle body has a sporty, flat look, its silhouette appearing significantly more streamlined.

The BMW Group Event Forum

With around 20 combinable and individually utilisable event spaces, the BMW Group Event Forum offers a broad spectrum of possibilities for staging various different kinds of event. More than 500 events are organized and held each year at the BMW Welt and the BMW Museum. Last year, the brand returned to its roots in the historic building accommodating the new BMW Group Classic collection: The former production site for BMW aircraft engines has three workshop spaces, each with room for up to 30 persons and a former aircraft engine production hall with room for up to 400 persons. The largest of the three locations is the BMW Welt with its futuristic and unique architecture. The organizer offers flexible and innovative spatial concepts in a multitude of interior and exterior areas. The technical features and a professional event service create a unique framework for unforgettable customer events.

Munich. More than 80 technologies in 11 categories were entered in the “Car Connectivity Award” readers’ survey conducted by German motoring journal auto motor und sport and computer magazine CHIP. The BMW 7 Series was crowned the vehicle with the best connectivity in the “Connected Cars” category. This was the third time that the magazines had asked readers and users for their choices. 32,495 votes were submitted, with 27.9 per cent cast in favour of the BMW 7 Series. The result underlines once again BMW’s leading status in the link-up of the driver, vehicle and outside world. Added to which, the BMW M2 Coupe was voted the “Best new design of 2016” in the compact cars category of the “autonis” poll conducted by “auto motor und sport”.

Readers recognise the exceptional levels of connectivity provided by the BMW 7 Series.
The BMW 7 Series performed impressively in the readers’ poll carried out by auto motor und sport and CHIP thanks to a wealth of newly developed assistance systems such as Remote Control Parking. The BMW 7 Series is the world’s first series-produced car that can be manoeuvred into and back out of perpendicular parking spaces or garages without a driver at the wheel. This function is activated by the driver outside using the newly developed BMW Display Key and carried out semi-automatically by the car. Another example of the link-up between different systems is the Steering and lane control assistant including Traffic jam assistant, which controls the car’s speed down to a standstill and eases the stress on the driver in traffic congestion, in particular.

Likewise showcasing exceptional connectivity are the services from BMW ConnectedDrive in the BMW 7 Series. They include Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI), Online Entertainment and Intelligent Emergency Call with accident severity detection. For all BMW ConnectedDrive services, the SIM card embedded as standard in the car establishes the connection with the mobile phone network.

BMW M2 Coupe wins “autonis” readers’ poll.
With its high-performance six-cylinder in-line engine developing 272 kW/370 hp (fuel consumption, combined: 8.5 l/100 km [33.2 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions, combined: 199 g/km)*, rear-wheel-drive agility and lightweight aluminium M Sport suspension, the BMW M2 Coupe represents a case study in top-class sporting ability and dynamic excellence. Inspired by models from BMW’s history in motor racing, the BMW M2 Coupe also sends out a visual statement of its remarkable performance potential. Particularly impressive here are its low front apron with large air intakes, muscular flanks with hallmark M gills, 19-inch alloy wheels in familiar M double-spoke design and a low, wide rear end with M-specific twin exhaust tailpipes. And now the “autonis” readers’ poll by “auto motor und sport” has provided further evidence of how this eye-catching design flair has captured the imagination of the public. The BMW M2 Coupe took the title of “Best new design of 2016” in the compact car category, accounting for 34.3 per cent of the votes cast. BMW can therefore celebrate back-to-back victories, the BMW 1 Series having topped last year’s “autonis” poll in the same class.

18,229 readers took part in the “autonis” survey, which was held for the 16th time this year. Readers were presented with a choice of 115 vehicles presented over the past 12 months. The models were split into 10 categories and votes could be submitted from 9 June – 24 July. Each reader could cast four votes in each category: two for the models they considered to be particularly successful designs and two for those they liked the least. The winners were calculated from the difference between the results.

* Fuel consumption figures based on the EU test cycle, may vary depending on the tyre format specified.

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

Munich. BMW i is partnering the 11th edition of the Wallpaper* Design Awards. Taking place in London on Thursday 15 January 2015, the event is a celebration of the very best people, places and designs as selected by Wallpaper* magazine. Part of this years’ international judging panel who have selected the magazine’s major awards is Benoit Jacob, Head of BMW i Design: “I am thrilled to be one of the judges. It’s always exciting and inspiring to see design completely detached from the conventional perspective of the automotive sector.”

Joining Benoit on the six strong panel is artist Marina Abramović; internet entrepreneur Nick d'Aloisio; Wallpaper* 2014 designers of the year, Neri & Hu; landscape designer Piet Oudolf and Brazilian architect, Isay Weinfeld.

The Judges’ Awards comprises a total of eleven categories including Designer of the Year, Best Domestic Design, Best New Hotel and Life-enhancer of the Year. All other awards have been chosen by Wallpaper* editors and global contributors.

The winners of this year’s prestigious Judges’ Awards include Tokyo for Best City, Herzog & de Meuron’s Pérez Art Museum Miami for Best New Public Building with Patricia Urquiola and Konstantin Grcic being jointly named as Designer of the Year.

This year also sees the debut of a readers’ award based on an online vote and jointly conferred by BMW i: the BMW i Urban Sustainability Award honours exceptionally innovative and visionary products, concepts and ideas which – like the vehicles by BMW i – help save resources and reduce our ecological footprint. Around a third of all readers’ votes went to the “LEED Dynamic Plaque” display panel. Jointly developed by LEED and IDEO, it shows the sustainability rating of buildings in five categories on a scale of one to 100. The categories include water and energy consumption as well as waste production of the relevant building.

Tony Chambers, Editor-in-Chief Wallpaper*: “We are delighted that BMW i is supporting this year's awards. We could not imagine a more fitting partnership. Their exceptional line of emission-free electric cars are driving us towards the better-designed, more sustainable world that Wallpaper* has championed since we launched.”

The production models of the BMW i brand – the all-electric urban BMW i3 and the sporty BMW i8 plug-in hybrid – will be on display during the evening event. Both cars are engrossing overall concepts, with every detail specifically adapted to the purpose of the relevant model and systematically developed with sustainability in mind.

A full list of all the award winners is published in the February issue of Wallpaper* on sale on 08 January 2015.

Valencia (ES), 8th November 2014. Marc Marquez was unbeatable again in the 2014 MotoGP season – and the young Spaniard also won the race for the coveted BMW M Award again. The 21-year-old was the best qualifier in the premier class of motorcycle racing for the second year in a row to earn his second BMW M Award. This award, in the form of an exclusive and individually customised BMW M car, has been presented by MotoGP partner BMW M GmbH since 2003. Marquez’s outstanding performances in qualifying throughout 2014 were rewarded with an exclusive special edition of the new BMW M4 Coupe.

Marquez, who last year became the first rookie to win the BMW M Award, dominated the 2014 season from the word go. The Spaniard was also in a class of his own in qualifying, as he rocketed to his second World Championship title in MotoGP. Marquez secured pole position for the first six races of the season, picking up maximum points towards the BMW M Award in the process. In total, Marquez started from the very front of the grid on 13 occasions this year. With 398 points, the Spaniard won the 2014 BMW M Award by a comfortable margin. The official presentation ceremony took place on Saturday at the final round of the MotoGP in Valencia, Spain. The prize was presented by Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, and Thomas Schemera, Director of Sales and Marketing BMW M GmbH.

The special features of the BMW M4 Coupé for this year’s BMW M Award winner includes the exclusive BMW Individual special colour “Frozen Red Metallic” (*). The sporty and elegant look continues in the interior. The BMW Individual fine-grain “Merino Opal White” full leather and the BMW Individual fine-wood “Ash Grain White” trim add to the striking appearance. The M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic, the M carbon ceramic brakes and the adaptive M running gear guarantee superior driving characteristics in any situation. The M Power under the bonnet is generated by a completely new, 431 bhp six-cylinder inline engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology and high-rev characteristics (combined fuel consumption: 8.3 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 194 g/km). A maximum torque of 550 newton metres is available over a wide range of speeds.

“Knowing the prize is there at the end of the year gives you special motivation when going for pole on Saturday”, said Marquez. “This year even more so, because I really like this BMW M4 Coupé. I am happy to receive this car and, of course, I will enjoy it.”

 “The presentation of the BMW M Award at the final race is always a highlight of the MotoGP season,” said Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports. “BMW M is an important and reliable partner of MotoGP, and it is fantastic that the performances of the top qualifier have now been honoured with such an exclusive, high-performance sports car for the 12th time. In the BMW M4 Coupé, BMW M GmbH has once again provided a captivating car for the winner, which features the latest technology and perfectly combines the values shared by MotoGP and BMW M. Marc Marquez won the 2014 BMW M Award in an impressive manner. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on another outstanding season.”

“Congratulations to Marc Marquez on winning the BMW M Award again,” said Thomas Schemera, Director of Sales and Marketing BMW M GmbH. “Last year he came through as a rookie to defeat his more experienced opponents. In 2014 he raised the bar again with 13 pole positions. It was breath-taking to see how Marc went from one success to the next this year. As partner of MotoGP, we are delighted to once again recognise his achievements with the BMW M Award. Honouring the season’s top qualifier has become an important tradition for us, and we are proud that the BMW M Award is held in such high esteem by the MotoGP riders. They repeatedly confirm that our BMW M high-performance sports cars are much sought-after prizes – and we provided another highlight this year with the new BMW M4 Coupé.”

The BMW M Award for the best qualifier has been presented since 2003. Just like the points system for the races, riders at each Grand Prix weekend are awarded points relative to their positions in qualifying. Pole position is rewarded with 25 points, second place on the grid earns 20 points and third place scores 16 points – right down to one point for 15th. The rider with the most points at the end of the season wins the BMW M Award – in the form of an exclusive and individually customised BMW M car. Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner are the current record holders, each with three BMW M Awards to their name. In 2013, Marc Marquez was crowned the youngest ever winner of the BMW M Award, and the first rider to receive this award in his first season at the pinnacle of motorcycle racing. Marquez has now won the BMW M Award for the second time. His compatriot Jorge Lorenzo has also earned the coveted title of top qualifier twice so far. Sete Gibernau and Nicky Hayden have both won the BMW M Award once.

(*) BMW Individual special colour “Frozen Red Metallic” available for BMW M3 Limousine and BMW M4 Coupé from 2015.

BMW M GmbH.

BMW M GmbH is a 100 per cent subsidiary of BMW AG. With its products and services in the five business areas of BMW M Automobiles and BMW M Performance Automobiles, BMW Individual, M Sports Options and Packages, and BMW Group Driving Experience, as well as Safety, Emergency and Special-Purpose Vehicles, it is geared towards customers with particularly high aspirations in terms of the performance, exclusivity and individual style of their vehicle. Based in Munich, the company was founded in 1972 as BMW Motorsport GmbH. Since then, the letter M has become synonymous all over the world for success in motor racing and for the fascination of high-performance sports cars for road use.

Keen to celebrate this success in fitting style, BMW M GmbH is unveiling the BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition (0 – 100 km/h / 62 mph in 4.1 seconds, fuel consumption combined: 8.8 l/100 km [32.1 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 204 g/km)*. The Champion Edition will be built in a limited run of 23 units, reflecting Wittmann’s car number. And – in a further tribute to the DTM winner – it will be offered exclusively in Alpine White. The other signature features of the special-edition model, which will be refined exclusively at the BMW Individual Manufactory in Garching (near Munich), will likewise display close links with the victorious BMW M4 DTM. The matt-black bonnet and boot lid with eye-catching stripe design make an excellent visual complement to the standard CFRP roof, as does the black character line along the car’s flanks. Added to the mix are an M kidney grille with orange surround, an M logo rearwards of the front wheel arches, the number 23 on the doors and the flag along with “WIT” and “DTM Champion 2014” lettering on the rear side windows.

Munich. There are many facets to the sustainable character of the BMW i3. BMW i represents a prime example of “next premium”, the next generation of luxury headlined by the sustainability of its materials. The ambience this creates on board the BMW i3 can be experienced by the driver and passengers in considerable depth – and the international jury of experts for the Automotive Interiors Expo Award 2014 are now among its fans. The jury handed the electrically powered BMW i3 the title of Production Interior Vehicle Design of the Year. The third edition of these awards – which recognise exceptionally innovative concepts and solutions in the field of interior design – were held yesterday at the Automotive Interiors Expo in Stuttgart.

The selection and use of materials is central to the BMW i brand’s all-embracing sustainability concept. This applies on a large scale to the use of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) in the passenger cells of BMW i cars and also comes into play in many details of their interior design. The hallmark LifeDrive architecture creates new scope for optimising the use of space on board the car and for the design of the interior. The colour and trim concept includes extremely extensive use of renewable raw and recycled materials, as well as wood and leather surfaces treated using environmentally sound methods.

The BMW i3 sets out to showcase sustainability through its design, as reflected by its cutting-edge, futuristic looks. The large, clear surfaces and bright ambience represent an expression of clean air and zero emissions. Large glass surfaces showcase the car’s lightweight design and lend the interior an airy, lounge-like character, while also offering the driver a better view over the road. Comfortable entry and a raised seating position are complemented both front and rear by exceptional freedom of movement thanks to an unbroken footwell extending across the full width of the interior.

The car’s innovative, exclusive aura is accentuated by signature BMW i design features and new materials, whose stand-out attributes are visible to the eye and palpable to the touch.  

25 per cent (by weight) of the plastic used in the interior of the BMW i3 is recycled. The textiles selected for the seat surfaces are made entirely from recycled fibres, ensuring the surfaces display impressive naturalness and quality. The textiles for the roofliner, interior trim, boot lining, instrument panel and floor mats are likewise the product of a sustainable production process. The door trim panels of the BMW i3 are made from kenaf fibres, a plant from the mallow family whose natural structure remains recognisable after the treatment process. Eucalyptus wood from certified plantations in Europe provides the raw material for parts of the instrument panel, while the leather set aside for the interior of the BMW i3 is tanned in a natural process using extract of olive leaves.

This rigorous sustainability-focused selection of materials allows the design of the interior to play a major role in securing the BMW i3’s outstanding level of environmental compatibility. Moreover, it provides an immediate window into the all-embracing concept underpinning the world’s first premium car developed from the outset to be driven purely on electric power.

Munich / Stuttgart. The BMW Group has extended its run of success in the International Engine of the Year Awards by recording two more class wins. The company’s latest distinctions in the globally renowned competition came courtesy of two drive units which bring sporty performance characteristics to current BMW and MINI vehicles in particularly efficient style. In a repeat of last year, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology fitted in models including the BMW 1 Series, BMW 3 Series and BMW 5 Series finished top of its displacement category. And the 1.6-litre four-cylinder MINI TwinPower Turbo engine from the MINI Cooper S went one better, celebrating its seventh class win in a row. The Engine of the Year Awards were presented on 5 June 2013 at the Engine Expo fair in Stuttgart.

Instantaneous power delivery and a level of efficiency unmatched by any rival were the cornerstones of the BMW Group’s successful showing in the Engine of the Year Awards. The winners in each category and overall are decided by an international jury, made up this year of 84 motoring journalists from 35 countries. The company’s success in two categories of the International Engine of the Year Awards represents further evidence of its globally recognised development expertise in the area of drive system technology. Since 1999, the BMW Group has racked up over 60 class and overall wins in the competition.

BMW TwinPower Turbo technology once again provided the key to success in the 1.8 – 2.0-litre displacement class. In the winning BMW four-cylinder engine this package of technology comprises a twin-scroll turbocharger, High Precision Direct Injection and BMW Valvetronic fully variable valve control. The 180 kW/245 hp version of the engine is used to power the BMW 328i, BMW 528i, BMW Z4 sDrive28i, BMW X3 xDrive28i and BMW X1 xDrive28i.

The other class conqueror in the BMW Group’s engine line-up also won over the Engine of the Year Awards jury – for the seventh consecutive year – with its impressive balance of sports performance and economy. The 1.6-litre four-cylinder MINI TwinPower Turbo unit, again the dominant force in the 1.4 – 1.8-litre category, boasts twin-scroll turbocharging with an overboost function, direct petrol injection and valve control based on the Valvetronic system. Its maximum output of 135 kW/184 hp enables the MINI Cooper S to accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.0 seconds and deliver average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of 5.8 litres per 100 kilometres (48.7 mpg imp). This highly efficient drive unit is now also available for the MINI Cooper S Countryman and MINI Cooper S Paceman, where it can be combined with the ALL4 all-wheel-drive system.

Munich. The BMW Group can add another chapter to its successful history in the red dot awards, with BMW Group Design and BMW Group DesignworksUSA taking home five of the internationally renowned distinctions in the “red dot award: product design 2013” competition. The BMW M6 Gran Coupe, BMW M135i, BMW 3 Series Touring and BMW R 1200 GS motorcycle were granted red dot design awards in the “Automotive and Transport” category in acknowledgement of their excellent design quality. The Bayamo racing bike, a collaboration by BMW Group DesignworksUSA and sports group NeilPryde, received the award in the “Outdoor, Leisure and Sports” category. The awards will be presented at the red dot gala, taking place in the Aalto Theatre in Essen, Germany on 1 July 2013. The guest list is expected to include more than 1,200 international figures from the worlds of industry, politics and media.

The red dot award was first presented in 1955 and is one of the world’s most respected product design prizes. The jury of 37 internationally acclaimed design luminaries presents the award in recognition of outstanding achievement across the most diverse fields of creative endeavour. And the competition continues to hold considerable appeal, with a total of 1,865 independent designers and large companies from 54 countries putting themselves forward for the red dot award: product design 2013. In all, 4,662 entries were received in the 19 categories.

Five submissions from BMW Group Design and BMW Group DesignworksUSA earned red dot awards for design quality excellence. The design of the BMW M6 Gran Coupe, for example, embodies an exceptional harmony of athletic and aesthetic appeal. Hallmark M design features influenced directly by technical considerations – such as cooling air requirements, chassis geometry, weight balance and aerodynamics – open a clear window into the performance capability of the BMW M6 Gran Coupe. The front of the car is dominated by its large air intakes, standard Adaptive LED Headlights and an M kidney grille designed especially for this model. From the side, the first four-door Coupe in the BMW M GmbH ranks is clearly distinguishable from the BMW M6 Coupe. The low roofline flowing smoothly into the rear, the swage line – which takes in the door openers – and side windows extending well into the C-pillars accentuate the dynamically stretched silhouette. The extremely lightweight, impressively strong high-tech material CFRP is used in the construction of the roof. Its visible carbon structure provides an eye-catching feature, as does a dynamic recess in the centre of the roof.

The BMW M135i also presents a compelling proposition as the first BMW M Performance Automobile in the premium compact segment. Aerodynamically optimised body elements such as the front apron in hallmark M design, top performance figures and stand-out efficiency within the competitive field all bear witness to the harmonious interplay of drivetrain, suspension technology and aerodynamic balance with subtle sporting looks that is the hallmark of M models. Exclusive interior fittings augment the car’s elegantly sporty look.

The BMW 3 Series Touring adds variability and lifestyle qualities to the core values of the brand. The stretched silhouette and sloping rear window exude a feeling of speed even before the car has moved a muscle, while the smoothly downward-sloping roofline and large tailgate hint at the versatile nature of the interior. Like the BMW 3 Series Sedan, the front end of the Touring represents a consistent example of design development and – through the single stylistic unit of headlights and kidney grille – precise design. One of the stand-out aspects of the interior is its “layering” treatment of volumes, i.e. the interplay and offsetting of various layers of the cabin architecture which, together with the customary BMW driver focus, puts all important functions within easy reach.

The new BMW R 1200 GS makes a persuasive case for itself with its well-resolved combination of unmistakable design language and wiry off-road stature. Its familiar GS design platform helps make the new version of the world’s most popular touring enduro a case study in how to take the styling of an iconic motorcycle to another new level of perfection.

Also garnering an award was the Bayamo high-performance racing bike, the third collaboration between BMW Group DesignworksUSA in Asia and sports group NeilPryde Bikes. Its frame is made of high-grade carbon fibre, lending the bike outstanding strength coupled with extremely low weight. This characteristic dichotomy is also found in the frame’s profile, which appears substantial and flat when seen from the side yet thin and light from the front and rear. For optimal aesthetics and aerodynamics, all the drive train and shifting cables are routed within the frame. The graphics package created by BMW Group DesignworksUSA, furthermore, provides options for personalising the bike.

The BMW Group has enjoyed plentiful success in the red dot award over recent years. In 2012 BMW collected 11 accolades, including two special “best of the best” prizes for the BMW AirFlow2 helmet and Husqvarna Nuda 900 R motorcycle. In 2011 the BMW 6 Series Convertible and BMW X3 received awards, with the BMW 5 Series Touring capturing the “best of the best” title.

Munich. BMW makes its debut as the exclusive partner of the annual awards presented by the renowned Art Directors Guild (ADG) in the USA. These awards recognise outstanding figures in production and set design from the international television and film industry. The prize presentation will take place on 2 February 2013 as part of a festive occasion at the venerable Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. The leading designer Herman F. Zimmerman will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award in the shape of a trophy created by DesignworksUSA, a 100-percent subsidiary of the BMW Group. As part of this extensive collaboration, BMW will also provide the VIP shuttle service and present two of its latest models – the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe and the BMW i8 Concept Spyder.

Stylishly showcased in front of the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe is unmatched by any other BMW in uniting extraordinary dynamics and the aesthetics of a classical BMW Coupe with luxurious appeal. With its low height and flat roofline that sweeps into the rear, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe sets a new benchmark for automotive aesthetics. A further highlight is the BMW i8 Concept Spyder, representing the BMW i sub-brand. Its combination of intelligent lightweight construction and state-of-the-art hybrid technology helps the BMW i8 Concept Spyder achieve genuine sports car performance. Its sporty, emotional design lends it lightness, dynamics and efficiency coupled with unusual looks.

The BMW Group and the ADG Awards share a common passion for inspiring design. This is also reflected in the Lifetime Achievement Award trophy created by DesignworksUSA and to be presented to the renowned art director and production designer Herman F. Zimmerman. He made his mark, among other things, as the production designer for the cult sci-fi series Star Trek, and also put his futuristic design stamp firmly on The Next Generation series. The award will be presented by Alec Bernstein, Global Director, Creative Consulting & Strategic Partnering, BMW Group DesignworksUSA. The design of the “Electrified” trophy pays tribute to the achievements of Herman F. Zimmerman: “Our designers were inspired by the metaphor of a flying spark that ignites creative vision. This energy is, metaphorically speaking, electrifying. It prompted our designers to recreate this fusion of technology and art in the form of the trophy,” explains Bernstein.

The award ceremony will be hosted in the ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel –also familiar from the Golden Globes – by stand-up comedian Paula Poundstone. The Art Directors Guild Awards on 2 February 2013 will recognize outstanding designers from the TV and film industry.

For more than five decades now, the BMW Group has been supporting film and television as part of its commitment to the creative and cultural scene. Its involvement on this front embraces product placement, promoting film academies and sponsoring numerous events within the sector, ranging from high-calibre film festivals to small-scale, aspiring “film days”. Since 2010, for example, BMW has been a main partner of the Berlinale, the International Film Festival in Berlin. BMW also supports the Bayerischer Filmpreis, the renowned Landshut Short Film Festival and the Regensburg Short Film Week, among other events. It also promotes short films at international level, such as the “BMW Shorties” film project in Malaysia.

Munich/Berlin. Sixth generation, fifth triumph: the new BMW 3 Series has won the 2012 "Golden Steering Wheel" award presented by "Auto Bild" and "Bild am Sonntag". The latest version of the sports sedan came out top among mid-range and top-range automobiles, thereby winning this important international automobile award for the fifth time in the history of the model. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, was there to receive the coveted trophy at a festive gala in Berlin yesterday. Third place in the "Convertibles and Coupés" category went to the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé. BMW was also awarded the "Golden Advertising Steering Wheel". The jury voted the current BMW xDrive marketing campaign winner of this prize, which was presented to BMW AG Chief Sales Officer Ian Robertson. All in all this made BMW the most successful manufacturer in this year's "Golden Steering Wheel" competition.

For over thirty years now, the BMW 3 Series has regularly been listed among the winners of the "Golden Steering Wheel". In fact no other model has received the award more frequently than the BMW 3 Series, currently in its sixth generation. The success series began in 1978, with further awards following in 1991, 1994 and 1998. At the same time, the BMW 3 Series has become the world's top-selling premium automobile. "I believe the success of the BMW 3 Series lies in the fact that it is the founder of the class of sporty mid-range sedans and perfectly epitomises the character of BMW with its dynamic performance, efficiency and aesthetic appeal," explained Norbert Reithofer after receiving the award.

The new BMW 3 Series Sedan has been on sale worldwide since February 2012 and offers not only impressive athletic flair and efficiency as is typical of BMW but also a level of ride comfort which has been further optimised as compared to its predecessor model - as well as increased space. Sporty, elegant lines and a reinterpretation of the front view including a striking visual connection between the twin headlights and the BMW kidney grille give the BMW 3 Series an unmistakable appearance. The current model program includes five petrol and five diesel engine versions as well as the BMW ActiveHybrid 3. The intelligent all-wheel drive system xDrive is available for four models. The new BMW 3 Series Touring has now also been launched.

The "Golden Steering Wheel" is awarded each year to the most impressive new models on the automobile market. The selection procedure includes a readers' vote and assessment by a jury consisting of racing drivers, technicians, magazine editors and celebrity testers, who this year scrutinised a total of 44 candidates. The "Golden Steering Wheel" was awarded for the 37th time this year, making it one of the most tradition-steeped and renowned automobile prizes in Europe.

The candidates for the "Golden Advertising Steering Wheel" were likewise subjected to a demanding selection procedure in 2012. In addition to a reader survey and the celebrity jury's vote, the verdict of communication experts and well-known advertising specialists was also incorporated in the decision-making process. Both the public at large and the experts finally chose the "xDrive Mountain" campaign deployed by BMW to highlight the benefits of the electronically controlled all-wheel drive system xDrive. As Ian Robertson said at the award ceremony: "This emotional campaign enabled us to achieve a significant increase in the number of vehicles fitted with the intelligent all-wheel drive system BMW xDrive. We are very pleased to see how successful the campaign has been."

 The "xDrive Mountain" is a fictitious place where the seasons change every day and where adverse weather conditions prevail all the time. TV commercials, print advertisements, posters and online appearances were used to show how BMW models fitted with xDrive tackled the varying conditions on "xDrive Mountain" as well as providing outstanding driving pleasure. 

Munich. DriveNow, the premium car-sharing joint venture by BMW Group and Sixt AG, was acknowledged as the best new corporate venture at the 2012 Corporate Entrepreneur Awards by Market Gravity and Wired Magazine.

More than 200 business leaders and entrepreneurs gathered at the Design Museum in London to celebrate the individuals and organisations that are transforming the business landscape and delivering breakthrough growth in large businesses through innovative ventures, reinventions and a forward-thinking culture.

The judges were especially impressed by the way BMW Group is challenging the traditional vehicle ownership model and by its willingness to trial other models. This was viewed as outstanding in an industry that is notoriously competitive. “We are aiming to become the leading provider of both premium vehicles and premium services for personal mobility”, says Dr. Bernhard Blaettel from BMW Group. “Our goal is to get our customers to their destinations faster, more reliably and in greater comfort. DriveNow stands only at the beginning of many innovations we will be launching under BMW i.”

Phil Clarke, partner at Market Gravity, was impressed by the high quality of all the nominations received this year. “It’s incredible to see the calibre of innovation happening across Europe. Market Gravity was founded and exists to help corporate entrepreneurs in their game-changing business efforts, so it’s exciting to be able to honour their work. It takes an entrepreneurial mindset and real determination to grow new businesses from within, and success provides jobs and prosperity in Europe and beyond.”

About DriveNow

The DriveNow premium car-sharing model is a modern mobility concept that combines high-quality vehicles and service with simple, flexible usage. DriveNow is the first car-sharing concept to focus consistently on highly-efficient premium vehicles and comprehensive service. DriveNow was launched in Germany in June 2011 as a car-sharing joint venture between the BMW Group and the car rental company Sixt AG. The BMW Group offers DriveNow under its BMW i sub-brand. BMW i also delivers innovative mobility services that reinforce the BMW parent brand’s position as a sustainable, future-oriented brand.

DriveNow now has almost 60,000 members and is available in Munich, Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf and San Francisco.

About the Corporate Entrepreneur Awards

In its third year, the Corporate Entrepreneur Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of individuals and teams who are working hard within large companies to deliver game-changing innovation and growth. Winners were recognised in four categories: best new corporate venture; best reinvention of an existing product or service line; best example of building an entrepreneurial culture; and a new award for 2012, the Wired People’s Choice Award, voted by attendees at the event. More than 30 brands submitted nominations across the categories.

The Corporate Entrepreneur Awards are by Market Gravity, a specialist consultancy focused on growth and innovation and Wired Magazine, a monthly publication that reports primarily on the effects of science and technology.