Luxembourg / Munich. The BMW Group is using its presence at the "Fleet Europe Days" on 22 and 23 October in Luxembourg to show fleet operators ways to decarbonise their fleets. In addition to fully electrified vehicles, the focus will be on fuels based on renewable raw materials, so-called Carbon Neutral Fuels (CNF).

Their advantage: the potential to save CO₂. With more than 250 million existing vehicles in Europe, their CO₂ footprint can be improved if the proportion of renewable fuels is increased. A new technical solution used by the BMW Group is proof that all BMW diesels in a fleet are fuelled exclusively with HVO100. Refuelling data from the vehicle is compared with data from the fleet operator's payment system. This means that the fuel used by the vehicle can be traced seamlessly. An important step towards a "CNF only-fleet" for fleet customers.

Dr. Martin Kaufmann, Head of Powertrain Development at the BMW Group: "Our goal is always to have more environmentally friendly and efficient vehicles on the road. With the diesel replacement fuel HVO100, we have an opportunity to reduce the CO₂ footprint of vehicle fleets. Especially in the area of fuels that are not based on fossil fuels, we see a potential that we are ready to realise.”

Bernhard Kuhnt, Head of Sales Region Europe, BMW Group: "Fleet customers are extremely important for sales in Europe and at the same time diesel remains a very good powertrain technology for many fleets.

The use of HVO100 offers a way to quickly reduce CO₂ emissions that takes into account individual use cases - whether driving long distances or towing a trailer - and can thus help our fleet customers reduce their CO₂ footprint."

Initial contractual agreements with the operators of large BMW diesel fleets in Germany and Italy are imminent. These test fleets, together with the internal BMW Group fleet that has already been launched, will provide important data and findings for the further improvement of the technical solution.

HVO100 used in the first fuelling of all diesel produced in Germany

Since January 2025, all diesel models produced in Germany are being fuelled with HVO100 before delivery to dealers. This step underlines BMW's commitment to making decarbonisation possible and achievable today. The abbreviation HVO stands for 'Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil' and the suffix '100' indicates that it is filled with 100 per cent pure fuel.

 
"Neste MY Renewable Diesel™" HVO100 is used at the BMW Group plants in Munich, Dingolfing, Regensburg and Leipzig.

The fuel from Finnish manufacturer Neste enables a CO2e reduction of up to 90 per cent ("well to wheel") compared to fossil diesel. The initial filling at the plants before delivery to the BMW Group dealer organisation is five to eight litres, depending on the model.

For the BMW Group, technological openness is a top priority. "Options instead of bans" is its motto. The company continues to invest in a broad portfolio - from battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cells to highly efficient combustion engines that can run on renewable fuels.

The BMW Group has long approved its vehicles for a variety of regenerative fuels: HVO according to EN15940 as well as B10 and eFuels according to EN590 for diesel engines. In addition, E20/25 and eFuels according to EN228 for petrol engines.

Regulatory framework conditions must catch up

Regulation must catch up. To accelerate the uptake of renewable fuels across the market, the BMW Group is calling for an ambitious implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), including national quotas that require at least a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from fuels, to be transposed into national law by 2025.

Dr. Thomas Becker, Head of Policy, External Relations and Sustainability at the BMW Group, says: "The BMW Group demands that every measure to reduce CO₂ emissions is taken into account at every stage of a vehicle's life cycle. This also includes the use of renewable fuels - especially for vehicles that primarily run on CO₂-neutral fuel (CNF). These must be formally recognised in EU fleet legislation. The fuels are available, what we need now is a pragmatic and quickly implementable regulation that enables companies to develop innovations and make them marketable."

Munich. The new BMW iX3 demonstrates the BMW Group's take on implementing a holistic approach to product sustainability across the entire life cycle. During product development, extensive measures were implemented throughout the supply chain, production and use phases, explicitly focused on conserving resources and reducing the model’s environmental footprint. As such, the Neue Klasse marks an important milestone toward achieving the company's 2030 and 2050 CO₂e targets.
 
CO₂e benefits achievable after only one year of use
The extensive decarbonization measures in the supply chain results in an early break-even point: when charged with electricity from the European energy mix, the CO₂e footprint of the new BMW iX3 50 xDrive is lower than that of a comparable model with a combustion engine after about 21,500 kilometers (WLTP combined). When charged exclusively with electricity from renewable sources, the BMW iX3 50 xDrive beats the comparable ICE model after only 17,500 kilometers (WLTP combined), allowing customers to potentially achieve CO₂e benefits in as little as one year.

Decarbonization in the supply chain
The key levers to reduce CO₂e emissions in the supply chain are the use of secondary materials and renewable energy, alongside product and process innovations. This combination of measures has led to a decrease of CO₂e emissions in the supply chain of 35% during product development.
The Gen6 battery cells of the BMW iX3 high-voltage storage system are made of 50% secondary cobalt, lithium, and nickel materials. In addition, renewable energies are harnessed in the anode and cathode materials and cell production. This is how CO₂e emissions per watt hour were reduced by 42% compared to the Gen5 cell of the previous model.

The BMW Group is increasingly focused on the use of innovative and secondary materials in other components as well. 
For instance, 30% of the secondary raw material  used for the engine compartment cover and the storage compartment under the front hatch is recycled maritime plastic. This post-consumer material consists of old fishing nets and ropes, preventing these materials from potentially being dumped in the ocean.
Secondary aluminum accounts for 80% of the wheel carriers and swivel bearings as well as 70% of the cast aluminum wheels.

‘Design for Circularity’: consistent implementation in the Neue Klasse 
The BMW Group applied the ‘Design for Circularity’ approach consistently in developing the BMW iX3. The approach builds on the concepts of secondary first (the prioritized use of secondary materials), strategic material selection and disassembly optimization. As a result, secondary materials account for one third of all material used in the new BMW iX3 50 xDrive.
One example of implementing these three concepts is the Econeer seat cover, available in the interior trim Essential, whose fabric, adhesive and fleece are all made from PET. This mono-material choice increases recyclability. Moreover, the textile yarn used consists entirely of recycled PET as well.
Other components whose development followed the ‘Design for Circularity’ approach include the center console, instrument panel and interior floor trim.

Significantly improved efficiency in the use phase    
BMW EfficientDynamics involves consistently identifying and harnessing efficiency potential in all vehicle subsystems. Applying this approach, the energy consumption of the new BMW iX3 is 20% lower than in the predecessor model (WLTP combined).
This significant improvement is primarily based on optimized aerodynamic properties, reduced rolling resistance and on-board power consumption as well as the drive’s unparalleled combination of efficiency and dynamics. 

Sustainability-centric production at BMW Group’s Debrecen plant
Designed and built according to the BMW iFactory principles, the new BMW Group plant in Debrecen, Hungary, is fully focused on efficiency, digitalization and sustainability. It is the first BMW Group car factory that is operated and produces vehicles without using fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, under normal operating conditions.
The only energy source to power operations at the site is electricity. According to current planning, up to 25% of the plant's annual electricity needs can be covered by the photovoltaic system located on the premises. The remaining electricity is obtained from other renewable energy sources. Surplus solar energy is stored in a heat storage unit and used to heat the paint shop ovens as needed.
Only 0.1 tons of CO₂e are emitted in the production of a BMW iX3 car, about two third below production at other BMW Group plants.

The BMW Group’s sustainability targets
The BMW Group's commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and to achieving Net Zero by 2050 or earlier is an integral part of the comprehensive 360° sustainability approach incorporated in the corporate strategy. The company is pursuing ambitious, scientifically derived CO₂e targets for the coming years. For instance, the BMW Group intends to reduce its CO₂e emissions by at least 40 million tons in 2030 (baseline: 2019).

Publicly accessible, TÜV-verified Product Carbon Footprint 
For years, the BMW Group has released its vehicle footprint, which includes a greenhouse gas report for its vehicles verified by Germany’s TÜV Technical Inspection Association. The report for the new BMW iX3 50 xDRIVE can be downloaded here and is also available in the My BMW app. It offers increased transparency regarding raw materials used and CO₂e emissions over the entire vehicle lifecycle.

^{All information regarding the BMW iX3 50 xDrive’s mileage, energy consumption, range, energy content, dimensions, weights, share of secondary raw materials/recycled materials and other technical data and derivations thereof are provisional as of the start of production in November 2025.}

^{All model variants, equipment levels, technical data, fuel consumption and emission data mentioned correspond to the range offered in the German car market, provided the respective model is available there. Deviations in other markets are possible. Dimensions refer to the base model available in Germany; depending on wheel and tire size as well as optional equipment selected, dimensions may vary depending on the specific configuration.}

^{Power consumption and range data were measured in accordance with the mandatory WLTP procedures and comply with the German Passenger Car Energy Consumption Labelling Ordinance (EnVKV). For more information, see www.bmw.de}

^{If you have any questions, please contact:}

^{BMW Group Corporate Communications
Dr. Cornelia Bovensiepen, Spokesperson Sustainability BMW Group
Phone: +49 89 382-94935
E-Mail: Cornelia.Bovensiepen@bmw.de
   
Sofia Elena Rizzi, Spokesperson Product Communications BMW Compact & Mid-size Segments
Phone: +49-151-601-67436
E-Mail: Sofia-Elena.Rizzi@bmw.de}

^{Internet: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en
E-Mail: presse@bmwgroup.com}

^{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 2024 was € 11.0 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.4 billion. As of 31 December 2024, the BMW Group had a workforce of 159,104 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 
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bmwgroup 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmwgroup
X: https://www.x.com/bmwgroup} 

Munich. The BMW Group is now offering customers even broader scope for personalising analysis of their driving stats in the My BMW App and MINI App. The latest update allows drivers to view their personal carbon footprint for the first time.

“Our usage research shows: The information in My Trips is one of the most popular features in the app,” says Dirk Wiedmann, Senior Vice President Sales Steering and Strategy, Digitalization. “We are now expanding this successful function with carbon footprint calculation, giving our customers simple and straightforward access to sustainability-related information via a popular and widely used channel.”

Emissions from vehicle production and use: two sets of figures make up the driver’s personal footprint. 
The personal carbon footprint function has been designed with a technology-open approach and is available for vehicles with combustion engines, as well as plug-in hybrid and fully electric models. At launch, this feature will be rolled out across selected models in various European countries*. Calculation of the personal footprint is based on two central sets of figures.

• Emissions from vehicle use: My Trips analyses the routes the driver has completed and uses the energy consumed in the process to work out the CO₂ emitted. To this end, CO₂ equivalents are calculated using data from the International Energy Agency (IEA). For vehicles with combustion engines, the app calculates the amount of CO₂ emitted based on the fuel consumed. For battery-electric vehicles, it shows the emissions generated when using the average national energy mix – and also tells the driver how high emissions would be by comparison if green energy was used.
• Emissions from vehicle production: These are emissions generated during the manufacturing process. Emissions are recorded from the processing of raw materials, procurement of materials, transport logistics and the production of the model at hand. The BMW Group already sets out the emissions figures for numerous models in the form of Vehicle Footprint Reports. These are calculated according to recognised standards for life cycle assessments and certified by the TÜV Rheinland agency. They can also be downloaded from the BMW Group website.

Ready for electric mobility: My BMW App helps with the transition.

The My BMW App also includes the Electric Vehicle Analysis introduced last summer. This function allows customers whose BMW is powered by a combustion engine to simulate how well a fully electric BMW fits their personal driving profile. Here, the customer selects an electric BMW model as an alternative vehicle in the app. Once the combustion-engined model has made at least 200 journeys and covered a distance of 2,000 kilometres (over 1,240 miles), the analysis shows the journeys the user could have completed on a single charge with the electric vehicle selected, and also flags up charging stations close to frequently visited destinations. More than 100,000 customers had used this analysis by May 2025.

Over 14 million customers around the world use the My BMW App and MINI App. The My Trips function is available in more than 90 countries and is actively used by 1.9 million users.

* The new function is available to users of vehicles for which a TÜV-certified carbon footprint has been calculated. The feature will launch in Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Luxemburg and Switzerland, and be available in the BMW 1 Series (code 81GE), BMW 2 Series (31GH), BMW X2 (71GM, 21GM), BMW X3 (11GR, 31GP, 65GP), BMW 5 Series (31FK, 11JF, 71FJ), BMW 5 Series Touring (11HH, 11GW, 21GV), BMW M5 (81FK) and BMW iX (41CF) and MINI Cooper (11GC), MINI Cooper C (11GD), MINI Aceman (31GC) and MINI Countryman (41GA, 11GA).

In the event of enquiries please contact:                                                                   

Corporate Communications

Wieland Brúch
BMW Product Communications
Electromobility and Sustainability
Phone: +49-176-601-72652
E-mail: Wieland.Bruch@bmw.de  

Martin Tholund
Spokesperson BMW Digital Car, Electronics and Software, Technology Partnerships, Digital Products and Services
Phone: +49-151-601-77126
E-Mail: Martin.Tholund@bmwgroup.com  

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 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2024 was € 11.0 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.4 billion. As of 31 December 2024, the BMW Group had a workforce of 159,104 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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bmwgroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmwgroup

X: https://www.x.com/bmwgroup

Munich/Landshut. The BMW Group is presenting its next leap forward in the field of electric drive technology – and in the process ushering in a new era of all-electric driving. At the Tech Days event in Landshut, the company has provided some initial insights into the development and production of high-voltage batteries and electric drive systems using the sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology. Every fully electric Neue Klasse vehicle will enjoy the benefits. The first Neue Klasse model will go into series production later this year at Plant Debrecen in Hungary. Below is an overview of the technology highlights:

• The Energy Master intelligent central control unit on the high-voltage battery – developed by the BMW Group and produced at Plant Landshut.
• A new high-voltage battery concept that, together with the BMW cylindrical cell, promises to bring about a technological quantum leap – including significant improvements in energy density, charging speed and range.
• The BMW Group also demonstrates its technology-openness with electric drive systems – through the use of different electric motor types: EESM and ASM.
• A modular approach to electric motor production gives the BMW Group an exceptional degree of flexibility.
• The BMW Group pools together expertise from the entire electric mobility value chain in Bavaria and Austria – from development, via purchasing and production, to recycling.
• The BMW Group demonstrates both technology-openness and full expertise across all areas of electric mobility.

Adopting a technology-open approach while setting the pace in electric mobility

“For the BMW Group, electric mobility is the future and a key area of growth. We are leading the way with this drivetrain technology. At the same time, we are deliberately taking a technology-open approach, recognizing that mobility needs vary between different regions of the world,” explains Dr Joachim Post, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Purchasing and Supplier Network. “We want to offer our customers the best drive concept for every need. It is possible to do both: offer the best drive technology for every need and be at the forefront of electric mobility.”

Slimmer, faster, further: the high-voltage batteries for Gen6

With the new sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology (Gen6 for short), the BMW Group is making a technological quantum leap. Improvements on the product side include a 30% faster charging speed and 30% increase in range, with certain models achieving even higher figures. Added to which, the Gen6 high-voltage battery concept benefits from the new 800V technology. Gen6 will make its debut this year in the Neue Klasse and subsequently be used to drive models across the BMW Group’s fully electric product range. The concept for the Gen6 high-voltage batteries is fundamentally new and will find applications in all vehicle segments – right up to the high-performance models from BMW M GmbH. Its new, even slimmer design allows the high-voltage battery to be integrated into a spread of different models, regardless of vehicle height. The high-voltage battery takes on the role of a structural component in the bodies of the Neue Klasse models (“pack-to-open-body”), and the new cylindrical cells will be integrated directly into the high-voltage battery (“cell-to-pack”). The new BMW cylindrical cell has a 20% greater energy density than its predecessor, the Gen5 prismatic battery cell. And charging in both directions will be possible: the BMW Group has confirmed bidirectional charging as an option for Gen6.

Highly intelligent central control unit: the BMW Energy Master

All of the elements that enable this technological leap forward come together in the BMW Energy Master. This central control unit is positioned on the high-voltage battery and provides the interface for high- and low-voltage power supply and for data from the high-voltage battery. It also controls the power supply for the electric motor and vehicle electrical system and ensures the safe and intelligent operation of the high-voltage battery. The BMW Group has filed a whole series of new patent applications for the vehicle electrical system, including its electronic fuses. Both the hardware and software of the Energy Master were developed fully in-house at the BMW Group. This ensures technological developments and updates for vehicles can be implemented independently and in real time via Remote Software Upgrades, providing a particular benefit for customers.

“Local for local” approach for high-voltage battery assembly and supplier network

The high-voltage batteries for the Neue Klasse are assembled in five new production facilities that the BMW Group has located close to its vehicle plants as part of a “local for local” approach. For example, cutting-edge assembly locations for Gen6 high-voltage batteries are taking shape in Irlbach-Straßkirchen (Lower Bavaria), Debrecen (Hungary), Shenyang (China), San Luis Potosí (Mexico) and Woodruff, near Spartanburg (USA). This approach safeguards production even in the event of unforeseen political and economic events. In addition, the existing locations are being strengthened, with jobs both secured and created. The “local for local” principle continues in the supplier network for battery cells: in order to cover the demand for Gen6, the BMW Group has reached contractual agreements for five battery cell factories – spread across Europe, China and the USA – with various partners.

“Cell-to-pack” and “pack-to-open-body”

Production of the Gen6 high-voltage batteries follows the “cell-to-pack” and “pack-to-open-body” principles. “Cell-to-pack” involves positioning the cylindrical cells – manufactured by the suppliers according to BMW Group specifications – directly in the housing of the high-voltage battery, without the intermediate step of a module being produced. “Pack-to-open-body” refers to the high-voltage battery’s new role as a structural component in the vehicle architecture. Numerous innovations patented by the BMW Group can be found here.

Know-how from Bavaria and Austria – in demand around the world

Before series production of the high-voltage batteries gets underway worldwide, the production processes will be developed and pre-series batteries subjected to thorough testing. This will happen at the BMW Group pilot plants for high-voltage batteries in Parsdorf, Hallbergmoos and Munich. The new series production plants around the world will then be ready. The product and process expertise is centred in Bavaria. Production of the Energy Master will take place at Plant Landshut, which will then supply all the high-voltage battery assembly plants around the world. There, the highly intelligent control unit will be installed on the high-voltage battery. The electric motor with sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology is produced at Plant Steyr in Austria, which is also home to a development centre for electric drive systems and thermal management.

Production of the Energy Master at BMW Group Plant Landshut  

A state-of-the-art production system for the BMW Energy Master is taking shape at Plant Landshut. The plant is currently producing the highly complex control unit in pre-series. Series production on the first production line will begin in August 2025, with a further expansion stage to follow in mid-2026. This is the first time the development and production of this central control unit has taken place in-house at the BMW Group. “As the company’s largest in-house component manufacturer, Landshut plays an important role for the Neue Klasse,” says Dr Joachim Post. “The plant is an innovation hub and a driver of transformation.” Around 200 people will be employed in the Energy Master production area at Landshut when production begins, rising to as many as 700 people as it ramps up further. The BMW Group has channelled investment in the high hundreds of millions of euros into the expansion of electric mobility at Plant Landshut since 2020, strengthening both the production facility itself and Germany’s status as an industrial powerhouse for the long term. The modular manufacturing system used to produce the Energy Master was also designed fully in-house by the BMW Group. It is supplied with subcomponents by a supply chain set up by the BMW Group. This extends to the n-tier supply chain for supply-critical components such as semiconductors. The benefits of this set-up can be seen in terms of both costs and supply security. The scalable production system enables the company to respond quickly and flexibly to market requirements. The high degree of automation, involving up to 400 robots in the final expansion stage, maximises efficiency. Comprehensive in-process monitoring, which includes the use of AI-based camera systems, and 100-per-cent end-of-line system checks in a clean-room environment ensure optimum quality.

Different recycling processes within the value chain

As electric mobility ramps up, there is an increasing focus on recycling of high-voltage batteries at the end of their lifecycle. Under a long-term partnership with SK tes – a leading provider of innovative technology lifecycle solutions – cobalt, nickel and lithium from end-of-life batteries are recovered from the BMW Group and integrated into the supply chain for the manufacture of new batteries. This closed-loop approach increases the efficiency and resilience of the BMW Group as part of a circular economy. The BMW Group will follow a similar path in the USA, Mexico and Canada up to 2026 with a separate partnership.

Innovative direct recycling at the BMW Group

The BMW Group is also exploring other recycling options in the value creation process. One example of this is the direct recycling method developed in-house. The BMW Group is working with its joint venture Encory to set up a competence centre for battery cell recycling in Lower Bavaria, where the company will put its direct recycling ideas into practice. This innovative process will enable residual materials from battery cell production and whole battery cells to be mechanically broken down into their valuable constituent components. The raw materials obtained in this way will be re-used directly in the pilot production process for battery cells at the company’s competence centres.

Technology-open approach for electric mobility: the new e-drive system of Gen6

The BMW Group has retained the principle of an electrically excited synchronous motor (EESM) for its Gen6 power unit. On this type of synchronous motor, the magnetic field in the rotor is generated by windings fed with direct current rather than permanent magnets. In this way, the strength of the rotor’s magnetic field can be optimally adjusted to the prevailing load conditions. This results in both excellent levels of efficiency at customer-relevant operating points and constant power output at high rotational speeds. As with the Gen5 version, the synchronous motor will be positioned above the rear axle and feature a compact housing incorporating the electric drive unit, power electronics and transmission. Many of the motor’s technical details were created with the help of patented expertise, with the rotor alone accounting for more than ten patent applications.

Neue Klasse additionally incorporates ASM technology

The Gen6 powertrain employs a second, additional electric motor technology in the form of the asynchronous motor (ASM). Here, instead of being generated by permanent magnets (PSM) or electrical excitation (EESM), the rotor’s magnetic field is induced by the stator. On this type of motor, the rotor takes the form of a metal cage. The asynchronous motor offers the advantage of a more compact design and superior cost efficiency. The ASM motor variants will be fitted at the front axle of Neue Klasse cars with BMW xDrive.

Extensive improvements to EESM technology

Besides the addition of ASM technology, the EESM technology has also undergone a major upgrade for Gen6: rotor, stator and inverter have all been fully designed for the new 800V architecture of the Gen6 tech in order to maximise drive system performance and efficiency. This has been further helped by a complete redesign of the oil and water cooling systems. In addition to this, the experts from the BMW Group have also succeeded in improving the electric motor and central housing in terms of their weight and rigidity too. The transmission still uses a two-stage helical design, but has been further optimised by enhancements to its geometry and cooling, lower friction levels and more pleasant acoustics. The electrically excited synchronous motor’s “brain”, the inverter, now features 800V technology along with silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors to boost efficiency. The inverter is completely integrated into the electric motor’s housing. Its task is to convert the DC power supply from the high-voltage battery to AC for use in the electric motor. The inverter was developed in-house by the BMW Group and is produced at Plant Steyr in Austria.

Lower weight, costs and energy losses – greater efficiency in the vehicle

The results obtained from intelligently incorporating new technologies into the electric powertrain while consistently enhancing existing systems make impressive reading. When compared to a Gen5 xDrive model, a future Neue Klasse model complete with EESM and ASM technology boasts the following improvements: energy losses have been reduced by 40%, costs by 20% and weight by 10%. By combining different types of electric motor, the BMW Group’s technology-open approach is therefore clearly in evidence within the field of electric mobility. In future, customers will be able to choose from models equipped with one, two, three or four electric motors to suit their individual preferences and requirements. The sixth generation BMW eDrive technology is a significant factor in the gain in overall vehicle efficiency of around 20 per cent for the Neue Klasse. This figure is based on a comparison with the current generation of all-electric vehicles from the BMW Group.

Modular concept provides crucial advantage for manufacturing electric motors

The manufacturing concept for the Gen6 electric drive system uses the principle of modular building blocks. This forms the basis for highly flexible manufacturing of various electric drive variants across the entire Neue Klasse model range. The modular "building block” concept leads to positive economies of scale and cost savings in development and production. It also has the effect of improving the scalability of production volumes. The modular approach ensures a high degree of flexibility in production, the supply networks and procurement.

The Gen6 electric drive systems: made in Steyr

Series production of the Gen6 electric drive systems will commence at BMW Group Plant Steyr in summer 2025. Pre-production already got underway at the Austrian facility in September 2024. The pre-production motors are undergoing rigorous testing and some are already being fitted in Neue Klasse test vehicles from Plant Debrecen. By 2030, the BMW Group will have invested over one billion euros at the site since the project’s launch in 2022 to expand its development and production expertise for electric drive systems. Thanks to the increase in capacity, the plant will retain its status as the BMW Group’s leading facility for drive systems. The plant has been developing and building combustion engines for the BMW and MINI brands for over 40 years. Plant Steyr’s many years of experience and high level of expertise in the field of drive systems make it the ideal site for manufacturing the Gen6 electric motors. Diesel and petrol engines continue to be manufactured there alongside the electric motors. By 2030, around half of the on-site employees should be working in electric mobility – a vital step for safeguarding the more than 4,700 jobs at the plant in the long term. In future, all key components of the innovative, highly integrated electric drive unit – i.e. the rotor, stator, transmission, inverter and housing – will be produced at Steyr. This will include manufacturing the inverters in an in-house clean room environment for the first time, thereby taking the engine plant into the realm of electrical engineering. The electric drive components will be built on two new assembly lines at Steyr.

Thermal management: complex interaction, crucial for performance
Thermal management involves highly complex interaction between various systems in an electric vehicle and is of critical importance for a host of performance parameters, including range, real-world consumption, acceleration and charging time. Thermal management is a question of constantly keeping the temperature of the electric motor, power electronics and high-voltage battery in the optimum range, while maintaining standards of passenger comfort at the same time. Efficient thermal management is important for fast charging too. Here, the battery temperature must be kept within a defined window in order to make optimum use of the available charging capacity. Unlike combustion engines, electric motors give off little heat. This means that, depending on the operating state, the battery and the passenger cell have to be not only cooled, but heated too. The Steyr site develops the thermal management systems for all electric vehicles from the BMW Group. The plant’s development centre is also responsible for the brain at the heart of the electric motor – the inverter.

BMW Group Plant Landshut – a multi-talented component manufacturer

BMW Group Plant Landshut is the BMW Group’s largest component plant anywhere in the world, supplying components to all the company’s vehicle and drive system plants. Its workforce of around 3,700 employees produces a broad spectrum of cutting-edge components for vehicles from the BMW Group. Working closely with the BMW Group’s Research and Innovation Centre (FIZ) in Munich, Plant Landshut plays a pivotal role as a hub of innovation for the automotive industry. It develops pioneering technologies and manufacturing processes that serve to maintain the company’s competitive edge. Over the course of the Neue Klasse project, the site is investing some €200 million in its light metal foundry to increase annual production capacity for the electric motor housings. The Injector Casting (ICA) process developed and patented in Landshut is a prime example of the plant’s innovative strength. This globally unique process is used to manufacture the electric motors’ highly complex aluminium housings that set new standards for lightweight design and functional integration.

In the event of enquiries please contact:

Corporate Communications

Christian Marxt

Spokesperson Production Network, Powertrain and High-voltage Batteries

Mobile: +49-151-601-79158

E-mail: Christian.Marxt@bmwgroup.com

Carolin Seidel

Spokesperson BMW Group Plant Landshut

Mobile: +49-151-601-90340

E-mail: Carolin.Seidel@bmwgroup.com

Florian Moser

Team Lead Purchasing and Supplier Network, Spokesperson Dr Joachim Post

Mobile: +49-151-601-62847

E-mail: Florian.Moser@bmwgroup.com

Bernhard Ederer

Spokesperson Drive Technology, Battery, Charging, Efficient Dynamics

Mobile: +49-176-601-28556

E-mail: Bernhard.Ederer@bmwgroup.com

Diana Schaidnagel

Spokesperson Sustainability

Mobile: +49-151-601-38407

E-mail: Diana.Schaidnagel@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 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.

Munich. BMW Group and Pirelli have worked together to unveil new 20-inch P Zero Winter 2 tires for the BMW 7 Series which focus on range capabilities, thanks to its “A class” European labelling for rolling resistance. This collaborative effort sets a new benchmark especially for all-electric vehicle tires, offering drivers an exceptional driving experience with extended range, uncompromised comfort, and outstanding performance in winter conditions on different surfaces.

All tires at BMW are developed specifically for BMW models in accordance with the highest quality and technology standards and therefore get the BMW specific Star-Mark as a seal of approval. This ensures that tires on BMW models meet the stringent requirements set by BMW, guaranteeing optimal performance and safety. This is in line with Pirelli’s Perfect Fit strategy, which aims to develop specific tires for the cars to be equipped with.

Compared to summer tires, winter tires impact the car’s range due to a higher rolling resistance because of their compounds and tread pattern designed to offer grip on snowy and wet cold asphalt. The rolling resistance of a tire describes the force required for rolling motion, directly influencing the range of a vehicle. The new 20-inch development in collaboration with Pirelli compensates for these disadvantages resulting in an extended range of up to 50km for the all-electric BMW i7 in comparison to a standard winter tire. The technological advancements in the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 can be attributed to significant breakthroughs, particularly in the areas of tread pattern and tread compound.

"This collaboration between BMW and Pirelli represents a significant milestone in tire technology regarding range capabilities for winter tires" said Dr. Mihiar Ayoubi, Senior Vice President Development Driving Pleasure at the BMW Group. "We are proud to partner with Pirelli to offer our customers an exceptional driving experience that combines the known high level of snow and wet performance with a significant positive impact for our all-electric vehicles during winter times. These tires exemplify our commitment to pushing the boundaries of our cars in every dimension."

This new development from the BMW Group and Pirelli aligned with their sustainability goals by using renewable materials wherever technically appropriate and reducing the CO2 footprint of their plants. This partnership showcases BMW and Pirelli's shared vision for environmentally conscious mobility and their dedication to further push the limits of tire technology. The tire will be available for the BMW 7 Series starting from August 2024. The goal is to roll out this new technology to other future BMW models, starting next with the new BMW X3 in the second half of 2024.


If you have any questions, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Dieter Falkensteiner,
Spokesperson Driving Dynamics
Telephone: +49-15160151813
E-Mail: Dieter.Falkensteiner@bmw.de

Liane Drews,
Head of Product Communications BMW Luxury and Upper Midsize Class
Spokesperson BMW 5 Series, BMW 6 Series, BMW 7 Series
Telephone: +49-170-2272147
E-Mail: Liane.Drews@bmw.de

Almut Stollberg,
Head of Communication Innovation, Design, Technology, Digital Car / Communication E
Telephone: +49-151-601-96543
E-Mail: Almut.Stollberg@bmwgroup.de

Internet: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en
E-Mail: presse@bmw.de

The BMW Group

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

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

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

www.bmwgroup.com
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BMW Group Technology Office USA Celebrates 25 Years in Silicon Valley with the North American Debut of the BMW 
Vision Neue Klasse. 

• Advanced R&D facility is one of six BMW Group offices located in key technology hotspots around the world focused on emerging technologies, user-centered thinking, and product design to envision the future of BMW Group products.
• BMW Group Member of the Board of Management, Development, Frank Weber to headline a panel discussion entitled “Humanizing Tech,” moderated by David Pogue.
• BMW Group Technology Office USA opens its doors to media, stakeholders, industry leaders, and partners for a series of immersive workshops, exclusive product previews, and mixed reality, multi-sensory interactive driving experiences. 

Mountain View, California – December 2023 The BMW Group Technology Office USA is celebrating 25 years in Silicon Valley with an event featuring immersive workshops, exclusive technology demonstrations, and exciting mixed reality, multi-sensory driving experiences at Levi's Stadium. The celebration will be highlighted by the North American debut of the BMW Vision Neue Klasse and a panel discussion entitled “Humanizing Technology,” with insights from BMW Group Member of the Board of Management, Development, Frank Weber. Weber will be joined by Futurist, Neuroscientist & Technologist Poppy Crum, Head of Trust & Safety at Airbnb Naba Banerjee, and Head of Product at Meta for Work Micah Collins. The conversation will be moderated by renowned technology expert, David Pogue.

“Cutting-edge technological ideas with a lot of potential, developed in the world’s beating heart of high-tech, and perfected in our worldwide innovation network. This is how our BMW Tech Office in Mountain View works,” said Weber. “I am very excited to see what visionary impulses for our ground-breaking innovations our team will keep on creating in the future.”

As an advanced R&D facility, BMW Group Technology Office USA is focused on emerging technologies, user-centered thinking, and product design to envision the future of BMW Group products.  A team of creative thinkers, visionaries, and engineers are charged with exploring what’s possible, and pushing the envelope to create the best, and most innovative experiences for BMW Group customers. For the first time the BMW Group Technology Office USA opens its doors to media, stakeholders and partners for an inside look and showcase of some of their past, present, and future projects.

„Innovation is in the core of the BMW brand. Our global Technologies Offices Network connects us with the TOP tech regions worldwide. 25 years ago the BMW Technology Office USA has initiated this successful collaboration model. Our team in California has established a large number of fruitful collaborations and many meaningful innovations for our products and services. When I think of the multitude of projects that are currently in the pipeline there are a lot more awesome things to come.” says Rudolf Bencker Senior VP BMW Group Inventions and Innovations Management.

Global Network. 
BMW Group Technology USA became the first BMW Group technology research and development office located outside of Munich when it first opened in Silicon Valley in 1998. Originally based in Palo Alto, the office moved to its current location in Mountain View in 2011.
Today, BMW Group Technology Office USA it is part of a global network of BMW Group technology offices, which are strategically based in key technology hotspots around the world and a critical aspect of the company’s open innovation approach. In addition to Silicon Valley, and Munich, locations include Seoul, Shanghai, Tel Aviv, and Tokyo.

The goal and collective mission of this expansive network is to collect local insight, identify emerging technologies, and work with key partners to envision the future of BMW Group products and customer experiences.

The North American Premiere of the BMW Vision Neue Klasse.
First shown at the International Auto Show (IAA) in Munich in September, the BMW Vision Neue Klasse will make its North American debut. Built on the three pillars of electrification, digitalization, and circularity, the Vision Neue Klasse represents a “New Class” of BMW vehicles which will begin arriving in 2025.

Immersive Workshops – what will be presented:
In a series of workshops, participants will get a behind-the-scenes look at some of the past and present projects developed at the facility, including:

• The AR/VR Journey and its Evolution: Explorations in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), and potential future applications - including hands-on demonstrations of early product prototypes.
• Intelligent Personal Assistant (IPA):  A preview of BMW Group’s next generation in-vehicle voice assistant technology.

• Innovation Mindset: Insight from the office’s team of explorers, creators, and builders, and how being located in the U.S. and Silicon Valley impacts their work, featuring a rare look at some previously unreleased projects.
• Electric Vehicle Battery Development: A discussion on future electric vehicle battery technology with BMW Group’s independent venture capital firm, BMW i Ventures, focused on their strategic investments in this space and collaboration with BMW Group Technology Office USA.

In addition: Interactive Driving Experiences.
A series of interactive driving experiences at Levi’s stadium - from a mixed-reality driving experience and a multi-sensory dynamic scent journey, to a first-ever in-car demonstration of Meta’s Quest headset.

• Mixed Reality Driving Experience: A demonstration of how BMW can use mixed reality technology to bring real cars onto virtual racetracks. In this interactive experience, participants will get behind the wheel of a BMW M4 and drive on a closed course while wearing a VR headset to experience the merging of the virtual and physical worlds.
• Innovation Mindset – Intelligent Dynamic Scent Journey: Attendees will go on a dynamic scent journey during this demonstration of project developed at BMW Group Technology Office USA, that went unreleased so far.  Passengers will enjoy a multisensory experience that is shaped by the context of the drive and the world around them. 

• Mixed Reality Meta Quest Driving Experience: BMW Group and Meta are pioneering research and exploring potential use cases for extended reality devices within the digital vehicle ecosystem. This is a first-time, in-vehicle demonstration of the ability to accurately display stable virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) content to passengers in a fast-moving car, even when making turns, going over speed bumps, and accelerating. By integrating Meta Quest’s tracking system with BMW’s sensor data, the researchers enabled a series of stable “car-locked” gaming, entertainment, productivity, and meditation experiences.

• Digital Key Demonstration: This session will discuss BMW’s critical role in developing an early proof of concept for using smartphones as a digital vehicle key, which has enabled an industry standard and opened the door for additional vehicle-related smartphone functionality.

 
In the event of enquiries please contact:
BMW Group Corporate Communications

Christophe Koenig
Head of BMW Group IT, Digital and Driving Experience Communications
Mobile: +49-176-601-56097
E-Mail: Chrsitophe.Koenig@bmw.de


Bernhard Ederer
Communication BMW Group Innovation, Powertrain Technologies
Mobile: +49-176-601-28556
E-Mail: Bernhard.Ederer@bmwgroup.com


Almut Stollberg 
Head of Communication BMW Group Innovation, Design, Technology, Digital Car
Mobile: +49-151-601-96543
E-Mail: Almut.Stollberg@bmw.com

Internet: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en
E-Mail: presse@bmw.de

Santa Clara (CA), 6 December 2023 - Airbus and BMW Group launch a global Quantum Computing Challenge entitled “The Quantum Mobility Quest” to tackle the most pressing challenges in aviation and automotive that have remained insurmountable for classical computers.

This challenge is the first-of-its-kind, bringing together two global industry leaders to harness quantum technologies for real-world industrial applications, unlocking the potential to forge more efficient, sustainable and safer solutions for the future of transportation.

"This is the perfect time to shine a spotlight on quantum technology and its potential impact on our society. Partnering with an industry leader like BMW Group enables us to mature the technology as we need to bridge the gap between scientific exploration and its potential applications. We’re seeking the best-in-class students, PhDs, academics, researchers, start-ups, companies, or professionals in the field, worldwide to join our challenge to create a massive paradigm shift in the way aircraft are built and flown." says Isabell Gradert, Vice President Central Research and Technology at Airbus.

“Following the success of previous editions of Quantum Computing Challenges by BMW Group and Airbus, we are gearing up for a new wave of innovation, exploring the technology capabilities for sustainability and operational excellence.” said Dr. Peter Lehnert, Vice-President, Research Technologies at BMW Group. “The BMW Group is clearly aiming at positioning itself at the crossroads of quantum technology, the global ecosystem, and cutting-edge solutions. By doing so, we strongly believe in major advances when it comes to sustainable materials for batteries and fuel cells, to generate unique and efficient designs, or to enhance the overall user experience in the BMW Group Products”.

Quantum computing has the potential to significantly enhance computational power and to enable the most complex operations that challenge even today’s best computers. In particular, for data-driven industries like the transportation sector, this emerging technology could play a crucial role in simulating various industrial and operational processes, opening up opportunities to shape future mobility products and services.

Challenge candidates are invited to select one or more problem statements: improved aerodynamics design with quantum solvers, future automated mobility with quantum machine learning, more sustainable supply chain with quantum optimisation, and enhanced corrosion inhibition with quantum simulation. Additionally, candidates can put forward their own quantum technologies with the potential to develop native apps yet to be explored in the transportation sector.

The challenge is hosted by The Quantum Insider (TQI) and divided into two parts, a four-month phase where participants will develop a theoretical framework for one of the given statements, and a second phase during which selected finalists will implement and benchmark their solutions. Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides candidates with an opportunity to run their algorithms on their Amazon Braket quantum computing service.

A jury composed of world-leading quantum experts will team up with experts from Airbus, BMW Group, and AWS to evaluate submitted proposals and award one winning-team with a €30,000 prize in each of the five challenges, by the end of 2024.

Registration opens today, and submissions will be accepted from mid-January through April 30, 2024 here: www.thequantuminsider.com/quantum-challenge.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Press and Public Relations

Janina Latza
Spokesperson BMW Group IT
Tel.: +49 (0)151 – 601 12650
E-Mail: Janina.Latza@bmw.de


Christophe Koenig
Leiter BMW Group IT, Digital and Driving Experience Communications,
BMW Group Design, Innovations and Digital Car Communications
Telefon: +49-89-382-56097
E-Mail: Christophe.Koenig@bmwgroup.com

Munich/Sölden. To round off the year, BMW is inviting international media to Sölden, to Innovation @Summit, on the Austrian glacier. Absolute highlight: in addition to the BMW 5 Series launched in October, innovative highlights in the areas of driverless@Developement, artificial intelligence and highly automated driving will be presented. During intensive test drives under winter conditions, the smart business sedan and Driverless @Developement vehicles can demonstrate their dynamic driving qualities several times over.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Press and public relations

Dieter Falkensteiner, Spokesperson BMW Group Driving Experience
Telephon: +49-89-382-51813
Mail: Dieter.Falkensteiner@bmwgroup.com


Christophe Koenig, Head of BMW Group IT, Digital Driving Experience Communications
BMW Group Design, Innovations and Digital Car Communications
Telephone: +49-89-382-56097
Mail: Christophe.Koenig@bmwgroup.com

Munich. Now more than ever, the number 7 stands for driving pleasure, long-distance comfort and pioneering technology. Just a few months after the world premiere of the fully electric BMW i7, more new options are set to join the line-up of drive systems available for the new BMW 7 Series in November 2022. Two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants – including the first BMW M model in the new BMW 7 Series range – will delight and excite customers in numerous markets around the world with the combined power of a six-cylinder in-line petrol engine and an updated electric drive system. This commitment to electrification also optimises the efficiency of the new BMW 740d xDrive available in European markets (fuel consumption combined: 6.8 – 6.1 litres/100 km [41.5 – 46.3 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 178 – 160 g/km in the WLTP cycle; figures for the NEDC cycle: – ), whose six-cylinder in-line diesel engine is boosted by state-of-the-art 48V mild hybrid technology.

The increased variety of available drive systems opens up a breadth of experience in terms of driving dynamics, progressive luxury and feel-good ambience that none of the BMW 7 Series’ rivals can match. This is the result of a newly developed, flexible vehicle architecture for the 7 Series and the expression of a globally oriented offer structure which allows the model range to be adapted individually for each specific market. The BMW Group is therefore taking into account the particular customer needs, infrastructure landscape and legal conditions in the different regions of the world.

Plug-in hybrid innovation from BMW: compact transmission pre-gearing stage provides even more authoritative electric power.

The drive systems fitted in the two plug-in hybrid models bring together a six-cylinder in-line engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and an electric motor integrated into the eight-speed Steptronic transmission. In both cars, the power generated by the two drive units is channelled to the road via the BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system.

The electric motor fitted in the two models features the latest generation of BMW eDrive technology for plug-in hybrid models. The synchronous motor with a specific power output of more than 5.0 kW/kg has a rated output of 145 kW/197 hp in the two PHEV variants and its rev band has been stretched to a maximum 11,500 rpm.

In addition, a pre-gearing stage is used to increase the torque produced by the electric motor to an effective maximum of 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) at the transmission input on the engine side. This innovation, patented and used for the first time by BMW, enables the electric drive system integrated into the transmission housing in a compact, weight-saving design to generate drive torque available either on its own or in addition to the power developed by the combustion engine that could normally only be achieved using a far larger and heavier electric motor. The optimised power delivery achieved with the pre-gearing stage between the electric motor’s rotor and the transmission’s input shaft makes a clear difference both when accelerating off the line and putting in a quick burst of speed.

Premiere in the BMW 7 Series: the first performance car from BMW M GmbH with a plug-in hybrid drive system.

A performance profile injected with extra sporting potency and an aura of top-end dynamism mark out the new BMW M760e xDrive (fuel consumption combined: 1.3 – 1.0 litres/100 km [217.3 – 282.5 mpg imp]; electric power consumption combined: 21.8 – 20.2 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 29 – 23 g/km in the WLTP cycle; figures for the NEDC cycle: – ). This is the first performance car from BMW M GmbH with a plug-in hybrid drive system. The combustion engine is a 3.0-litre six-cylinder in-line unit with M TwinPower Turbo technology, a rated output of 280 kW/380 hp and rated torque of 520 Nm (383 lb-ft). And it teams up with a new electric motor to generate system output of 420 kW/571 hp (with temporary boost) and system torque of 800 Nm (590 lb-ft).

The new BMW M760e xDrive accelerates from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.3 seconds and completes the mid-range sprint from 80 – 120 km/h (50 – 75 mph) in just 2.7 seconds. In so doing, the BMW M760e xDrive combines intoxicating performance attributes with the option of locally emission-free driving pleasure in urban areas and beyond. M-specific design features, interior trim and cockpit displays also dovetail neatly with the Sedan’s ambience of modern luxury.

In the new BMW 750e xDrive (fuel consumption combined: 1.1 – 1.0 litres/ 100 km [256.8 – 282.5 mpg imp]; electric power consumption combined:
20.8 – 19.7 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 25 – 22 g/km in the WLTP cycle; figures for the NEDC cycle: – ), the new electric drive system again links up with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder in-line engine, this time developing a rated output of 230 kW/313 hp and rated torque of 450 Nm (332 lb-ft). Working in tandem, the two power sources produce system output of 360 kW/490 hp (with temporary boost) and system torque of 700 Nm (516 lb-ft). This allows the new BMW 750e xDrive to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.8 seconds and from 80 – 120 km/h (50 – 75 mph) in only 2.7 seconds.

The electric motors for the two plug-in hybrid models source their energy from a lithium-ion high-voltage battery installed in the vehicle floor, which is likewise the product of fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology. At 18.7 kWh, the battery’s usable energy content is more than 50 per cent higher than that available with the previous generation of the technology. Maximum AC charging power is 7.4 kW. In combination with the efficiency of the electric motor and intelligent energy management including adaptive recuperation, this gives the new BMW M760e xDrive an electric range of 77 – 85 kilometres / 48 – 53 miles in the WLTP cycle and the new BMW 750e xDrive a range of 83 – 87 kilometres / 52 – 54 miles as per WLTP. 

Six-cylinder in-line diesel engine with cutting-edge 48V mild hybrid technology.

The consistent advances achieved under the banner of BMW EfficientDynamics also benefit the new diesel engine for the BMW 7 Series. In the new BMW 740d xDrive, an extensively updated combustion engine teams up with the latest 48V mild hybrid technology featuring an electric motor integrated into the eight-speed Steptronic transmission. The result is maximum output of 220 kW/300 hp (generated by the combination of the engine with up to 210 kW/286 hp and the integrated electric motor with up to 13 kW/18 hp) and peak torque von 670 Nm / 494 lb-ft (generated by the combination of the engine with up to 650 Nm (479 lb-ft) and the integrated electric motor with up to 200 Nm (147 lb-ft)).

The 3.0-litre six-cylinder in-line diesel powering the BMW 740d xDrive has new steel pistons which enable particularly high combustion pressure and enrich the engine’s soundtrack. The effectiveness of the oil separation process has also been enhanced compared with the predecessor engine. The new common-rail direct injection system now works with solenoid valve injectors which provide up to 12 injections per power stroke with maximum pressure of 2,500 bar.

The latest generation of mild-hybrid technology ensures the additional power comes on tap with particular immediacy and the level of recuperation is high, so as to improve efficiency. The electric motor is integrated – together with its power electronics – into the housing of the eight-speed Steptronic transmission, where it also assumes the role of a crankshaft-driven starter generator. The rapid power delivery of the electrified drive system enables acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.8 seconds. Added to which, the high-precision interplay between the combustion engine and electric motor enhances the efficiency and smoothness of the drive system, making it ideally suited for service in the new BMW 7 Series.

Availability and prices.

The BMW 740d xDrive can be ordered with immediate effect and the two plug-in hybrid models from 12 October 2022. Deliveries to customers will commence in spring 2023. Prices in Germany start at €114,300 for the BMW 740d xDrive, €123,500 for the BMW 750e xDrive and €144,000 for the BMW M760e xDrive (including 19% VAT in each case).  

Munich/Shenyang. The first fully-electric BMW iX3 has left the production line at the BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture (BBA) in Shenyang, China. The workforce at the BBA Plant Dadong in Shenyang already celebrated the successful start of production on 29 September 2020.

Franz Decker, head of BBA's Technology and Production division, said during the event: “Today, we begin production of the BMW iX3, the first pure electric model from our core BMW brand. With a production system like this, specialised for high quality, we are able to deliver what customers worldwide demand from premium vehicles.”

Leading production expertise guarantees premium quality

As well as intelligent manufacturing and state-of-the-art technologies, the BBA production facility in Shenyang is also distinguished by its comprehensive quality management system. A special "zero defect concept" ensures that the globally high market requirements for electric mobility are met.

BBA conducts rigorous testing of everything from the battery to the finished car to guarantee the vehicle safety of the BMW iX3. 128 mechanical tests and 994 software functionality tests ensure the high quality of high-voltage batteries throughout the entire lifecycle. 140 functional tests check every aspect of the vehicle during acceleration, in particular road conditions and on rocky roads. As a result, the BMW iX3 is well-suited for all types of roads and meets the high demands of different driving conditions.

BBA produces the fully-electric BMW iX3 on the same line as the BMW X3 with combustion engine to ensure a high level of efficiency and flexibility in production.

During the entire BMW iX3 project, the BMW Group's research and production, purchasing and production divisions worked closely with BBA.

Munich. Increased efficiency through consistent electrification, optimised emissions and innovations in the areas of driver assistance and digital services are the focus of the model revision measures for numerous BMW model series that will take effect in autumn 2020. From November 2020, all models of the premium brand will meet the requirements of the currently strictest exhaust emission standard Euro 6d. In the BMW 5 Series, the range of plug-in hybrid models has been extended by three new variants. New inline 6-cylinder diesel engines and 48-volt mild hybrid technology lower fuel consumption and emissions of selected models in the BMW 3 Series and BMW 8 Series. In addition, further engines will supplement the drive portfolio of the BMW 1 Series and the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé.

Active speed control with Stop&Go provides an added comfort and safety thanks to the new additional feature of traffic light recognition, which will be part of the Driving Assistant Professional option in numerous current models from November 2020.

The latest digital services for models equipped with BMW Operating System 7 increase driving pleasure even further. BMW News provides the driver with personalised audio news. New options when creating the driver profile make it easier to personalise the vehicle. The range of functions of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant will also be expanded further. New body finishes and optional extras will be available for numerous models from November 2020.

Efficiency becomes more diverse: World premiere for five plug-in hybrid models in the BMW 5 Series.

The range of BMW models with electrified drive systems will also be consistently expanded in autumn 2020. The expanded range of the following electrified models is especially attractive: BMW 545e xDrive Sedan (fuel consumption combined: 2.3 – 2.2 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 16.3 – 15.8 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 53 – 49 g/km; electric range: 47 – 57 km), BMW 530e Touring (combined fuel consumption: 2.0 – 1.8 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 16.1 – 15.4 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 46 – 42 g/km; electric range: 52 – 57 km (WLTP)) and BMW 530e xDrive Touring (combined fuel consumption: 2.4 – 2.2 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 16.7 – 16.1 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 54 – 50 g/km; electric range: 48 – 53 km (WLTP)). The BMW 5 Series model range now already includes five plug-in hybrid variants. In the upper mid-size class, BMW offers the largest selection of models with electrified drive.

In the new BMW 545e xDrive Sedan, an inline 6-cylinder petrol engine and an electric drive integrated into the 8-speed Steptronic transmission deliver impressive driving dynamics in a particularly efficient manner. The power of the two drive units adds up to a maximum system output of 290 kW/394 hp and is distributed between the front and rear wheels as required by the intelligent BMW xDrive all-wheel drive. The brand’s hallmark combination of energy efficiency and sportiness also characterises the new Touring models, whose plug-in hybrid system consists of a 4-cylinder petrol engine and an electric drive system also integrated into the 8-speed Steptronic transmission. Together they generate a system output of up to 215 kW/292 hp in the XtraBoost mode when load requirements are particularly high.

Increased dynamic performance and reduced fuel consumption: New inline 6-cylinder diesel engines with 48-volt mild hybrid technology in the BMW 3 Series and BMW 8 Series.

With the introduction of 48-volt mild hybrid technology in additional models, BMW continues to consistently reduce fuel consumption and emissions in its current vehicle fleet. This is linked to the introduction of a new generation of inline 6-cylinder diesel engines. As of autumn 2020, four mid-size models of the BMW 3 Series and three luxury sports cars of the BMW 8 Series will offer noticeably more dynamic performance and increased efficiency.

This twofold and BMW typical progress is achieved through further advanced BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and additionally with the aid of a particularly powerful starter generator and an additional battery. The dynamic power delivery when starting off and accelerating is enhanced by the additional power of 8 kW/11 hp spontaneously provided by the 48-volt starter generator. In other load ranges the electric drive can relieve the combustion engine and thus increase its efficiency. The power required for this is generated by intensive recuperation in braking and thrust phases and stored in a 48-volt battery, which also supplies the vehicle’s electrical system.

The 48-volt mild hybrid technology will be used in four further BMW 3 Series models from November 2020. In the new BMW 330d Sedan (combined fuel consumption: 4.7 – 4.4 l/100 km*; combined CO₂ emissions: 125 – 116 g/km*) and the new BMW 330d Xdrive Sedan (combined fuel consumption: 5.0 – 4.7 l/100 km*; combined CO₂ emissions: 132 – 123 g/km*) and the new BMW 330d Touring (combined fuel consumption: 4.8 – 4.5 l/100 km*; combined CO₂ emissions: 128 – 119 g/km*) and the new BMW 330d Xdrive Touring (combined fuel consumption: 5.2 – 4.8 l/100 km*; combined CO₂ emissions: 136 – 127 g/km), it supports the new inline 6-cylinder diesel engine, which already provides additional driving pleasure with its maximum output increased by 15 kW/21 hp to 210 kW/286 hp. Thanks to a two-stage turbocharging system and an advanced common rail injection system whose piezo injectors now inject the fuel with up to ten injections per working cycle and a maximum pressure of 2 700 bar into the combustion chambers, engine response and efficiency of the 3.0 litre engine are optimised. The new diesel engine generates its maximum torque, which has been increased by 30 to 650 Nm, between 1 500 and 2 500 rpm. The increased power of the combustion engine and the additional electrical power noticeably improve the car’s sprint capacity. For example, the new BMW 330d Sedan improves its acceleration from zero to 100 km/h by 0.2 seconds to now 5.3 seconds.

In the BMW 8 Series, 48-volt mild hybrid technology is combined with an equally new and even more powerful 3.0-litre diesel engine. The BMW 840d xDrive Coupé models (fuel consumption combined: 5.8 – 5.6 l/100 km*; combined CO₂ emissions: 154 - 146 g/km), BMW 840d xDrive Convertible (fuel consumption combined: 6.0 – 5.7 l/100 km*; combined CO₂ emissions: 159 – 151 g/km) and BMW 840d xDrive Gran Coupé (combined fuel consumption: 5.9 – 5.6 l/100 km*; combined CO₂ emissions: 155 - 148 g/km) will be powered by a 250 kW/340 hp inline 6-cylinder engine in the future. The 15 kW/20 hp increase in top-level output also results from further advanced BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. It now includes a multi-stage turbocharger with variable turbine geometry for the high-pressure and low-pressure stages. The maximum torque of 700 Nm is generated alreadybetween 1 750 and 2 250 rpm. In the luxury sports car model range, the new drive technology enables the BMW 840d xDrive Coupé, for example, to improve its acceleration figure from a standing start to 100 km/h by 0.1 seconds to 4.8 seconds. The optimised performance characteristics of the diesel engine are accompanied by precisely adapted fine tuning of the chassis and its control systems.

The new diesel engines for the BMW 3 Series and the BMW 8 Series also represent the latest state of the art with regard to emissions. They feature exhaust gas treatment technology, whose engine-proximate components consist of a diesel oxidation catalytic converter and an SCR coating on the diesel particulate filter. In order to optimally reduce nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions, a second metering unit is additionally integrated at the outlet of the engine-proximate SCR system.

BMW 1 Series, BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé: Additional engines and new optional extras.

New engines will be available from November 2020 for the BMW 1 Series and the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé. The new BMW 116i (combined fuel consumption: 5.8 – 5.4 l/100 km*; combined CO₂ emissions: 133 – 124 g/km) is powered by a 3-cylinder petrol engine with an output of 80 kW/109 hp and a maximum torque of 190 Nm. It is equipped as standard with a manual 6-speed transmission and accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 10.6 seconds. A 7-speed Steptronic transmission with double clutch is optionally available. In addition, the model range will be expanded to include the new BMW 120i (fuel consumption combined: 5.8 – 5.5 l/100 km*; combined CO₂ emissions: 134 – 126 g/km). Its 4-cylinder petrol engine generates a maximum output of 131 kW/178 hp and a maximum torque of 280 Nm and is combined as standard with a 7-speed Steptronic transmission with double clutch. The new BMW 120i accelerates from a standing start to 100 km/h in 7.0 seconds.

Outstanding economy is the hallmark of the new entry-level diesel engine for the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé. The 3-cylinder diesel engine of the new BMW 216d Gran Coupé (fuel consumption combined: 4.1 – 3.8 l/100 km*; combined CO₂ emissions: 108 – 99 g/km) provides a maximum output of 85 kW/116 hp and a maximum torque of 270 Nm. It transmits its power to a 7-speed Steptronic transmission with double clutch as standard and enables acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in 10.3 seconds.

The range of optional equipment for the BMW 1 Series and the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé is supplemented by the BMW Individual Shadow Line lights. With the black inserts at the upper edge of the headlamps they make the front view even more powerfully expressive.

Active speed control with Stop&Go: new with traffic light recognition: Increased comfort and optimised safety in urban traffic.

The comfort and safety gains that can be achieved by combined speed and distance control can be experienced from autumn 2020 in numerous current BMW models, including when driving in urban traffic. In combination with the optional Driving Assistant Professional and the optional BMW Head-Up Display, the BMW 3 Series, BMW 4 Series and BMW 5 Series Series, the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo, the BMW 7 Series and 8 Series as well as the BMW iX3, BMW X5, BMW X6, BMW X7, BMW M3, BMW M4, BMW M5, BMW M8, BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M in Germany the function of active speed control with Stop&Go now also a traffic light recognition available. In addition to vehicles and traffic signs in front, the signals of light signals registered by the front camera are also taken into account.

In the case of simple traffic light systems, these are automatically transferred to the speed and distance control. If the traffic light shows a red light, the system delays the vehicle to a standstill, a green light signal leads to the continuation of the journey. In a more complex intersection situation, the driver is offered the traffic lights for manual transfer in the instrument combination.

The driver can now confirm the light signal shown and thus continue to use the automatic speed and distance control or take control of the speed himself. The start-up reminder provides additional comfort in city traffic. During a stop at simple traffic lights, the current traffic light phase is displayed in the instrument combo, and at the beginning of the green phase, the driver also receives a signal to restart.

The function of traffic light recognition can also be retrofitted into the vehicle via remote software upgrade. With the exception of the BMW 8 Series models, this option is available for vehicles of all mentioned series, which were produced from July 2020 and are equipped with the Driving Assistant Professional and Head Up Display. Vehicles of the BMW X5, BMW X6, BMW X7 series include this option from August 2020 production.

New digital services for more driving pleasure: BMW News, BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant with new functions, personal profile picture and simple log-in.

The latest generation of the display and control system makes it possible to use new digital services in numerous current BMW models. The BMW Operating System 7, which is available in conjunction with BMW Live Cockpit, BMW Live Cockpit Plus or BMW Live Cockpit Professional, allows the driver to customise what is displayed to a very high degree. From November 2020, audio content will also be tailored to the driver’s wishes and needs with BMW News. Based on the driver’s individual interests, current online news is selected from publisher offerings and broadcast in the form of naturally spoken language via the vehicle's audio system.

The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant is one of the particularly innovative services that features in current models with BMW Operating System 7. The digital companion, which enables intuitive operation of numerous vehicle functions via voice control (“Hey, BMW”), is constantly gaining new capabilities. From autumn 2020, the operating modes MAX eDrive and AUTO eDrive or ELECTRIC and HYBRID can also be activated in the appropriately equipped plug-in hybrid models by means of a naturally spoken instruction. In addition, the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant will be able to play back the drive sounds of other BMW models via the audio system when asked a corresponding question such as ("What does a BMW M3 sound like?") in cars delivered to the German market.

Optimised options for creating a driver profile allow further customisation opportunities. From November 2020, the driver can no longer only login by entering the BMW ID manually, but also via the My BMW App as well, making the process very convenient. A QR code generated for this purpose can be displayed on the Control Display, which can be scanned using a smartphone. The personal driver profile data can then be transferred to the vehicle. Also new: The driver can add a photo of his choice to his individual profile.

BMW X1 and BMW X2: New headlamp variants and BMW Individual High Gloss Shadow Line with extended features.

Adaptive LED headlights will be available for the compact BMW X2 Sports Activity Coupé from November 2020. They optimise visibility when driving at night, among other things by means of a high beam matrix function. This feature is able to increase the range of vision while at the same time avoiding any dazzle effect on other road users. To achieve this, the high beam is divided into several LED segments that can be activated and deactivated independently of each other to adapt how the road is illuminated to the respective traffic situation.

In addition, the striking BMW Individual Shadow Line lights are available as a new option for the BMW X2 and the BMW X1. The sporty appearance of the BMW X2 can be further enhanced by the BMW Individual High Gloss Shadow Line with extended features. In addition to the high-gloss black side window surrounds, this option includes a black frame for the BMW kidney grille and tailpipe trims in chrome black.

New paint finishes allow for expressive individualisation.

New additions to the range of paint finishes for numerous models will be introduced in autumn 2020 allowing for even greater levels of individualisation. The new San Remo Green metallic paint finish will also be available for the new BMW 4 Series Coupé in future. For the BMW X5, BMW X6 and BMW X7, the colours Dravit Grey metallic and Sparkling Brown metallic have been added to the range. In addition, the BMW Individual special paintwork finishes Grigio Telesto metallic, Urban Green metallic, Frozen Black metallic, Petrol Mica metallic, Ruby Red metallic, Avus Blue metallic and British Racing Green metallic are also available for the large BMW X models. 

For the BMW i3 (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 13.1 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km) and BMW i3s (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 14.6 – 14.0 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km) new paint finishes will also be available from November 2020. The purely electrically driven models will be available with paint finishes in Cashmere Silver with accents in BMW i Blue and Galvanic Gold with accents in Frozen Grey metallic and Fluid Black with accents in Frozen Grey metallic.

* all new models available with start of production in November 2020

Munich/Shenyang. The BMW Group continues to drive the expansion of electromobility and is adapting its production structures to growing demand for fully and partially electrified vehicles. In China, the BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) joint venture has expanded its battery factory at the Tiexi location, the so-called “High-Voltage Battery Centre”, with a further battery centre that will immediately begin producing the new and more powerful batteries of the fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology used in the fully-electric BMW iX3*.

The new High-Voltage Battery Centre was officially opened today at a formal ceremony attended by high-level representatives of both the Chinese government and BBA. Representatives of the BMW Group attended the event virtually.

Milan Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Production, said at the opening ceremony: “China is of high importance to the BMW Group, both as a market and as a location for production and innovation. Our investments underline our strong commitment to China and Shenyang over the long term. And the investments are ongoing: The Tiexi and Dadong plant extension projects are well on track. And we are preparing for future growth: With this new Battery Center, we more than double the capacity of our local battery production in China.”

BBA President Dr. Johann Wieland added: “The expansion of our High-Voltage Battery Centre is concrete proof of our commitment to continue investing in Shenyang, Liaoning and north-eastern China. It also shows our determination to take a leading role in sustainable mobility, as we launch our pure electric BMW iX3.”

China is the BMW Group’s largest single market and sets the tempo for e-mobility around the world. With five electrified models currently available, the BMW Group offers Chinese customers the widest range of options in the premium segment. There are already a total of 75,000 electrified BMW models on China’s roads today.

Production of the new fully-electric BMW iX3 will get underway at BBA Plant Dadong by the end of September. The high-voltage batteries it requires will be supplied by the nearby new battery centre. The BMW X3 is the first model available with highly efficient petrol and diesel engines incorporating 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, with a plug-in hybrid drive train, or as a pure electric model.

Fifth-generation high-voltage batteries with significantly higher energy density also use fewer raw materials

The high-voltage battery for the fifth-generation BMW eDrive was developed from the ground up with pioneering new battery cell technology. The high-voltage batteries’ output and energy content can be flexibly scaled for use in different vehicle concepts and segments.

The BMW Group has more than ten years of deep in-house expertise developing battery cells. All know-how flows into precise specifications for battery cells to then be manufactured externally. Systematic research and development efforts not only steadily enhance performance and energy density, but can also continuously improve all relevant battery cell characteristics. Considering all relevant aspects as a whole – especially durability and safety, BMW high-voltage batteries represent the best that can be achieved today. At the same time, the newest battery generation has also been able to reduce the amount of the cobalt used as a raw material by another two thirds. Compared to the battery cells widely used by the BMW Group in its fully-electric vehicles in the past, the battery's gravimetric energy density has been improved by about 20 percent at cell level in the BMW iX3. The BMW Group is sourcing its own cobalt and lithium for the first time and supplying these raw materials to its battery cell producers.

As a leader in sustainability, the BMW Group has also reached a contractual agreement with its cell manufacturers that they will only use green power to produce fifth-generation battery cells.

In future, fifth generation high-voltage batteries will also be produced at the BMW Group Dingolfing plant

The expanded High-Voltage Battery Centre is the first location in the BMW Group production network to manufacture fifth-generation high-voltage batteries. At the same time, the Competence Centre for E-Drive Production in Dingolfing is also gearing up to produce the new fifth-generation high-voltage batteries. These will be installed in additional products, such as the BMW iNEXT and the BMW i4, starting next year. By producing high-voltage batteries where they are needed, the company is able to minimise transportation and thus contributes to sustainability.

BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture (BBA)

The BBA Brilliance Automotive joint venture was founded in 2003 and has become one of the most successful premium automobile manufacturers in China in recent years, encompassing production and sales of BMW automobiles in China, as well as local development tasks. In 2019, the BBA automotive plants in Tiexi and Dadong produced over 530,000 vehicles for the Chinese market – an increase of more than 9% year-on-year. Maximum capacity at the two plants will reach 650,000 units per year over the coming years.

• Fully electric mobility celebrates its premiere in a BMW X model – the new BMW iX3 (fuel consumption combined in the NEDC test cycle: 0.0 l/100 km; electric power consumption combined: 17.8 – 17.5 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km; fuel consumption combined in the WLTP test cycle: 0.0 l/100 km; electric power consumption combined: 19.5 – 18.5 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km). Locally emission-free driving pleasure complements the sporting ability for which BMW is renowned and the comfort, multi‑faceted functionality and spaciousness of the successful BMW X3. Latest stage in the ongoing rollout of the BMW Group’s electrification strategy; technological expertise amassed in the development of BMW I cars utilised for the first time in a purely electrically powered model from the BMW core brand.
  
  
• New BMW iX3 will be the brand’s first model to also be produced for export at the Shenyang manufacturing facility in China. Market launch will begin in China later in 2020.
  
  
• Strategic “Power of Choice” approach covers broad spread of customer requirements and statutory regulations around the world: BMW X3 is the first model to be available with a petrol or diesel engine, plug-in hybrid drive system or all-electric drive system.
  
  
• New BMW iX3 blazes a trail for fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology. Major progress made in terms of power density, operating range, weight, installation space requirement and flexibility. Power density of the electric drive system increased by 30 per cent over the BMW Group’s existing fully electric vehicles; gravimetric energy density of the high-voltage battery at cell level up by 20 per cent. Latest versions of the electric motor, power electronics, charging technology and high-voltage battery (all developed in-house) will also be deployed in the BMW iNEXT and BMW i4 from 2021.
  
  
• Efficiency boosted significantly compared with the BMW i3 by highly integrated drive system technology. Electric motor, power electronics and transmission arranged in a central housing for the first time. Fifth-generation BMW eDrive high-voltage battery with the latest battery cell technology and gross energy content of 80 kWh enables operating range of up to 460 kilometres [285 miles] in the statutory new WLTP test cycle (up to 520 kilometres [323 miles] in the NEDC test cycle). BMW Group monitors compliance with environmental and social standards as part of its procurement process for the lithium and cobalt used in battery cells.
  
  
• Newly designed fifth-generation BMW eDrive electric motor produces maximum output of 210 kW/286 hp and peak torque of 400 Nm (295 lb-ft). Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h [62 mph] in 6.8 seconds (for purposes of comparison – BMW X3 30i: 6.4 seconds), top speed (electronically limited): 180 km/h [112 mph]. The design principle of a current-excited synchronous motor enables optimised power development and allows engineers to avoid the use of rare earths.
  
  
• Scope for varying degrees of recuperation enables choice between pronounced one-pedal feeling with extensive recuperation of braking and coasting energy in driving position B and adaptive recuperation including coasting function in driving position D. Recuperation level can be adjusted through three stages. Adaptive recuperation enhances driving comfort and efficiency by adjusting Brake Energy Regeneration and the coasting function to the driving situation at hand.
  
  
• Power transfer to the rear wheels delivers a classical BMW driving experience. Unrivalled combination of low electric power consumption and high charging capacity enables long-distance journeys at high average speeds. Adaptive suspension (fitted as standard) optimises sporting responses and comfort.
  
  
• BMW IconicSounds Electric. Newly developed soundscape for electrically powered BMW models makes its debut in the BMW iX3 and adds extra emotional depth to the driving experience. Powerful drive sound available in cars with the equipment line “Impressive”. Unmistakable composition when starting and deactivating the electric drive system developed in collaboration with Hans Zimmer.
  
  
• Bespoke charging products and services: BMW Charging Card provides simple and convenient access to currently more than 450,000 public charging points worldwide ; new Flexible Fast Charger (allowing use of different socket types) and high-output Wallboxes now available as options. Individual packages offer the optimum charging solution for every customer need.
  
  
• New digital services from BMW Connected Charging in the car and via the app promote user-friendly electric mobility and enhance navigation planning, including recommendations for charging stops. Navigation system factors mid-journey breaks to charge the high-voltage battery (includes detailed information on individual charging points) into route planning and calculation of arrival times.
  
  
• Optimised energy storage concept now enables vehicle charging capacity of up to 150 kW at DC fast-charging stations; Recharging from 0 to 80 per cent of the high-voltage battery’s capacity takes 34 minutes, 10-minute charge adds 100 kilometres [62 miles] of range (WLTP). BMW iX3 customers enjoy particularly favourable tariffs at IONITY fast-charging stations with a consumption dependent component of e.g. €0.29 per kWh for Germany)
  
  
• Characteristic proportions of a BMW X model combine with model-specific design features. Innovative BMW aerodynamic wheels: 19-inch light-alloy items with new, drag-reducing design fitted as standard.
  
  
• Premium interior ambience with model-specific accents. User-friendly, variable-usage cabin with high level of comfort for five people over everyday journeys and longer distances; load capacity can be expanded from 510 litres to as much as 1,560 litres.
  
  
• Wide-reaching standard specification (“Inspiring”) includes metallic paintwork, LED headlights, three-zone automatic climate control with pre‑heating and pre-conditioning, automatic tailgate operation, panoramic glass sunroof, Driving Assistant Professional and ambient lighting. Optional equipment line “Impressive” also brings 20-inch light-alloy wheels, acoustic glazing, sport seats, Vernasca leather trim, BMW Head-Up Display, Parking Assistant Plus and Harman Kardon Surround Sound.
  
  
• BMW Live Cockpit Professional with BMW Maps cloud-based navigation system and BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant as standard. Smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto preparation, Remote Software Upgrade and digital services from BMW Connected Charging also standard).
  
  
• Outstanding environmental credentials thanks to commitment to sustainability throughout the value chain. CO₂  impact of the BMW iX3 over its entire lifecycle is significantly less than a BMW X3 xDrive20d; impact reduced by 30 per cent when using electricity  from the European energy mix for charging and by around 60 per cent when using exclusively green energy.

Munich/Dingolfing. The BMW Group is stepping up its e-mobility ramp-up and setting new standards for the transformation of the industry with its production. Today, at its largest European manufacturing location in Dingolfing, the company opened the Competence Centre for E-Drive Production. Having produced electric powertrain components in Dingolfing since 2013, the BMW Group is now expanding its capacity significantly. Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder and Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG Oliver Zipse symbolically launched production of the new, highly integrated BMW e-drive, which combines the electric motor, transmission and power electronics in a central housing. The new generation of the BMW e-drive will be used for the first time in the new BMW iX3, which will go into production in China in late summer.

At the Competence Centre in Dingolfing, the BMW Group will produce electric powertrain components such as battery modules, high-voltage batteries and electric motors on eight production lines. Over the coming years, the company will set up four additional lines, which will boost the location’s production capacity significantly.

Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG Oliver Zipse said at the inauguration: “We continue to ramp up electromobility and set standards for the transformation of our industry. By 2022, in Dingolfing alone, we will be able to produce e-drives for more than half a million electrified vehicles per year. At the same time, we will produce a mix of fully-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and models with a combustion engine on a single line, as required by demand, so we can offer our customers the ‘Power of Choice’. This shows how we have paved the way for making the shift in our industry a real success story.”

In the next few years, the production area of the Competence Centre for E-Drive Production will be expanded to ten times the original size: from 8,000 square metres in 2015 to 80,000. The number of employees will also be increased. In the first half of 2020 alone, the workforce grew from 600 to 1,000. Up to 2,000 employees will work in production of e-drives at the Dingolfing location in the medium term.

In-house production of high-voltage batteries and electric motors

“Our unique expertise in producing high-voltage batteries and electric motors ensures our technology is always state of the art and we are able to ramp up production quickly and systematically in line with demand,” explained Michael Nikolaides, head of Planning and Production Engines and E-Drives. A quarter of BMW Group vehicles sold in Europe should have an electric drive train by 2021; a third in 2025 and half in 2030. By 2023, the BMW Group will offer its customers no fewer than 25 electrified models – around half of them with a pure electric drive train.

The BMW Group possesses extensive expertise throughout the entire value chain. Both the new, highly integrated e-drive and new high-voltage batteries were developed in-house in close cooperation between development departments and production. The company is pooling its expertise in large-scale standard production of electric drive trains at the Competence Centre for E-Drive Production and thereby ensuring efficient production that can respond to demand for drive trains for fully and partially-electric vehicles at short notice. “Experience with our flexible production system for combustion engines has been fed into the design of our e-drive production. As a result, e-drive production is also able to respond quickly to demand for BEV and PHEV vehicles. In this way, we are realising the ‘Power of Choice’ for our customers,” explained Nikolaides.

The Competence Centre has also standardised the technology used in production of battery modules for new fifth-generation high-voltage batteries, refining the process to reflect the growing range of electrified models and allowing different module variants to be produced on the same line. In this way, the company is not only setting the course for production technology, but also securing jobs and key qualifications.

Dingolfing site transforms itself for electromobility

“BMW Group Plant Dingolfing is a perfect example of how the automotive industry is transforming itself for e-mobility. We have everything under one roof here: production of batteries, electric motors and electrified vehicles,” explained Christoph Schröder, head of BMW Group Plant Dingolfing. Today, around ten percent of the vehicles produced in Dingolfing are already electrified. With the launch of the BMW iNEXT in 2021, Plant Dingolfing will be capable of producing fully-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and models with a combustion engine on a single line. “That’s how we are implementing the ‘Power of Choice’ in car production,” Schröder added. These highly flexible structures will also benefit the next generation of the BMW 7 Series, which will be produced at the site and released onto the market as petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid and – for the first time – fully-electric variants.

Dingolfing has years of expertise building components for electric vehicles. Series-produced high-voltage batteries for the BMW i3 have been coming off the line here since 2013. This location has also produced electric motors since 2015. The majority of high-voltage batteries and electric motors for all BMW Group electrified vehicles come from the Competence Centre for E-Drive Production. The existing structures of a large former parts warehouse belonging to BMW Group aftersales logistics have been retrofitted and used for this purpose in recent years.

“At the same time, we have driven the long-term shift of competence at the location by providing employees with targeted training for new tasks and extending development into electromobility as an area of future activity,” said Chairman of the Dingolfing Works Council Stefan Schmid. “Further education and qualification are key to a successful transformation.”

Global e-drive production network focused in Germany

The BMW Group has a highly flexible production network for electric drive trains. The high-voltage batteries needed for electrified vehicles come from the company’s three battery factories in Dingolfing, Spartanburg (USA) and Shenyang (China). The BMW Group has also localised battery production in Thailand, where it is working with the Dräxlmaier Group. BMW Group Plants Dingolfing and Landshut produce electric motors. The Battery Cell Competence Centre in Munich covers the entire battery cell value chain, from research and development to battery cell composition and design, all the way to large-scale manufacturability.

Fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology

On the same day as the official opening, the Competence Centre also began production of the fifth-generation electric drive train. This highly integrated electric powertrain component combines the electric motor, transmission and power electronics in one housing. Materials considered rare earths are also no longer required. The drive train is compatible with all vehicle concepts and will be available with various power levels for different models. The system’s highly integrated design increases power density significantly.

The fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology features new and more powerful high-voltage batteries. Thanks to their scalable modular design, these can be used flexibly in the respective vehicle architecture and at the respective production locations. The Competence Centre is currently preparing to ramp up production of these new high-voltage batteries.

Sustainable long-term materials sourcing

Sustainability and security of supply are important factors in the expansion of electromobility. The BMW Group sources the battery cells needed for production of high-voltage batteries from leading system suppliers who manufacture the cells to the BMW Group’s exact specifications.

For the BMW Group’s purchasing experts, ethically responsible raw material extraction and processing starts at the very beginning of the value chain: They take a keen interest in battery cell supply chains – all the way down to the mines themselves. Compliance with environmental standards and respect for human rights are top priority.

For its new fifth-generation electric high-voltage batteries, the company has restructured its supply chains and will source cobalt and lithium for battery cells directly from 2020. This ensures full transparency over where these two important battery raw materials come from. Supply contracts also guarantee supply security up to 2025 and beyond. Going forward, cobalt will be sourced directly from mines in Australia and Morocco, while the lithium will come from Australia and other countries.

Munich/Shenyang. The BMW Group is systematically pursuing its electrification strategy and will release the new BMW iX3 onto the market by the end of 2020. Standard production of the BMW core brand’s first pure electric model will get underway at the BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture (BBA) in China in late summer as planned: BBA Plant Dadong will produce the first Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) with a pure electric drive train for the global market. The first of these electric vehicles will be delivered to customers by the end of the year.

The testing required for homologation of the new BMW iX3 has now been successfully completed and the results submitted to the regulatory authorities in key automotive markets. “This is the first time we have completed the entire homologation process for a fully electric model in China and Europe at the same time. The staff on our testing team mastered this unique challenge with tremendous dedication and efficiency,” said Arno Keller, head of Development BMW iX3. More than 340 hours of testing, including over 7700 kilometres of test drives, had to be completed within four weeks. 

Preparations for production of the BMW iX3 were stepped up in Shenyang in parallel. BBA has been building BMW iX3 pre-production vehicles at Plant Dadong in Shenyang since the middle of last year. The 200th pre-production model recently came off the assembly line and test drives on Chinese roads began – allowing development and test engineers to make final adjustments.

“We are right on schedule with our BMW iX3 pre-production vehicles and will launch standard production in late summer, using state-of-the-art technologies such as custom installation of the new high-voltage battery and artificial intelligence for monitoring parts,” explained Robert Küssel, BBA Plant Director Dadong. “We are also producing the fully-electric BMW iX3 and the BMW X3 with combustion engine on the same production line. This enables us to achieve high efficiency and flexibility in production,” Küssel continued.

With the new BMW iX3, the BMW Group is adding another fully-electric vehicle to its portfolio that will not only tap into new customer groups, but also arrives on the market at a time when demand for electric vehicles is expanding significantly. The electric car is based on the globally successful BMW X3 and combines the versatility and robust functionality of a premium mid-size Sports Activity Vehicle with ground-breaking drive technology for locally emission-free driving pleasure. The BMW X3 is the brand’s first model available with both conventional petrol and diesel engines, a plug-in hybrid system or a pure electric drive train. This “Power of Choice” approach allows the company to respond to the different needs and wants of its customers worldwide and maximise its impact in reducing global CO2 emissions.

The BMW iX3 already comes with fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology, including a drive unit with the electric engine, power electronics and transmission highly integrated into a central housing. This significantly reduces the installation space and mass of the drive technology relative to output and offers added flexibility for installing new electric powertrain components in different vehicle derivatives. A further highlight is the electric motor, which no longer requires the use of rare earths and ensures the BMW Group is not depend on their availability.

The fifth-generation electric drive train also includes new and more powerful high-voltage batteries. Thanks to their scalable, modular design, these can be used flexibly in the respective vehicle architecture and at the respective production locations.

With a range of around 440 kilometres in the WLTP test cycle (preliminary data), the BMW iX3 paves the way for BMW eDrive technology, which will also be used in BMW i4 and BMW iNEXT models from 2021 on.

Munich. In today's automobiles, the wheels and their aerodynamic flow influence the overall vehicle efficiency by up to 30%. That is why a further developed technology of the BMW Aerodynamic Wheel is making its debut together with the BMW iX3, whose market launch is planned for 2020: The new combination of aluminum base wheel and individually designed inserts complements the efficient basic alignment of the BMW Group's first purely electric Sport Activity Vehicle (SAV) effectively.

While reducing drag for about 5% compared to a conventionally powered BMW X3 the new Aerodynamic Wheels are not only more efficient but also lighter than previous ones: Thanks to optimum airflow around the wheel arches, the wheels are 15% lighter than the aerodynamic wheels previously fitted by BMW.
Their benefits in terms of aerodynamics and weight have the overall effect of lowering power consumption for the BMW iX3 by another 2% in the European WLTP test cycle – equating to 0.4 kWh/100 km – and thereby extending the vehicle range by 10 kilometres. The wheels’ appearance can be varied in numerous different ways, enabling a vast variety of possibilities for the design of wheels on future models. The new Aerodynamic Wheels will also feature on the BMW iNext and BMW i4, which are going to be introduced in 2021.

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The Aerodynamic Wheels on the BMW iX3 blend lightweight construction and reduced air resistance with the sporting elegance of a V‑spoke aluminium wheel in a whole new way. The dimensions of the base wheel ensure the wheel living up to all the structural challenges involved in transmitting dynamic driving forces. Inserts with a high-class finish are responsible for achieving the necessary aerodynamic impact. This new division of tasks heralds a substantial weight saving over previous aerodynamic wheels from BMW.
Furthermore, the new base wheel is made using less material than its precursor adding up to the reduction of unsprung mass by lightweight inserts. This enhances both, driving dynamics and efficiency. Additionally, the mix of materials is benefitting a resource-efficient manufacture, as there is no need for further tools to produce special wheel options with optimised aerodynamics.
To fit the lightweight base wheel, the inserts are precision-moulded and integrated into the outside of the wheel between the spokes. Thus, they are highly effective in reducing wheel-arch air turbulence – and therefore aerodynamic drag. As a result, the Aerodynamic Wheels form a key element of the overall package developed for optimum efficiency of the BMW iX3.

Design variants enable maximum individualisation.

The BMW Group is the first automobile manufacturer to combine cast aluminum wheels with inserts consisting of a plastic carrier and an aluminum visible surface.

The high-quality material used for the inserts and their precise integration into the wheel design with no visible gaps reinforce the premium character of the rims. The patented process for optimising aerodynamic properties while minimising weight opens an unprecedented scope for vehicle customisation.
The Aerodynamic Wheels can be painted in different colours while the customer can also choose between matt or polished finish, just as known from conventional wheels. All versions of the base wheel can be fitted with inserts whose appearance can vary in endless ways according to the sheen, polish and pattern specified. This means that, for example colour accents from the body design can be incorporated into the inserts’ styling. Furthermore, inserts can also be combined with different surface designs within a single wheel. The end result is a multitude of aerodynamically optimised wheel possibilities, each with a design that matches the vehicle’s character, the equipment line selected and the customer’s individual preferences.

Munich. The BMW iX3, the production of which will commence in 2020, facilitates locally emission-free driving in a novel and efficient form, whilst also being suitable for everyday use. A range of more than 440 km* within the legislative WLTP test cycle will be achieved with a net-battery size of 74 kWh*. The first purely electric Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) is the trailblazer for BMW eDrive technology of the fifth generation, which, starting 2021, will also be deployed in the BMW i4 and the BMW iNEXT. For this purpose, both the drive system and the high-voltage battery unit featuring pioneering battery cell technology have been completely redeveloped. In the BMW iX3, the related advancement ensures brand-typical driving experience combined with outstanding efficiency and a novel balance of weight and range.

The BMW iX3 is yet a further milestone in the consistent realisation of the BMW Group’s electrification strategy. In 2020 the BMW X3 will become the brand’s first model available both with conventional petrol and diesel engines as well as plug-in hybrid and purely electric drive. With this “power of choice” offer, the globally operating company is taking into account the various different requirements and needs of their worldwide customers worldwide as well as maximum effectiveness in the reduction of CO2 emissions. The BMW iX3 is produced for the world market by the joint venture BMW Brilliance Automotive in Shenyang, China.  

* = preliminary data

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The fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology is the key to future-oriented sustainability for vehicles with electrified drive systems. It is the result of consistent development work within the framework of BMW EfficientDynamics and the experience gained by the BMW Group in the field of electric mobility spanning more than 10 years. All powertrain components used for BMW eDrive technology were developed solely by the BMW Group. Moreover, the electric motor and the high-voltage batteries are produced in corporately owned manufacturing facilities. In this way, the BMW Group ensures it has a decisive influence on the product properties and the quality of each component. Furthermore, the drive unit and the high-voltage battery unit are flexibly scalable in terms of power and energy content and can thus be used in various different vehicle concepts and segments.

EfficientDynamics at its best: New drive component with high efficiency and brand-typical power characteristics.  
In the BMW iX3, EfficientDynamics reaches a new level. The vehicle’s fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology comprises a drive unit in which electric motor, system electronics and transmission are brought together into a central housing. As a result, the required installation space of the drive technology and its weight are considerably reduced. The ratio between motor output and weight of the drive system improves around 30 percent compared to the previous generation.
The electric motor featured in the BMW iX3 delivers a maximum power output of 210 kW/286 hp*. The torque of 400 Nm* allows for high initial acceleration and keeps a high level even at the upper motor speeds because of exclusive BMW design measures.

A further special feature of the electric motor being deployed in the BMW iX3 for the first time is a construction method that eliminates the need for rare earth materials.

The electric motor used in the BMW iX3 transfers power to the rear wheels. This effectuates a further increase in drive system efficiency. Moreover, the range of the BMW iX3 benefits from the drive design conveying the traditional BMW rear-wheel drive experience.

High-voltage batteries with significant higher energy density and responsible use of raw materials.

The high-voltage battery unit of the BMW iX3 is integral part of BMW’s fifth eDrive generation and is based on the latest evolution in NMC-811 technology in BMW typical prismatic design. The BMW Group has outstanding development capabilities in this field. This know-how flows into precise specifications with regard to the use of materials and battery design, according to which the battery cells are produced. Consistent research and development work not only raises energy density but also constantly improves all battery cell characteristics, in particular also durability and safety. In total, the BMW high-voltage battery shows the optimum of what is possible nowadays.
At the same time the BMW engineers were able to reduce the share of cobalt contained in the battery by another two thirds. Compared to former technology used by BMW Group, the gravimetric energy density on cell level in the BMW iX3 is around 20 percent higher.

With the BMW iX3 the raw materials Cobalt and Lithium for the first time are purchased by BMW directly and then handed over to the producer of the battery cells.

In addition, scalability and the compact design of the high-voltage battery unit have been further optimised. The battery cells are grouped into modules at specialised BMW production locations and finally assembled as high-voltage battery packs aligned to each model. The high-voltage battery unit in the BMW iX3 is installed in an extremely flat position in the vehicle floor. Thanks to this arrangement, there is no loss of space for passengers and the luggage compartment compared to the conventionally powered versions of the BMW X3.

Greater range thanks to high efficiency rather than a bigger battery

With a net energy content of 74 kWh*, the high-voltage battery unit installed in the BMW iX3 achieves a range of more than 440 km* in the legislative WLTP test cycle. Within its segment, the BMW iX3 boasts not only a unique low power consumption of less than 20 kWh/100km* accordingly to the WLTP test cycle, but also stands for a novel ratio between battery size and range.
Thanks to the favourable efficiency rating of the drive components and the high energy density of the high-voltage battery unit, the BMW iX3 achieves a range that is only possible for common electric vehicles with larger and thus heavier batteries.

Positive environmental impact secured.
The “real” ecological footprint of electric vehicles is sometimes questioned, particularly in markets still having a low percentage of green electricity in the public power grid. At the BMW Group every electrified model has to proof that for the entire cycle, comprising raw material procurement, supply chain, production and usage phase as well as recycling, its CO2 balance is substantially better than the one of a conventionally powered sibling.  For the BMW iX3 the related advantage is more than 30 percent compared to a BMW X3 sDrive 20d when average European power supply is used during the car’s usage phase. If the vehicle is charged with green electricity the advantage is around 60 percent.

Furthermore, in analogy with the BMW i3 Plug&Play technology, the high-voltage battery featured in the BMW iX3 is planned for a second life as a stationary battery pack for the period following the first long life in the car. This way the already positive CO2 balance of the BMW iX3 can be further improved.

* =  preliminary data

Munich. The heart of the BMW brand beats in the premium segment of the mid-range category. Along with the BMW 4 Series Coupé, BMW 4 Series Convertible and BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé models, it is the BMW 3 Series that brings out the qualities that are key to hallmark brand driving pleasure in a particularly concentrated form. Now BMW is transferring the brand's characteristic core features to the age of electric mobility – the central purpose in developing the BMW i4. The BMW Group's first purely electrically powered model for the premium mid-range combines driving dynamics, sporty and elegant design, premium quality and the spacious comfort and functionality of a four-door Gran Coupé with locally emissions-free mobility. This heralds a new era of driving pleasure.

The future of electric mobility will be shaped by fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology, for which the BMW iX3 – to be produced from 2020 onwards – will act as a pioneer, followed by the BMW iNEXT and the BMW i4. With fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology, which also includes the latest innovations in the field of battery cells, the BMW i4 sets new standards in sporty performance, achieving a range of some 600 kilometres.

The development of the BMW i4 is part of a comprehensive product offensive by the BMW Group in the field of models with electrified drive. The company currently has the biggest range of all-electric and plug-in hybrid models within the competitive field. By 2023, the BMW Group will have 25 models with electrified drive in its program. With a model portfolio that includes efficient combustion engines as well as modern plug-in hybrid and purely electric drive, the BMW Group as a globally operating company is taking into account the varying requirements and preferences of its customers in different regions of the world. Irrespective of the type of drive selected, all current and future models feature hallmark brand driving pleasure as part of their specific characteristics.

Fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology for optimised dynamics, efficiency and range.

The drive technology of the BMW i4 sets new standards in terms of power density, efficiency and range in locally emissions-free driving. The electric motor, power electronics, charging unit and high-voltage battery have been entirely newly developed. Together they form the BMW eDrive technology of the fifth generation, with which the BMW Group has made further significant advancements in the field of electrified drive. From 2020 onwards, fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology will be introduced first in the BMW iX3 and then in the BMW iNEXT and BMW i4. The electric motor developed for the BMW i4 delivers a maximum output of around 390 kW/530 hp, reaching the level of a V8 engine in current BMW models fitted with a combustion engine. Its spontaneous power delivery gives the BMW i4 outstanding performance characteristics and exceptionally high efficiency.

The fifth generation of BMW eDrive also includes a newly designed high-voltage battery featuring the latest battery cell technology. The design of the high-voltage battery developed for the BMW i4 is characterised by its extremely flat design and optimised energy density. With a weight of some 550 kilograms, it has an energy content of around 80 kWh. This gives the BMW i4 a range of approximately 600 kilometres.

Gran Coupé with characteristic design and performance features.

The all-electric BMW i4 will be produced from 2021 onwards and subsequently launched on the global automotive markets. The new model will be manufactured at the company's main plant in Munich, where other vehicles produced include the BMW 3 Series Sedan with conventional combustion engine and plug-in hybrid drive, the BMW 3 Series Touring with conventional drive and from summer 2020 also with plug-in hybrid drive, the BMW 4 Series Coupé and the BMW M4 Coupé (fuel consumption combined: 10.0 – 9.3 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 227 – 213 g/km). In addition to the sporty, elegant design that is typical of a 4-door coupé of the brand, the BMW i4 is characterised by impressive performance features. The BMW i brand's first Gran Coupé accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in around 4.0 seconds, achieving a top speed of more than 200 km/h.

A flexible vehicle architecture, the flat, low-positioned high-voltage battery and the compact drive technology create a high degree of freedom in realising a model-specific design. The BMW i4 combines the characteristic proportions of a 4-door coupé with the typical design features of a BMW i model. Dynamically stretched lines and a precise surface design go hand in hand with aerodynamically optimised exterior features as well as sustainability accentuations that are specific to BMW i. High entry and exit comfort for the rear passengers and a spacious, variable interior ensure high suitability for both day-to-day trips and long-distance travel. As such, the BMW i4 can be clearly identified as a BMW Gran Coupé – and equally clearly as an electrically powered vehicle.

Modular, flexible drive and battery storage technology.

The electric drive component of the BMW i4, its charging unit and high-voltage battery are all developed in-house by the BMW Group. Production is carried out in-house or according to BMW Group specifications. Here, the experience gained from development of the previous generations of BMW eDrive technology is consistently tapped into with the aim of optimising all components on an ongoing basis.

The BMW Group's comprehensive expertise in the field of electrified drive systems forms the basis for a scalable modular system whose components can be integrated into different vehicle concepts with great flexibility. Fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology comprises a highly integrated drive system in which the electric motor, transmission and power electronics are accommodated in a single housing. This drive system is compatible with all vehicle concepts and will be available for different models in a range of output levels. The highly integrated design of the system allows a significant increase in power density as well as a reduction in weight and manufacturing effort. Production of future-generation electric motors will no longer require materials categorised as rare earths.

The next generation charging unit is characterised by a uniform package suitable for all future vehicle architectures. It can be used in plug-in hybrid models as well as in purely electrically powered vehicles and is designed for a charging capacity of up to 150 kW. This allows the high-voltage battery of the BMW i4 to be charged to around 80 per cent of its full energy content in around 35 minutes. This results in a charging time of around six minutes for a range of 100 kilometres.

In the field of high-voltage batteries, too, the advancements introduced with the fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology are based on the BMW Group's in-depth expertise and years of experience. The company has an exceptionally high level of know-how both in the field of battery cell technology and in the manufacture of model-specific high-voltage batteries. This lays the foundation for continuous optimisation of the batteries – both in future plug-in hybrid models and in purely electrically powered vehicles. The BMW Group has been manufacturing modules and model-specific high-voltage batteries for vehicles with electrified drive systems since 2013. An independently developed modular system with a flexible arrangement of the modules enables integration of batteries developed in-house into various vehicle concepts. Consistent ongoing development work is dedicated to optimising the basic characteristics of the battery cells as well as the structure of the modules and their arrangement in the respective model-specific storage unit. For example, the batteries used in the BMW i4 and other future electric vehicles have a higher number of cells per module, a reduced number of components, a more compact design and increased flexibility with regard to their geometry.

With the establishment of the Battery Cell Competence Centre in Munich, the BMW Group has further expanded its research and development expertise in this area, which is crucial to the future of electromobility. The focus is on fundamental research in areas where there is an impact on customer-related factors such as energy density, accessible peak output, service life, safety, charging characteristics, response at different temperatures and manufacturing costs. At the new Battery Cell Competence Centre, research is being conducted in particular into the potential for further optimisation of cell chemistry and cell design. The selection and composition of materials for the anode, cathode, electrolyte and separator as well as the format of the battery cells made of these materials will have a key impact on the quality of high-voltage batteries used in future models with electrified propulsion.

Munich. The BMW Group is building on its leading position in the world of electric mobility and has pooled its many years of experience with battery cells and extensive knowledge in the field in a new Competence Centre. The purpose of the facility in Munich is to advance battery cell technology and carefully dissect the production processes. “The new Battery Cell Competence Centre puts us in an enviable position,” said Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. “Taking the technology currently in the BMW i3 as a basis, by 2030 we will be able to double the energy density of our battery cells – and therefore also the operating range of the vehicles for our customers.”

The BMW Group today presented its new high-tech Competence Centre to media representatives from around the world in the presence of Bavarian state premier Dr Markus Söder, revealing state-of-the-art labs, research facilities and prototype systems.

And Zipse continued: “Battery cell technology is a key success factor in our electric vehicle offensive, as it influences both operational performance and battery costs. Our unrivalled expertise throughout the value chain ensures we are always at the cutting edge of technology. We can specify the exact formats we want to procure, as well as the materials and the conditions involved. As a result, we are ideally positioned to drive forward the rollout of our electrified vehicles.”

The new Competence Centre maps the entire value chain of battery cell technology – from research and development to a cell’s composition and design, and its suitability for large-scale manufacture. The facility brings together the full breadth of the company’s expertise and lays the foundations for adding to it. The short distances and cross-functional collaboration at work here will enable complete, transparent and sustainable development of battery cells. Here, it is important that consideration is given to the issue of recycling from the outset.

The BMW Group is investing a total of € 200 million in the Competence Centre and employees 200 people here. With this investment, the company is making a statement technologically but also safeguarding jobs and key skills. The company is working together with its employees to define the future of electric mobility at the BMW Group. “The Joint Works Council has been committed to the Battery Cell Competence Centre from the outset,” said Stefan Schmid, Deputy Chairman of the Joint Works Council at BMW AG. “The employee representatives at the BMW Group are actively involved in shaping these future-focused areas of the automotive industry, with the aim of developing the specific expertise of our employees within the company – and in so doing securing jobs for the long term during the process of transformation.” 

Materials development at the root of cell development

The BMW Group is developing future generations of battery cells at the new Competence Centre, focusing on customer-relevant aspects, such as improving energy density, available peak output, service life, safety, charging characteristics and performance at varying temperatures, and reducing battery costs. The BMW Group’s aim of developing the best battery cells for its models was formulated with these specifications at the forefront, reflecting the company’s commitment to giving electrified vehicle owners the very best cells for the vehicle concept at hand.

Selecting the right materials from the beginning is crucial if these high standards are to be met. For this reason, the experts at the Competence Centre are constantly investigating innovative materials and systematically comparing them with one another. This leads to the creation of new material sets for the battery cell’s individual elements: the anode, cathode, electrolyte and separator. The way in which the various materials interact – the cell chemistry, in other words – is another fundamental factor in the evolution of the cell design.

To guarantee access to the latest developments and knowledge at all times, the BMW Group works together with renowned worldwide partners throughout the value chain. These partners range from scientific institutions and universities to established companies and start-ups. And that enables the company to acquire know-how, ensures it is not dependent on individual developments and means it can create synergies and ultimately shorten development times. Working with a network of partners allows the BMW Group to consolidate its in-depth understanding of this cutting-edge technology and exploit the potential and opportunities of future innovations.

Cutting-edge laboratory and analytical equipment

Experts from around the world in the new development laboratories and facilities are striving to enhance the chemical composition and design of battery cells. Simulation and chemical analysis are assisting cell development from the word go.

The BMW Group has been analysing battery cells since 2008, allowing it to draw on many years of experience and, as a result, extensive expertise in the field. The laboratory at the new Competence Centre boasts the state-of-the-art technology and methodology needed to further expand the company’s knowledge, monitor trends for the battery cells of the future and play an active role in shaping developments.

The laboratory has been producing internally developed test cells in small formats for some years already with the aim of identifying the ideal cell structure from the myriad materials and variants. Great value is placed here on minimising the quantities of material used while optimising their properties.  If a cell passes the initial durability and charging behaviour tests, it is subjected to further testing in a larger format. An entire testing hall is on hand for this purpose and enables a wide variety of test types. The experts are also able to make use of an in-house safety lab, where the battery cells’ robustness can be investigated under extreme conditions. In this way, the BMW Group is able to maintain the same high standards of safety despite increasing energy densities and faster charging capabilities.

A sustainable and reliable supply path until 2025 and beyond

Sustainability and supply reliability are key factors in the ongoing expansion of electric mobility. For the BMW Group’s procurement specialists, ethical production and processing of raw materials begins at the very start of the value chain, which is why they closely scrutinise the battery cell supply chains – all the way back to the mines from which the materials are sourced. Complying with environmental standards and respecting human rights take top priority. The BMW Group publishes an up-to-date list of the countries of origin for cobalt on its website (see: https://www.bmwgroup.com/content/dam/grpw/websites/bmwgroup_com/responsibility/downloads/en/2019/BMW%20Group%20Sorgfaltspflicht%20bei%20der%20Lieferantenauswahl_EN.pdf ).

The company has also restructured its supply chains for the upcoming fifth generation of high-voltage batteries and will begin direct procurement of cobalt and lithium for battery cells in 2020. This ensures complete transparency regarding the origin of these two vital raw materials for batteries. Added to which, the relevant agreements guarantee a reliable supply of these materials until 2025 and beyond. In future, cobalt will be sourced directly from mines in Australia and Morocco, and lithium from countries including Australia.

Manufacturing technology of the future

The BMW Group is also taking steps to ensure that future generations of battery cells can be manufactured on a large scale. The Competence Centre offers both ideal overall conditions and high-quality production facilities conforming to the industry standards of established cell manufacturers. New production technologies have been integrated here, bearing in mind the importance of flexibility with cell format in order to create greater scope for incorporating different developments.

Manufacturing battery cell prototypes enables full analysis and understanding of the value chain processes for the cells. Adding the BMW Group’s in-house production expertise to the equation means the company can commission a specific chemical composition, mechanism and design for battery cells. In future, the BMW Group will be in a position to enable potential suppliers to manufacture cells in accordance with its particular requirements.

Recycling-friendly design

Batteries that are no longer fit for vehicles can be reused in stationary energy storage systems, helping to integrate renewable energy into the public power grid, increase grid stability and lower energy costs for consumers. The BMW Group has launched several major innovations with this in mind. The company is also using battery storage systems to steadily optimise power supply at its plants around the world.

For a number of years now, the BMW Group has been pursuing a carefully conceived recycling policy for battery cells in batteries that can no longer be used as stationary storage devices either. Viable recycling techniques have been developed with partners during and since the development of the BMW i3. These and other recycling methods are now being upscaled for industrial applications. Again, the company has teamed up with partners for the job at hand. The aim is to achieve a recycling rate in excess of 90 per cent. When designing the battery cells, the BMW Group sets out to ensure that it will be possible to recycle them efficiently at a later stage.

The Battery Cell Competence Centre will enable the BMW Group to build even greater expertise in the recycling of batteries and to work even more intensely on recycling techniques that lend themselves to use on an industrial scale.

In an effort to further increase recycling rates, the company is constantly trialling recycling concepts for new vehicle components in its recycling and dismantling centre. In addition, the BMW Group is collaborating with research institutes and suppliers to drive the implementation of new recovery technologies for materials that will be used more often in future.

International production network for electric mobility

The BMW Group has created a highly flexible production network that can react quickly to the changing demand for electrified models. Today, the company already builds electrified vehicles at eleven plants around the world, and integrates them into the existing production system.

The batteries required for the electrified models come from the company’s three battery factories in Dingolfing (Germany), Spartanburg (USA) and Shenyang (China). The BMW Group has also located production of batteries in Thailand as part of a link-up with the Dräxlmaier Group. BMW Group Plant Dingolfing plays a leading role within the network as a competence centre for electric drive systems.

Ambitious targets for electrified vehicle sales

The BMW Group is one of the world’s leading suppliers of electrified cars, with a total of twelve models in its line-up at present. The company has set clear targets for sales of its electrified models. In 2021 they should account for a quarter of all vehicles sold by the BMW Group in Europe. This figure should rise to one third in 2025 and then to half of all vehicles sold in Europe in 2030.

In order to achieve these targets, the BMW Group will offer a selection of 25 electrified models from 2023. Providing the platform for this undertaking are the flexible vehicle architectures for all-electric, plug-in hybrid and internal combustion models that allow the company to react swiftly to changing circumstances. More than half of the 25 models will have all-electric drive systems.

Contents.

1. BMW Connected – the personalised digital mobility companion from BMW – celebrates its premiere. European launch in August 2016
2. A commitment to development delivers ongoing reductions in emissions: The new-generation Efficient Dynamics engine family.
3. Battery technology – a core capability of the BMW Group.
4. Competence centre for eDrive technology : The BMW Group’s Dingolfing plant is the main production centre for electric motors and high-voltage batteries.
5. Paving the way for the mobility of the future: The list of achievements keeps on growing. The BMW i3 (94 Ah).
6. The best of two worlds: The BMW iPerformance models. The BMW 740e iPerformance, BMW 740Le iPerformance and BMW 740Le xDrive iPerformance.
7. The new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo.

World premiere of BMW‘s most powerful ever diesel engine in the new BMW 750d xDrive and BMW 750Ld xDrive – BMW 7 Series luxury sedans also available as BMW iPerformance models with plug-in hybrid drive technology – additional petrol engines of the latest generation for the BMW 1 Series and BMW 2 Series – BMW M Performance models of the BMW 1 Series and BMW 2 Series with new petrol engine – characteristic design features for all BMW iPerformance models – optional features: telephony with wireless charging und WLAN hotspot available for further models.

Munich. With the world premiere of the most powerful diesel engine ever used in a BMW production car and the introduction of three BMW iPerformance models, the drive portfolio of the BMW 7 Series continues to gain in diversity and fascination in the summer of 2016. At the same time, the BMW 1 Series and the BMW 2 Series will feature further petrol engines of the BMW Group's latest drive generation for the first time. These also include an even more powerful but also more efficient straight six-cylinder for the BMW M Performance models BMW M140i 3-door, BMW M140i 5-door, the BMW M240i Coupe and the BMW M240i Convertible.

Like the plug-in hybrid powered BMW 7 Series luxury sedans, the three additional BMW iPerformance models will in future also be recognisable by their characteristic exterior design features. Other innovations taking effect as from July 2016 include the introduction of the optional features telephony with wireless charging and WLAN hotspot for additional series. Moreover, in conjunction with the optional navigation system Professional, the iDrive control system now also features a new menu display in tile format for the BMW 1 Series, the BMW 2 Series Coupe and the BMW 2 Series Convertible, models of the BMW 3 Series and BMW 4 Series.

BMW 7 Series: New high-performance diesel engine and three BMW iPerformance models.

With the latest innovations in the field of drive technology being introduced in the summer of 2016, the BMW 7 Series is yet again setting a fascinating example of dynamics and efficiency in the luxury sedan segment. An entirely newly developed straight six-cylinder diesel engine is making its debut in the models BMW 750d xDrive and BMW 750Ld xDrive. The BMW TwinPower Turbo technology featured in the 3-litre power unit comprises four turbochargers, whose precisely coordinated function ensures an early onset of pulling power that continues right up into high engine speed ranges. With a peak output of 294 kW/400 hp and a maximum torque of 760 Newton metres, the new six-cylinder is the most powerful diesel engine ever used in a BMW model. With supreme power delivery and power transmission via the standard intelligent four-wheel drive system, the BMW 750d xDrive accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds (BMW 750Ld xDrive: 4.7 seconds), also offering even more forward thrust at high speeds that can be felt intensively at any time during short bursts of speed. Furthermore, the new top-of-the-range diesel model excels through exceptionally low fuel consumption that is truly unique in this performance class. Combined fuel consumption of the BMW 750d xDrive and the BMW 750Ld xDrive is between 5.9 and 5.7 litres per 100 kilometres and CO2 emissions are between 154 – 149 g/km (figures as per EU test cycle, depending on selected tyre size).

The BMW 7 Series iPerformance models will also be launched together with new diesel variants in the summer of 2016. The plug-in hybrid drive system including BMW eDrive technology from BMW i automobile development will become available for the models BMW 740e iPerformance featuring a standard wheelbase, for the BMW 740Le iPerformance with a long wheelbase and for the BMW 740Le xDrive iPerformance with intelligent four-wheel drive. Together, the combustion engine and electric motor featured in these models generate a system output of 240 kW/326 hp, their intelligently controlled interaction ensuring impressively spontaneous power delivery resulting in exemplary efficiency. Furthermore, driving in solely electric mode is possible with a vehicle range of up to 44 to 48 kilometres (BMW 740Le xDrive iPerformance: 41 – 45 kilometres). The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h is completed in 5.4 seconds with the BMW 740e iPerformance, in 5.5 seconds with the BMW 740Le iPerformance and in 5.3 seconds with the BMW 740Le xDrive iPerformance. Average combined fuel consumption per 100 kilometres is between 2.2 and 2.0 litres (BMW 740Le xDrive iPerformance: 2.5 – 2.1 litres). CO2 emissions are between 50 and 45 grams per kilometre (BMW 740e iPerformance) or 51 and 45 grams per kilometre (BMW 740Le iPerformance) or 56 and 49 grams per kilometre (BMW 740Le xDrive iPerformance) respectively. Combined power consumption is 13.9 kWh/100 km to 12.5 kWh/100 km. (figures as per EU test cycle for plug-in hybrid vehicles, depending on selected tyre size).

BMW M Performance models of the BMW 1 Series and BMW 2 Series: New engine generation with enhanced power and optimised efficiency.

From July 2016, BMW M Performance automobiles of the BMW 1 Series and BMW 2 Series will underscore their outstanding sporting character even more intensely with an extremely powerful straight six-cylinder petrol engine of the latest generation. Compared with the previous engine, the newly developed 3-litre power unit featuring M Performance Twin Power Turbo technology now mobilises 250 kW/340 hp following a power increase of 10 kW/14 hp and delivers a maximum of 500 Newton metres of torque. As a result, the BMW M Performance models now come up to the performance level of the BMW 1 Series M Coupe, which was built from 2011 to 2012. They complete the spurt from 0 to 100 km/h by up to 0.3 seconds faster than the predecessor models, whilst both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions as per EU test cycle are up to 7 percent lower than before. The increase in power under the bonnet and the resulting enhanced dynamics are also expressed in the new model designations for the BMW M140i 3-door, the BMW M140i 5-door, the BMW M240i Coupe and the BMW M240i Convertible. They are optionally available with BMW xDrive intelligent four-wheel drive technology.

With the standard 6-speed manual transmission, the models BMW M140i 3-door and BMW M140i 5-door accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds or with the optional 8-speed Steptronic sports transmission in 4.6 seconds respectively. Fuel consumption as per EU test cycle is 7.8 litres per 100 kilometres (automatic: 7.1 litres) and CO2 emissions 179 grams per kilometre (163 g/km). The BMW M140i xDrive 3-door and the BMW M140i xDrive 5-door come as standard with an 8-speed Steptronic sports transmission and both reach the 100 km/h mark from a standstill in 4.4 seconds. Their combined fuel consumption is 7.4 litres per 100 kilometres and CO2 emissions are 169 grams per kilometre.

The BMW M Performance models of the BMW 2 Series are also optionally available with BMW xDrive intelligent four-wheel drive technology and are in this case equipped as standard with the 8-speed Steptronic sports transmission. The BMW M240i Coupe sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds (automatic: 4.6 seconds) and has a combined fuel consumption of 7.8 litres per 100 kilometres (7.1 litres) as per EU test cycle. CO2 emissions are 179 grams per kilometre (163 g/km). The BMW M240i xDrive Coupe completes the sprint to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and achieves an average fuel consumption of 7.4 litres per 100 kilometres as well as a CO2 emission level of 169 grams per kilometre. The BMW M240i Convertible accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds (automatic: 4.7 seconds). Average fuel consumption is 8.3 litres per 100 kilometres (automatic: 7.4 litres) and CO2 emissions are 189 grams per kilometre (169 g/km). The BMW M240i xDrive Convertible sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and has an average fuel consumption of 7.8 litres per 100 kilometres as per EU test cycle and a CO2 emission level of 179 grams per kilometre.

BMW 1 Series, BMW 2 Series Coupe and BMW 2 Series Convertible: New four-cylinder petrol engine for eight models.

From July 2016, the generation change under the bonnet will affect many further models of the BMW 1 Series and the BMW 2 Series. Two variants of the BMW 1 Series 3-door, the BMW 1 Series 5-door, the BMW 2 Series Coupe and the BMW 2 Series Convertible will each be powered by new four-cylinder petrol engines that further optimize the balance between driving pleasure and fuel consumption. The 2-litre power units both feature latest BMW TwinPower Turbo technology comprising a Twin Scroll turbo charger, direct petrol injection, VALVETRONIC and Double VANOS. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a standard 6-speed manual transmission and optionally via an 8-speed Steptronic transmission.

The new engines help the BMW 120i 3-door and the BMW 120i 5-door attain an increase in output of 5 kW/7 hp to 135 kW/184 hp. Equipped with the standard manual transmission or the optional 8-speed Steptronic transmission, both models accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds. Combined fuel consumption is between 6.1 and 5.7 litres per 100 kilometres (automatic: 5.9 and 5.5 litres). CO2 emissions are between 140 and 131 grams per kilometres (135 – 126 g/km (figures as per EU test cycle, depending on selected tyre size).

Engine output of the models BMW 125i 3-door and BMW 125i 5-door has also increased by 5 kW/7 hp. With a power delivery of 165 kW/224 hp and the meanwhile standard 8-speed Steptronic transmission, both models now sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds. The enhanced dynamics are coupled with a lower fuel consumption of 5.9 to 5.7 litres per 100 kilometres and CO2 emissions of 134 to 130 grams per kilometre (figures as per EU test cycle, depending on selected tyre size).

The new version of the 135 kW/184 hp four-cylinder engine also optimizes efficiency of the BMW 220i Coupe and the BMW 220i Convertible. The BMW 220i Coupe accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds (automatic: 7.2 seconds and achieves a combined fuel consumption of 6.1 bis 5.7 litres per 100 kilometres (5.9 – 5.5 litres) and CO2-emissions of 140 to 131 grams per kilometre (135 – 126 g/km). The BMW 220i Convertible sprints to100 km/h in 7.5 seconds (7.7 seconds) and combined fuel consumption is now between 6.5 and 6.1 litres per 100 kilometres (6.1 – 5.7 litres). CO2 emission levels are between 149 and 139 grams per kilometre (140 – 131 g/km (figures as per EU test cycle, depending on selected tyre size).

July 2016 will see the launch of the BMW 2 Series’ sportiest four-cylinder variants with a power output increase of 5 kW/7 hp to 185 kW/252 hp vs. their predecessors and with the model designations BMW 230i Coupe and BMW 230i Convertible. These also come as standard with a 6-speed manual transmission and optionally with an 8-speed Steptronic or 8-speed Steptronic sports transmission respectively. The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h is completed by the BMW 230i Coupe in 5.8 seconds (automatic: 5.6 seconds). Average fuel consumption is between 6.4 and 6.2 litres per 100 kilometres (5.9 – 5.7 litres) and CO2 emissions are between 147 and 142 grams per kilometre (134 – 130 g/km). The BMW 230i Convertible accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds (automatic: 5.9 seconds) and has a combined fuel consumption of 6.8 to 6.5 litres per 100 kilometres (6.2 – 6.0 litres). CO2 emissions are between 155 and 149 grams per kilometre (142 – 137 g/km (figures as per EU test cycle, depending on selected tyre size).

Characteristic design features for the BMW iPerformance models.
With the market launch of the first plug-in hybrid models, BMW eDrive technology comprising electric motors, lithium ion high-performance batteries and intelligent energy management have now been added to the BMW brand’s vehicle range. In addition to the three BMW 7 Series plug-in hybrid models available starting July 2016, three further segments offer a choice of vehicles combining a combustion engine with an electric drive. In future, they will bear the model designations BMW 225xe iPerformance Active Tourer, BMW 330e iPerformance Sedan and BMW X5 xDrive40e iPerformance. The technology transfer from BMW i automobile development, helping them attain a new level of dynamics and path-breaking efficiency, is now underscored by characteristic exterior design features.

In addition to the “eDrive” logo on the C pillar, the BMW iPerformance models will feature a BMW i logo on the front left and right sidewalls, blue hubcaps and a BMW kidney grill with slats painted in typical BMW i blue. From December 2016, these new features will be standard on the BMW X5 xDrive40e iPerformance and on all further BMW iPerformance models as early as from July 2016. Analogous to the model name plates on all BMW models, specific design features on BMW iPerformance models can also be omitted if the customer so wishes. Further equipment features originally designed for the BMW i3 and the BMW i8 and which are also available as standard or as options for all BMW iPerformance models, include hybrid-specific BMW ConnectedDrive services as well as the complete BMW i 360° ELECTRIC portfolio.

New from BMW ConnectedDrive: BMW iDrive with optimized menu display, telephony with wireless charging and WLAN hotspot available for further models.

From the summer of 2016, three new features from BMW ConnectedDrive, which were previously only available for the BMW 7 Series and BMW 6 Series, will also find their way to the BMW 1 Series, the BMW 2 Series Coupe and the BMW 2 Series Convertible, the BMW 3 Series and BMW 4 Series. A new, extremely clearly structured menu display and a higher screen resolution for the Control Display will in future optimize the control of vehicle, infotainment, navigation and communication functions via the iDrive controller. In conjunction with the navigation system Professional, the on-board monitor no longer displays the main menu and control options for the various functions in lists, but in the form of adjacently arranged tile symbols. Furthermore, the speech recognition feature of the navigation system Professional has been supplemented by the function Natural Language, with which spoken instructions can be given not only as predefined text modules, but also freely formulated in complete sentences.

The optional feature telephony with wireless charging enhances comfort when using mobile phones inside the vehicle. Inductively chargeable smartphones can be supplied wirelessly with electricity during the journey using the mobile telephone facility provided for this purpose in the centre console. Apart from the integration of the smartphone into the vehicle operating system, the new option also includes a connection to the exterior antenna and two USB ports as well as the WLAN hotspot function, which facilitates high-speed Internet connectivity for up to eight mobile end devices.

Wider choice of leather seats for the BMW 1 Series, BMW 2 Series, BMW 3 Series and BMW 4 Series.

As a variant that is ideally suited to the charisma of the model M Sport, the leather trim Dakota in the colour black with blue contrast stitching will be available for the BMW 1 Series, the BMW 2 Series Coupe and the BMW 2 Series Convertible as well as for all models of the BMW 3 Series and BMW 4 Series from July 2016. In the case of all BMW 3 Series and BMW 4 Series, both the model M Sport as well as the models Luxury Line and Sport Line can now be ordered with the seat variant Dakota Veneto Beige in combination with the interior colour black.

Further information on official fuel consumption figures, specific CO2 emission values and the electric power consumption of new passenger cars is included in the following guideline: “Leitfaden über Kraftstoffverbrauch, die CO2-Emissionen und den Stromverbrauch neuerPersonenkraftwagen” (Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars), which can be obtained from all dealerships, from the Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at http://www.dat.de/en/offers/publications/guideline-for-fuel-consumption.html. LeitfadenCO2 (GuidelineCO2) (PDF ‒ 2.7 MB))

Please find attached on location pictures of the international press event of the new BMW 330e in Garching/Munich from 25 - 29 January, 2016.

The presskit (SOC 03 September 2015) will be attached, too.

Attached please find the technical specifications BMW 3 Series Sedan 330e, valid from 09/2015.

The arrival of the new BMW 330e offers customers another innovative route to Sheer Driving Pleasure. With its plug-in hybrid drive system, the latest BMW 3 Series variant combines the dynamic flair for which the brand is renowned with the option of driving on electric power alone (locally emission-free) and the promise of unbeatable efficiency over longer distances. The BMW 330e therefore brings together high-quality dynamics and extremely low fuel consumption. The fusion of BMW eDrive technology (developed under the BMW EfficientDynamics banner) with a BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engine has resulted in an efficient and dynamic plug-in hybrid drive system which fits perfectly with the BMW brand: dynamically adept, locally emission-free (thanks to its electric driving system) and efficient.

The plug-in hybrid drive system delivers familiar BMW driving dynamics by pairing a cutting-edge electric motor producing 65 kW/88 hp and a peak torque of 250 Nm / 184 lb-ft with a four-cylinder combustion engine, which develops 135 kW/184 hp and 290 Nm / 214 lb-ft of torque. Combined average fuel consumption in the NEDC cycle is 2.1–1.9 litres* per 100 kilometres (134.5–148.7 mpg imp), with CO2 emissions coming in at 49–44 g/km*. With a system output of 185 kW/252 hp and peak torque of 420 Nm / 310 lb-ft, the BMW 330e accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.1 seconds on the way to a top speed of 225 km/h (140 mph). The electric motor and combustion engine send their power to the sedan’s rear wheels via a standard-fitted eight-speed Steptronic transmission. The arrangement of the electric motor in front of the transmission allows the transmission ratios to be used in all-electric mode as well. This means a torque converter can be omitted, which partially cancels out the extra weight of the additional drive unit.

Power delivery akin to a large-capacity combustion engine.
The drive unit’s operating strategy features a permanent electric boost function. Here, the electric motor supplements the power from the combustion engine with 100 Nm / 74 lb-ft of torque and can deliver a brief extra burst – depending on the position of the accelerator – of up to 250 Nm / 184 lb-ft. On the move, this comes across as an extremely forceful and sustained wave of power, similar to the sensation a large-capacity combustion engine might produce. And because ample power is on hand at all times, a superior and relaxed driving feeling results. Overtaking manoeuvres are that much quicker and the BMW 330e offers a rousing sense of driving pleasure on all types of road.

The high-voltage battery, made up of lithium-ion cells, is located underneath the boot and boasts efficient refrigerant cooling including a highly integrated low-temperature circuit. The battery has a total capacity of 7.6 kWh (gross)/5.7 kWh (net), which enables an all-electric and therefore locally emission-free range of around 40 kilometres (25 miles), all of which identifies the BMW 330e as a perfect model for city dwellers and commuters. When the BMW 330e is taking a break, the high-voltage battery can be charged from either a conventional domestic power socket or a BMW i Wallbox. A BMW i Wallbox (charging power: 3.7 kW) will fully charge an empty battery in just two hours and 12 minutes. If only a domestic power socket is available, the process takes three hours.

The neat integration of the high-voltage battery in the compartment under the boot gives the BMW 330e a level load compartment floor, while use of the optional through-loading system with 40:20:40 split rear seat backrests remains unrestricted. Together with its boot capacity of 370 litres, the new BMW 330e thus offers all the everyday practicality of a conventionally powered BMW 3 Series Sedan. Added to which, the intelligent positioning of the electric drive system’s components allows finely balanced weight distribution – 50 per cent over the front axle, 50 per cent over the rear axle – and, in so doing, paves the way for the dynamic and dextrous handling shared by all BMW 3 Series models.

BMW eDrive adapts both to the situation at hand and those ahead.
As well as the Driving Experience Control switch with its SPORT, COMFORT and ECO PRO settings, the driver can also adapt the responses of BMW eDrive to the vehicle’s use at any one time by means of a toggle switch in the centre console. There is a choice of three driving modes: AUTO eDRIVE, MAX eDRIVE and SAVE BATTERY. AUTO eDRIVE ensures the combustion engine and electric motor work together to optimum effect in all driving situations and allows an all-electric top speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). This mode is activated automatically as the default setting every time the car is started up.

In MAX eDRIVE mode the BMW 330e uses the car’s electric power only, drawing on the electric drive system’s full output. A top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph) is possible. Its ability to cover up to 40 kilometres (25 miles) in this all-electric mode makes the BMW 330e the ideal car for commuters or city dwellers, for example, as it allows them to complete their daily journeys extremely efficiently and with an eye on the environment. The combustion engine can, however, cut in at any time if the accelerator is pushed down beyond its kickdown position when additional power is required, e.g. for overtaking.

SAVE BATTERY mode allows the battery’s energy stores to be deliberately maintained – or increased again if the charge level has dropped below 50 per cent. This energy can then be used for pure-electric driving, on a part of the journey running through city streets, for example.

BMW ConnectedDrive assists the driver in a variety of ways.
BMW ConnectedDrive works in tandem with the navigation system to allow even better use of the available electric energy. Here, the system assists the driver with proactive energy management and calculates an operating strategy which responds to the driving style and route profile at hand – and thus ensures the plug-in hybrid drive system is used as efficiently as possible. The system adapts the drive strategy to the overall route profile. For example, the car uses all-electric power along urban streets and electric energy is also deployed on uphill sections so that the system’s full recuperation potential can be used on a subsequent downhill stretch. This equips the BMW 330e perfectly to offer locally emission-free driving, as well as covering longer stretches extremely efficiently and with less impact on the environment. Like all BMW 3 Series models, the BMW 330e has a comfortable and classy interior featuring five seats, practical details and the ergonomic operating concept typical of BMW. Moreover, the BMW 330e comes as standard with auxiliary heating and cooling (output: 5 kW). These functions can be activated by a button on the car key or pre-programmed using a two-week timer either on the iDrive operating system or via the BMW ConnectedDrive smartphone app. The details are shown on the Control Display.

*Provisional figures. Fuel consumption figures based on the EU test cycle for plug-in hybrid vehicles, may vary depending on the tyre format specified.

Further information on official fuel consumption figures, specific CO2 emission values and the electric power consumption of new passenger cars is included in the following guideline: “Leitfaden über Kraftstoffverbrauch, die CO2-Emissionen und den Stromverbrauch neuer Personenkraftwagen” (Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars), which can be obtained from all dealerships, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at http://www.dat.de/en/offers/publications/guideline-for-fuel-consumption.html. Leitfaden CO2 (Guideline CO2) (PDF ‒ 2.7 MB)

Donington , 25 August 2015. BMW will be lining up for the FIA Formula E Championship once again in 2015/16 . The second season of the race series gets underway in Beijing on 17 October 2015, and BMW will be on hand as the Official Vehicle Partner.

The futuristic BMW i8 sports car (fuel consumption combined: 2.1 l/100 km / 134.5 mpg imp; CO2 emissions combined: 49 g/km) will once again see action as the Safety Car in the trailblazing race series for electrically-powered formula machines. And the all-electric (and therefore emission-free) BMW i3 (energy consumption combined: 12.9 kWh; CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km) will perform the role of Medical Car, as it did in the series’ inaugural season. Added to which, a pair of BMW C evolution electric scooters and a BMW X5 xDrive40e plug-in hybrid (fuel consumption combined: 3.4–3.3 l/100 km / 83.1–85.6 mpg imp; CO2 emissions combined: 78–77 g/km; figures based on the EU test cycle, may vary depending on the tyre format specified) will be making their Formula E debuts, as models from other BMW Group brands join the BMW i cars in the eDrive family .

“BMW i and Formula E make a great match,” said Jörg Reimann, Vice President BMW Brand Experience. “The world governing body of motor sport, the FIA, is branching out in a new and extremely interesting direction with the FIA Formula E Championship – and we have been on board from the outset. The series got off to a highly successful start in its first year on the calendar, with its all-electric formula racing cars, tight street circuits running through the heart of major world cities and innovative ideas engaging fans via social networks. BMW has been involved in Formula E from the word go. It signed up as the Official Vehicle Partner to supply the BMW i8 Safety Car and BMW i3 Medical Car. And this commitment has given the company a platform on which to press its claim as a leader in electric mobility. We’ve succeeded in bringing the driving pleasure for which BMW is renowned to the attention of millions of people in major cities around the world. The ball is very much rolling now; in 2014 and 2015 we laid the foundations for a successful partnership, and it’s one which will continue into the second season of the championship in 2015/2016.”

Formula E will become an “open” championship in its second season. Compared with the inaugural edition of the series, in which all the cars were technically identical, eight of the ten teams will line up for the new season with their own technology. The technical changes will be concentrated on the powertrain – specifically the electric motor, the inverter, the transmission and the cooling system – and see the cars differing in terms of speeds, soundtrack and, above all, efficiency levels over the race distance.

The 2014/15 Formula E calendar featured e leven races in ten countries on three continents. Ten teams took their places on the grid for that opening season, each with two drivers at the wheel of standardised cars . Nelson Piquet Jr. wrapped up the title in the final race in London – and duly took his place in the history books as the first ever champion in this new series.

The new season will begin on 17 October 2015 and again take in eleven races in ten countries.

For further information on FIA Formula E go to: www.fiaformulae.com

Further information on official fuel consumption figures and specific CO2 emission values of new passenger cars is included in the following

guideline: “Leitfaden über Kraftstoffverbrauch, die CO2-Emissionen und den Stromverbrauch neuer Personenkraftwagen” (Guideline for fuel

consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars), which can be obtained free of charge from all

dealerships, from the Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at

http://www.dat.de/en/offers/publications/guideline-for-fuel-consumption.html.

The 2015/2016 season: Official FIA Formula E Vehicle Partner extends its line-up of models featuring new BMW eDrive technology.

The eDrive technology introduced through BMW i since 2013 will be carried over gradually into models from the core BMW brand. It will be included in the following vehicles as part of the Formula E race series.

BMW C evolution.

BMW Motorrad is supplying the FIA Formula E organisation with two BMW C evolution electric scooters for use as shuttles. The scooters enable zero-emission riding:

• Range in everyday use on battery-electric power only (EU):
  100 kilometres (62 miles)
• Maximum output: 35 kW (47.5 hp)
• Maximum torque: 72 Nm (53 lb-ft)
• Top speed: 120 km/h / 75 mph (electronically governed)
• 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph): 6.2 seconds; 0 – 50 km/h (31 mph): 2.7 seconds
• Innovations: reverse assist, Torque Control Assist, four riding modes, ABS, hybrid chassis, TFT colour display, LED daytime running light and sidelight, electrical safety to passenger car standard.

BMW X5 xDrive40e.

Available from autumn 2015, the BMW X5 xDrive40e plug-in hybrid will be deployed as the Official FIA Formula E Rescue Car over the course of the new Formula E season and has been adapted to the technical requirements of the FIA.

• Range on electric power only (EU): up to 31 kilometres (19 miles)
• Overall range: over 800 kilometres (497 miles)
• System output: 313 hp
• Maximum system torque: 450 Nm (332 lb-ft)
• Top speed: 210 km/h / 130 mph (120 km/h / 75 mph on electric power only)
• 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph): 6.8 seconds

Modifications to comply with FIA Formula E requirements:

• Bank of LED lights and stroboscope light
• FIA radio equipment and transponder integrated into the vehicle electronics
  
  

BMW i3.

The battery-electric BMW i3 will continue as the Official FIA Formula E Medical Car. Two BMW i3 cars will be supplied for the electric race series:

• Range on electric power only (EU): up to 160 kilometres (100 miles)
• Maximum output: 170 hp
• Maximum torque: 250 Nm (184 lb-ft)
• Top speed: 150 km/h / 93 mph (governed)
• 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph): 7.2 seconds

Modifications to comply with FIA Formula E requirements:

• Bank of LED lights, fire extinguisher, paintwork and decals
• FIA radio equipment and transponder integrated into the vehicle electronics
• Attachment points for medical equipment
  
  

BMW i8.

The BMW i8 is the most progressive sports car of our times and, by combining the performance and appeal of a sports car with small car fuel economy, created a new segment as the first sustainable sports car. It offers zero-emission driving in town (eDrive) and efficient sports car performance out of town, where a highly turbocharged and efficient 1.5-litre petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology also comes into play.

With its revolutionary vehicle concept – which brings together a carbon-fibre passenger cell, aluminium chassis and benchmark aerodynamics for its segment (Cd: 0.26) – the BMW i8 represents the company’s technological cutting edge.

The BMW i8 will continue as the Official FIA Formula E Qualcomm Safety Car through the second season of Formula E. The modifications to the two new Safety Cars are far more performance-oriented and they have been adapted to meet the FIA’s technical regulations ahead of the new season, which gets underway in Beijing on 17 October.

The new BMW i8 Safety Car is the world’s first vehicle equipped for inductive charging with 7.2 kilowatts of power using Qualcomm Halo™ prototype technology . This allows the high-voltage battery of the BMW i8 to be fully recharged in around one hour only.

• Range on electric power only (EU): up to 37 kilometres (23 miles)
• Overall range: over 600 kilometres (373 miles)
• System output of FIA Formula E Safety Car: approx. 380 hp
• Maximum system torque: > 570 Nm (420 lb-ft)
• Top speed: 250 km/h / 155 mph (using electric power only: 120 km/h / 75 mph)
• 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph): < 4.4 seconds; 80 – 120 km/h (50 – 75 mph): 2.6 seconds

Modifications to comply with FIA Formula E requirements:

• Certified safety cell – bolted and bonded to load-bearing elements of the body. Use of patented tube joints.
• New bank of LED lights and stroboscope light
• FIA radio equipment and transponder integrated into the vehicle electronics
• 2 x additional 12V sockets with 25A fuse
• Carbon-fibre racing seats
• Carbon-fibre centre console
• Six-point safety belt
• Removal of interior trim and airbags
• Modified trim elements on safety cell
• Modified position of safety belts
• Official decals

Technical modifications to the new BMW i8 Safety Car over the standard production car:

Chassis

• Modified chassis mount points and upper wishbones
• Custom-made Bilstein springs / dampers
• 15 mm lowered chassis

Wheels / tyres

• 20” ATS racing rims: black, powder-coated
  (front: 245/ 35 R20, rear: 285/ 30 R20)
• Michelin Pilot Super Sport sports tyres

Brakes

• Motorsports brake discs and callipers (six-piston at the front, four-piston at the rear)
• Improved ventilation / cooling for the front discs
  Direct in-flow of air via the front spoiler and deflector plates
• Modification to the rear section of the underbody (additional air intakes, spoiler) and airflow to the brake discs via supply tube and deflector plates

Aerodynamics

• Kidney grille split at half height
  Modified front-end airflow
• 850-watt fan (front)
• Number of dynamic pressure flaps in fan shroud increased
• Modified bonnet outlet cover and airflow
• Modified air deflectors
• New air deflectors and air deflector plate on the underfloor of the car
• Rear window replaced by plastic cover with air outlets
• Sound absorption panelling for the engine removed
• Two additional fans in the engine compartment
• C-pillar ventilation removed
• Lower-mounted engine soundproofing removed
• New anti-roll bar bearings
• Extension of diffuser below the combustion engine (75 mm)
• Heat insulation for the exhaust system
• Additional carbon-fibre spoiler lips at the rear
• Additional diffusers on the underfloor of the car (front and rear)

High-voltage battery

• Battery cell modified for testing purposes, now has higher electric output (+ approx. 10 kW)

Modified roll cage

• Seamlessly drawn precision pipe (25 CrMo4)
• Yield strength: 640 Nm/mm²
• Tensile strength: 695 Nm/mm²
• Bolts quenched and tempered
• Roll cage weight: 48 kilograms
• First FIA-certified BMW i8 roll cage

New inductive prototype charging system (Qualcomm Halo™)

• BMW i8 FIA Formula E Qualcomm Safety Car is the world’s first vehicle to offer 7.2 kW inductive charging based on Qualcomm Halo™ prototype technology
• Tested under all extreme climatic conditions
• EMC-approved

Munich. Please notice: On 25 August 2015, 4 pm, a press release on the continuance of BMW’s partnership with FIA Formula E will be published in BMW Group Press Club. The official announcement will take place in Donington Park/ UK during official FIA Formula E tests.

Picture material will be produced in Donington Park on site to be published
at 04.00 pm CET in BMW Group press club as well.

Munich / Stuttgart. Four wins in the latest International Engine of the Year Awards plainly demonstrate the BMW Group’s engine-building prowess. The drive unit in the BMW i8 earned two class wins as well as being declared overall winner, with a further class win being garnered by the engine of the BMW M3 and BMW M4.

The BMW i8 unit was voted class winner for its BMW TwinPower Turbo three-cylinder petrol engine, while the overall drive unit of the BMW i8 claimed a further class win as the best “new engine”. Its combination of electric motor and petrol engine also earned it overall victory. In the 2.5 to 3.0-litre displacement category, the M TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder in-line petrol engine of the BMW M3 and BMW M4 came out on top.

This fourfold success for the BMW Group at the International Engine of the Year Awards 2015 furnishes further evidence of the performance potential of the Efficient Dynamics technology package, which since 2007 has enabled a continuous enhancement of driving pleasure while at the same time cutting fuel consumption and emissions.

The International Engine of the Year Awards were launched in 1999, since when 66 class and overall wins have gone to engines developed for BMW models. Each year an expert panel of judges, this time comprising 65 motoring journalists from 31 countries, selects the best engines in numerous categories. The prize-winners were presented with their awards on Wednesday, 17 June 2015, against the backdrop of the Engine Expo trade fair in Stuttgart.

 The three-cylinder combustion engine in the BMW i8 develops 170 kW/231 hp and drives the rear wheels, while the 96 kW/131 hp electric motor draws its energy from a lithium-ion battery, which can be charged from a conventional domestic power socket, and sends its power to the front axle. This bespoke plug-in hybrid system, developed and produced by the BMW Group, enables a range of up to 37 kilometres (23 miles) in the EU test cycle and a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph) on electric power alone, coupled with a “glued-to-the-road” all-wheel driving experience headlined by powerful acceleration and a dynamically-biased distribution of power through keenly taken corners. The more powerful of the two sources drives the rear wheels and uses the electric boost from the hybrid system to deliver hallmark BMW driving pleasure while at the same time offering ground breaking levels of efficiency. The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes just 4.4 seconds, yet combined fuel consumption – as calculated in the EU test cycle for plug-in hybrid vehicles – stands at 2.1 litres per 100 kilometres (approx. 135 mpg imp) plus 11.9 kWh of electricity. This equates to CO2 emissions of 49 grams per kilometre.

The M TwinPower Turbo six-in-line petrol engine in the BMW M3 and BMW M4 is exceptionally high-revving for a turbocharged engine, resulting in linear power delivery over a wide engine speed range and a unique engine note. M TwinPower Turbo technology ensures that peak torque is on tap over a broad rpm range. A further hallmark of this engine is its outstanding efficiency.

Further information on official fuel consumption figures, specific CO2 emission values and the electric power consumption of new passenger cars is included in the following guideline: “Leitfaden über Kraftstoffverbrauch, die CO2-Emissionen und den Stromverbrauch neuer Personenkraftwagen” (Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars), which can be obtained from all dealerships, from the Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at http://www.dat.de/en/offers/publications/guideline-for-fuel-consumption.html. LeitfadenCO2 (GuidelineCO2) (PDF ‒ 2.7 MB)

Munich / Vienna. Following the successful market launch of BMW eDrive technology in the first models of the BMW i brand, the BMW Group’s future focus is also on in-house development of electric drives that combine high levels of efficiency with brand-typical driving fun. As part of his address at the 36th International Vienna Motor Symposium, Klaus Fröhlich, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development, presented the concept of a forward-looking plug-in hybrid drive. In addition to offering an all-round electric driving experience and even further enhanced dynamics at higher speeds, it also promises the long-distance driving capability familiar from conventionally powered vehicles – and for larger cars as well. A demonstrator model featuring Power eDrive technology has already been built to glean insights into potential deployment in future vehicle architectures for the medium and larger vehicle segments.

“In the future there will be a variety of drive systems for different requirements,” said Fröhlich. The positive response to the BMW i3, he pointed out, showed that a pure battery-electric drive in small to mid-sized vehicles already represents an attractive solution today for urban mobility based on typical daily driving distances even beyond 100 kilometres (62 miles).

Driving requirements that exceed this in terms of dynamics and long-distance suitability, on the other hand, are best served by innovative plug-in hybrid drives. In this area, Power eDrive technology – in the wake of the successful introduction of BMW eDrive in the BMW i8 and the BMW X5 – represents the next stage of development, announced Fröhlich.

With Power eDrive, the strengths of the plug-in hybrid drive will be rigorously developed going forward. A total range of some 600 kilometres (370 miles) guarantees a long-distance capability that is also adequate for large vehicles. In statistical terms, some 80 per cent of the average annual mileage of a typical commuter could be covered in all-electric mode.

Power eDrive technology, moreover, comes with the kind of sporting potential traditionally associated with a BMW. With an electric drive on both front and rear axles, electric driving fun becomes a palpable experience. But the dynamic potential of this drive concept really comes into its own when accelerating from standstill and during mid-range acceleration on the open road. At higher speeds the combustion engine can also be called on as a supplementary drive source. Thus, as well as providing dynamics as required, Power eDrive also guarantees a significant boost in efficiency during everyday operation.

“Highly dynamic responses are a key attribute, which in the higher speed ranges become continuous thrust,” explained Fröhlich. “Power eDrive combines electric driving fun with the long range of a combustion engine.” With this innovative form of high electrification and the ongoing development of purely electric drive, he added, the BMW Group would in future be able to offer the ideal electric driving experience for each vehicle segment. This flexible concept opens the door to further enhancement of both efficiency and hallmark BMW driving pleasure, while at the same time meeting the demands of the most diverse markets and target groups.

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Munich/Landshut. On the Monday morning after Germany had won the football World Cup final against Argentina, the Landshut/Ellermühle speedway stadium at the AC Landshut club witnessed one of sport’s more unusual match-ups. It was the first time a representative of a leading German car magazine took a BMW M235i with M Performance Parts onto the almost 400-metre-long track to compete in a drifting contest against BMW motorcycle dealer and four-times dirt-track world champion Karl Maier on a speedway bike.

The respective starting points for the driver and rider could not have been more different. The BMW M235i M Performance is powered by a 3.0-litre BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engine developing 326 hp and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft), has a DIN vehicle weight of 1,470 kilograms and measures almost four-and-a-half metres in length. The speedway motorcycle, meanwhile, has an air-cooled 500 cc single-cylinder engine, weighs 80 kg (as per speedway regulations), makes do with just a single gear and has no brakes. The specially designed methanol-fuelled machine produces up to 80 hp and has been built exclusively for speedway track use.

Equipped with original M Performance Parts, the BMW M235i provided the perfect recipe for consistent drifts through the approximately 12-metre-wide corners of the Landshut track, just as it does on the road. The driving dynamics for which BMW is renowned are the result of 50:50 weight distribution, a low centre of gravity, BMW M Performance sports suspension (lowered by 20 mm compared to standard specification), a mechanical limited-slip differential at the rear axle and forged 19-inch light-alloy wheels. In June 2014 the car’s BMW TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder engine was crowned “Engine of the Year”. With peak torque of 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) on tap from 1,300 – 4,500 rpm, it offers consistent power delivery across the entire rev range to complement the car’s finely balanced chassis.  

Despite the vastly different profiles of their machines, both driver and rider succeeded in fulfilling a common goal: five hours of “sheer drifting pleasure” on the tightest of tracks. Its first ever meeting with the speedway bike gave the BMW M235i M Performance the chance to demonstrate its dynamic performance capability for the first time on dirt rather than asphalt.

Five hours of uninterrupted sideways action had failed to sate Karl Maier’s appetite, so the former world champion rounded off the day with a few laps of the track on a specially modified BMW S1000 RR with studded tyres. The RR weighs a shade over 200 kg with a full tank of fuel on board and develops output of 193 hp. But the directional stability, outstanding handling and communicative responses of the super-sports machine allowed Maier to drift his way smoothly over the speedway track, setting the seal on what was dynamically a quite extraordinary day.

Munich. Can typical BMW driving pleasure also inspire in the compact segment? In the late summer of 2004, a sustainable and impressive answer to this question was provided. The BMW 1 Series made its debut – the first automobile to combine the brand’s characteristic driving dynamics, a sporty and elegant design and premium quality with the functional advantages of a five-door car with compact dimensions. 10 years further on, the BMW 1 Series is still the benchmark for sportiness in its class and the epitome of efficiency, reliability and innovative equipment features. Its unique qualities have rendered it a bestseller, with almost 1.9 million units having been sold worldwide.

Meanwhile, the BMW 1 Series’ history is being continued with the second model generation, offering numerous highlights that reflect the series’ multifaceted potential and high level of appeal. The BMW 1 Series became the basis for a 5-door and a 3-door body variant, a coupe and a convertible, for the “World Green Car of the Year 2008”, for the first BMW model with a CO2 emission level of less than 100 grams per kilometre, for the brand’s first electric vehicle for day-to-day use and for a BMW M automobile with 250 kW/340 hp, for the leader of the endurance test ranking of the trade magazine “Auto Bild” and the winner of the “Goldenes Lenkrad” in 2008 and 2011.

Thanks to the implementation of extensive EfficientDynamics technology, the BMW 1 Series became the leading pioneer in the consistent reduction of fuel consumption and emission levels. It was the brand’s first series to include as from 2007 an Auto Start Stop function, a gearshift indicator, brake energy regeneration and electric power steering and more. Thanks to its enormous popularity, the BMW 1 Series also became the driving force for the steadily increasing sales figures achieved by the world’s most successful premium automobile manufacturer.

Unique in the compact segment: A typical BMW for the “Joy Principle”.

With the Munich-based premium carmaker’s venture into the compact segment, the unmistakable characteristics of a BMW model were adopted into a new format. The brand-typical proportions with a long bonnet, short overhangs, a long wheelbase and an aft-set passenger cell, the temperamental and dynamically designed body surfaces, the driver-oriented cockpit arrangement, powerful, longitudinally installed engines, high-class suspension technology and power transmission to the rear wheels, to this very day still unique in its class, all helped the BMW 1 Series attain its outstanding position that became the starting point for its worldwide sales success. From the very beginning, the BMW 1 Series underscored its significance through sophisticated, innovative equipment options previously only available in higher vehicle segments. Runflat tyres, adaptive headlight range control, a two-stage brake light, the Start/Stop unit and options such as Comfort Access, the iDrive control system as well as driver assistant systems and mobility services from BMW ConnectedDrive using intelligent networking found their way into the compact class with the BMW 1 Series. Moreover, the BMW 1 Series also took on an exemplary role in terms of safety. In the Euro NCAP crash test, both the first (2004) and the second model generation (2011) each received the highest rating of 5 stars.

In order to highlight the new model’s exceptional qualities and reach additional target groups, new approaches were also adopted in the field of PR and marketing.  For the first time and in addition to conventional advertising, a comprehensive online campaign and communication methods conceived exclusively for use with smartphones played a crucial role. On the website www.Prinzip-Freude.de, test drives were propagated at an early stage. Star of the TV spot released under the motto “Joy” was none other than Kermit the frog. With his unconventional, self-mocking charm, the world-famous protagonist of the Muppet Show proved to be the ideal figure to promote the new model.

Compact driving pleasure in great variety: BMW 1 Series in four body variants.

The BMW 1 Series was originally launched as a classic four-door hatchback with a large tailgate. Within the framework of the model update in the spring of 2007, the 5-door car was supplemented by a sport-oriented 3-door body variant, which clearly asserted the dynamic driving characteristics of the BMW 1 Series, of which more than 200,000 had been sold by that time. Additional dynamics came into play with the introduction of the third model in November of the same year. As a two-door model featuring a classic three-box design, four seats and exceptionally powerful engines, the BMW 1 Series Coupe offered the most intensive form of driving pleasure in the compact segment, with sales of more than 150,000 units worldwide before being replaced last year. The BMW 1 Series Convertible with a classic soft top and a low shoulder line guaranteeing that brand-typical open driving experience, was equally as successful. The first open-top premium automobile in the compact segment followed in April 2008, finally selling more than 130 000 times.

The current model generation of the BMW 1 Series (fuel consumption combined: 8.0–3.8 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 188–99 g/km) is available both in a 5-door and a 3-door version. Furthermore, BMW emphasises the increased significance of premium compact models for the international automotive markets by supplementing the product range with a second series. With the introduction of the BMW 2 Series Coupe (fuel consumption combined: 8.1–4.3 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 189–114 g/km) and the BMW 2 Series Convertible (fuel consumption combined: 8.5–4.4 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 199–116 g/km), driving dynamics and sporty elegance have reached a new dimension within the compact segment. 

Further information on official fuel consumption figures, specific CO2 emission values and the electric power consumption of new passenger cars are included in the following guideline: "Leitfaden über Kraftstoffverbrauch, die CO2-Emissionen und den Stromverbrauch neuer Personenkraftwagen" (Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars), which can be obtained from all dealerships, from the Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at http://www.dat.de/angebote/verlagsprodukte/leitfaden-kraftstoffverbrauch.html. LeitfadenCO2 (Guideline CO2) (PDF ‒ 2.7 MB)

Munich. Driving pleasure and sustainability are fused together in unprecedented fashion in the all-electric BMW i3 and the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car. Their high-voltage batteries can be recharged quickly and easily by means of the BMW i Wallbox that forms part of the 360° ELECTRIC portfolio. This sophisticated charging station with fast-charge facility for feeding cars with power either at home or at work underlines the all-embracing approach adopted by the BMW i brand when it comes to developing products and services for sustainable mobility of premium calibre. In the process, the BMW Group has assumed a pioneering role in this field and is therefore pressing keenly ahead with the development of innovative technologies for making driving with zero tailpipe emissions more and more attractive. Systems for inductive charging of high-voltage batteries are the next step forward for energy supply. The development objective in the medium term is to put reliable, non-wearing and user-friendly solutions for inductive charging into production that have been tailored to both the batteries in the BMW i cars and the high-voltage batteries in future plug-in hybrid models from the BMW Group.

The crucial advantage of inductive power supply over conventional charging stations is the cable-free connection between the supply point and the vehicle’s high-voltage battery. Carmakers Daimler and the BMW Group have signed an agreement on the joint development and implementation of a standardised technology for inductive charging of electric cars and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The system consists of two components: a secondary coil in the vehicle floor as well as a base plate with integral primary coil that is located underneath the car, for example on the garage floor. The arrangement of the coils, and consequently of the field pattern, is based on a design derived from their circular shape that offers a number of crucial benefits. These include the extremely compact and lightweight construction along with effective spatial confinement of the magnetic field. The electrical energy is transmitted via an alternating magnetic field generated between the coils, contact-free, without charging cables and at a charging rate of 3.6 kW. With an efficiency factor of over 90 percent, this method enables the high-voltage batteries in vehicles to be charged efficiently, conveniently and safely.

A further development target is to minimise the charging time for contactless power transmission. At a charging rate of 3.6 kilowatts, the high-voltage batteries in many plug-in hybrid vehicles can be fully charged in under three hours. It takes less than two hours to charge the BMW i8 using a fully working prototype of an inductive charging station. In order to make allowance for the higher storage capacities of high-voltage batteries in pure-electric vehicles, the future technology standard also foresees the possibility of increasing the charging rate to 7 kW. This ensures that the battery in the BMW i3 could still be fully charged overnight when using the inductive system.

Inductive charging makes life considerably easier for the driver of an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle, as there is no need to connect any cables to top up the power reserves. Once it has been correctly positioned above the primary coil, the driver can simply start the charging process at the push of a button using the vehicle’s own operating system. Data is transmitted via a WiFi connection between vehicle and charging station to help the driver even with parking.

The inductive charging facility can be used regardless of the weather conditions. Not even rain or snow has a negative effect on the power feed as all of the system’s conductive components are protected, which means the primary coil can even be installed outdoors. During charging, ambient electromagnetic radiation is also kept to an absolute minimum. The space between the primary and secondary coils is permanently monitored, allowing charging to be halted instantly if any foreign bodies are detected.

As with today’s BMW i Wallbox, the inductive power supply systems of the future will also make it possible to activate and monitor the charging process from a smartphone. The relevant smartphone app will let drivers call up the data transmitted online on the battery’s charge status, for instance, or the time remaining until charging is complete.

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. Little more than a year before the EU6 exhaust emission standard comes into effect in September 2014, BMW is increasing the number of models that already fulfil the more stringent emission regulations. As early as in the summer of 2013, almost all models featuring the BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engine will comply with the EU6 classification as standard. Moreover, by the summer of 2013, further four-wheel drive variants of the BMW 1 Series and the BMW 3 Series are to be added to the model range of the BMW brand. Innovative functions, which can be used in conjunction with the ECO PRO mode, guarantee even better efficiency. Enhanced driving pleasure is provided thanks to the Launch Control function, which in future will be included in the equipment range for the eight-speed sports automatic transmission. And the range of BMW ConnectedDrive options now also includes innovations that, as a result of intelligent networking, further optimise comfort, safety and the use of infotainment features inside the vehicle.

EU6 classification standard for all series.

BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology not only ensures enhanced driving pleasure coupled with reduced fuel consumption, but also offers the ideal prerequisites for optimised emission performance. As early as in the summer of 2013, numerous other petrol-driven models of the BMW brand equipped with this technology package will fulfil the EU6 exhaust emission standard that is due to come into effect as from September 2014. At the beginning of the 2014 model year, the BMW M automobiles as well as the six-cylinder versions of the BMW Z4 will also comply with the EU6 classification. At the same time, the number of diesel models, which are also equipped as standard with BMW BluePerformance and as a result also achieve the EU6 classification, is also to increase. 

Intelligent four-wheel drive concept xDrive for further models of the BMW 1 Series and BMW 3 Series.

With five further models, which can be optionally equipped with BMW xDrive, BMW will also be continuing the current four-wheel drive initiative in the summer of 2013. The permanent, electronically controlled four-wheel drive technology optimises not only traction and vehicle stability in all weather and road conditions, but also driving dynamics when taking bends. This can in future also be experienced in the models BMW 118d xDrive 3-door version and the BMW 118d xDrive 5-door variant. Like the new models BMW 318d xDrive Sedan and the BMW 318d xDrive Touring, they are also powered by a 105 kW/143 hp four-cylinder diesel power unit.  Furthermore, as from the summer of 2013, a new top-of-the-range diesel model for the BMW 3 Series also featuring BMW xDrive will become available. Power from the 230 kW/313 hp straight six cylinder diesel engine under the bonnet of the BMW 335d xDrive Sedan is distributed between the front and rear axles according to each specific situation. The BMW 335d xDrive Sedan comes as standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Optimum acceleration: Eight-speed sports automatic with Launch Control.

The remarkably efficient, fast and comfortably shifting eight-speed automatic transmission is now available for BMW models across all series. If desired, it will be possible in future to underscore the sporting character of the automatic transmission even more intensively. From the summer of 2013, the optional leather sports steering wheel with shift paddles will be available for the luxury sedans of the 7 Series. Using this feature, the driver can manually adjust the drive settings without having to take his/her hands off the steering wheel.

Moreover, the eight-speed sports automatic transmission available for the BMW 1 Series, the BMW 3 Series and the BMW 6 Series will be complemented by the new Launch Control function. This feature permits acceleration with optimised traction and maximum dynamics from a standstill – a function that was previously only available in a comparable version for BMW M automobiles. In order to use Launch Control, the driver has to activate the DTC mode of the driving stability control function DSC, shift the gear selection lever to the position S, depress the brake pedal firmly and simultaneously press the accelerator pedal all the way down. After the brake pedal has been released, the vehicle accelerates with optimal drive slip, consequently making highest possible use of engine power. The acceleration process continues for as long as the driver depresses the accelerator pedal. The equipment range for the sports automatic transmission also includes shift paddles on the steering wheel, a specific gear selector switch and exceptionally dynamic gear-change characteristics that also ensure supreme driving performance during short bursts of speed.

BMW EfficientDynamics: ECO PRO Mode now with sailing function and anticipation assistant. 

Thanks to new functions for the ECO PRO Mode, which can be activated via the Driving Experience Control feature, BMW is increasing the possibilities of achieving better fuel economy through intelligent energy management. From the summer of 2013, all model variants of the BMW 1 Series*, the BMW 3 Series* and the BMW 6 Series equipped with the eight-speed automatic transmission or the eight-speed sports transmission either optionally or as standard, will feature the new sailing mode (except the BMW 114i, 116i, 118i, 316i and 320i EfficientDynamics Edition). At speeds of between 50 and 160 km/h in the ECO PRO Mode, the drive train is disconnected as soon as the driver lifts his/her foot from the accelerator pedal without applying the brakes. As a result, the vehicle is able to ‘sail’ without engine power, thereby also achieving maximum fuel efficiency.  Fuel economy is now promoted even more intensively using the optional navigation system Professional.

The new anticipation assistant informs the driver of the ideal time to slow down when approaching bends, stretches, curves and roundabouts of road where speed limits are in force in order to obtain better fuel efficiency. For the first time, BMW EfficientDynamics technology and BMW ConnectedDrive technology will be networked with each other within the framework of the intelligent energy management – with the effect that further fuel savings will be achieved in ECO PRO mode.

BMW ConnectedDrive: New options and enhanced functions.

Furthermore, from the summer of 2013, BMW will also set new benchmarks in intelligent networking, thanks to the consistently upgraded range of BMW ConnectedDrive features. New options and enhanced functions ensure further optimisation.

The options Driving Assistant and Driving Assistant Plus initially introduced exclusively for the BMW 7 Series will be available with a new functional structure both for the luxury sedan and further BMW models. The safety package Driving Assistant comprises the Lane Departure Warning as well as a pedestrian and collision warning with braking function. The system detects vehicles driving ahead and, at speeds of up to 60 km/h, also persons who are on a possible collision course. In an identified hazard situation, the driver is warned by means of visual and acoustic signals. In order to shorten the stopping distance, the braking system is simultaneously preconditioned. Furthermore, at speeds of up to 60 km/h an emergency braking manoeuvre with medium deceleration is also activated in order to reduce speed and draw the driver’s attention to the critical situation.  

The Driving Assistant Plus provides even more comprehensive support. The system combines Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function with the Driving Assistant, ensuring above all enhanced comfort and safety in slow-moving traffic and tailbacks. At speeds of up to 210 km/h, the driver is able to delegate the Distance Control function to the system. A combination of front camera and full-range radar sensors detects all vehicles ahead, whether moving or stationary. Should the driver not react to the warning of a potential collision, the Driving Assistant Plus automatically slows the vehicle down – with maximum deceleration power if necessary.

The Lane Change Warning assistant, also available as an individual option, can be used in future from a speed of 20 km/h. The system monitors the traffic situation on the adjacent lane in the area called the dead spot and warns he driver of potential critical situations during overtaking manoeuvres.

Thanks to additional functions, the use of the optional BMW Head-Up Display is becoming even more attractive. The system, which uses the entire colour spectrum when projecting driving-related information onto the windscreen, is now being complemented by additional display information on further models. If required, telephone contact and infotainment lists are also displayed within the driver’s direct field of vision. As a result, the driver is able to use this information without having to take his/her eyes off the road.

From the summer of 2013, the new generation of the night vision system BMW Night Vision will be optionally available for all models of the BMW 6 Series and BMW 7 Series. This system now also comprises an animal recognition function in addition to the pedestrian recognition feature and the Dynamic Light Spot on BMW 5 Series and BMW 7 Series models. The system provides a real-time video image that also depicts on the Control Display persons, animals and other objects emitting heat when they are outside of the light beam and warns in the event of an impending collision. The Dynamic Light Spot is produced by a special headlight that directs the light beam onto the recognised persons or animals respectively, thus drawing the driver’s attention to possible hazards in good time.

The range of functions for the Active Protection option has also been further upgraded. In critical situations, this safety package helps to reduce the consequences of a possible accident by applying a number of countermeasures. In such a case, the side windows and, if necessary, also the sliding roof are closed, front seatbelts tightened and the backrest of the front passenger seat brought into an upright position. Active Protection also includes an attention assistant that analyses driving behaviour and, if necessary, advises the driver to rest. The advice to take a break is provided in the form of graphic symbols shown on the Control Display.

Increased interior comfort thanks to improved air quality, better fuel economy through intelligent control.

München. For a long time, motorists regarded air conditioning merely as a guarantee of a cool workplace when behind the wheel. During the early 1980s, the optional extra was predominantly ordered as protection against the midsummer heat inside the car, true to the motto: the heat has to stay out, irrespective of how hot the sun is. The greater the “refrigerator feeling” experienced by occupants was, the more effective an air conditioning system was considered to be. 

However, over the years, consumers have changed their attitude and the demands on interior climate comfort have increased significantly. Whether in extreme heat, heavy rainfall or severe cold, a cosy interior climate has become a must.

In the case of the new BMW 3 Series, air conditioning experts go even a step further, as particularly good air quality is also crucial for best possible interior climate comfort.
Besides automatic air circulation control, which is activated for instance in increased concentrations of fine particulate and exhaust gases in tunnels or behind HGVs, the standard air conditioning unit featured in the new BMW 3 Series employs an additional filter system that also becomes effective when switched to the air circulation mode.

As a result, unpleasant environmental odours such as those sometimes experienced in industrial areas or in the streets of large cities are almost entirely eliminated. The perfect interaction between the automatic air circulation control and the filter system noticeably enhances air quality inside the BMW 3 Series. Even when the air conditioning is not in use, the additional filter remains active.

When opting for a two-zone automatic climate control system, both the driver and the front seat passenger are able to set the desired temperature for their seat area individually and according to preference. The temperature of the air leaving the air vents as well as the amount and distribution of air are automatically regulated. Depending on intensity and radiation angle of the sun, the automatic climate control system adapts its degree of effectiveness (solar compensation) and individually adjusts the interior temperature to the desired level on both the driver and front seat passenger sides. Additional air vents, likewise variably adjustable and located in the rear compartment, ensure that backseat passengers are also able to enjoy a pleasant interior climate. In order to avoid fogged-up windows, particularly during the cold and damp season, the new BMW 3 Series is also equipped with an automatic sensor-controlled anti-fogging function, which intervenes by means of targeted ventilation as soon as visibility is restricted.

After a frosty night or when it is bitterly cold, the new climate control system quickly generates a remarkably high heat output. Within the defrosting area of the windscreen, the field of vision is evenly defrosted only shortly after a cold start. The increased heating performance is of particular benefit to customers in Scandinavia, as temperatures there often drop below minus 20 degrees in the winter. Even in temperatures as low at that, the two-zone automatic climate control system featured in the BMW 3 Series ensures that the car is cosy and warm within the foot and head areas after around ten minutes, and that includes the rear compartment.

Each air vent of the automatic climate control system is controlled by a compact and centrally located flap mechanism, rendering additional stepper motors unnecessary. This all results in a saving of weight and space beneath the dashboard. Thanks to the compact design of the automatic climate control system, it is possible for the first time to offer the new BMW 3 Series with Head-Up Display – a new feature in the premium middle class. Furthermore, in this way, space has been created in the centre console for two cupholders.

Within the framework of EfficientDynamics measures, BMW engineers paid special attention to improving the fuel consumption of the new BMW 3 Series. When the driver switches to the ECO PRO mode, the new automatic climate control system operates using an optimised heating/climate strategy. Without any noticeable loss in comfort, fuel-efficiently is enhanced through reduced air-drying and cooling in the interior as well as through the intermittently deactivated air-conditioning compressor.

In BMW’s own environmental wind tunnel, engineers are working intensively on additional fuel savings and further optimisation of in-car climate comfort. In this facility, it is possible to simulate every climate zone on the planet, highly efficiently and within the shortest time. There, mainly cold starts and de-icing tests are carried out under the most extreme conditions. The aim of BMW developers is to further shorten the engine warm-up phase, as higher temperatures reduce friction, which in turn facilitates lower fuel consumption and emission levels - totally in keeping with the BMW EfficientDynamics philosophy. 

1. Source of innovation. 25 years of BMW (Forschung und) Technik GmbH. (summary version)

2. Making the force of innovation tangible. The concept vehicles of BMW Technik GmbH.

BMW Z1:  First project becomes an immediate legend.

BMW Z1 Coupé: The base for the platform concept.

BMW E1: premiere in the sphere of electric vehicles.

BMW Z13: an interior concept that breaks the mould of convention.

BMW Z18: The first off-road roadster.

BMW Z21: fascinating driving fun Just 4/2.

BMW Z22: a masterpiece in mechatronic design.

BMW Z29: driving machine made from Formula 1 materials.

3. The future of sheer driving pleasure. Efficient Dynamics – from research to road.

Fuel-cell hybrid technology for emission-free mobility in city traffic.

BMW has been developing fuel-cell technology since 1997.

APU supplies the on-board power – and also provides drive energy for the first time.

Reformer technology: fewer emissions during cold start.

Synthesis gas obtained from liquid fuel is free of residues.

Hybrid concepts: More efficiency, more driving pleasure – right from the start.

Development of hybrid technology since the 1990s.

Option for the future, available now owing to intensive research: hydrogen as fuel.

4. More driving pleasure, comfort and safety through smart networking. Connected Drive – a dynamic concept with fascinating perspectives.

Strategic support in demanding driving situations: the narrow-passage assistant.

Automated driving in hazard situations: the emergency stop assistant.

Optimised vehicle localisation: with the TrackTrainer on the North Loop of the Nürburgring.

Independent manoeuvring in very tight spaces: the garage parker.

Networking is the future: vehicle-to-vehicle communication for enhanced safety and efficiency.

Research project for innovative control systems: Drive Stick.

From sailing to vehicle: optimised head-up display technology.

Identification and integration of new technologies as a recipe for success: BMW ConnectedDrive Services with unique, world-class functionality.

Innovative services for alternative drive concepts.

BMW Key: Additional functions through networking.

Attached please find the complete text of the presskit for download.

Los Angeles - November 29, 2006... BMW today unveiled two world premiere
vehicles during its press conference on the occasion of the Los Angeles
International Auto Show. The first premiere was the new BMW X5. The new BMW
X5 grows in size and luxury yet further improves upon the driving dynamics that
made the first iteration of the X5 such a success. The new X5 will be
available with an expanded array of available options - one of which is a third
row, seven passenger seating option. The new X5 is now on sale in the USA.
The second premiere was the new BMW Hydrogen 7, the world's first
hydrogen-drive luxury performance automobile. The Hydrogen 7 - which has
fulfilled all of the criteria of BMW's rigorous product development process -
will be built in a limited series and will be driven by selected users in the
US and other countries in 2007. The Hydrogen 7 is based on BMW's familiar 7
Series model and is equipped with an internal combustion engine capable of
running either on hydrogen or on gasoline.

The new BMW Hydrogen 7
With the BMW Hydrogen 7, the BMW Group is laying down a marker for sustainable
mobility. This car will play a pioneering role in driving forward hydrogen
technologies. BMW has gained an excellent reputation for significantly
reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by using ultra efficient, yet very
dynamic gasoline engines. Together with clean, performance diesel engines and
the technologically advanced hybrid systems currently under development within
the BMW EfficientDynamics project, the BMW Group has a clear strategy for
sustainable mobility - with hydrogen as the ultimate goal.

Hydrogen technology dramatically reduces emissions generated by personal
transport and, in particular, minimizes the emission of CO2. Running in the
hydrogen mode, the BMW Hydrogen 7 essentially emits nothing but water vapor.

With all the comforts and amenities of a non-hydrogen BMW 7 Series, the BMW
Hydrogen 7 is powered by a 260 bhp twelve-cylinder engine that accelerates from
0-62.1 mph in 9.5 seconds. Top speed is limited electronically to 143 mph. The
BMW Hydrogen 7 also features a dual-mode power unit - controlled at the touch
of a button - that can switch quickly and conveniently from hydrogen to
conventional premium gasoline.

The car's dual-mode drive provides a hydrogen mode cruising range of more than
125 miles, with another 300 miles in the gasoline mode. With this overall
cruising range of more than 400 miles, the driver of a BMW Hydrogen 7 is able
to use the vehicle without problem even when the nearest hydrogen filling
station is far away. This technology is a viable solution until the hydrogen
infrastructure is fully developed.

The BMW Hydrogen 7 emphatically proves that changing over to an alternative
form of energy doesn't mean missing out on superior driving dynamics and
comfort. The departure from fossil fuel does not in any way mean giving up the
dynamics and performance typical of a BMW. The mobility of tomorrow and
driving pleasure of today are compatible, with the drive concept of BMW
Hydrogen 7 being directly transferable to future models. Driving a car of this
caliber will be just as thrilling in the future as it is today, but at the same
time cleaner than ever before.

The new BMW X5
When it arrived nearly seven years ago, BMW's X5 could have simply added
another respected premium nameplate to the ranks of sport-utility vehicles.
Instead, it redefined the class. BMW's description of that original X5 as a
"Sports Activity Vehicle" represented a new approach to the concept of a
traditional SUV - one that linked handling, performance and agility to the
conventional attributes of practicality, versatility and off-road ability. The
result was some 618,000 X5s were produced in BMW's Spartanburg, South Carolina
factory. For 2007, BMW expands and refines that definition with an all-new X5,
one that includes an even higher level of achievement in each of those original
concepts.

In the area of versatility, the new X5 is now available with a third row
seating option which will fold flat - along with the second row to provide a
roomier cargo area and greater flexibility of usage than its predecessor. The
luxury of the X5 has been enhanced with high quality interior materials and
design. An extended color, trim and option list allows a customer to tailor
the X5 to exactly their specifications.

Finally, in spite of the larger dimensions, increased versatility and luxury,
the performance that made the original X5 such a strong product has been
thoroughly enhanced in this new model. As in previous years, the X5 offers a
choice of 6-cylinder or V-8 performance: the X5 3.0si and the 4.8i, both of
which offer better performance and excellent efficiency. The flagship 4.8i
boasts BMW's all-aluminum Valvetronic V-8, boosted to 4.8 liters and 350
horsepower. The 3.0si features BMW's new 260-horsepower aluminum/magnesium
inline-6. Standard equipment on both models is a new 6-speed STEPTRONIC
automatic. BMW's outstanding xDrive all-wheel-drive system continues, enhanced
via a closer link between the xDrive electronics and the X5's Dynamic Stability
Control to provide even quicker, more accurate response.

New Products for 2007
BMW also presented a number of new for 2007 products today. The 3 Series Coupe
continues to raise the level of luxury and performance from which all sport
coupes are judged. In true BMW tradition, it also establishes new standards of
performance and driving dynamics with the introduction of an exceptional
engine: the 335i Coupe features a new inline six-cylinder engine with
twin-turbochargers, high precision fuel injection, and an all-aluminum
crankcase with an output of 300 horsepower. The 335i Coupe will be joined in
the U.S. by the 230 horsepower 328i Coupe. The 328i Coupe will also will be
offered with xDrive all-wheel drive for the first time. The 3 Series sedans
also benefit from the engines developed for the coupes. For 2007, the 3 Series
sedan will be offered both as a 328i and as a twin-turbo 335i.

Building on its reputation as an agile, fun to drive, attainable BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle, the X3 has received a significant freshening for the 2007
model year. It begins, of course, with a performance upgrade. The BMW X3
3.0si - as it is now called - is powered by the award-winning
aluminum/magnesium 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, featuring VALVETRONIC
technology. In the X3 3.0si, this engine produces 260 hp at 6,600 rpm and 225
lb-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm. This represents an increase of 35 horsepower and
11 lb-ft of torque over the model it replaces. True to its BMW heritage, the
X3 3.0si is offered with a six-speed manual as standard equipment. A new
six-speed STEPTRONIC automatic transmission is a no cost option in place of the
previous 5-speed. It also includes revamped exterior styling, an increase in
the level of interior refinement as well as new luxury and performance oriented
options.

The BMW 7 Series is the introductory "canvas" for BMW Individual in the USA.
The BMW Individual offering will provide 7 Series customers with a selection of
distinctive paints and interior treatments allowing them to individualize their
vehicles to reflect their own tastes and personality. BMW Individual was
established in 1991 as a division of BMW M GmbH with the goal of leading the
trend towards more individuality by concentrating on customers who were looking
for made-to-measure solutions in terms of distinction, design and function.

The available BMW Individual exterior paints are developed using special
Xirallic paints and a 5-coat process that picks up fine pigments in the coating
to create constantly changing nuances in the finish, giving greater color
intensity and dramatic two-tonal effects.

The interior is fitted with the highest quality Merino full-leather upholstery,
Alcantara headliner and unique interior trim - including Piano varnish wood
trim. Illuminated BMW Individual doorsills, distinctive 20" BMW Individual
wheels and the convenient storage net in the front passenger foot well provide
the additional premium touches to complement the BMW Individual 7 Series.