Munich/Milan. Presenting A Garden of Curiosity – an immersive installation cocreated by MINI and Paul Smith for the Salone del Mobile. Set in the historic Palazzo Borromeo d’Adda in Milan, A Garden of Curiosity adds yet another highlight to the rich history the collaborators already share. Connected by their British heritage and iconic designs, the two design houses come together to celebrate optimism, curiosity and innovative spirit. The installation combines Paul Smith’s signature use of colour with the eye for detail for which MINI is renowned and invites visitors to explore and enjoy the playful world of design. 

“Paul Smith and MINI complement one another perfectly, as our collaboration for this project demonstrates once again. We are united by the joy of design, and our shared enthusiasm for craftsmanship, innovation and individuality makes A Garden of Curiosity an experience full of colour, sound and expression,” said Holger Hampf, Head of MINI Design.

Visitors immerse themselves in colour and sound: an experience for all the senses

Set amid the enchanted garden of the Palazzo Borromeo d’Adda, the installation is accessed via a wooden footbridge that takes visitors across the courtyard and through a red door. The door represents a symbolic invitation to look and see. On the other side is the green space created by MINI and Paul Smith. It consists of pathways that are lined with plants and grasses and lead to open platforms and cubic installations. The iconic Paul Smith Signature Stripe runs discreetly through the garden as a recurring design element. Architecture, textures, colour and sound converge to create sensory experiences. 

Interactive theme rooms

The Colour Theory Room acts as a visual intersection between Paul Smith’s signature colour palette and the colours of the new MINI Paul Smith Edition. Visitors can arrange colour samples on an interactive wall, the overall picture changing constantly throughout the day with each new personal design. In keeping with the philosophy of Sir Paul, the wall also gives visitors the opportunity to experiment with colour combinations.  

The Listening Room builds on this experience with Sir Paul’s voice recordings, highlighting the importance of colour theory. Another open platform invites visitors to experience the space with all their senses, allowing them to consciously enjoy a moment away from the hustle and bustle of Milan.

Adding the joy of discovery to the installation, the new MINI Cooper Convertible Paul Smith Edition is waiting to be found and invites visitors to take a closer look. Its appearance and details not only reflect Paul Smith’s distinctive style, but also capture the brand’s playful, optimistic and independent spirit. This exclusive highlight of the installation merges into the charming overall scene.

“I’ve always adored my visits to Milan for Salone del Mobile and I’m delighted to be back in the city to introduce the world of design to my new MINI. I look forward to sharing this special project with you all,” said Sir Paul Smith.

Heritage meets curiosity

Walking through the courtyard to the installation, visitors are immersed in the history of MINI and Paul Smith. Here, they can explore three cars from the collaboration between the two companies, which stretches back to 1998: the Paul Smith 40th Anniversary Mini, the MINI STRIP by Paul Smith and another MINI Cooper from the latest Edition. The specially created colour Nottingham Green adds stylish accents to the Edition’s mirror caps, octagonal radiator grille and wheel hub covers with Paul Smith lettering. A selection of others details also reflect the distinctive style of Paul Smith and ensure this MINI Edition captures the essence of ‘classic with a twist’. 

The Paul Smith 40th Anniversary Mini: A one-off car from 1999, whose bodywork morphed into a living work of art with 86 stripes in 26 colours. The interior also contained surprising use of colour (e.g. the lime green glove compartment) and highlighted Paul Smith’s playful style.

The MINI STRIP by Paul Smith: Another one-of-a-kind creation, the MINI STRIP of 2021 – based on the MINI Cooper  – was reduced to the essentials, as per the principle of ‘less is more’. The minimalist design put the focus on construction and function, with the aim of showcasing a new-at-the-time, responsible approach to design.

A Garden of Curiosity will be open on 21 – 26 April 2026 as part of the Salone del Mobile in Milan. It can be visited in the House of MINI at Via A. Manzoni 41 each day between 10.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m.

Munich. The BMW Museum opened its doors to more than 847,000 guests last year – a new record. Highlights included the arrival of the exhibition “Belle Macchine. Italian Automotive Design at BMW” and the “50 Years of BMW Art Cars and the BMW 3 Series” special exhibition, which was replaced by a 50th anniversary celebration for the BMW 6 Series. Since the market launch of its founding father in spring 1976, the 6 Series has grown into a trailblazing design classic. And the original car can still claim the longest production run of any BMW model series – at 13 years. The new exhibition, which explores every aspect of the car fondly known as the “sharknose”, will be open to visitors in the BMW Museum’s Rotunda until the end of January 2027. It is accompanied by a “floating” body-only model of the 6 Series outside the Museum building and by a selection of cars in the Art Car Gallery and the permanent exhibition’s “car tower”.

One of the BMW greats, then as now.
The BMW Museum is recalling 50 years of BMW 6 Series history through a selection of hand-picked exhibits. BMW set new standards in automotive construction with the introduction of the 6 Series in the mid-1970s. “For five decades now, the BMW 6 Series has been a paragon of elegance, sporting potency and long-distance comfort,” says Helmut Käs, Head of BMW Group Classic and BMW Museum. “This iconic design has established itself as one of the most influential in BMW history and is highly valued by fans and collectors around the world.”

From 1976 to 1989, the original BMW 6 Series was produced exclusively in coupé form. The new model borrowed its technical underpinnings from the BMW 5 Series and took its cues stylistically from the sumptuous luxury coupés of the 1960s. Its bodies were initially made by Karmann, then produced at BMW Plant Dingolfing from 1982. The line-up featured five engine variants and a US-specific model. Chief designer Paul Bracq oversaw the creation of a dynamic, timeless shape: the pointy “sharknose”, eye-catching side profile and generously sized windows come together into an unmistakable visual whole. It took a while for a successor to the original 6 Series to emerge. The BMW 8 Series occupied the “large coupé” slot in the range from 1989, and it wasn’t until 2003 that a new generation of the BMW 6 Series – the E63 – arrived. The 6 Series also made a name for itself in motor sport. In 1983, BMW joined the fray in close-to-series Group A touring car racing with the 635CSi – and duly won the European Touring Car Championship in 1984 and 1986 and the German Production Car Championship in 1984.

The BMW 6 Series becomes a movie star.
As they approach the entrance to the Museum, visitors are greeted by an apparently floating BMW 6 Series, inspired by the “Flying Cars” series by French photographer Sylvain Viau. The aesthetic employed here recalls the futuristic visual language of classic science fiction films and previews the special exhibition in the Rotunda, where the role of the BMW 6 Series in movie and TV history is highlighted. Indeed, the BMW 6 Series Coupé carved out a space for itself on screens big and small, featuring in international productions such as Dallas and Back to the Future II, as well as German TV shows including Tatort and Der Bulle von Tölz.

“The BMW 6 Series remains a popular movie car to this day, especially in more avant-garde productions,” explain the curators of the special exhibition, Anna Schleypen and Klaus-Anton Altenbuchner. “It is no ‘off-the-peg’ solution, and neither could it be described as a typical action machine or pure luxury cruiser. Rather, the 6 Series is a car rich in character. The special exhibition pays tribute to its show-business side with a film set lifted straight from the 1970s against the Munich skyline. As such, it quite literally shines the spotlight on the movie star BMW 6 Series’ iconic connection to the silver screen.” The BMW 628CSi (1982) and BMW M635CSi (1985) strike a dynamic pose against this atmospheric film backdrop, while fictional movie posters showcase the car from different angles on the way up through the Rotunda.

The BMW 628CSi is one of the most successful of all 6 Series variants. Its 2.8-litre fuel-injected engine represented a high-tech upgrade on its arrival in 1979, replacing its carburettor predecessor. The 628CSi was in production until 1987, winning over drivers with its masterful blend of grace, sportiness and high comfort. The BMW M635CSi, available from 1984 with the 286 hp engine from the M1 and capable of a top speed in excess of 250 km/h (155 mph), was considered the fastest four-seater in the world at the time. 5,655 examples were built up to 1989, making this rare M model a modern BMW legend.

Two iconic 6 Series: the BMW 635CSi and BMW 633CSi
As well as the cinematic history of the BMW 6 Series, the special exhibition also focuses on the model’s cultural significance. The BMW Museum’s Art Car Gallery is (alternately) presenting two examples of the BMW 635CSi from the BMW Art Car Collection, which has been celebrating its 50-year anniversary since last year with the BMW Art Car World Tour. In 1982, Austrian artist Ernst Fuchs created the fifth BMW Art Car in the collection – the first based on a series-produced model. Fuchs’ Art Car, which he called “Firefox on Harehunt”, is a homage to mythology, speed and spiritual symbolism. Four years later, pop-art luminary Robert Rauschenberg added a sixth car to the collection, transforming the 635CSi into a black-and-white collage of art history, photography and everyday culture.

With the BMW 633CSi, the BMW Museum is showing another key member of the 6 Series family in its “car tower”. Unveiled at the same time as the 630CS, the 633CSi was initially fitted with the then state-of-the-art Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection system. In September 1979, it then gained DME digital engine electronics, which brought further reductions in pollutant emissions and fuel consumption. However, the engine did experience a slight dip in output – from 200 hp to 197 hp.

An overview of the cars on display.
BMW 6 Series body-only model. / outside the BMW Museum
BMW 628CSi (1982). / BMW Museum, Rotunda
BMW M635CSi (1985). / BMW Museum, Rotunda
BMW 633CSi (1976). / BMW Museum, “car tower”
BMW Art Car #5 by Ernst Fuchs, BMW 635CSi (1982). / BMW Museum, Art Car Gallery (exhibition duration: 17 March – 13 July 2026)
BMW Art Car #6 by Robert Rauschenberg, BMW 635CSi (1986). / BMW Museum, Art Car Gallery (exhibition duration: 7 September – end of 2026)

The exhibition “Belle Macchine. Italian Automotive Design at BMW” will continue to run alongside the 50‑year anniversary celebration for the BMW 6 Series until the end of 2026. All the exhibitions are open to visitors during the BMW Museum’s usual opening times: Tuesday to Sunday, 10.00 a.m.–6.00 p.m. (last entry at 5.30 p.m.). Further information can be found at BMW Museum.

+++ From regional development powerhouse to the BMW Group's highest-volume vehicle plant in Europe – Record production in 2025: Plant hits 40-year high with 356,901 vehicles +++

+++ 8.7 million vehicles since start of production in 1986 +++
+++ Plant Director Armin Ebner: “Continuous efforts to increase competitiveness are the key to our success” +++

Regensburg. Plant Regensburg achieved a new production record of 356,901 vehicles in 2025, making it the BMW Group’s highest-volume car plant in Europe. Since the plant opened in 1986, 8.7 million vehicles have rolled off its production line. “With this record production, we not only reached a new all-time high in the plant’s 40-year history but also – as in the previous year – helped the BMW Group’s German plants build more than one million vehicles again in 2025,” says Plant Director Armin Ebner. “For 40 years, the plant has been a central development powerhouse for the eastern Bavarian region.”

Continuous efforts to increase competitiveness as key success factor 

“Continuous and consistent efforts to increase our competitiveness remain the key to our success. Every single day in Regensburg, we demonstrate that competitive production is possible in Germany,” adds Ebner. By implementing efficiency measures within its production system, BMW Group Plant Regensburg has lowered costs by more than a quarter since 2019.

“Digitalisation is an important lever for this,” says Ebner. Examples include the use of artificial intelligence in automated surface processing in the paint shop and for quality controls during vehicle assembly, or a cloud-based traffic control system for supplying parts. Since early 2025, new vehicles have also been able to navigate autonomously, without a driver, from the assembly line to the loading area.

More than 150,000 electrified models in 2025

More than 150,000 of the vehicles manufactured in Regensburg in 2025 were electrified – that is, either fully-electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids. The BMW X1 was the highest-volume model, with over 266,000 vehicles produced, while the BMW X2 accounted for more than 90,000 vehicles.

Over 55,000 vehicles remained in the company’s domestic market of Germany. More than half of the cars produced in Regensburg in 2025 went to customers in other European countries. More than 100,000 vehicles were shipped overseas.

Ebner is optimistic about the plant’s anniversary year: “With our attractive BMW X1 and BMW X2 models, we are producing exactly what our customers want, while continuing to operate three shifts around the clock.” Every 57 seconds, a new vehicle rolls off the assembly line. This currently adds up to more than 1,400 vehicles per workday, which are then delivered to customers around the world. Different types of drive train are flexibly manufactured on a single production line – from models with internal combustion engines to plug-in hybrids and fully-electric vehicles.

BMW Group Plant Regensburg – powering jobs across the region

As part of the settlement agreement with the City of Regensburg in the 1980s, BMW pledged to produce 400 vehicles per day and create 3,500 jobs. With the ramp-up and expansion of the plant in subsequent years, both employee numbers and production capacity increased: In 1991, the plant exceeded the 100,000-vehicle threshold for the first time, with around 128,000 cars manufactured. By 1999, it was building about 750 vehicles daily and more than 200,000 annually. In 2005, annual production surpassed 300,000 vehicles for the first time – with a daily output of around 1,000 units. Having assembled its one-millionth vehicle back in 1995, Plant Regensburg is set to produce its nine-millionth vehicle this year.

Employee numbers have also continued to climb: In 1988, the plant employed around 3,300 people. By 1991, that number had risen to about 7,300. Today, the BMW Group’s core staff at its Regensburg and Wackersdorf locations in eastern Bavaria comprises around 9,000 employees, including approximately 380 apprentices.

This makes the plant a significant economic factor and employer across the region. Ebner: “Our employees’ commitment, their innovation mindset and their forward-looking decisions have shaped BMW Group Plant Regensburg into what it is today: a driving force and economic engine for the entire region.”

40 years of BMW Group Plant Regensburg – overview of milestones:

1983      Decision, contract signing for establishment of Regensburg site

1984      Groundbreaking with Minister-President Franz-Josef Strauß;
              construction of production halls begins

1985     Topping-out ceremony

1986     Start of production for BMW 3 Series (E30); around 1,300 employees

1987      Paint shop commissioned;
first networked computers in assembly usher in the computer age

1988     Around 3,300 employees

1990      Body shop commissioned

1991      Annual production: around 128,000 vehicles, surpassing the 100,000 mark;
around 7,300 employees

1995      Production milestone: 1,000,000 vehicles manufactured in Regensburg

1997      Press shop completed

1999      Annual production exceeds 200,000 vehicles for the first time;
              more than 8,700 employees

2001      Groundbreaking for plant expansion: paint shop and body shop

2005      Annual production exceeds 300,000 vehicles for the first time

2007      Groundbreaking for press shop expansion

2010      Assembly/finish refurbishment

2013      New press system commissioned

2014      Completion of automated small parts warehouse

2015      EFQM Excellence Award; BMW X1 series launch

2017      West expansion of assembly commissioned

2018     Start of BMW X2 series production

2025      Additional body shop commissioned in Neutraubling

2026      Around 9,000 employees, including approx. 380 apprentices

40 years of BMW Group Plant Regensburg – vehicle models produced:

*Updated: Dec. 2025

BMW Group Corporate Communications
Saskia Graser, head of Communications Regensburg and Wackersdorf +49 151 6060 2014, Email: Saskia.Graser@bmw.de

Media website: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

Email: presse@bmw.de

BMW Group Plants Regensburg and Wackersdorf
BMW Group Plant Regensburg has been in operation for more than four decades. After construction of the production halls was completed in 1984, series production of the BMW 3 Series (E30) began in autumn 1986. As part of the settlement agreement with the City of Regensburg, BMW pledged at that time to produce 400 vehicles per day and create 3,500 jobs.

Today, Plant Regensburg is one of more than 30 BMW Group production locations worldwide. More than 1,400 BMW X1 and BMW X2 model vehicles roll off the assembly line each day, destined for customers around the globe. Different types of drive train are flexibly manufactured on a single production line – from models with internal combustion engines to plug-in hybrids and fully-electric vehicles.

Within the framework of the BMW iFACTORY, the BMW Group is also setting standards at its Regensburg location in the fields of digitalisation, circularity and competitiveness – as confirmed by recent awards. For example, in 2025, the plant was named “FACTORY OF THE YEAR” in the category “Excellent Large-Series Assembly”. In addition, the BMW X1 from Regensburg was once again voted Best in Class in “Best Cars 2025”. It is already possible to experience, in virtual form, what the factory will look like in the coming years. Production of the “Neue Klasse” – BMW’s next model generation – is set to ramp up in Regensburg in the second half of this decade.

BMW Group Plant Wackersdorf is home to cockpit production and parts supply for overseas plants, and also serves as the door and flap production centre for Rolls-Royce. With its battery testing centre, the site also makes a significant contribution to electromobility.

The BMW Group's core staff at its Regensburg and Wackersdorf locations in eastern Bavaria comprises around 9,000 employees, including approximately 380 apprentices.

www.bmwgroup-werke.com/regensburg/de.html

+++ Over 18 million BMW 3 Series built worldwide +++ Manufactured at 18 plants in 13 countries since 1975 +++ A driving force for the production network and a trailblazer for the BMW iFACTORY +++

Munich. Built on four continents, the BMW 3 Series has been one of the most important products in the BMW Group’s international production network for 50 years. Since manufacturing began in 1975, the BMW 3 Series has rolled off the assembly line more than 18 million times at 18 plants across 13 countries. Core themes of the BMW iFACTORY – such as efficiency, flexibility, digitalisation and resource-efficient production – thread consistently throughout the production history of the BMW 3 Series.

BMW Group Plant Munich: Origins and role as a technology pioneer

The main plant in Munich has been the centre of BMW 3 Series production since 1975. From an early stage, the BMW Group committed to flexible manufacturing at the site, enabled by modern technologies, such as overhead conveyor systems and freely programmable welding machines. A fully-automated body shop was introduced in Munich in 1982 for the second generation of the BMW 3 Series. Through the use of industrial robots, it was possible to achieve an automation rate of more than 90 percent for this technology. Supplemented by flexible shift systems and modified work-time models, capacity increased significantly. Continuous modernisation, from powder coating technologies to computer-controlled engine production, ensured that the facility always remained state-of-the-art. Today, the plant deploys numerous digitalisation applications and AI-supported quality systems. In this way, the BMW 3 Series has consistently been a major driving force for the technological development of BMW Group production.

BMW 3 Series as a driver of growth and internationalisation

Volume growth at the plants was also influenced by the BMW 3 Series. In 1980, 3 Series production expanded from the main plant in Munich to Plant Dingolfing, and later to Plant Regensburg in 1986. The BMW 3 Series also provided the momentum for the internationalisation of BMW production. In the 1980s, additional production lines were established at other sites, including Rosslyn, South Africa (from 1984) and Spartanburg in the United States (from 1994). These locations enabled local supply for their respective markets and laid the foundations for the company’s global distribution of value creation – today, a key feature of the BMW Group production network.

The BMW 3 Series – an enabler for new plants

Since the opening of the Regensburg plant, the BMW 3 Series has served as the enabler for all new BMW plants – with the exception of the facility in Debrecen. The plants in Spartanburg, Leipzig and San Luis Potosí, as well as the BBA joint venture in China, all initially ramped up with the BMW 3 Series. Over the decades, various 3 Series derivatives – ranging from sedans and convertibles to Touring and M versions – have been produced at nearly all BMW Group plants with maximum flexibility. Multiple derivatives and different drive technologies – vehicles with internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids and fully-electric drive trains – all come off the same assembly line.

Today, the seventh generation of the BMW 3 Series is produced in Munich, Shenyang (China), San Luis Potosí (Mexico) and at the company's own regional plants in Chennai (India), Rayong (Thailand) and Araquari (Brazil), as well as at partner plants in further countries.

Preparations for the eighth generation of the successful model series are proceeding in parallel: A fully-electric version of the BMW 3 Series will ramp up at Plant Munich from the second half of 2026 as the next vehicle of the NEUE KLASSE, with subsequent production in China and Mexico. A return of the BMW 3 Series to Plant Dingolfing is also planned.

Seven generations of the BMW 3 Series across the production network (full plants)

If you have any questions, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Sandra Schillmöller, Head of Communications Production Network BMW Group

Cell phone: +49-151-601-12225

Email: Sandra.Schillmoeller@bmwgroup.com

Martina Hatzel, Communications Production Network BMW Group

Cell phone: +49-151-601-11966

Email: Martina.Hatzel@bmwgroup.com

Media website: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en

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 success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. Sustainability is a key component of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy – from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products. 

www.bmwgroup.com

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

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

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

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

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

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the BMW 3 Series, the press kit “40 Years of BMW 3 Series” from 2015 was comprehensively revised, supplemented and updated.

Please find it in the appendix.

Munich. BMW Group Classic publishes digital historical model overviews for use by the general public and supplements the recently revised BMW Group Online Archive with a comprehensive historical online product catalog of the BMW, Mini and BMW Motorrad brands.

First, the historic model overviews of the Mini and BMW Motorrad brands were made available to the general public in 2021. The historical model overview of the BMW brand is now also available online.

This research tool is available for media, enthusiasts and fans at
https://www.bmwgroup-classic.com/en/history/historic-modeloverview-bmw.html. 424 BMW models are available there. The BMW product range includes all series vehicles from the BMW 3/15 hp model to the BMW 3 Series (E46), including BMW Z4 (E85/E86). A total period of 80 years (1928 to 2008) was prepared. The historical model overviews of the Mini and BMW Motorrad brands round off the online research offering.

In all brand areas, there are overviews of all classic vehicles with short and informative texts on model series, body variants and engines.

These are enriched with current images from the BMW Group Classic vehicle collection and the historic BMW media archive. For this purpose, 614 data sets and 524 images were processed. During the design, emphasis was placed on the future viability of the tool. The historical model overviews can be extended with future vehicle generations.

Anyone who would like to delve even deeper into BMW Group cars and other topics related to BMW Group corporate history can do so under further links to the BMW Group Classic online archive, revised in 2024. For example, publications (brochures, workshop literature, on-board literature, etc.) and specialist books can also be found there.

Katrin Gfrörer, Head of BMW Group Archives and Historic Vehicle Collection: “By making our complete historical model overviews available online, we meet a high external demand for historical product information that has existed for many years and maximizes customer satisfaction with another digital tool. In addition, most of the database in our online archive is publicly available on the BMW Group Archive website and can be used for information and research purposes. These measures impressively underline BMW Group Classic's digitization strategy."

You can access the historical model overviews and the BMW Group Archive under the following links.

Hist. BMW model overview:
https://www.bmwgroup-classic.com/en/history/historic-modeloverview-bmw.html

Hist. Mini model overview:
https://www.bmwgroup-classic.com/en/history/historic-modeloverview-mini.html

Hist. BMW Motorrad model overview:
https://www.bmwgroup-classic.com/en/history/historic-modeloverview-bmwmotorrad.html

BMW Group Archive: https://bmw-grouparchiv.de/irc/

BMW Group Classic Website: https://www.bmwgroup-classic.com/en.html

Munich. This year’s festive campaign from BMW – titled “Das Geschenk” (The Gift) – tells the moving story of a young boy named Tim, who can think of nothing better than finding a very special treat for his beloved grandma. At the same time, the brand continues its journey to the introduction of the Neue Klasse by casting an eye back to an icon of automotive history that ushered in a new era for BMW (also under the Neue Klasse name) in the 1960s. The film at the heart of the campaign brims with feeling as it shows how Sheer Driving Pleasure brings generations together – in two different ways.

The film begins with a stroll through a festively decorated city centre. Tim and his parents are looking for a Christmas gift for his grandmother. His parents come up with one suggestion after another, each as clichéd as the last and each promptly and confidently dismissed by their seven-year-old. Eventually, in a shop window he spots the thing that will give his gran – and himself – the greatest joy. Tim’s parents are initially unconvinced, but in the end decide to go along with their son’s wishes. Tim’s grandmother opens the enormous package with her family on Christmas Eve to reveal a BMW Junior Seat children’s car seat. Both grandmother and grandson know straightaway what this means: they can now enjoy trips together in her classic BMW 1500. Because joy is the most precious gift – and the joy of driving bridges young and old.

This entertaining festive film highlights the Sheer Driving Pleasure at the core of the brand and makes the BMW 1500 – launched under the Neue Klasse umbrella more than 60 years ago – the “sleeper star” of the campaign. The film was shot in Vienna, Austria, and soundtracked by 1980s Christmas classic “Christmas In Hollis” by US hip-hop legends Run-D.M.C.

Social media cues invite the community to get involved.

Jung von Matt came up with the idea and concept for the latest festive campaign. The Hamburg creative agency teamed up with BMW Marketing and Munich-based production company Hochkant to produce the 100-second film, which will be shown on BMW’s YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram channels. In addition, the film will feature on Netflix in both Germany and Great Britain. And a 60-second version of “Das Geschenk” will also be aired on free TV in Germany over the festive period.

PIRO GmbH is responsible for rolling out the campaign across the brand’s social media platforms. The idea of Tim’s rather special and unconventional gift is also picked up on in a series of accompanying posts. For example, festive visuals depict car parts – wrapped up in Christmas paper – that present the community with a puzzle to solve.

When generations meet – looking at an iconic classic with modern eyes.

Both driving pleasure and the allure of the classic BMW 1500 are universal and timeless. And a separate social media series frames these generation-spanning vibes with particular charm. Tim tries to interact with the classic car as he’s used to doing with modern vehicles, but the Neue Klasse from the 1960s lacks power windows, the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant and other contemporary features. Not to worry, though, because Tim’s gran always has a trick or ruse up her sleeve to maintain the illusion, feed the young lad’s imagination and spread the feeling of pure joy.

https://youtu.be/q3enbnm08q4

In the event of enquiries please contact:

Corporate Communications

Cypselus von Frankenberg, Product Communication BMW Automobiles

Telephone: +49-89-382-30641

E-mail: Cypselus.von-Frankenberg@bmw.de

Alexandra Landers, Head of Product and Brand Communication BMW

Telephone: +49-89-382-30871

E-mail: Alexandra.Landers@bmw.de

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

E-mail: presse@bmw.de

The BMW Group

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

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

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

www.bmwgroup.com

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

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. This landmark year is particularly special as MINI introduces an all-new lineup, featuring the beloved MINI Cooper, the versatile MINI Countryman, and the bold MINI Aceman. These new models represent the next chapter in MINI's storied history, combining cutting-edge technology with the classic driving excitement that MINI is known for.

In addition, Fall 2024 will see the debut of the entire new John Cooper Works lineup, available in both petrol and electric versions. These high-performance models continue the legacy of MINI’s racing heritage, offering enthusiasts a choice between 4-cylinder TwinPower engines and the latest in electric performance.

This year also marks the 60th anniversary of MINI’s first victory at the Monte Carlo Rally - an achievement that solidified MINI’s reputation in motorsport. Fittingly, MINI celebrated this heritage with a category victory at the 2024 24 Hours of Nürburgring race, thanks to the exceptional performance of the MINI John Cooper Works PROtotype prepared by Bulldog Racing.

As MINI commemorates 65 years of automotive excellence, the brand looks forward to continuing its legacy of innovation, racing success, and driving excitement for many years to come.

In case of queries, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Franziska Liebert, Pressesprecherin MINI
Telefon: +49-89-382-28030
E-Mail: franziska.liebert@mini.com    

Andreas Lampka, Head of Communications MINI
Phone: +49-89-382-23662
E-mail: andreas.lampka@mini.com

Munich. Over a two-year period culminating in 2025, BMW Group Classic will have certified more than 20 Swiss BMW, BMW Motorrad and MINI retailers as BMW Group Classic partners.

The main criteria for successful certification as a BMW Group Classic partner are possessing the necessary expertise in historic BMW, BMW Motorrad and Mini vehicles and holding a suitable range of specialist tools for maintaining vintage vehicles and recent classics produced by BMW and Mini (from R50). Ensuring employees have the right level of training is a basic prerequisite for meeting customer requirements. Relevant training measures will be offered.

Customers looking for a BMW Group Classic partner to maintain, repair, restore or look after their historic vehicles can take advantage of the range of services traditionally available in Munich, but now also provided by specialists locally.

The support provided by BMW Group Classic headquarters in Munich for the local partners spans its full range of services, from assistance with technical issues, via help with procurement of replacement parts and remanufacturing of specialist tools, to provision of specific data/information from the BMW Group Archive and elsewhere.

The process of certifying BMW Group authorised retailers and workshops as BMW Group Classic partners began in 2019, and the number of international partners now stands at 148.

Bringing the history of the BMW Group to life and helping to shape the future are established pillars of BMW Group Classic strategy. 

To celebrate the certification of the new BMW Group Classic partners, a large-scale event – featuring a host of iconic vehicles from BMW history and some of the company’s latest new products – will take place at the BMW Group Brand Experience Center in Dielsdorf on 10 August 2024. This day-long event, with its richly varied programme, will give visitors the chance to meet BMW Group Classic and its local partners and explore what they have to offer.

Media Information

21 June, 2024. Updated: 26 June, 2024.

BMW at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

• Two world debuts, with the world premiere of the all-new BMW M5 and BMW X3
• New BMW M4 CS seen in the UK for the first time
• BMW’s Hypercar, the BMW M Hybrid V8, to storm up the hill
• The BMW Vision Neue Klasse, BMW Concept Skytop and one-of-a-kind BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA on display at the Stable Yard 
• An array of historic racing cars from BMW Group Classic to participate in the Hillclimb including the iconic BMW V12 LMR 
• The BMW R20 concept, BMW Motorrad’s bold mechanical masterpiece, to take to the hill

All eyes will be on BMW at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed to witness the world premiere of the new all-new BMW M5 and BMW X3. Both cars will be unveiled at BMW’s Trackside stand from 10:30 am (BST) on Thursday 11 July.  

Also seen for the first time in the UK will be the new and exclusive BMW M4 CS, which will be joined on the hill by the ground-breaking BMW XM Label. Festivalgoers will be able to see the spectacular BMW M Hybrid V8 and BMW R20 concept in action as well, whilst the Stable Yard will provide the perfect stage for BMW’s Vision Neue Klasse, the luxurious BMW Concept Skytop and the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA with colour-change technology. The latest models from BMW M will be on display at Trackside, including the new BMW M135, the facelifted BMW M2 and BMW M3 Touring and - taking centre stage - the BMW M Hybrid V8 LMDh.

A highlight moment for BMW M at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed will undoubtedly be the global debut of the all-new BMW M5. With 40 years of history, the legendary high-performance saloon from BMW M GmbH is entering its seventh generation with an electrified drive system for the first time. The combination of a high-revving V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology and an electric motor, plus power transfer courtesy of an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission and M xDrive all-wheel drive, enables acceleration from 0 to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds. In addition to its constant static presence at the BMW M stand at Trackside, the all-new BMW M5 will also be seen by spectators on Goodwood’s legendary hill climb multiple times per day throughout the event.

The new BMW X3 M50 xDrive will also be unveiled to the world at Goodwood and is the fourth generation SAV, adding another chapter to the BMW X3 success story which began over 20 years ago. The range-topping model boasts greater sporting appeal, visual impact, and versatility than ever before and features the most powerful six-cylinder in-line petrol engine yet fitted in an M Performance model. The 3.0-litre M TwinPower Turbo unit links up with 48V mild hybrid technology. Its maximum output of 398 hp is channelled to the road via an eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission and BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive. The BMW X3 M50 xDrive powers to 62 mph from rest in 4.6 seconds.

Tackling the famous 1.16-mile course in the ‘First Glance’ category will be the new BMW M4 CS. Powered by a high-revving six-cylinder in-line 3.0-litre engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology, the race-focussed BMW M4 CS has an increased engine output of 550 hp and features model-specific chassis tuning and lightweight design elements. Instantaneous power delivery and optimised traction enable acceleration of 0 to 62 mph in just 3.4 seconds.

Fresh from racing at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, the stunning BMW M Hybrid V8 will also take to the hill. The return of the BMW brand to the top category of Le Mans in the Hypercar class came exactly 25 years after the victory of the BMW V12 LMR in 1999. To acknowledge this historic moment BMW Group Classic will drive the iconic V12 up the hill. The team will also bring two additional famous racing cars to Goodwood’s Hillclimb - the BMW 318i touring car, driven by famed racing driver Johnny Cecotto, and the BMW2002 TIK, with HRH Leopold Prince of Bavaria at the wheel.

Festivalgoers will also be able to see a BMW M Hybrid V8 LMDh at Trackside, whilst visitors to the stand can learn more about the 20th BMW Art Car - the Hypercar designed by the internationally renowned artist Julie Mehretu - that played a very special role at this year’s Le Mans.

BMW will storm up the hill on two wheels as well. BMW Motorrad recently unveiled its latest design masterpiece, the BMW R20 concept, at Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este and will bring it to this year’s Festival. Presented as a piece of art and as the epitome of expressive and cool design, the BMW R20 concept showcases the legendary air-oil cooled Big Boxer engine at its centre. The R20 can be seen in the ‘First Glance and Road Bikes’ category, whilst a wonderful BMW R255/1 Compressor from BMW Group Classic will feature in ‘Batch 4’.

The Stable Yard – once again dedicated to BMW – will be transformed into a tranquil location showcasing luxury and technology: from the BMW Concept Skytop, an open top two-seater demonstrating truly unique and exotic design, to the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA, a one-of-a-kind vehicle that combines colour-change technology developed by BMW with the artistic language of South African artist Esther Mahlangu. For many however, the BMW Vision Neue Klasse will form the focal point of the display - the Neue Klasse showcases the breadth of BMW’s future model line-up.

BMW’s latest range of luxury cars will also be on display in the Stable Yard including the BMW i7, the brand’s flagship saloon that has redefined the luxury segment with new levels of electrification and digitalisation. The recently launched BMW i5 Touring will take centre stage in this tranquil space, alongside two e-vehicles from BMW Motorrad – the BMW CE 02 and BMW CE 04 - that provide a breath of fresh air for urban electric mobility on two wheels.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is being held over four days from 11-14 July 2024.

Ends

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

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup
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YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupView
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/
 

For further information please contact:

Martin Harrison
Media Relations Officer
Tel: 07815 377083
Email: Martin.Harrison@bmw.co.uk

Chris Overall
BMW Media Relations Manager
Tel: 07815 370 990
Email: Chris.Overall@bmw.co.uk

Christina Burnham-Hepe
General Manager, Communications
Tel: 07815 371 206
Email: Christina.Burnham-Hepe@bmw.co.uk

Graham Biggs
Corporate Communications Director
Tel: 07815 376 867
Email: Graham.Biggs@bmw.co.uk

Munich. The BMW Museum has carried out extensive renovations to its entrance area. The primary aims here were to create a modern and future-focused ambience, improve accessibility for all guests and use digital solutions to make the ticket-buying process more efficient.

Innovations for an improved visitor experience

The redesigned counter attracts visitors’ attention with a vibrant, lavish wall of plants, providing a very special atmosphere as they enter the Museum – and at the same time helping to create a better indoor climate. Opposite the counter, there is a comfortable new seating area that makes an ideal place to meet people or take a quick break. A particular highlight is the interactive, kinetic floor in the north entrance, which invites visitors to generate electricity through their movements which will then activate an eye-catching light installation.

The online shop has also been optimised, allowing not only entry tickets, but also guided tours, children's birthday parties and holiday offers to be purchased directly. In addition, visitors can now pay using credit and debit cards, Apple Pay or PayPal.

Redesign has a special focus on people and nature

The changes to the lobby area took both ecological and social considerations into account. Indeed, the new design uses recyclable materials and has above all improved the working environment for Museum staff. The addition of four ticket machines in the lobby has eased their workloads, while improved accessibility was a key consideration in the renovations to the lobby area.

With these extensive updates now complete, the BMW Museum can offer all visitors a very warm welcome within a future-focused and accessible space.

In the event of enquiries please contact:

BMW Group
Lisa Meindl
Tel.: +49-89-382-31668
Mail:  lisa.meindl@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}

^{Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup}

^{Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup}

^{YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupView}

^{Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup}

^{LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/}

Dingolfing. Exactly 50 years ago, cars built by the Bavarian premium manufacturer began rolling off the assembly line at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing. Since 27 September 1973, the people who work at what is now the BMW Group's largest European plant have produced Sheer Driving Pleasure more than twelve million times. “This anniversary is naturally an opportunity to look back on this plant’s amazing success story – but it is also an excellent reason to look ahead to the future with optimism,” said Plant Director Christoph Schröder, at a ceremony attended by representatives from business and the political sector. “Because this plant will continue to be of tremendous importance to the BMW Group, to the region and to many thousands of people.”

12 million BMW cars in 50 years

The figures presented to guests by Plant Director Christoph Schröder and Stefan Schmid, Chairman of the Dingolfing Works Council, in the light-hearted speech they delivered together, are impressive. In purely mathematical terms, with 12 million vehicles produced over the past five decades, that means a BMW rolled off the Dingolfing assembly line every 60 seconds: from the very first Iberian Red BMW 520 on that Thursday back in 1973, right up to today.

Almost two thirds of the production volume comes from Dingolfing’s core model series, the BMW 5 Series: The eighth generation, which has been in production since early July, will be hitting showrooms in the coming days. The range of models produced has gradually expanded over the decades and, today, with vehicles from the BMW 4 Series, 5 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series and 8 Series, as well as the BMW iX and BMW M GmbH models, it has reached a dimension that sets the benchmark for the whole automotive industry.

However, Dingolfing’s carmakers not only excel in large-scale production, with the highest level of efficiency and precision, but also in craft-scale manufacturing. The 99 BMW 8 Series models designed by American artist Jeff Koons in 2022, the 50 recently-delivered highly exclusive BMW 3.0 CSL and the BMW i7 Protection, the world's first fully-electric security vehicle, all testify to this outstanding expertise. The body shop also meets the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship required for all Rolls-Royce models in Unterhollerau.

Plant Dingolfing as job engine for the region

Plant Dingolfing is closely associated with the economic rise of the eastern Bavaria region. “In the past ten years alone – including permanent jobs for apprentices and temporary staff – we have hired 12,000 people here at the site,” said Stefan Schmid. The Works Council Chairman also announced that the number of new apprentices starting their training at the Dingolfing location in the coming year will increase to 350, with a view to the planned site in Irlbach-Straßkirchen. “We will continue to be the BMW Group's largest vocational training facility.”

The decisive guarantee of this 50-year success story is the continuing adaptability of the Dingolfing workforce. “Pioneers never stand still,” said Schröder, underlining that: “We have stayed young in our thinking, we are technology leaders with our processes and our products are clearly geared towards the future.” The plant is shaping the transformation towards e-mobility in a way that is “strategically smart, forward-looking and proactive”. With its strategy of a highly flexible production system that allows all drive train variants to be built efficiently on one line, according to market demand, the plant is ideally positioned, Schröder explained: “We have every reason to be optimistic about the future.”

Three series launches of electric models in two years

With the BMW iX, i7 and i5, Plant Dingolfing has celebrated the premiere of three fully-electric models within the space of two years. With the start of production for the BMW i5 Touring in the coming year, Schröder expects fully-electric vehicles to account for about 40 percent of Dingolfing's total production in 2024. “I am confident production volumes will climb to well over 300,000 units in the next year as the entire 5 Series family becomes available.”

Schröder also believes digitalisation will become even more important, explaining that both the product and the production process will increase in complexity – all of which needs to be controlled and validated. “Dingolfing is doing an excellent job,” explained the plant director: “We are leaders in our industry, with a large number of projects, such as Automated Driving In-Plant, AI-based camera systems and smart logistics applications.” In many respects, a vehicle plant has been a tech company for years. “That is why we are deliberately strengthening our IT functions – for example, through the Innovation Hub, which the BMW Group established together with Microsoft, Intel and NTT at the Dingolfing training centre.”

The BMW Group in Dingolfing – more than just a car plant.

In addition to cars, vehicle components such as pressed parts and chassis and drive systems are also produced in Dingolfing. Component plant 02.20 is home to the Competence Centre for E-Drive Production, with about 2,400 employees, which supplies the BMW Group’s vehicle plants worldwide with electric motors and high-voltage batteries for production of plug-in hybrids and fully electric models. Since 2015 alone, more than one billion euros have been channelled into expanding the component plant, which is capable of producing electric powertrain components for more than 500,000 electrified vehicles.

Another important element of the Dingolfing location is the so-called Dynamics Centre, the heart of the BMW Group’s central aftersales logistics, which provides the global BMW and MINI retail organisation with original parts and accessories.

The BMW Group recently invested several hundred million euros in the site each year – with the next investments in future products and technologies already becoming apparent. “Because, of course, the models of the future being built in Dingolfing will also benefit from the innovations and technology clusters of the NEUE KLASSE,” says Schröder. The assembly plant for high-voltage batteries planned in Irlbach-Straßkirchen will be an essential element of this. “On the one hand, it will secure the jobs of thousands of people; on the other, it will enable the successful transition of Plant Dingolfing towards electromobility.”

If you have any questions, please contact:

Julian Friedrich, BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, head of Communications

Telephone: 49 8731 76 22020, Email: Julian.Friedrich@bmw.de

Thomas Niedermeier, BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, Communications

Telephone: +49 8731 76 27666, Email: Thomas.Niedermeier@bmw.de

Media website: https://newsroom.bmwgroup.com/global/en www.bmw-werk-dingolfing.de

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

Email: presse@bmw.de

BMW Group Plant Dingolfing

Plant Dingolfing is the BMW Group’s largest European production site.

Over 1,500 BMW 4 Series, 5 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series and 8 Series cars, as well as the fully-electric BMW iX, come off its production lines every day. Around 282,000 vehicles were built at the plant in 2022.

More than 18,000 people currently work at the site and 850 apprentices are being trained in 15 occupations. This makes the BMW Group site in Dingolfing not only the region's biggest employer by far, but also one of the country's largest industrial production sites and vocational training facilities.

In addition to cars, vehicle components such as pressed parts and chassis and drive systems are also produced in Dingolfing. Component plant 02.20 is also home to the company-wide Competence Centre for E-Drive Production, which supplies the BMW Group’s vehicle plants worldwide with electric motors and high-voltage batteries for production of plug-in hybrids and pure electric models.

The car bodies for all Rolls-Royce models are also built at the site. The so-called Dynamics Centre, a large storage and transshipment facility at the heart of the BMW Group’s aftersales logistics, provides the global BMW and MINI retailer organisation with original parts and equipment.

Munich. A spectacular motor racing show awaits tens of thousands of fans this Saturday, in the form of Red Bull Formula Nürburgring. The event, which forms part of the 12-hour race weekend in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS), attracts big stars and legendary cars from all motorsport classes to the Eifel region of Germany. BMW M, BMW M Motorsport and BMW Group Classic will play big roles. Spectators will be able to marvel at vintage BMW race cars and BMW M safety cars on the track – including the Nordschleife. Among those taking their place behind the wheel will be BMW M works drivers Philipp Eng (AUT) and Jens Klingmann (GER).

The Müllenbachschleife at the Nürburgring (GER) will be the venue for 30,000 spectators watching Red Bull Formula Nürburgring – a show of superlative motor racing, combining big stars and show runs from iconic cars.

Historic BMW race cars will form an instrumental part of the event. Not only will they be in action on the Grand Prix circuit, but most of them also on the Nordschleife. The BMW V12 LMR, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA) in 1999, will be driven by Markus Flasch,  Senior Vice President Product Lines Rolls-Royce, BMW Luxury Class and BMW Midsize Class. HRH Prince Leopold of Bavaria will be at the wheel of the BMW M1 Procar, Jens Klingmann the BMW M3 E30 and Philipp Eng the BMW Z4 GT3 with the Michel Vaillant livery, which competed in the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) in 2015. Ralf Schumacher (GER) will thrill fans with a drive in the BMW Williams FW25, with which he fought for the Formula 1 World Championship in 2003.

BMW M GmbH will present a number of cars from its spectacular fleet of MotoGP™ Safety Cars. BMW M is in its 25^th season as “Official Car of MotoGP™” in 2023, and is taking BMW M4 Safety Cars from various generations, a BMW M3 Safety Car, a BMW M6 Safety Car and a BMW M8 Safety Car to the Nürburgring. The Red Bull Driftbrothers will also be part of the show with their BMW M4 cars, which have been specially set up for drifting.

Red Bull Formula Nürburgring is also bringing a host of Formula 1 legends to the Nürburgring – both cars and drivers. Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel (GER) will be there, together with world championship runner-up David Coulthard (GBR) and current Formula 1 driver Yuki Tsunoda (JPN).

Quotes ahead of the event:

HRH Prince Leopold of Bavaria: “I am thrilled to be involved in Red Bull Formula Nürburgring with BMW Group Classic, in collaboration with BMW M and BMW M Motorsport. It will be like a home outing for me. I am very familiar with both the Nordschleife and my car, a BMW M1 Procar, with which Carlos Reutemann was victorious in 1980. After competing in the Le Mans Classic a few weeks ago, this promises to be the next grand spectacle.”

Philipp Eng “It is definitely going to be a fantastic event, and I find it awesome that BMW M, BMW M Motorsport and BMW Group Classic are so heavily involved. Personally, I have always dreamed of driving the BMW Z4 GT3 on the Nordschleife. Unfortunately, when I became a BMW M works driver in 2016, the car was no longer in use so I am delighted to now have the opportunity to hear that raw V8 sound on the Nordschleife.”

Jens Klingmann: “Red Bull is always guaranteed to put on spectacular events, and I am certain that we will put on a great show for the fans with our BMW Group Classic cars. The BMW M3 E30 is iconic. I have had the pleasure of driving the car a few times in the past. The sound is legendary, and without ABS and traction control the BMW M3 E30 offers a pure racing experience. It is perfectly suited to the Nordschleife.”

Note to editors:

Photos of the BMW race cars will be available shortly after the event on the BMW Group Classic Media Download Server and on the BMW Group Pressclub: https://www.bmwgroupclassic-downloads.com/Events/2023/.

Munich/Le Mans.

BMW Group Classic is returning to the Le Mans Classic for the first time since 2014 – and will line up at the Circuit de La Sarthe with the legendary BMW M1 Group 4 in “Münchener Wirtshaus” livery. Piloting the car will be the original driver trio from the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1981: HRH Prince Leopold of Bavaria (DE), Christian Danner (DE) and Peter Oberndorfer (DE).

On 15 June 2023 the team met up at the Spatenhaus an der Oper restaurant in Munich to set the scene for the action to come.

The drivers got together with fans and media representatives to
recreate the pre-race public photo call from 1981. The event on 3 June that year was intended to shine the spotlight on the company’s involvement in the upcoming 24-hour race.

So history was repeating itself this year – with the same venue, the same car and the same drivers.

“I’m really looking forward to driving the BMW M1 Group 4 in “Münchener Wirtshaus” livery at Le Mans again after 42 years,” said HRH Prince Leopold of Bavaria.

“It makes me particularly proud that my friends Christian Danner and Peter Oberndorfer are here with me, so that we can take a trip back in time in a very special way.”

2023 is a year of celebrations.

BMW Group Classic decided to enter the Le Mans Classic, in cooperation with BMW Motorsport and BMW France, to mark the centenary of the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Plus, the BMW sales company in France is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. And on 21 June, His Royal Highness Prince Leopold of Bavaria will turn 80.

As well as entering the BMW M1 Group 4 in the Plateau 6 category, BMW Group Classic will be hosting an exhibition of Le Mans racing icons at the Musée des 24 Heures du Mans:

The overall winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1999 – the BMW V12 LMR – will take its place alongside the first ever BMW Art Car, the BMW 3.0 CSL from 1975 created by Alexander Calder. Visitors will also be able to admire the BMW M3 GT2 Art Car from 2010 – the work of Jeff Koons.

Just under 20 privately entered historic BMW racers will also be taking part in the Le Mans Classic.

More photographs will be available here:

https://www.bmwgroupclassic-downloads.com/Events/2023/

Alcohol free beer has been served.

Munich / Cernobbio. We’re all looking back on the glittering days spent beside the magical shores of Lake Como. The wonderful grounds of the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este created a fantastic stage for the exquisite diversity of historic automobiles contesting this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. The exclusive beauty contest for Historic Cars enthralled the numerous visitors and international press world present at the event between 19th and 21st May. They were all rewarded with eight irresistibly appealing award classes – and one glorious overall winner.

A Duesenberg SJ Speedster styled in the coachwork design by Gurney Nutting from 1935 won the contest. On Sunday, the proud owner, William Lyon, was presented with the prestigious winner’s prize Trofeo BMW Group – Best of Show – by Helmut Käs, Head of BMW Group Classic und President of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, and Wilhelm Schmid, CEO of A. Lange und Söhne. Alongside the dazzling trophy, the winner selected by the Jury also received a unique model of the 1815 Chronograph in white gold. The exquisite watch was created by A. Lange und Söhne exclusively for the winner of the Best of Show.

Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, James Cagney and many other stars drove a Duesenberg during the 1930s as well as Jay Gatsby in the remake of “The Great Gatsby”. The founders of the company Fred und August Düsenberg emigrated to the USA from Westphalia (Germany) in 1880.

Successes in motor sport quickly made their name popular. Duesenberg – now written with ue – self-assuredly positioned itself at the top end of the market with a small series of exclusive models. The crowning glory came in 1932 with the extravagant SJ model. As much as 320 hp was available when the supercharger kicked in and this propelled the huge car to around 220 km / h (140 mph). The turn of phrase “it’s a Duesy” was coined as a synonym for the quality of the vehicles.

The Public Referendum voted for the Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California from 1961 with its elegant coachwork by Pininfarina/Scaglietti. This makes the Historic Car owned by Jonathan Hui, Keybridge Collection, Hong Kong, this year’s winner of the Coppa d’Oro Villa d’Este.

A further highlight was the first-time award of the Trofeo Il Canto del Motore for the most beautiful symphonic sound of an engine.

Jonas Kaufmann, one of the greatest tenors of our time, presented the prize to Christophe Count d’Ansembourg from Belgium as a salute to the impressive sound emanating from his Porsche 917 K from 1970.

This year, the public audience was finally able once again to experience all the joys of the festivities on the shores of Lake Como.

Since the Public Day at Villa d’Este was a sell-out long before the beginning of the festive weekend, the extensive parkland of Villa Erba offered fans and guests an event on the Saturday that is
part of the scene in Munich in the form of Wheels & Weisswürscht – or: Amici & Automobili. The members of the numerous BMW Clubs present celebrated automobility in many different dimensions with more than 160 vehicles and 6.000 visitors.

The Sunday was also extraordinarily diverse with the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Public Day – Il Festival that attracted more than 9.000 visitors.

The attractions on offer ranged from the breath-taking performance by the dancer Yoann Bourgeois and the exhibition marking 100 Years Le Mans with legendary racing cars from an entire century through to the magnificent parade of all the award classes in the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2023. The Public Day represented a joint celebration of the shared enthusiasm for automobility, sheer driving pleasure and superlative engineering achievements.

This year’s edition of the prestigious beauty contest for classic cars was also defined by numerous celebratory moments. Two award classes were dedicated to impressive anniversaries of automobile culture with “Porsche at 75: Delving into the Stuttgart legend´s iconic and eccentric back catalogue” and “A century of the 24 hours of Le Mans: Heroes of the most famous race in the world”.

We are already looking forward to welcoming you at our rendezvous between 24th and 26th May 2024 on the shores of Lake Como.

Until the time comes round again and we can announce the first details of the next edition, we invite you to reminisce about this year's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este on our Instagram and Facebook  channels.

Please find the full list of all winners in the attachement.

Munich/Goodwood. BMW Group Classic will be making the journey to southern England a little earlier than usual this year. It will bring the legendary Brabham BMW BT52 Formula 1 racing car to Goodwood in mid-April to celebrate various anniversaries with a series of exclusive demonstration laps. Performing the driving duties will be David Brabham, son of three-times Formula 1 world champion and team founder Sir Jack Brabham.

1983 was a very special year for the BMW brand. Brabham BMW’s Nelson Piquet became the first driver to win the Formula 1 World Championship in a turbocharged car. The title victory was sealed just 630 days after the arrival of BMW as engine suppler to the British Brabham team, setting a milestone for BMW Motorsport.

The potential of the Brabham BMW BT52 was already evident in spring 1983 during the then popular testing sessions at the Goodwood Motor Circuit. It was here that Piquet set the Goodwood lap record, becoming the first driver to power around the circuit in under a minute. The Brazilian’s lap remains the best ever recorded at Goodwood.

The history of motor racing at Goodwood began seven-and-a-half decades ago, the “75 years of motorsport at Goodwood” celebrations adding another highlight anniversary to the 80th Goodwood Members’ Meeting this year.

Munich/Cernobbio. On 19 – 21 May 2023, BMW Group Classic will host the legendary Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in cooperation with the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este. This year’s event will include the eight vehicle classes below:

Class A

A CENTURY OF THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS: HEROES OF THE MOST FAMOUS RACE IN THE WORLD

Class B

THE FAST AND THE FORMAL: PRE-WAR HIGH SPEED LUXURY

Class C

GRANDE VITESSE: PRE-WAR WEEKEND RACERS

Class D

INCREDIBLE INDIA: THE DAZZLING MOTORING INDULGENCES OF THE MIGHTY MAHARAJAS

Class E

PORSCHE AT 75: DELVING INTO THE STUTTGART LEGEND’S ICONIC AND ECCENTRIC BACK CATALOGUE

Class F

GRANTURISMO: EXPERIMENTING WITH THE POST-WAR EUROPEAN GT

Class G

THAT ‘MADE IN ITALY’ LOOK: STYLES WHICH CONQUERED NEW WORLDS

Class H

HERE COMES THE SUN: ’TOPLESS’ DONE DIFFERENTLY!

Awards will also be presented in a special category for spectacular concept cars from various manufacturers.

The Concorso d’Eleganza parade at the Villa d’Este will take place in customary style on the Saturday of the event. The Best of Show will be crowned by the Jury, with the vehicle in question being presented with the Trofeo BMW Group on Sunday evening. Beyond the top prize, the participants and competing vehicles at the Concorso will each battle it out for victory in their individual categories, for the Coppa d’Oro prize awarded by Public Referendum and for an array of other distinctions such as the Trofeo del Presidente, which will be presented by Helmut Käs, Head of BMW Group Classic and President of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.

Speaking of awards, the BMW Group Classic brand ambassador and star tenor Jonas Kaufmann has been handed a special task: he will present the Trofeo Il Canto del Motore for the best engine sound, as chosen by the Jury. BMW Group Classic brand ambassador and racing driver Bruno Spengler will also be at the event.

On Sunday 21 May, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Public Day – Il festival in the grounds of the nearby Villa Erba will once again give the wider public the opportunity to experience the parade of all the cars in the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. But that’s not all: this will be a day of attractions extending beyond the cars themselves, with a richly varied programme of music and entertainment laid on for the whole family. The vehicles entered in the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este will be on display here before the parade and can be admired at close quarters.

The BMW Group will also be presenting spectacular new vehicles with leading-edge technology on the Sunday, from a very special BMW M car and MINI Cooper SE Convertible (power consumption combined: 17.2 kWh/100 km according to WLTP; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) to an electric scooter from BMW Motorrad. A new all-electric M Performance model of the BMW 7 Series will also be shown in an exclusive “two-tone” livery.

Plus, in a highlight addition to the programme, the BMW Group will be celebrating the premiere of an elegantly sporty, one-off homage to motoring for two.

BMW M GmbH will be bringing a very special automotive guest to Lake Como: the new edition of the legendary BMW 3.0 CSL (Fuel consumption combined: 11.0 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 249 g/km according to WLTP; details according to NEDC: –) This show-stopping car will be on display both at Villa d’Este on Saturday and at Villa Erba on Sunday, flanked by its illustrious ancestor, the BMW 3.0 CSL from 1973.

Visitors to this year’s event will also be able to admire the Rolls-Royce Spectre (WLTP combined: power consumption: 21.5* kWh/100 km; electric range: 520* kilometers; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km.* Preliminary data — vehicle still in homologation), the marque’s first fully electric model, in the magnificent mosaic garden at Villa d’Este. The Spectre marks the transition of Rolls-Royce into an all-electric age, and the company has confirmed that its entire product range will be electric-only by the end of 2030.

The Amici & Automobili – Wheels & Weisswürscht event familiar to many from its Munich roots will bring a taste of Bavaria to the Concorso on Saturday 20 May – likewise in the grounds of Villa Erba. Vehicles of all types will be celebrated here and models from all brands brought over by car clubs and communities from around the world will be given a warm welcome.

Before the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este itself gets underway, the now traditional Prelude Tour will take centre stage. This year, it will include a stop-off at the Monza race circuit. The cars will arrive at Cernobbio’s harbour late in the afternoon on 18 May and be on display for the public.

These myriad attractions and the multi-faceted nature of the event reinforce the commitment of BMW Group Classic – as the event organiser – to evolve the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este with sensitivity and without detracting excessively from its historic character. This is in keeping with its goal of making the event more accessible to the wider public through the integration of various thematic focal points and of celebrating cars as a cultural asset.

Villa d'Este, Lake Como, and the outstanding surroundings provide the perfect frame in which the most extraordinary automobiles of their era glitter like precious gems. The aura of a unique classic event, the value of the masterpieces exhibited, and the perfection of this iconic hotel form a sublime symbiosis that, in May every year, combines tradition with the contemporary era. It is precisely this that has ensured the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este’s special flair since 1929.

The winner of the Trofeo BMW Group – Best of Show will be the recipient of a special timepiece from A. Lange & Söhne: the unique 1815 CHRONOGRAPH in 18-carat white gold with solid pink gold dial and hand-engraved Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este crest on the hinged cuvette. Through its partnership with the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, which began in 2012, the German watchmaker focuses on the historic links between motor sport and timekeeping. The partnership is also shaped by a shared commitment to tradition, handcraftsmanship and mechanical innovation.

RM Sotheby’s is the official auction partner of BMW Group Classic this year. Among the items going under the hammer in the grounds of Villa Erba on Saturday 20 May are several BMW M models from a private collector.

The organisers would once again like to thank long-standing partners A. Lange & Söhne, Vranken Pommery and wwwe GmbH.

You can secure yourself tickets for the Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este on Saturday 20 May here: https://www.concorsodeleganzavilladeste.com/packages-tickets/

Tickets for Amici & Automobili – Wheels & Weisswürscht on Saturday 20 May and the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Public Day – Il festival, including the vehicle parade, on Sunday 21 May are available here: https://www.ticketone.it/en/artist/concorso-eleganza/

Additional information is available here all year round:

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este app for iOS and Android

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este website: https://www.concorsodeleganzavilladeste.com/

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

BMW Group Classic media download server for assets:

https://www.bmwgroupclassic-downloads.com/Events/

BMW M GmbH closes anniversary year with new sales record.

Munich. At the end of its anniversary year, BMW M GmbH has once again achieved record results. Global sales of performance and high-performance cars rose to 177,257 vehicles during the 2022 financial year. This represents an increase of 8.4 per cent compared to the previous year, despite the continuing challenging conditions in the area of logistics and supply chains. The most important single market in 2022 was again the USA, with the second most important sales region again being the German domestic market, followed by the UK.

“The enthusiasm of the M community for emotionally powerful performance on the road and on the racetrack has carried us through the entire anniversary year,” says Franciscus van Meel, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW M GmbH. “This is also expressed in a new sales record for BMW M automobiles, which gives us a positive outlook for 2023.”

BMW i4 M50: the best-selling BMW M automobile drives locally emission-free.
At the same time, 2022 marks BMW M GmbH's successful start into the age of electric mobility. “The best-selling BMW M automobile of 2022 is the all-electric BMW i4 M50,” says Timo Resch, Head of Customer, Brand and Sales at BMW M GmbH. “For us, this is a clear signal that the unique M feeling has arrived in the world of electrified vehicles.” The BMW i4 M50 is powered by an electric motor on both the front and rear axles, which together generate a maximum output of 400 kW/544 hp. The perfectly coordinated power delivery of the two e-motors and independent suspension tuning ensure an M-typical driving experience characterised by dynamics, agility and precision, which proved to be a real crowd-puller right from the outset.

With the BMW iX M60*, a second all-electric performance car from BMW M GmbH made a highly successful debut. During the course of 2023, BMW M GmbH will continue its product offensive with, among other things, the first electrified high-performance automobile, the BMW XM, and the BMW i7 M70, a BMW M automobile based on the fully electric BMW i7. The further transformation towards electric mobility has also already been mapped out. In order to be able to include high-performance cars with purely electric drive in the range in the future, BMW M GmbH will intensify the corresponding concept testing in 2023. The focus will be on an integrated driving dynamics control system and an electric M xDrive all-wheel drive system with four electric motors, which will ensure that the emotionally powerful M feeling reaches an even higher level.

Anniversary year with spectacular premieres, BMW M3 and BMW M4 remain on the road to success, fast-paced launch for the new BMW M240i xDrive Coupe*.
The celebrations of the 50th anniversary of BMW M GmbH were accompanied by debuts for numerous spectacular new models. The broad spectrum of new releases ranged from the second generation of the puristic BMW M2*, with its combination of straight six-cylinder engine, 6-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive, which evokes classic driving pleasure in a high-performance automobile, to the extroverted BMW XM with its 480 kW/653 hp M HYBRID drive. The first BMW M3 Touring* also offers completely new ways to experience M-typical performance. This diversity creates ideal conditions for attracting additional target groups and generating further growth in 2023.

The current increase in sales figures is also based on sales successes in a wide range of vehicle segments. The high-performance sports cars of the BMW M3 and BMW M4 series, which – including the new BMW M3 Touring – are available in four body variants, in two performance levels, with a choice of a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission, as well as with rear-wheel drive or the all-wheel drive system M xDrive, continued to enjoy particularly widespread popularity in 2022. BMW M GmbH thus covers a wide range of customer needs in this core segment.

With an exceptionally strong performance within their competitive environment, the high-performance cars based on BMW X models also contributed to BMW M GmbH's new sales record. The upcoming upgrade for the BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M models in spring 2023 will provide effective impetus for a continuation of this success story.

The successful launch of the new BMW M240i xDrive Coupe in 2022 proved to be a highlight in the performance car segment. The new edition of the compact two-door is powered by a 275 kW/374 hp straight-six engine and is now also available with classic rear-wheel drive. “The new sales record for BMW M Automobiles is based on our successful presence in a broad range of vehicle segments,” says Timo Resch. “With our wide-ranging product portfolio, we are also ideally positioned for the future.”

Premiere at Daytona: the new BMW M3 CS* and the BMW M Hybrid V8.
In addition, BMW M GmbH fulfils the desire for particularly concentrated racing characteristics with attractive special models – as early as 2022 with the BMW M4 CSL* and soon with the new BMW M3 CS.

The BMW M3 CS will make its world debut on the last weekend of January as part of the 24-hour race at Daytona. The tradition-steeped competition in the US state of Florida is also the venue for BMW M Motorsport's comeback to endurance racing. The new BMW M Hybrid V8 will compete there for the first time. 47 years after the Daytona overall victory of the legendary BMW 3.0 CSL, the new LMDh prototype is set to race for points in the IMSA GTP class of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship before also competing in the official FIA World Endurance Championship at Le Mans and elsewhere in 2024.

The final phase of the development process and the subsequent test drives on various race tracks were among the highlights of 2022 for the BMW M GmbH motorsport department, while the all-important success on the race track was the overall victory in the DTM drivers' and teams' championships. South African Sheldon van der Linde and Team Schubert Motorsport secured the title win in the prestigious touring car championship in the very first season with the new BMW M4 GT3.

*Consumption and emission values:
BMW i4 M50: Power consumption in kWh/100 km combined: 22.5 – 18.1 WLTP.
BMW XM: Fuel consumption in l/100 km combined: 1.6 – 1-5 WLTP; Power consumption in kWh/100 km combined: 30.1 – 28.9 WLTP; CO₂ emissions in g/km combined: 36 – 33 WLTP.
BMW iX M60: Power consumption in kWh/100 km combined: 24.7 – 21.9 WLTP.
BMW M240i xDrive Coupe: Fuel consumption in l/100 km combined: 8.8 – 8.1 WLTP; CO₂ emissions in g/km combined: 200 – 185 WLTP.
BMW M2: Fuel consumption in l/100 km combined: 9.8 – 9.6 WLTP; CO₂ emissions in g/km combined: 222 – 218 WLTP.
BMW M3 Touring: Fuel consumption in l/100 km combined: 10.4 – 10.1 WLTP; CO₂ emissions in g/km combined: 235 – 229 WLTP.
BMW M4 CSL: Fuel consumption in l/100 km combined: 10.1 – 9.9 WLTP; CO₂ emissions in g/km combined: 227 – 224 WLTP.
BMW M3 CS: Fuel consumption in l/100 km combined: 10.4 – 10.1 WLTP; CO₂ emissions in g/km combined: 234 – 229 WLTP.

Munich/Cernobbio. On 19 – 21 May 2023, BMW Group Classic will host the legendary Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in cooperation with the Villa d’Este luxury hotel. The most spectacular cars of their respective eras will once again do battle in exclusive competition classes for the coveted prizes. Most prestigious of all is the Trofeo BMW Group, awarded by the high-calibre Jury to the overall winner of the Concorso d’Eleganza.

To this end, the Selecting Committee of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2023 is inviting owners of exceptional classic cars to sign up for the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Registrations for the competition classes already confirmed are possible at the event website https://www.concorsodeleganzavilladeste.com.

The category “A Century of the 24 Hours of Le Mans: heroes of the most famous race in the world” honours the centenary of the classic endurance race near the Sarthe river in France. The 75-year anniversary of Porsche is an occasion of comparable distinction, and fully deserving of its own category: “Porsche at 75: delving into the Stuttgart legend’s iconic and eccentric back catalogue”. The third already fixed competition class is: "Incredible India: The Dazzling Motoring Indulgences of the Mighty Maharajahs". Cars can also be registered outside of the categories set out so far. Further classes will be announced in due course.

BMW Group Classic is delighted to announce that the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Public Days at Villa Erba – suspended as a result of the coronavirus pandemic – will return to the programme in 2023.

On Sunday 21 May, the Public Day – Il Festival will once again give the wider public the opportunity to experience the parade of the cars in the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.

This will be a festival day for all the senses, celebrating the cars and mobility of the past, present and future. And an enthralling programme of entertainment will also be laid on for the whole family.

The Amici & Automobili – Wheels & Weisswürscht event format familiar to many from its Munich roots and adapted for the Concorso d’Eleganza for the first time this year will also be part of the festival weekend in 2023. This established get-together for car enthusiasts will return to Lake Como on Saturday 20 May and give a warm welcome to the models of all brands brought over by car clubs and communities from around the world.

These elements of the programme reflect the commitment of BMW Group Classic – as the event organiser – to evolve the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este with sensitivity and without detracting excessively from its historic character. With this in mind, further pre- and side events are in the pipeline, more details of which will be revealed at a later stage.

The Hotel Villa d’Este will celebrate another anniversary in 2023: 150 years as a hotel, because the company Villa d'Este S.p.A. was founded back in 1873. For this reason it will host special events throughout the year and will stay open during the winter period.

You can secure yourself tickets for the Concorso d’Eleganza at the Villa d’Este, Amici & Automobili – Wheels & Weisswürscht and the Public Day – Il Festival here:

https://www.concorsodeleganzavilladeste.com/packages-tickets/

Additional information is available here all year round:

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este app for iOS and Android

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este website: https://www.concorsodeleganzavilladeste.com/

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

BMW Group Classic media download server for assets:

https://www.bmwgroupclassic-downloads.com/Events/

Munich. The BMW 3.0 CSL (fuel consumption combined: 11.0 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 249 g/km according to WLTP; details according to NEDC: – ) combines a unique design with a puristic performance experience in two seats. It conveys to the present day in an extremely focused manner the concept created in the 1970s of applying racetrack technology designed for sheer driving pleasure on the road.

The BMW 3.0 CSL was developed with the intention of combining the best of five decades of racing expertise from BMW M GmbH in an automobile with a highly emotional aura. All facets of its character – dynamic exterior elegance, a classic sportscar cockpit, intelligent lightweight construction, a straight six-cylinder engine, manual transmission and rear-wheel drive – are based on traditional principles of a BMW M automobile. They complement each other with the help of the latest technology to create the ultimate symbol of fascination for top performance in the style of the brand that has been successful for 50 years. A ride in a BMW 3.0 CSL is therefore not only an exclusive high-performance experience, but also an emotional encounter with the history and the present of the world’s most powerful letter.

The BMW 3.0 CSL as a limited production run incorporating elaborate craftsmanship.

The BMW 3.0 CSL is produced in a strictly limited edition. To mark the anniversary, exactly 50 consecutively numbered units of the special model will go on sale. Right from the start, this gives the BMW 3.0 CSL the status of a rarity that will find its place in the vehicle collections of particularly loyal and enthusiastic fans of the BMW M brand.

The production of all vehicles will take around three months. Each and every one of them is created with absolute dedication to excellence in craftsmanship and precisely coordinated technologies in an elaborate manufacturing process at the external location of the BMW Group Dingolfing plant in Moosthenning, Lower Bavaria. The exclusive interior carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) components are produced by hand both in Munich and at the BMW Group component factory in Landshut by specially assigned bodywork specialists.

A specific process was also conceived for the paintwork of the BMW 3.0 CSL, in which craftsmanship and state-of-the-art technology complement each other to provide each individual part with its characteristic colour design. In addition, a team of 30 specially qualified and experienced technicians is responsible for the configuration and assembly of the vehicles. Due to the complexity of the processes in the manufactory, each BMW 3.0 CSL passes through eight assembly cycles at just as many production stations, a procedure that takes up to 10 days in all.

All in all, the extremely high proportion of individual manual work means that the time required to assemble a BMW 3.0 CSL is many times higher than that of a conventional BMW M automobile. After completion in the manufactory, each vehicle also undergoes a multi-stage quality inspection and approval process at the main Dingolfing plant before it is released for delivery to the customer. The BMW Group Plant Dingolfing is the company’s largest European production site. In addition to several BMW M automobiles, the luxury sedans of the BMW 7 Series and body components for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars are produced there.

The successful touring car – a role model in its time. 

As the reincarnation of a legendary sports car both for the racetrack and the road, the BMW 3.0 CSL possesses all the characteristics of a puristic car. It embodies the joy of classic driving and an awareness of the traditional roots of BMW M GmbH in a uniquely exclusive form. Its eponymous role model is considered the first automobile to carry the DNA for maximum driving pleasure and passion, an unmistakeable feature of BMW M automobiles to this very day. In the founding year of BMW Motorsport GmbH, it was developed for use in touring car competitions, where it became the most successful racing car of its era.

The racing version of the historic BMW 3.0 CSL won the European Touring Car Championship during its inaugural season in 1973 – and repeated this title win five more times in succession from 1975 to 1979. Drivers such as Toine Hezemans, Hans-Joachim Stuck, Chris Amon and Niki Lauda left the competition behind at the Nürburgring and numerous other circuits, followed by BMW’s first victories on US circuits as early as 1975. All these successes helped the works racing cars to gain international popularity.

“Coupe, Sport, Lightweight construction“: New interpretation of a legendary formula.

The road version of the racing car, which was developed for homologation purposes, became a widely known symbol of inspiring driving pleasure focused on the essentials, especially in its final stage of development. CSL – this combination of letters in the model designation stood for “Coupé, Sport, Leichtbau” (Coupe, Sport, Lightweight), a concise summary of the two-door car’s recipe for success.

In addition to wide wheel arches, its coupe-shaped body also received an eye-catching aerodynamics package, which included a front spoiler, air bars on the front side panels and a roof spoiler. Completing the design modifications vs. the other coupes in BMW large series was a rear wing that optimised the grip of the rear wheels. It was not approved for road use and therefore lay in the boot when the vehicle was delivered, but nevertheless received much public attention so that the Coupe was given the nickname “Batmobile”.

With an increased displacement of 3,153 cubic centimetres and a maximum output of 151 kW/206 hp, the most powerful straight six-cylinder engine with direct injection ever used in a BMW model ensured sporty power delivery. The powerful drive system was combined with refined suspension technology. Its unladen weight was just 1,270 kilograms.

The reduced weight was achieved through comprehensive lightweight construction. The doors were made of aluminium, as were the bonnet and the boot lid, which were supported on filigree retaining rods after opening. Numerous other body components such as the roof, side panels and luggage compartment partition were made of particularly thin sheet metal, and the chrome bumpers were replaced by plastic skirting. Lightweight bucket seats and the omission of insulation material, power steering and electric windows ensured optimal weight reduction. An overall power-to-weight ratio of 6.2 kilograms per horsepower was thus achieved.

The new BMW 3.0 CSL is the contemporary reinterpretation of all these features anchored in its model designation. Its coupe-shaped body sets traditional accents for sporty elegance and expressive dynamics. Its drive and suspension technology stems from the latest developments for racing cars and high-performance sports cars from BMW M GmbH. And the intelligent lightweight construction reaches an outstanding level, above all through the extensive use of carbon. The power-to-weight ratio of the BMW 3.0 CSL is a mere 2.9 kilograms per hp.

As an independent model from BMW M GmbH and despite the limited number of units, the BMW 3.0 CSL has undergone a complete series development process. In addition to the extensive quality and function tests and the driving dynamics tuning test drives under a wide range of conditions from city traffic to country roads and motorways to the race track, the BMW 3.0 CSL has also undergone comprehensive aerodynamic testing. Around 200 working hours were spent on optimising the airflow and aerodynamic balance of the vehicle, including 50 hours in the wind tunnel of the BMW Group’s Aerodynamic Test Centre. In addition, two pre-production vehicles of the BMW 3.0 CSL had to undergo a safety test in the form of a frontal and a side crash test in order to meet road legal requirements.

Unique, M-typical design, geared to the technical demands of fascinating performance.

With its classic coupe proportions and a traditional vehicle concept that combines a front engine and manual transmission with rear-wheel drive, the BMW 3.0 CSL follows in the footsteps of its historic ancestor. Distinctive air deflection elements, powerfully shaped wheel arches, a striking rear spoiler and numerous other details are unmistakably based on the design of the legendary coupe from the 1970s.

At the same time, its appearance is characterised by the principles that have always applied to BMW M automobiles: The specific exterior features are based on the technical requirements in terms of cooling air supply, aerodynamic balance and driving dynamics, which form the basis for highly fascinating performance. In this way, the BMW 3.0 CSL expresses timeless racing passion in an emotional and authentic way.

Powerful aesthetics pay tribute to the historical ancestor.

Power and athleticism are signalised by the front end of the BMW 3.0 CSL, which sits low on the road. At its centre is the distinctive BMW kidney grille with a lattice-shaped insert in a diamond structure. Its upright position relates to the front design of its historic ancestor. Like the side window surrounds, the kidney frame is finished in satin aluminium – a design feature that emphasises the special status of the BMW 3.0 CSL. Together with the BMW kidney grille, two generously dimensioned recesses in the front apron, reminiscent of the air intakes on the 1970s model, ensure reliable cooling of the drive and brake systems even in extremely dynamic driving situations. Sculpturally shaped air fins on the bonnet accentuate the classic lines.

With their flat contours, the headlights create the characteristic focus on the road. The BMW Laser Light headlights shine in yellow, both during the welcome scenario after unlocking the doors and when the low and high beams are activated, thus making reference to successful GT racing cars. This detail is a subtle reference to the strong connection with motorsport and BMW M GmbH’s currently most successful competition vehicle, the BMW M4 GT3, which won both the drivers’ and team championships in the DTM in 2022 and whose power unit is based on the same straight-six engine as the power unit of the BMW 3.0 CSL. The BMW M4 GT3 achieved championship success right at the start of its racetrack career, much like the historic BMW 3.0 CSL, which once won the European Touring Car Championship in its inaugural season.

Viewed from the side, the long bonnet and wide wheelbase lend the BMW 3.0 CSL an appearance that is both sporty and classically elegant. The brand-typical coupe proportions in a three-box design also contribute to this. Particularly wide, diagonally offset side panels and wide side walls underline the dynamic appearance of the coupe even when stationary, with an air deflector extending along the roof line.

Wide wheel arches, central locking wheels produced exclusively for the BMW 3.0 CSL’s tyres.

Muscular wheel arches give indication of the large track widths that contribute significantly to the vehicle’s high cornering dynamics. They offer space for the forged light-alloy wheels in a Y-spoke design, these being 20 inches on the front axle and 21 inches at the rear. With their filigree spokes, a gold-coloured paint finish in the style of the 1970s and a centre lock, they represent a highlight in terms of design and driving dynamics adapted directly from racing. The integration of the model-specific wheels into the pre-assembled axles of the BMW 3.0 CSL is part of the manufacturing process at the BMW Group's Dingolfing plant. At 930 Nm, the torque applied during the assembly of the centre locks achieves the highest value for a BMW Group production vehicle.

The forged light-alloy wheels are fitted with Michelin tyres developed exclusively for the BMW 3.0 CSL. They bear the number 50 embossed on the tyre sidewalls, providing another subtle reference to the anniversary of BMW M GmbH, on the occasion of which the special model was designed and built.

A tail wing in the style of the “Batmobile“.

The rear view of the BMW 3.0 CSL is also characterised by powerful aesthetics and reinterpreted design features of its ancestor. The most striking feature is the rear wing, which is enclosed at the side and translates the characteristic appearance of the “Batmobile” into a modern design language. Designed to generate additional downforce and thus optimise traction on the rear axle, the air deflector encloses the entire rear section, thus becoming a dominant visual element. For the benefit of aerodynamic balance, it is combined with a strongly pronounced carbon diffuser in the rear apron, thereby optimising airflow in the underbody.

The four tailpipes of the exhaust system, which are arranged in an arrow shape in the centre of the rear apron and feature a particularly lightweight titanium rear silencer, also provide a striking accent. The rear lights of the BMW 3.0 CSL use innovative lighting technology to generate a fascinating, exclusive night design and a particularly vivid radiance. This is achieved by filigree laser light threads that appear to be free-floating inside the lights and create an expressive 3D effect through precise superimposition.

Elaborate paintwork in the style of classic racing cars. 

Right from the very beginning the 1970s, BMW Motorsport GmbH became imprinted in fans’ memories not only thanks to spectacular racing successes, but also through an unmistakable appearance. Just like the competition cars, the drivers’ outfits, the vehicle transporters and all other team equipment featured uniform stripes in blue, purple and red on a white background – a novelty at the time and a globally recognised trademark to this day. The BMW 3.0 CSL picks up on this tradition with a paint finish in Alpine white uni and an elaborately applied stripe decor in the BMW M GmbH colours. The lines on the body effectively reflect the dynamic surfaces, thus bringing to the fore the powerful aesthetics of the coupe even more clearly.

Both the base colour and the M stripes, known in technical jargon as livery, are applied largely by hand, involving an extremely high level of time and effort. A total of 22 individual parts are painted in a process specially designed for the BMW 3.0 CSL. Particular attention is paid to a highly precise arrangement of the areas of the body surfaces and livery stripes finished in visible carbon. In general, most of the exterior in Alpine white uni comprises carbon components, which are hand-painted by specialists. The high-tech material is only visible in the lettering on the roof and on the rear wing. For this purpose, these areas must be exposed during the painting process. In order to precisely position the livery stripes in the BMW M GmbH colours, the painters use masking by means of laser projection as well as customised contour films.

Each component with a livery paint finish has a throughput time of six working days. During this time, it completes up to eight paint processes, each with the necessary intermediate work steps such as sanding and masking the colour stripes. This results in a total of 134 paint processes for each vehicle, adding up to a total of 6,700 manual work sequences in the paint shop for the entire small series of the special model.

The number sequences on the doors and roof of the BMW 3.0 CSL, designed in the style of early racing cars, build a bridge from the past to the present. Their design in the style of racing numbers is based on the historical model of the first BMW M automobile developed for touring car racing, whilst the number 50 refers to the anniversary of BMW M GmbH. Another reminder of the 1970s are the two BMW logos positioned on the C-pillar, hence directly behind the counter-swing of the side window graphic known as the Hofmeister kink.

The most powerful straight six-cylinder power unit ever used in a road-legal BMW M automobile.

The BMW 3.0 CSL features the most powerful straight six-cylinder engine ever used in a road-legal BMW M automobile. This is also a tradition: in its final stage of development, the predecessor of the same name marked a new record with an engine output of 151 kW/206 hp – not only for six-cylinder models, but for all BMW production vehicles produced up to that point.

Since then, the straight six-cylinder engine with M Power has undergone an impressive development. Engines of the same design mobilised an output of 204 kW/277 hp in the BMW M1 as early as 1978 and 250 kW/340 hp in the second-generation BMW M5 from 1991. The fifth-generation BMW M3 was launched in 2014 with a 317 kW/431 hp straight-six engine featuring M TwinPower Turbo technology.

The straight six-cylinder engine of the BMW 3.0 CSL possesses the same technological roots as the power unit of the current DTM winning car. The 3.0-litre power unit offers spontaneous high revving thanks to the typical M high-revving concept and comprises, among other things, an extremely rigid crankcase in a sleeveless closed-deck design, a forged lightweight crankshaft and a cylinder head core featuring 3D printing technology. The cooling system and oil supply are also designed for extremely dynamic driving situations. For its championship win in the DTM, the BMW M4 GT3 was powered by a version of the latest straight six-cylinder engine with around 600 hp which, in its version designed for large-scale production in the current models of the BMW M3/BMW M4 series, delivers up to 375 kW/510 hp.

The version of the drive system with M TwinPower Turbo technology, which was further developed exclusively for the BMW 3.0 CSL, mobilises a maximum output of 412 kW/560 hp. The new record for straight six-cylinder models from BMW M GmbH with road approval underpins the special status of the vehicle. Its engine develops a maximum torque of 550 Nm and fascinates with a linear power delivery up to a maximum speed of 7,200 min^-1.

6-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive for particularly intense driving pleasure. 

To transfer the drive power to the road, the developers of the BMW 3.0 CSL used a concept that has been tried and tested for decades for maximum driving pleasure and intensive interaction between driver and vehicle. The straight six-cylinder engine is coupled with a 6-speed manual gearbox whose spread and transmission ratios are ideally matched to the performance characteristics. Precisely defined gear shift travel enables fast and precise gear changing. The gearshift knob made exclusively for the BMW 3.0 CSL protrudes from the centre console and is a luxurious accessory. It immediately arouses anticipation for the manual gearshift, lies snugly in the hand and, with its white surface, the engraved gearshift diagram and the number 50, is reminiscent of the beginnings of BMW M GmbH in the 1970s. A tribute to modern technology is the shift assistant, which uses a connection speed control to ensure slip-free clutch engagement after downshifting when braking for corners. It can be activated or deactivated by the driver.

In traditional manner, the drive torque is transmitted to the road exclusively via the rear wheels of the BMW 3.0 CSL. For ambitious use on the race track, the driver can use the typical M linear build-up of lateral acceleration forces to steer the vehicle through bends with controlled drift manoeuvres. The Active M Differential in the rear-axle transmission also ensures superior dynamics. If necessary, it prevents torque compensation between the rear wheels and, at the same time, continuously and variably builds up a locking effect of up to 100 percent. The Active M Differential is linked to the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) and precisely adjusts its locking effect to the respective driving situation. For example, traction is optimised on roads with different friction values for the right and left rear wheels. When accelerating dynamically out of bends, the driver receives noticeable feedback on the grip potential on the rear wheels and can thus optimally dose the use of the accelerator pedal.

Suspension technology tuned exclusively to each model, including M carbon-ceramic brake system and M Traction Control.

In the configuration of the suspension technology as well, state-of-the-art technology has been combined with a methodology for the harmonisation of all components that has matured over five decades. The suspension components used in the BMW 3.0 CSL represent the spearhead of development for high-performance sports cars by BMW M GmbH: a double-joint spring strut front axle and a five-link rear axle in M-specific design, an Adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers, the electromechanical M Servotronic steering with variable ratio and the M carbon ceramic brake system with adjustable characteristic curves.

The integrated application of all drive and chassis systems took place during intensive test drives on public roads as well as on race tracks, including the Nürburgring Nordschleife, which has been the ultimate testing ground for all BMW M automobiles for 50 years. Prior to testing, engineers at BMW M GmbH had designed and optimised the digital image of the BMW 3.0 CSL in every detail in a computer-aided design and development process. By incorporating virtual reality and other digital processes, it was possible to accelerate the series development process to the maximum extent. This detailed simulation and tuning process took into account the model-specific dimensions, vehicle weight and axle load distribution, the extremely high rigidity of the body and suspension connections as well as the aerodynamic balance of the BMW 3.0 CSL to ensure from the onset that typical M combination of agility, dynamics and handling precision.

Powerful deceleration performance, optimised fading stability, outstanding thermal stability and extremely high wear resistance are offered by the M carbon ceramic brake system. It combines six-piston fixed-calliper brakes and ceramic brake discs measuring 400x38 millimetres on the front axle with single-piston fixed-calliper brakes and 380x28-millimetre ceramic brake discs at the rear and features red-painted brake callipers. The M-specific design of the integrated braking system allows two characteristic pedal-feel curves to be displayed, which can be selected in the M Setup menu.

With the M Traction Control function, the driver can individually set the intervention thresholds of the wheel slip limitation. Ten levels are available for this purpose, and complete deactivation of the driving stability control is also possible via the M Dynamic Mode. The BMW 3.0 CSL is thus perfectly prepared for experiencing puristic performance on the race track.

Intelligent lightweight construction with maximum use of carbon components. 

In the BMW 3.0 CSL, the tradition of intelligent lightweight construction, which has been cultivated since the 1970s, is reformulated and reshaped using state-of-the-art technology. To reduce weight in the body and chassis areas, carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) is used to an exceptionally high extent in addition to the minimal use of insulating material. BMW M GmbH is a pioneer in the use of CFRP in series-produced vehicles. As early as 2004, it equipped a large-series model with a carbon roof for the first time.

The BMW 3.0 CSL features CFRP components on virtually all bodywork sections. In addition to the roof, bonnet and boot lid, the front and rear aprons are made entirely of carbon. The front and rear side panel attachments, the side sills, the rear diffuser, the rear wing and rear spoiler are also made of the high-tech material. All carbon components are manufactured in small series, mostly by hand and exclusively for the BMW 3.0 CSL.

In addition, a targeted selection of materials and state-of-the-art design methods also lead to a significant reduction in the weight of other vehicle components. The roof spoiler of the BMW 3.0 CSL is made of glass fibre reinforced plastic. The titanium rear silencer of the BMW 3.0 CSL is around 4.3 kilograms lighter than a conventional steel component. The cast aluminium precision struts in the engine compartment, which connect the suspension strut domes to each other and to the front end, have a geometry that has been precisely matched to the forces acting in different driving situations. With the aid of numerical models agility and steering precision has been optimized with a minimum of material and weight.

Puristic sports car cockpit with M carbon full bucket seats.

Also, in the interior of the BMW 3.0 CSL the use of carbon and other lightweight construction measures emphasise the puristic sports car characteristics. Instead of additional seats, the rear offers a storage compartment with two integrated helmet compartments. CFRP trim in the door panels and reduced acoustic insulation also contribute to the extremely sporty flair. The driver and front passenger sit in M Carbon full bucket seats, which convey a highly emotional and inimitable racing feeling every kilometre of the way. The diagonal connections between the seat surface and the backrest are reminiscent of the construction principle of the lightweight seats featured in the historic model. Seat height and inclination can be adjusted exclusively via a three-stage screw linkage in a workshop. The longitudinal position can be varied manually using a lever at the front edge of the seat. In addition, the M Carbon full bucket seats offer removable headrest inserts.

Over and above that, the interior of the BMW 3.0 CSL presents itself as a sports car cockpit that is puristic and exclusive. Black Alcantara seat surfaces and M seat belts are combined with an M Alcantara steering wheel, an anthracite roof liner, black Alcantara and matt carbon surfaces. Contrast stitching and other accents in white correspond with the exterior paintwork of the BMW 3.0 CSL, the model lettering of which is embossed into both the door sill trims and the seat surfaces. The white gearshift knob symbolises the classic form of interaction between driver and vehicle when changing gear. The red start/stop button and the likewise red M buttons on the steering wheel are available for activating the engine and for direct access to the vehicle’s overall setup. The matt interior trims in a carbon fibre finish feature sequential numbering for each of the 50 units available. This marking, documented in the interior from #01/50 to #50/50, corresponds in each case to the final digits of the suspension number, thus representing a clearly visible and authentic reference to the individual vehicle identity.

A successful racer and businessman, Paddy began his professional motorsport career at the Circuit of Ireland and with his first Hewison Trophy for the most successful Irish rally driver of the year. In the following decades, numerous engagements with various brands and major rallies were strung together — such as the Safari Rally, the RAC Rally, the Acropolis Rally, the Tulip Rally, the Alpine Rally and many more.

Hopkirk finished his first participation in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1962 in third place in a Sunbeam Rapier. A year later, sixth place followed with a classic Mini.

In 1964 Hopkirk finally etched himself into the motorsport history books in the classic Mini. In a dramatic duel with Swede Bo Ljungfeldt and his significantly more motorized Ford Falcon, Hopkirk delivered a showdown at the Col de Turini and finally won the overall standings, taking the first Monte victory for the Mini.

The surprise coup was celebrated frenetically in Great Britain, making the classic Mini a legend and Hopkirk the most famous rally driver overnight. The British Prime Minister sent congratulations and The Beatles sent a card with the words, “Now you're one of us, Paddy.”

But what do numbers and victories say about a person? Hopkirk was also known among colleagues, family, friends and fans as a fair sportsman. In 1968, he and his co-driver Tony Nash were in the lead at the London-Sydney marathon and stopped their Austin to free a recently injured team-member from his burning vehicle.

Today, although we must say farewell to Paddy, we know that his legacy will remain forever.

In case of queries, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Julian Kisch, Press Officer Product Communications MINI
Tel.: +49-89-382-38072
E-mail: julian.kisch@mini.com

Andreas Lampka, Head of Communications MINI
Phone: +49-89-382-23662
E-mail andreas.lampka@mini.com

Jennifer Treiber-Ruckenbrod, Head of Communications MINI and BMW Motorrad
Tel.: +49-89-382-35108
E-mail jennifer.ruckenbrod@bmwgroup.com

Munich. BMW M – the most powerful letter in the world – is celebrating its 50th birthday, and the BMW Museum in Munich is joining in the celebrations: the new BMW M exhibition opened on 24 May 2022, marking the very day that BMW Motorsport GmbH was founded on 24 May 1972. It is dedicated to the hugely successful BMW M brand, which emerged from BMW Motorsport GmbH.

Little could anyone have known how much of a unique success story BMW Motorsport GmbH would grow into when it was founded half a century ago – bundling and further professionalising all of BMW’s racing activities. The newly developed BMW 3.0 CSL won the 1973 European Touring Car Championship. Since then, BMW M has passed many unique milestones in the fields of motorsport, technology and design. This is embedded in the BMW Group’s corporate history in a lively and exciting new exhibition at the BMW Museum.

The race track as a museum circuit.

Visitors walk through large sections of the museum on a specially created BMW M circuit, modelled on a racetrack: “We have consciously integrated the eight BMW M stations into our permanent exhibition to highlight the BMW M anniversary everywhere,” says Helmut Käs, Head of BMW Group Classic, explaining the concept: “It is not your usual temporary exhibition. Instead, we are adding special highlights within the museum. For example, the ‘Visions’ room is actually all about future topics. We have set up a stage for the most successful racing touring car in the early days of BMW Motorsport – the BMW 3.0 CSL – flanked by the BMW 2002 turbo. That is also a symbol: both vehicles are an integral part of the tradition which is shaping our tomorrow.”

  The motorsport gene is still at the heart of BMW M today.

The special exhibition flowing through a further seven rooms highlights various aspects such as the history of racing touring cars, the manufacture of the BMW Individual, the complete M Story with background information on the distinctive colours, the logo and the anniversary logo launched in 2022. Special aspects such as the BMW Art Cars and BMW driver training, which would not even exist without BMW M, are also showcased. The exhibits include the iconic BMW M1 and BMW M3 as well as design concepts, prototypes, BMW M classics and winning racing cars such as the BMW V12 LMR, all combining to give a sense of what the brand is all about: “This motorsport gene from the early days still thrives in BMW M today,” says Jochen Neerpasch, co-founder and first Managing Director of BMW Motorsport GmbH from 1972 to 1980: “The brand owes its dynamism, passion and performance to motorsport. Innovations such as lightweight construction, aerodynamics, optimised engine performance or a reinforced chassis still feature in M vehicles today.”

Guided tours and workshops for children bring racing history to life.

When you know a lot, you see more. The one-hour guided tour through the permanent exhibition, which currently has a special focus on the BMW M stations, fully lives up to this motto and gives a wealth of information. The BMW Junior Museum has come up with something special that will get even 9- to 14-year-olds thrilled about BMW M. Entitled “Join the M Team!” it offers exclusive, two-and-a-half-hour BMW M anniversary workshops. The young participants meet up-and-coming talents from the BMW Junior Team, experience genuine motorsport passion and team spirit, learn about historic victories and landmark vehicles. They complete small challenges and create their own airbrush BMW M designs, which can be exhibited in the museum and taken home.

The BMW M motorsport exhibition at the BMW Museum runs throughout 2022. All dates, further information – including about guided tours – and the online ticket shop are at https://www.bmw-welt.com/en/experience/guided_tours.html

BMW Museum tours

The BMW Museum presents a fascinating look at the corporate, brand and product history of BMW. More than 120 of the brand’s most valuable and eye-catching cars, motorbikes and engines are on display in the 5,000 m² exhibition area. Information on exhibits and background information is given in German and English.

The BMW Museum, together with the BMW Plant and BMW Welt, impressively showcases the brand experience in Munich, providing deep insights into the tradition, the present and the future of the BMW brand. Founded in 1973 as one of the first brand museums, it was redesigned and expanded in 2008.

BMW Museum opening hours: Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Last admissions at 5.30 p.m.

Guided tours can be booked via the BMW Welt info service on + 49 (0)89 125 016 001. Tickets are available via the online ticket shop at https://ticket.bmw-welt.com/Exhibitions/Register?refresh=y&id=75026459-1499-e911-9104-02e0ec439a41&shop=D1C6FD86-4613-4437-A931-F2CC660641ED&language=EN.

Munich. The BMW Group is celebrating the 100^th anniversary of its Munich home plant. The company has been manufacturing its products as “Bayerische Motoren Werke” at the site in the Milbertshofen district since 1922. At an event to mark the anniversary, CEO Oliver Zipse emphasized how: “Our home plant – right in the heart of the metropolis that is Munich – has defied the elements of time. Because there have always been people who kept this site moving, always with the right instinct for the times and, above all, with a clear view to the future.” Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter spoke of a “strong commitment to Munich as a business hub.”

It all started with aircraft engines and motorcycles. Then, from 1952, the plant moved on to start producing cars, which are still famous the world over to this day, including the iconic BMW Isetta, racing legends such as the M3 and, since 1975, the most successful of all BMW models: the BMW 3 Series. “Our roots are in Munich. This plant is our origin. And our future,” said Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of Management for Production at BMW AG: “It’s a high-tech production site. Around 900 top-quality BMWs leave this plant every day. Five different models with all types of drive. This proves the high flexibility, but also the vast breadth of experience and skills of the people who work here. They are the driving force behind everything that happens here.”

In its 100^th anniversary year, the Munich plant is impressively demonstrating the leading role it plays in the age of electromobility. The all-electric BMW i4, for example, already makes up a quarter of the production volume – and rising: “The demand among our customers for the new BMW i4 is enormous – so we’re ramping up production even further. Next year already, every second vehicle leaving the Munich plant will be fully electric. Going by current plans, that means more than 100,000 BMW i4s from the heart of Munich for customers all over the world,” announced Oliver Zipse, with Milan Nedeljković adding: “This means that, by 2023, our home plant will already have achieved the BMW Group’s global goal for 2030, namely to increase our proportion of BEVs to 50 percent”.

“The introduction of the BMW i4 was an impressive feat of integration into an existing production system, and demonstrates the plant’s enormous capacity for transformation,” Plant Manager Peter Weber added. “Within less than five years, we have evolved from only producing combustion engines to producing hybrids and the fully electric i4. This means that we now manufacture five different models with all the different drive types on one production line. This shows that this factory truly understands transformation and is the embodiment of change and flexibility.”

In conjunction with the BMW Group’s Research and Innovation Center (FIZ), the Munich plant has always served as an internal center of excellence, disseminating knowledge about processes and technologies, as well as the experience gleaned from 100 years of engine and vehicle production to other plants around the world. Examples of this innovative prowess include producing the first series of the fully electric MINI E, the iconic Z8, and the electric special edition of the BMW 1602 for the Summer Olympics in 1972. Not to mention Project i, culminating in the revolutionary BMW i3, which also originated at the Munich plant.

The Munich plant’s strong position as a paragon of the BMW Group’s production network, now and in the future, is demonstrated by its transformation into an iFACTORY – the strategic master plan devised by BMW Group Production, emphasizing ‘lean’, ‘green’ and ‘digital’. Production Board Member Nedeljković: “The BMW iFACTORY epitomizes what we are aiming for with our production in the future and is setting new standards. We are implementing them globally, in all our plants – here in Munich as well as in our new plant in Debrecen, Hungary.”

The Munich plant’s structure is also undergoing transformation. The site of the former paint shop is being converted into a new body construction facility, and from 2024 the company will be constructing a completely new assembly to produce the all-electric ‘Neue Klasse’ on the site of the current engine-building facility. “This will keep the Munich plant competitive and ensure it remains a forward-looking production site,” emphasized Plant Manager Peter Weber.

Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter highlighted the fact that the plant has continued to evolve in parallel with the residential urban area that surrounds it and has remained a valuable employer: “The BMW parent plant in Munich has played a particularly significant role in BMW’s success story, which spans over 100 years. It has produced pioneering vehicles – such as the Neue Klasse in the 1960s and the 3 Series – which were instrumental in making the company a success,” said Reiter at the anniversary event. “As a result, I am all the more pleased that BMW plans to develop its home plant in an innovative and sustainable way according to its ‘urban production’ motto, taking into account the industry’s transformation toward electromobility and digitalization. This is a strong commitment to Munich as a business location and to securing and creating jobs in our city in the long term. I would like to thank the company for this endeavor and offer my sincere congratulations on the 100^th anniversary of BMW’s first plant,” Reiter added.

The mayor also discussed the results of the recently concluded architecture competition “BMW Munich – Urban Production”, which the company launched in fall 2021 in partnership with the state capital Munich. The aim was to capitalize on the plant’s unique location in the city center. This will involve making the whole complex visibly more accessible and open to its neighbors.

The two winning offices, OMA from Rotterdam and 3XN from Copenhagen, decided on a joint endeavor to further develop their designs, and presented this concept to a high-caliber jury last week. Their vision for the future of production at the BMW Group plant in Munich will now be used to develop a new master plan.

With this master plan, as well as the structural optimizations already in the works, the Munich plant will focus on the BMW iFACTORY principles LEAN. GREEN. DIGITAL. Together, these principles ensure that this special site – the BMW Group’s century-old parent plant – will have maximum flexibility, excellent processes and outstanding integration capacities over the coming decades.

Munich/Nürburg. BMW M GmbH is staging the BMW M Race of Legends as part of the 50th ADAC TotalEnergies 24h race at the Nürburgring. In collaboration with BMW Group Classic, they have secured a well-known, international starting grid for the race. Multitude of BMW racing legends will go head to head in a 30-minute race on the Grand Prix track just before the 24-hour race gets underway on Saturday 28^th May, 2022. The minimum age to compete is 50.

Dirk Adorf (DE), Bill Auberlen (USA), Johnny Cecotto (VEN), Eddie Cheever (USA), Harald Grohs (DE), Olaf Manthey (DE), Jochen Mass (DE), Arturo Merzario (IT), Steve Soper (UK), HRH Prince Leopold of Bavaria (DE), Franciscus van Meel (NL) and Eric van de Poele (BEL) will take each other on in identical BMW M2 CS Racing.

Jochen Neerpasch (DE), co-founder of BMW Motorsport GmbH and mentor of the current BMW Junior Team, and BMW Group Classic brand ambassador HRH Prince Leopold of Bavaria (DE) will also be supporting the drivers as patrons of the extravaganza.

The 365-hp BMW M2 CS Racing will be sporting an iconic BMW M racing design from the 1970s in honour of BMW M GmbH’s racing history, which will be slightly different to identify each of the drivers.

Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH: “This year we will be celebrating a huge anniversary party on the weekend of the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring to mark the 50^th anniversary of BMW Motorsport and BMW M GmbH. There will be plenty of BMW M highlights in store for spectators and fans. One special treat will be the BMW M Race of Legends, with a starting grid of racing legends that is rarely seen. We would like to thank ADAC e.V. for giving us this opportunity.”

The twelve racing legends will take to the Grand Prix track at the Nürburgring as follows:

Thursday 26th May, 2022

09:50 – 10:10, 1^st free practice session

10:20 – 10:40, 2^nd free practice session

Friday 27th May, 2022

15:40 – 16:10, 3^rd free practice session

16:20 – 16:30, Qualifying

Saturday 28th May, 2022

13:40 – 13:50, Starting formation

14:00 – 14:30, race (30 min.)

The huge number of fans will also be able to catch up with them in the paddock where they will be available for selfies and autographs.

Goodyear is the exclusive partner of the spectacular BMW M Race of Legends and will be providing race tyres for the BMW M2 CS Racing at this event and throughout the year in BMW M2 Cup Germany.

Munich/Cernobbio. Beauty belongs on the catwalk. The Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este is the dream setting on Lake Como for the world’s most exclusive pageant for outstanding historic vehicles. The BMW Group Classic continues its more than 20-year partnership with the Grand Hotel Villa d'Este as organiser of this unique Concours with undiminished passion and commitment.

The organiser, in close consultation with the Grand Hotel Villa d'Este, constantly reconsiders the scope of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este to ensure an event format appropriate to the times and circumstances is offered every time. For this reason, the Concorso di Motociclette will continue to be suspended for the time being.

A new and unique facet will be integrated into the weekend in Cernobbio for the general public: the BMW Group Classic looks forward to inviting you to their “Wheels & Weisswürscht Lake Como” event at Villa Erba on Sunday, 22 May. The new event on the grounds at walking distance from the Villa d'Este will be kept very relaxed under the theme of “Casually Celebrating Cars”. “Wheels & Weisswürscht Lake Como" welcomes international BMW, Mini and car clubs across all brands with the authentic Bavarian flavours from the organiser’s home region. Many automobile enthusiasts will make their treasured collections accessible to visitors on the grounds of Villa Erba. A separate area will be reserved for automotive stars from the history of BMW M. Three of the legendary BMW M RingTaxis from the Nürburgring will be among these stars.

Around fifty automotive beauties from almost one hundred years of vehicle history will present themselves at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2022 in seven classes, with designations reflecting the anniversaries and superlatives of this year’s competition:

Class A – The golden age of elegance: the art deco era of motor car design

Class B – Kompressor! The supercharged Mercedes-Benz

Class C – Celebrating 150 seasons at Villa d’Este: how grand entrances were once made

Class D – The Cavallino at 75: eight decades of Ferrari represented in eight icons

Class E – Born for the racetrack: “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday”

Class F – 50 years of mean machinery: BMW M cars and their ancestors

Class G – Breaking the speed barrier: pioneers that pursued the magic 300 kph

BMW Motorsport GmbH was founded 50 years ago as a subsidiary of BMW AG. Known as BMW M GmbH since 1993 and having long-since achieved legendary status, BMW M has an impressive history of racing cars and high-performance vehicles. Its own “50 years of mean machinery - BMW M cars and their ancestors” judging class will be documenting and honouring this year’s Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.

50 years of BMW M also marks the occasion when many BMW Group Classic collection vehicles representing this history are brought to Lake Como in May to be exhibited. Historic BMW racing cars will be present as well as BMW M series vehicles and stunning historic eye-catchers from the BMW 7 Series.

The BMW Group Classic bridges the past, present and future of mobility by presenting historic and current collection vehicles. The Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2022 will focus on the pinnacle of luxury, elegance and sportiness.

Two premieres of exceptional BMW automobiles point the way to the future: the eagerly anticipated BMW M4 CSL (Combined Fuel consumption: 10.1 – 9.8 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 227 – 222 g/km according to WLTP) will be making its world debut at the Concorso d'Eleganza, while the new BMW i7 (BMW i7 xDrive60, combined consumption according to WLTP: 19.6 - 18.4 kWh/100 km, combined consumption according to NEFZ: - , provisional data) – the first all-electric BMW 7 Series – will be making its Concorso d’Eleganza debut.

Based on the radical Supersports bike M 1000 RR, BMW Motorrad is presenting a special anniversary edition that will appear together with the BMW M4 CSL.

Yet another highlight is the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail. Over a four-year project period, three highly unique automobiles have been designed for individual Rolls-Royce customers. The next chapter of the Boat Tail will be shown at this year’s Concorso d'Eleganza.

The 75th anniversary of the Italian car manufacturer Ferrari will also be honoured with its own competition category: “The Cavallino at 75: eight decades of Ferrari represented in eight icons” brings the extraordinary history of the brand to life in a special class.

2022 is a very special year for the iconic Villa d'Este. Originally designed as a private residence for the Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio in the 16th century and transformed into one of world’s finest hotels in 1873, Villa d’Este celebrates its 150th hotel season this year. It is impossible not to be swept up in the silent glamour and history of Villa d’Este, with the grande dame having played host to some of the greatest names in cinema, art, literature, politics and business over the past 150 seasons. The legendary hotel has withstood the test of time and evolved gracefully, and this anniversary year will honour the traditions for which Villa d’Este is famed and adored, whilst also celebrating the continued innovations which affirms the hotel as an evolving icon within the industry. This anniversary merits a separate Concorso d'Eleganza vehicle class: “Celebrating 150 seasons at Villa d'Este: how grand entrances were once made” presents vehicles that have gone down in the annals of the Concours as winners of the Coppa d'Oro Villa d'Este or the “Best of Show” trophy since the first ever event in 1929.

The Prelude Tour is already a great tradition and for the first time this year starts in nearby Milan. The exclusive starting line-up of unique historic cars will take a carefully selected route to the Concorso d'Eleganza on Lake Como on the Thursday before the main event, arriving in Cernobbio in the afternoon.

The general public also have the opportunity to admire the vehicles at various locations in the centre of Milan. The grand vehicle parade of all participants will take place on Saturday at Villa d’Este. This day the exclusive and coveted Coppa d’Oro Villa d’Este will be assigned by Public Referendum to the most beautiful car.

The weekend will culminate on Sunday, when the top-placed participating vehicles and concept cars will be exhibited on the grounds of Villa d'Este and the class winners will be awarded prizes. This time, the “BMW Group Trophy – Best of Show” will already have been awarded in the afternoon.

For ten years now, the watch manufacturer A. Lange & Söhne has been a valued partner of the Concorso d'Eleganza. This year, the “Best of Show” winner will be awarded a one-of-a-kind 1815 CHRONOGRAPH model in white gold, with which A. Lange & Söhne commemorates the historic connection between motor sport and timekeeping.

The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este expresses its sincere thanks to its long-standing partners A. Lange & Söhne and Vranken Pommery for their well-established, excellent cooperation.

Further information for the public, in particular on purchasing tickets, can be found on the event website: https://www.concorsodeleganzavilladeste.com/packages-tickets/.

Pictures and videos from the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2022 will be available from 21 May at: www.bmwgroupclassic-downloads.com

Munich. Over a period of four decades, the BMW Clubs all over the world have been official ambassadors for the brand. There are more than 230 000 members in 54 countries on all the continents suitable for travel with automobiles and motorcycles. The clubs represented in the BMW Clubs International Council form an exceptionally large and proactive international association. The diverse club life of the members of around 700 clubs includes joint activities, road trips and events. These activities are an expression of their huge commitment and their strong emotional link with the BMW brand.

Communication with the BMW Clubs on an equal footing is extremely important for the BMW Group. In his congratulations on the anniversary, Pieter Nota, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Customer, Brands and Sales, highlighted the importance of the clubs for the living brand experience:

“It is my honour to congratulate the BMW Clubs International Council on its 40th anniversary. Our most valuable customers gather under this umbrella: loyal enthusiasts of the BMW brand. In the past decades, an internationally active community has been built with great passion. It is characterized not only by the exchange of expertise, but also by friendships developed beyond national borders. On behalf of BMW AG and my fellow board members, I therefore wish you special congratulations on the anniversary!”

The foundation stone for the umbrella organisation of the BMW Clubs – the BMW Clubs International Council – was laid at a meeting in Vienna held in 1981. The Head of the Press Office at that time, Dr Horst Avenarius, initiated this first step on behalf of BMW. The first leadership duo comprised Dr Reiner Jodjohn from Germany as Chairman and Keith Dempster from the USA as his Deputy. Since 2014, David de Bruyn from South Africa has been President of the Council. Trevor Dean from Australia, Dr Bernhard Knöchlein from Germany and Julio Reyes from Guatemala currently provide him with support as Vice-Presidents.

The international alignment expanded over the decades and this was very evident at meetings right from the start with representatives taking part from many countries including the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia and of course Germany as well. Meanwhile, international representatives from 16 umbrella organisations attend the annual Council Meetings.

Communication between the Clubs and the BMW Group has continued to intensify as a result of global networking and the organisational support provided by the BMW Club & Community Management (BCCM), based at BMW Group Classic in Munich. The BCCM is a global interface supporting the regional Clubs in arranging club life and organising meetings and events.

The BMW Clubs International Council is now the biggest network of Clubs worldwide representing the brand of an automobile and motorcycle manufacturer. With the exception of the Antarctic, the BMW Clubs International Council can therefore proudly proclaim that on its 40th anniversary, BMW Clubs exist virtually everywhere in the world.

Munich/Cernobbio. The Trofeo BMW Group remains firmly in Italian hands. The Ferrari 250 GT TDF is overall winner of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2021. The endurance racing car made in 1956 and owned by American Brian Ross was awarded the honour of “Best of Show” by the Jury of experts. For the seventh time in succession, the most important award at the world’s most traditional and most exclusive heritage beauty contest for Historic Cars was conferred on a car from Italian production. Today, the three-day festival of classic cars on the shores of Lake Como drew to a close with the gala prize award ceremony. Once again, the festival was a celebration of elegance and timeless beauty on four wheels.

The 250 GT TDF reigned supreme in a carefully curated field of participating rare treasures gathered from eight decades of automobile history. In the afternoon, the sports car had already been selected as class winner in Class E, featured under the motto “Big Band ’40s to awesome ’80s – Five Decades of Endurance Racing”. The victorious car bears the moniker “TDF” as a mark of respect for the Tour de France. This was a stage race for automobiles held on French roads, and a Ferrari 250 GT was victorious in 1956.

The vehicle presented at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2021 was the second Tour de France built in the series that Ferrari went on to produce. On the very day it was registered, the car competed in a different endurance race, the Mille Miglia in Italy. Over the following years, the lightweight coupé powered by a 3.0 litre twelve-cylinder engine achieved a number of victories in hillclimbs. Today, its perfectly restored condition means that we can only imagine the challenges this automobile survived in the course of its campaigns.

The Jury had already provided an eagerly awaited highlight for participants and guests alike when it announced the Class Winners and Mentions of Honour in the course of the afternoon. A total of almost 50 outstanding classic cars from different eras of automobile history were nominated for the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2021. The bandwidth of entrants ranged from rarities built in the 1920s, influenced for the first time by aesthetic aspects of automobile design alongside functional attributes, through to spectacularly designed hypercars from the 1990s. Each car is marked out in a unique way by its immaculate condition, historic significance and individual history, conveying the fascination and timeless beauty that have defined the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este since its very beginnings.

The attached press-information presents the “Best of Show” and all the class winners.

Images and video clips from the Concorso d´Eleganza Villa d´Este 2021 can be viewed on: www.bmwgroupclassic-downloads.com

From 1st to 3rd October 2021, BMW Group Classic and the Grand Hotel Villa d´Este present impressive technical and aesthetic automobile concepts from eight decades in eight classes +++ Jeff Koons will also be present as the artist for the edition of the BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupé +++ Presentation of a pioneering concept for sustainable urban mobility with the BMW i Vision Circular +++ Lake Como is the perfect backdrop for the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, presented for the first time in public.

Munich/Cernobbio.The most exclusive edition of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este so far is being held in Cernobbio on the shores of Lake Como at the Villa d‘Este from 1st to 3rd October 2021. The hallmark of the beauty contest is passion for elegant coachworks and timelessly beautiful designs. For organizational reasons and due to attendance limits dictated by the anti-covid rules the public event in the parkland of Villa Erba and the Concorso di Motociclette are not being held in 2021.

The organisers ask for understanding in relation to the unusual form of the event this year and will enable the loyal public to follow the legendary parade of cars from 2.00 to 4.00 p.m. on Saturday 2nd October 2021 in a livestream on the website https://www.concorsodeleganzavilladeste.com/

Jeff Koons will give initial insights into his project with BMW at a Closed Room presentation of THE 8X JEFF KOONS, his limited edition of the M850i xDrive Gran Coupé. The result of this collaboration embodies precision, refinement and craft artistry, and it is a perfect match with the atmosphere of the Renaissance residence on the shores of Lake Como. Jeff Koons will join together with the Head of BMW Group Design, Adrian van Hooydonk, to talk about the connection between art and mobility, inspiration and creativity, and interaction between these different areas.

This year, the Head of BMW Group Classic, Helmut Käs, is taking over the Presidency of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este from Ulrich Knieps, who defined the prestigious event from 2014 to 2020, and who will also be present at this year’s edition.

About 50 exclusively selected Historic Cars will be shown in eight classes at this edition of the Concorso d´Eleganza. The evocative titles of the classes highlight the most exciting and most attractive interpretations in the history of the automobile:

Class A – Twentieth Century Style: From Touring Torpedo to Racy Roadster

Class B – Developing the Theme: Space, Pace and Grace

Class C – Showroom Showdown: Britain and Germany Battle for Luxury Supremacy

Class D – Granturismo all´Italiana: Finding the Perfect GT Formula

Class E – Big Band ´40s to Awesome ´80s: Five Decades of Endurance Racing

Class F – A Passion for Perfection: Celebrating 90 Years of Pininfarina

Class G – The Birth of the Supercar: Latin Style Landmarks

Class H – The Next Generation: Hypercars of the 1990s

In addition, the participating Concept Cars & Prototypes will provide a global highlight. Five visionary one-of-a-kind specials will be presented alongside each other for the first time in a unique showing.

The BMW Group will also present a pioneering concept for sustainable mobility at this year’s Concorso d´Eleganza Villa d´Este: the BMW i Vision Circular. The vision car has been consistently designed on the basis of the principles of the circular economy. The aim is to achieve 100 percent use of recycled materials and 100 percent recyclability. The BMW Group intends to become the most successful and most sustainable premium manufacturer for individual mobility. That’s why the company is adopting a responsible approach and placing these issues at the centre of its strategy. The BMW i Vision Circular also demonstrates that a premium aspiration need not be a contradiction with sustainability.

The worldwide debut of the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail in the Mosaic Garden of Villa d’Este will undoubtedly create a sensation. This is an initial apogee of a coachbuilding project over four years with three unusual Rolls-Royce clients. A personalised automobile of superlative excellence has been designed for each one. The convertible has a length of 5.80 m and comes from the British luxury marque with a long “Boat Tail” designed like a yacht to provide a perfect accompaniment for the journey along the fabulous winding road on the banks of Lake Como.

This year, the programme of the Concorso d´Eleganza will once again be defined by the exhibition of participating cars, the exquisite aesthetics of their styling and contours, and the crowning of the most elegant and technically excellent winners of the beauty contest by the Jury. The winners of the Coppa d´Oro Villa d´Este will receive their award on Saturday and the winners of the various vehicle classes, the Concorso d’Eleganza Design Award and the Best of Show Award for the overall winner of all classes will be presented on Sunday.

Once again this year, we would like to extend our thanks to our loyal partners A. Lange & Söhne and Vranken Pommery, both of whom have accompanied us over many years.

Images and video clips from the Concorso d´Eleganza Villa d´Este 2021 can be viewed from 2nd October on: www.bmwgroupclassic-downloads.com

Munich/Cernobbio. The organisers of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, BMW Group Classic and the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este, are glad to confirm that the most exclusive beauty contest for classic vehicles with the greatest heritage tradition will take place between 1st and 3rd October 2021. The development of the pandemic situation shows positive trends at many points and this is a key factor for an event with participants and guests from all over the world.

However, it has been decided to keep the event a bit more intimate with limited access for 2021, therefore the public event on the grounds of Villa Erba as well as the Concorso di Motociclette won‘t take place this year. The entire Concorso d’Eleganza 2021 will therefore take place at the Villa d’Este from Friday to Sunday.

The Selecting Committee has already made an exclusive selection from the large number of registrations. The cars will be presented in the following classes for the contest in 2021:

Class A - Twentieth Century Style: From Horseless Carriage to Racy Roadster

Class B - The Art Deco Era: Space, Pace and Grace

Class C - Showroom Showdown: Britain and Germany Battle for Luxury Supremacy

Class D - Granturismo all’Italiana: Finding the Perfect GT Formula

Class E - Big Band ‘40s to Awesome ‘80s: Five Decades of Endurance Racing

Class F - A Passion for Perfection: Celebrating 90 Years of Pininfarina

Class G - The Birth of the Supercar: Latin Performance Landmarks

Class H - The Next Generation: Hypercars of the 1990s

After the major success at the premiere in 2019, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2021 will once again be launched with an outing for some of the participants, the Villa d’Este Prelude Tour. This year, the tour will be held on Thursday 30 September 2021 and will take a route from Cernobbio to Como, along the banks of Lake Como to Bellagio and back via Asso. The cars will be available for everyone to admire when the drivers take a midday break in Bellagio.

In 2021, media representatives are once again expected from numerous countries. In order to support their work, a media centre will be located as usual at the event site. Media representatives who would like to be on site to report on the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2021 may submit an accreditation request at http://concorsodeleganzavilladeste.com/press.

Separate information on accreditation will follow, spaces are limited in 2021 on account of the coronavirus situation.

Munich. Over more than 100 years of history at the BMW Group, there have been many events that have presented the business with exceptional challenges – much like the current situation. Lots of highs and some lows have been encountered on the pathway from the modest aero-engine factory to the status of leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles. Celebrating the occasion of its 100th Annual General Meeting, the BMW Group looks back to key moments in the development of the company and remembers how the associated difficulties were overcome.

Every crisis – and this also applies to the present – entails an opportunity to emerge with renewed strength. What powers are necessary to achieve this? A company with innovative strength that embraces change and is geared to the future. A company producing pioneering products with the courage to develop unique solutions and the indomitable will to compete with the best. Then you also need a highly motivated workforce that is always willing to go the extra mile. These capacities, abilities and skills have always empowered the company to overcome setbacks, surmount crises and master new challenges. The prism of history and key corporate indicators from more than 100 years show how crisis situations have repeatedly provided the launchpad for developing renewed strength and continuing the success story of the BMW Group.

1919: Reliable engines are required – not just in the air.

During the First World War, the fledgling company was only manufacturing one product: the BMW Illa aeroengine. The 6-cylinder inline engine had the reputation of being the best aero-engine of its era. Its design principle was now transferred to the successor model – and the superiority of the technology was proven with a World Record. On 17 June 1919, an aircraft powered by the BMW IV aeroengine took a pilot to an altitude of 9 760 metres for the very first time. Never before had an aircraft flown so high. But after the end of the war, production of aero-engines was prohibited in Germany. New ideas had to be generated so that the expertise in building engines could continue to be applied productively. Consequently, BMW expanded its product range. Power units were marketed as the “Bayern-Motor” or “Bavaria Engine”, which in common with the aero-engines featured reliable and fuel-efficient operation. They were mounted primarily in boats, trucks and buses.

1923: From engine supplier to motorcycle manufacturer.

Reliability was also the chief hallmark of the “Bayern-Kleinmotor” (Bavaria Small Engine). The first Boxer engine from BMW was only supplied to other manufacturers. The main purchaser was Nuremberg-based company Victoria, which very successfully mounted the engine in its motorcycles. But when Victoria moved over to using an engine the company had developed in-house, BMW’s sales collapsed. In this situation, the company management made the daring move of taking a big leap forward. Chief Designer Max Friz was commissioned to develop a complete motorcycle. The BMW R 32 was presented at the German Motor Show in 1923. While other manufacturers were still focused on the geometry of bicycles, Friz had consistently designed the BMW R 32 around the engine. For the first time, a twin Boxer engine was mounted in the model with the cylinders arranged transverse to the direction of motion. When motorcycle manufacture started up again, BMW was transformed from an engine supplier into a vehicle manufacturer.

1948: New beginning on two wheels.

After the end of the war in 1945, BMW lost its production site in Eisenach since it was located in the Soviet occupation zone, and with loss of the location went the know-how necessary for automobile manufacture. At the same time, work began on dismantling the facilities in Munich, parts of which had been destroyed. Nevertheless, a start was made on a modest beginning with emergency production of pots and pans, fittings, agricultural implements and a handful of bicycles with lightweight alloy frames. Then the military authorities gave the green light to restart production of motor vehicles and the BMW R 24 was the first post-war motorcycle to be produced in Munich in 1948. The single-cylinder engine received an enthusiastic reception, becoming a symbol of entrepreneurial courage and signalling the launch of a new era of individual mobility. More than 12 000 machines were sold and the successor model BMW R 25 achieved almost double the number of motorcycles. And just one year later, another model powered by a Boxer engine followed in the form of the BMW R 51/2.

1957: Lean times and new markets.

By 1954, the annual production at the Munich plant had risen to 30 000 motorcycles. But soon after that the market underwent a change. The motorcycle lost out in terms of image and prestige to the automobile. Within the space of just three years, the sales figures came down to 5 400 BMW motorcycles. Nevertheless, the company steadfastly continued with motorcycle production. Traditional business from government agencies continued to be a mainstay of the business in times of crisis. BMW motorcycles were especially successful with the police service because of their reliability and smooth-running characteristics – not only in Germany but also in many other countries. Equipping police patrols often paved the way for entry into new markets. Persistence ended up paying off. New models and the relocation of BMW Motorrad production to Berlin in 1969 presaged a new chapter of success. The newly developed /5 Series was consistently designed as a sports racing machine and lent pioneering momentum to the motorcycle sector. As a sports and leisure machine, the motorcycle experienced a comeback and BMW was ideally positioned with its new models to emerge stronger from the motorcycle crisis.

1959: Small shareholders prevent the takeover of the company and the “New Class” provides the breakthrough.

At the end of the 1950s, BMW was on the edge of financial collapse. Sales problems in the automobile and motorcycle business had put the company in serious difficulties. At the Annual General Meeting in December 1959, the sale of the company to Daimler Benz AG appeared to be already a foregone conclusion. However, it failed with a last-minute reprieve as a result of committed small shareholders putting up spirited resistance to the restructuring plan that was part of the takeover. The shareholders’ principal criticism was that the BMW brand and its workforce had been valued much too low in the restructuring concept. BMW remained independent but the basis for economic recovery was only laid a year later with a new restructuring plan developed under the aegis of major shareholder Herbert Quandt. His plan was based on the independence of BMW AG, new structures and new models. The new BMW 700 small car steered the company back on the road to success and the real breakthrough ultimately came with the BMW 1500, the first model in the “New Class”.

1973: Through the oil crisis on a countercyclical bounce.

Society’s attitude to the automobile underwent a change after the oil crisis in 1973 with its speed limit of 100 km/h and the car ban on Sundays. Big cars with large engines fell out of favour along with powerful sports cars. However, the management at BMW set about getting through the lean period and coming out stronger at the other end. Pioneering investments highlighted the countercyclical strategy. In Munich, the new Group Headquarters building known as the “Four-Cylinder” and the BMW Museum were opened. And in Dingolfing a new production plant started up operations in November 1973. The vehicle development engineers responded quickly and presented the BMW 1502 and the BMW 518 as two fuel-efficient entry-level models in 1974. When the oil crisis petered out in spring of 1975, demand started to take off again. BMW was in an ideal position for the upturn with new models, expanded production capacities and optimised sales structures. This was already confirmed during the first quarter of 1975. BMW had smashed the previous record from 1973 by around 50 percent with 78 000 new vehicles registered. Two models posted particularly good sales: the BMW 1502 and the BMW 518.

1994: Liaison with consequences – MINI and Rolls-Royce remain from the British subsidiary.

During the 1970s and 1980s, BMW developed into one of the fastest-growing automobile manufacturers in the world with a broadly-based model range and a steadily increasing number of employees in the workforce. The acquisition of British automotive manufacturer Rover Group on 31 January 1994 was intended to significantly expand the range of automobiles on offer. However, the development opportunities were overestimated when the purchase was made. The company underwent restructuring to form the BMW Group and after six years the British subsidiary was sold. Only the MINI brand remained with the BMW Group. The modern MINI presented in 2001 generated a revolution in the small-car segment – emulating the launch of its classic predecessor. The new MINI embarked on an extraordinary success story with premium quality and modern safety, combined with driving fun and individual style. Furthermore, the BMW Group succeeded in securing the name rights for the Rolls-Royce marque. Since 2003, the BMW Group has therefore been present in the blue-riband luxury class. A new plant had previously been built for production of the new Rolls-Royce Phantom at Goodwood in the United Kingdom.

2009: The i project comes to fruition in the financial crisis.

From autumn 2008, a global crisis in the financial markets rocked not only the banking sector but also numerous other sectors. As a consequence of this, automobile sales in the most important markets underwent a significant fall. Government stimulus packages were initiated in order to re-launch demand and most importantly to support the purchase of particularly efficient models. While huge efforts were made worldwide to secure the future of the automobile business, the BMW Group ran a covert project which was to completely redefine the concept of individual mobility. With this aim in mind, the BMW Group had already launched project i in autumn 2017. The objective was to develop an all-electric automobile for use in metropolitan urban areas and in parallel to design a complete ecosystem for local zero-emission driving. The BMW i3 was presented in autumn 2013 – and this was accompanied by a host of concepts, packages and services for innovative materials, an environmentally benign production process and a charging infrastructure which transformed electromobility into an experience full of comfort and marked by driving fun.

Munich. BMW Group Classic has choreographed its appearance at the Goodwood Revival 2019 as a journey through time back to the year 1959. The occasion for this jubilee is the 60th anniversary of the MINI brand and a gala celebration in the parkland of Goodwood House in Southern England from 13 to 15 September. Since 1998, the estate of the Earl of March in West Sussex has been the annual showplace for a stylishly spectacular event celebrating historic motor sport. Racers from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s along with celebrity drivers recall the fast laps on the Goodwood Racing Circuit at the sporting competitions that took place regularly in this setting between 1948 and 1966. In keeping with the historic vehicles and the authentically styled ambience, many of the visitors contribute to the classic atmosphere of this event by wearing outfits in the style of the period.

The year in which the classic Mini made its debut and the Swinging Sixties that followed are the focus of a wealth of attractions away from the race track. A number of feature films are being screened in the revival cinema at the venue. A highlight is “The Italian Job” from 1969 in which three Mini Coopers starred alongside Michael Caine playing the main parts in a sensational gold robbery involving a car chase through Turin.

“March Motor Works”: New models from 1959 are presented in period style.

Homage is also paid to the classic Mini as a screen hero in the halls of the “March Motor Works”. The documentary “The Incredible Seven” is being shown within the portals of a picture palace from the 1960s. The British Motor Corporation (BMC) commissioned the film in 1961 and it presents the story behind the creation of the classic Mini. Footage of test drives with early prototypes, conversations with the creator of the classic Mini, Alec Issigonis, images of the public debut of the revolutionary small car and driving reports by journalists give an insight into the initial years of an automobile that became a rolling legend over the many decades of its development, with faithful fans all over the world. The title of the film refers to one of the two official model designations under which the classic Mini was launched on the marketplace in 1959. It rolled off the assembly line in virtually the same guise as the Austin Seven and the Morris Mini-Minor. The Mini owed its doppelganger identity to the varied repertoire of brands marketed by BMC.

Visitors can also go back in time 60 years in the other rooms of the “March Motor Works”. BMW Group Classic is staging its presentation of historic vehicles in the style of a stand at the International Motor Show in 1959 and the model range of that era is showcased there. Two examples of the BMW 700 coupé, a BMW 600 and a BMW Isetta with “Lufthansa” livery, embody the automobile spirit in the years of the economic miracle. The taxi version of a BMW 501 is presented in front of the building. Two models of the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud additionally provide luxurious grandeur and British flair. The models BMW R 69 S, BMW R 50 S and BMW R 27 represent the motorcycle range from BMW in 1959. Furthermore, the spectacle of a BMW 3/15 PS takes onlookers 30 years further back down memory lane. The history of BMW as an automobile manufacturer began with this model 90 years ago.

The “Revival Festival” is another perennial element in the firmament of BMW Group Classic at Goodwood. Visitors can enjoy Bavarian specialities in a historic festival tent and experience a hint of Oktoberfest atmosphere in the British Isles.

Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy: Title defender Troy Corser lines up at the start again.

Last year, Australian racing rider Troy Corser succeeded in achieving a historic success for BMW Motorrad Classic together with Herbert Schwab. The duo won the overall standings in the race for the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy on a supercharged BMW R 57 Compressor for the first time at the Goodwood Revival. For his title defence race, two-time Superbike World Champion Corser has selected a BMW R50 Kaczor. This version of the BMW R 50 is characterised by increased power and reduced weight. Ferdinand Kaczor was a designer who subsequently became a BMW engineer and he achieved some spectacular successes on many race tracks in the 1960s.

British racing rider Maria Costello is battling for the coveted trophy astride a second motor-sport legend on two wheels. She is riding a BMW RS 54. The machine was presented in 1954 and it was the first motorcycle designed specifically for racing by the BMW brand. Even today, the motorcycle’s powerful Boxer engine driven by a vertical shaft ensures that the BMW RS 54 can achieve an impressive performance on any race track.

1. More than an automobile.
The MINI Model Family Over the Years. 2

2. With traditional sporting spirit and British flair.
The MINI 60 Years Edition. 10

3. Motor sport meets lifestyle.
MINI and the success story in motor sport.12

4. MINI All the Way – Always Different.
Customised to Your Personal Taste. 17

5. Traditional Values and Modern Diversity.
Concept and Technology. 21

6. From the Original to the Original.
The MINI Design. 29

7. The Revolutionary with the Drawing Pad.
Sir Alec Issigonis, the Father of the Classic Mini. 36

8. Made in England – Then and Now.
MINI Production between Past and Future. 39

9. Individualists Unite!
MINI fans are networked worldwide. 42

10. The Car for All Classes, with the Qualities of a Star.
MINI as a Member of Society. 45

11. Small Car, Great Show.
MINI Marketing. 48

12. Inspiring Character.
MINI Lifestyle and Special Editions. 51

13. A Question of Style.
The MINI Lifestyle Collection. 54

1.   More than an automobile.
The MINI model family over years.

The original in the premium segment of small cars has reached its 60th birthday – but it is even younger than ever. It was sixty years ago, to be precise on 26 August 1959, that British Motor Corporation (BMC) proudly revealed the result of their development activities in creating a new, revolutionary compact car. And indeed, the public right from the start were able to admire no less than two new models: The Morris Mini-Minor and the Austin Seven. This double premiere of two almost identical four-seaters was of course attributable at the time to the broad range of brands offered by BMC in the market, but it was also of very symbolic nature.

Lots of space inside with minimum dimensions outside, seats for four passengers, impeccable driving characteristics, superior fuel economy, and a very affordable price – precisely this was the brief the creator of the Mini, automotive engineer and designer Alec Issigonis, received from BMC’s Top Management. And the brilliant ideas he implemented in developing this two-door for a family of four had an impact quite sufficient for more than one single car, an impact therefore carried over successfully to other model variants.

Precisely this is why the Mini Van and Mini Estate also appeared on the market in the very first year of production of the classic Mini. And ever since the re-birth of the brand with the market launch of the MINI in 2001, the principle already applied successfully sixty years ago has once again proven its full value: a superior concept is always convincing in many different variants and renditions. Today, this still applies for the small cars MINI 3-door, MINI 5-door and MINI Convertible, for the MINI Clubman and the MINI Countryman in the premium compact segment, and soon for the all-electric powered MINI Cooper SE. They all show their individual strength and unique character, while right inside they are one and the same car in particular: a MINI.

Right from the start the very first sales brochures proudly presenting the Morris Mini-Minor highlighted the car’s clear and steadfast orientation to the future. But to what extent these prophecies would really come true, hardly anybody would have believed back then.

Today, sixty years later, we know that only very few car concepts have survived such a long time, and none of them has ever been converted into such a wide range of variants as the Mini.

One of the reasons for this outstanding success is that from the start the Mini met all the requirements of its time, while offering further qualities in the same process. Measuring just 3.05 metres or 120" in length and selling at a retail price of £ 496, the Mini was simply perfect for small parking spaces and low budgets. Through its driving qualities and the charming character of its proportions alone, the Mini was however also of great interest to the ambitious motorist seeking not only compact dimensions and superior economy, but also sporting performance particularly in bends as well as individual style on the road.

This blend of different qualities remains as popular today as ever before, with a concept likewise younger than ever. Hence, the current MINI is also more up-to-date and, at the same time, more fascinating and respected than any of its competitors, combining unparalleled efficiency, lasting value of the highest calibre, and incredibly agile handling in the modern mega-city with unrivalled sportiness and design full of expression and quite unmistakable.

Longer, stronger, more sophisticated, more versatile: the first variants of the classic Mini.

Introducing the classic Mini, Alec Issigonis, the creator of this unique car, clearly fulfilled his mission. The Morris Mini-Minor and the Austin Seven, differing solely through their radiator grille, wheel caps and body colour, were both powered by a four-cylinder engine fitted crosswise at the front and delivering maximum output of 34 hp from 848 cubic centimetres.

The performance of both models was identical, as was their luggage capacity of 195 litres or 6.83 cubic feet at the rear. Everybody was thrilled by the generous space available, the efficient but powerful engines, the good roadholding and the comfortable suspension this new compact car had to offer. But Issigonis was already looking far into the future – and he was not the only one.

As early as in 1960, BMC added a Mini Van to the classic Mini. Then, proceeding from this van structure with its closed side panels, BMC introduced an Estate version with glass windows all round as well as two rear doors, like the Van.

Like the saloons, this body variant was also marketed as the Morris Mini-Traveller and the Austin Seven Countryman with exactly the same technical features. And at the latest in 1961 the potential of the classic Mini really became clear once and for all, the year starting with the introduction of the smallest of all transporters, the Mini Pick-Up. Just half a year later two other Minis, this time at the noble end of the scale, saw the light of day: the Wolseley Hornet and the Riley Elf.

Now, therefore, two further BMC brands were able to benefit from the concept of the classic Mini, both models proudly bearing their own distinguished look through their majestic radiator grilles, an extended luggage compartment and swallow-tail wings at the rear. A very special variant destined more than any other to create the legend of the classic Mini made its appearance in the second half of the year: the Mini Cooper. John Cooper, the famous engineer and manufacturer of sports cars already a close friend of Alec Issigonis, had recognised the sporting potential of this new small car right from the start, when the first prototypes appeared on the track. So he received the go-ahead from BMC’s top managers to develop a small series of 1,000 units of the Mini Cooper featuring a modified power unit enlarged in size to 1.0 litres and offering maximum output of 55 hp.

The response to this car entering the market in September 1961 was quite simply euphoric, with only one further request from enthusiasts everywhere: even more power! So Issigonis and Cooper enlarged engine capacity to 1,071 cc, raising engine output to 70 hp.

This made the Mini Cooper S a truly exceptional performer not only on the road, with Finnish driver’s Rauno Aaltonen’s class win in the 1963 Monte Carlo Rally marking the starting point for a truly unparalleled series of outstanding success in motorsport. The highlight, of course, was three overall wins in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965, and 1967.

Versatility at its best: from the Mini Moke to the Mini Clubman.

In August 1964 BMC presented yet another version of the classic Mini originally conceived for military use: the Mini Moke, a four-seater open all round and destined to remain in the price list for four years.

The “bodyshell” of this unique car was made up, for all practical purposes, of the floorpan with wide, box-shaped side-sills, together with the engine compartment and windscreen. To the event of rainfall, a folding soft top appropriately referred to as a “ragtop” at least tried to provide certain protection. Using the drivetrain and technical features of the “regular” Mini, the Mini Moke became a genuine success particularly in sun-drenched parts of the USA and in Australia. By 1967 the time had come for a thorough update of the classic Mini, the car receiving a more powerful engine offering 38 hp from a larger capacity of 998 cc.

Two years later the Mini Clubman joined the range as a slightly larger model with a somewhat different front end compared to the classic Mini. Indeed, this sister car was some 11 cm or 4.33" longer than the original, the Estate version replacing the Morris Mini-Traveller and the Austin Seven Countryman measuring exactly 3.4 metres or 133.9" in length, while width, height, and wheelbase remained unchanged. At the same time the Mini Cooper was taken out of production, being replaced by the top model in the Clubman range, the Mini 1275 GT developing 59 hp from its 1.3-litre power unit. A number of other details also changed in 1969, the front sliding windows so typical of the classic Mini since the beginning being replaced on all models by wind-down windows, the door hinges at the outside being moved to the inside, and a special “Mini” badge now standing out proudly on the engine compartment lid.

Never-ending classic Mini and the comeback of the Mini Cooper.

Numerous special versions of the classic Mini with all kinds of highlights – from sporting to trendy, from distinguished to fresh – entered the market as of mid-1970. Between 1980 and 1983 the model range was streamlined appropriately, with the Clubman, Estate and Van leaving production. The “only” car left over, therefore, was the classic Mini with its 1.0-litre power unit now delivering 40 hp. And customers, simply loving the car, remained faithful to this little performer for years to come, the five-millionth classic Mini coming off the production line at Plant Longbridge in 1986.

In 1990 fans the world over were delighted to celebrate the comeback of the Mini Cooper once again entering the model range. Now this special model was powered in all cases by a 1.3-litre, production of the 1.0-litre in the Mini ending in 1992 on account of growing requirements in terms of emission management. So from now on all models came with the 1,275-cc power unit and fuel injection.

Yet another new variant of the classic Mini made its appearance in 1991 as the last new model in the range. And this was indeed the only Mini to originate not in Britain, but in Germany: Like some tuners before him, a dedicated Mini dealer in the German region of Baden had cut the roof off the classic Mini, turning the car into an extremely attractive Convertible. And contrary to earlier attempts, the result was so good this time in its quality that Rover Group, now responsible for the classic Mini, decided to buy the construction tools and production equipment for the Mini Convertible, which from 1993 to 1996 accounted for sales of approximately 1,000 units.

Production of the classic Mini finally ceased once and for all in the year 2000. In the course of time more than 5.3 million units of the world’s most successful compact car had left the production plants in numerous different versions, among them some 600,000 cars built at Plant Oxford between 1959 and 1968. But even after 41 years, there was still a long way to go. For after a break of not quite one year, a new chapter in the history of this world-famous British brand opened up in 2001.

A new start in 2001 – starring the MINI Cooper right from the beginning.

Taking over Rover Group in early 1994, BMW also opened up new perspectives for the Mini brand. The first step was to present a concept version of the MINI Cooper at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show offering an outlook at the new interpretation of this unique small car from Great Britain. As a modern rendition of the Mini’s concept so rich in tradition, the new version for the first time combined the classic values of its predecessor with the demands made of a modern car set to enter the 21st century. The series production version of the MINI Cooper made its first official appearance in November 2000 at the Berlin Motor Show, the future-oriented interpretation of the original entering showrooms just a year later in the guise of the 85 kW/115 hp MINI Cooper and the 66 kW/90 hp MINI One. Featuring front-wheel drive, four-cylinder power units fitted crosswise at the front, short body overhangs and ample space for four, the new models successfully took up elementary features of the classic Mini. And while the exterior dimensions of the car were now larger, meeting modern requirements in terms of interior space, the design of the new model clearly retained the proportions so typical of the brand, as well as the unmistakable design icons at the front, the rear and at the side, thus boasting a clearly recognisable link between the MINI and its classical predecessors.

At the same time the MINI built in Oxford stood out clearly as the first premium car in the compact segment, achieving a status strongly reflected by a level of safety uniquely high for a car of this class as well as the uncompromising standard of quality so typical of BMW.  The new MINI also set new standards through its surprisingly agile handling, immediately moving right up to the top in terms of driving pleasure. This meant that the new model followed in the footsteps of the classic Mini, but now with a lot more power and performance thanks to the most advanced and sophisticated drivetrain and suspension technology.

Ongoing success the world over – from 2004 also in the MINI Convertible.

Almost overnight, the new interpretation of this classic small car developed into a worldwide story of success continuing to this very day. The introduction of new engine variants, to mention such one significant highlight, served to offer additional momentum, the MINI Cooper S with its 120 kW/163 hp compressor engine entering the market as an exclusive driving machine in June 2002, the MINI One D just a year later setting new standards in terms of all-round economy and efficiency as the first diesel in the history of the brand.

The desire to drive a MINI in the open air, finally, also came true much faster than in the classic model, with the MINI Convertible making its debut in spring 2004. In the four years to follow, various versions of the convertible with its electrohydraulically operated soft roof were produced at the MINI Plant Oxford in the guise of the MINI Cooper S Convertible, the MINI Cooper Convertible, and the MINI One Convertible.

From the original to the original: the new edition of the MINI follows in 2006.

Showing tremendous success in the market, the MINI outperformed even the wildest expectations. Indeed, it quickly motivated the consistent continuation of this concept, taking up and fulfilling additional potentials as a new edition that continued many successful features and even made improvements to some areas.

Further enhanced in an evolutionary design process and thoroughly renewed in technical terms, this new MINI entered the market in November 2006. Following the motto “From the Original to the Original”, the design of the MINI already receiving the greatest praise everywhere was further refined in numerous details highlighting even more imperiously the sporting virtues of this compact and agile performer. So that now the looks of the car really conveyed a clear signal confirmed from the start by the driving experience.

New, even more powerful and, at the same time, far more efficient engines, together with the further enhanced suspension technology, served in this new generation to offer even greater driving pleasure so typical of MINI. Both the MINI Cooper S with its 128 kW/175 hp power unit and the 88 kW/120 hp MINI Cooper introduced from the start thrilled aficionados everywhere through their enhanced driving performance combined with significantly greater fuel economy and emission values.

Modern versatility: the MINI Clubman and the new MINI Convertible.

Almost exactly one year to the day after the launch of the new model generation, the MINI model range was further enhanced by an innovative new concept in autumn 2007. The MINI Clubman offered a reinterpretation of the traditional shooting-brake concept with a body 24 centimetres longer, a streamlined, extended roof contour and a hatchback. The wheelbase extended by eight centimetres successfully expanded legroom in the front of the car. The driver’s and passenger’s doors in the MINI Clubman were supplemented by an additional entry on the right-hand side of the car and the two wings of the Splitdoor at the rear opening to the side. The two-part rear door takes up an authentic detail from the car’s classic predecessors – the Morris Mini-Traveller and the Austin Mini Countryman – back in the 1960s.

An even more sporty design, optimised active and passive safety, a wider range of functions and the latest generation of power units extended the model range by a new edition of the MINI Convertible in 2009. The opening and closing of the car’s fabric roof was now operated by an electrohydraulic mechanism – even while on the move at speeds up to 30 km/h – all within the space of just 15 seconds. The single-part rollbar also facilitated incorporation of a large through-loading space between the luggage compartment and the passenger compartment.

Advance into the premium compact segment.

On the brand’s 50th anniversary, preparations for the advance into another vehicle class were already well on the way. And in 2010, the MINI Countryman was launched with the aim of enthusing additional target groups with the brand’s driving fun and individual style – not simply on all the world’s roads but also beyond conventional carriageways. The new model for the premium compact segment was the first MINI ever to have a length of more than four metres, five seats, four doors plus a tailgate and optional all-wheel drive. The commanding front end and imposing new headlamp contours of the MINI Countryman defined individual accents. Thanks to the hexagonal radiator grille, the short overhangs, the high shoulder line and powerful stature, this vehicle was nevertheless immediately identifiable as absolute MINI.

The reinterpretation of classic features and virtues was continued in 2013 with the MINI Paceman. Dynamically extended coupé lines, two doors and a large tailgate provided the car with an extravagant appearance. The MINI Paceman was also supplied with optional ALL4 all-wheel drive.

The latest model generation: MINI reinvents itself anew.

The beginning of 2014 heralded the latest generation change in the MINI model range. The current offering in the small-car premium segment comprised the MINI 3 Door, the MINI 5 Door also presented in 2014 and the MINI Convertible, the latest edition of which lined up at the beginning of 2016. The new model generation continued its global success story with another evolutionary development of advanced design, optimised functionality, further enhanced driving fun and a variety of innovations in the areas of control, driver assistance systems and connectivity. New three and four-cylinder engines with MINI TwinPower Turbo technology and an output range between 55 kW/75 hp and 141 kW/192 hp deliver a further optimised relation between driving fun and fuel consumption.

In the premium compact segment, the latest model generation of MINI also has two strong vehicle characters. The new edition of the MINI Clubman has mastered the leap into the higher car class with a definitively refined and mature vehicle concept. A significantly more spacious interior, four doors and five seats give the new MINI Clubman enhanced variability and allow it to meet aspirations beyond the urban traffic environment. The vehicle can also be optionally fitted with the ALL4 all-wheel power unit.

The new edition of the MINI Countryman is even more generous, more modern, more versatile and yet more sporty. The exterior length has increased by 20 centimetres compared with the predecessor model and its powerful proportions give the new allrounder a particularly independent profile. The latest generation of the ALL4 all-wheel drive can also be optionally fitted in the new MINI Countryman to provide offroad driving fun away from conventional roads. Like the MINI Clubman, a choice of six modern engines is also available for the MINI Countryman.

In addition, it paves the way for driving fun typical of the MINI brand with electric drive. The MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 is the first model of the brand with a plug-in hybrid drive. A three-cylinder petrol engine drives the front wheels and an electric motor powers the rear wheels to yield intelligently managed interaction for highly efficient driving fun with optimised traction and drive stability.

For sustainable driving fun: electromobility in the style of MINI.

The future of the MINI feeling is virtually noiseless, local zero emission, but astonishingly powerful. Starting in 2020, the new MINI Cooper SE will give the segment of electric vehicles new momentum. The 135 kW/184 hp electric motor will combine sustainable mobility with characteristic driving fun, high-impact design and premium quality.

Once again, the British brand defines pioneering benchmarks for urban mobility with the new MINI Cooper SE. 60 years ago, the revolutionary design principle of the classic Mini created the foundation for maximum interior space on a minimal footprint. The modern reinterpretation for creative use of space and unsurpassed driving fun made the MINI the original in the premium segment of small cars when it was launched in 2001. The new MINI Cooper SE now paves the way to a sustainable and yet highly emotional driving experience in urban traffic as the first premium small car powered by an all-electric drive unit.

2.   With traditional sporting spirit and british flair.
The MINI 60 years edition.

An original that constantly reinvents itself – firmly rooted in tradition yet always open to change: this is MINI, 60 years after the launch of the small British car that brought worldwide popularity to unique properties such as go-kart feeling and the creative use of space. To mark this round anniversary, the premium automobile manufacturer presents a design model that highlights both its British origins and the agile MINI character. With design and equipment features that are both high-quality and exclusive, the MINI 60 Years Edition expresses the brand's sporting spirit – something that is a constant presence even in everyday urban traffic. The special edition is supplied as a MINI 3 Door and MINI 5 Door, each with three engine variants.

Athletic talent is part and parcel of the MINI genes. Even before the launch of the classic Mini in the summer of 1959, it was clear that the design features of the new small car would benefit not just interior space but also the car's agile driving properties. Sports car designer John Cooper was an especially strong believer in the compact four-seater’s race track potential. In collaboration with Alec Issigonis, the creator of the classic Mini, he developed ideas for variants of the small car with a more powerful engine, thereby laying the foundations for an exceptional career on racing circuits and rally tracks, culminating in three outright victories at the Monte Carlo Rally in the 1960s.

With a paint finish in the classic colour of British racing cars, the MINI 60 Years Edition in particular evokes the brand’s sporty career, which it started at a very early stage and has maintained up until the recent past. The exterior paint finish in British Racing Green offers a particularly clear expression of the premium small car’s character and origins. The body finishes Midnight Black metallic, Moonwalk Grey metallic, Melting Silver metallic and MINI Yours Lapisluxury Blue non-metallic are also available as alternatives. The chosen body colour is combined with a paint finish in Pepper White or Black for the roof and exterior mirror caps. Bonnet stripes with a specific anniversary design and exclusive 17-inch light alloy wheels in the version 60 Years Spoke 2-tone round off the distinct look of the edition vehicles.

The design model's striking 60 Years logo appears not just on the left-hand bonnet stripe but also on the side scuttles of the turn indicators and on the door sill finishers at the driver and front passenger doors. Inside the car it can also be seen on the front headrests and the steering wheel. In addition, the exclusive design model has model-specific interior trim finishers. The anniversary design can also be seen in the LED logo projection which is visible when the driver's door is opened. The standard equipment of the edition vehicles includes a sports leather steering wheel along with sports seats in the leather finish MINI Yours Leather Lounge 60 Years and the exclusive colour Dark Maroon.

In conjunction with the equipment package 60 Years Trim, the edition vehicles also feature such items as LED headlights, LED fog lamps, white turn indicators and LED rear lights in Union Jack design, the lighting package for the interior and also the MINI Driving Modes and the MINI Excitement Package complete with ambient lighting. There is also an on¬board computer, automatic air conditioning, a rain sensor and a storage package on board.

Three petrol engines and two diesel engines with an output ranging from 75 kW/102 hp to 141 kW/192 hp provide the drive portfolio for the MINI 60 Years Edition. The range of anniversary models includes the MINI One 60 Years Edition 3 Door (combined fuel consumption: 5.4 – 5.0 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 123 – 114 g/km) the MINI Cooper 60 Years Edition 3 Door (combined fuel consumption: 5.3 – 5.0 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 122 – 115 g/km), and the MINI Cooper S 60 Years Edition 3 Door (combined fuel consumption: 6.4 – 6.1 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 147 – 139 g/km), and the MINI One 60 Years Edition 5 Door (combined fuel consumption: 5.4 – 5.0 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 124 – 115 g/km), the MINI Cooper 60 Years Edition 5 Door (combined fuel consumption: 5.4 – 5.1 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 122 – 115 g/km) and the MINI Cooper S 60 Years Edition 5 Door (combined fuel consumption: 6.5 – 6.2 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 149 – 141 g/km).

3.   Motor sport meets Lifestyle.
MINI and the success story of motor sport.

It is in the car’s DNA and it was obviously there right from the start: the sporting talent of the classic Mini. When Alec Issigonis was requested by British Motor Corporation (BMC) in late 1956 to develop an economical but nevertheless fully-fledged small car with four seats, it quickly became clear that this new model would be truly innovative and, indeed, revolutionary in every respect. Front-wheel drive, extremely short body overhangs, a wide track, a low centre of gravity, optimum use of space and low weight were defined right from the start as elementary features of the new model.

Looking at the first drawings of the new car by his business partner and friend Alec Issigonis, sports car wizard John Cooper noticed yet another significant quality right from the beginning: He recognised that this ingenious concept for an economical compact car also provided the ideal starting point for a most promising sports model, setting out on the process of tuning the Mini even before the car had entered the market. This set the starting point for an unprecedented story of success in motorsport, closely connecting the name John Cooper with the sporting myth of the MINI to this very day. Outstanding victories in the Monte Carlo Rally are just as much part of this common history as the successful production cars proudly bearing the name Cooper.

Now integrated within the MINI organisation, John Cooper Works represents the epitome of supreme driving pleasure based on both well-founded know-how in motorsport and successful cooperation going back years and even decades. Apart from accessories for the drivetrain, suspension, streamlining, and design, the most athletic models in the product range each bear the brand logo symbolising extreme driving fun.

Racing pioneer John Cooper teaches Mini how to win.

Born in Surrey in 1923, John Cooper was one of the most outstanding celebrities in international motorsport – both as a driver and, even more so, as a constructor. Together with his father he established the Cooper Car Company in 1946, the two enthusiasts starting out with the construction of racing cars first for Formula 3, later also for Formula 1. Through their concept of a mid-engined sports car Charles and John Cooper set a truly revolutionary trend in the entire world of motorsport in 1955, Cooper racing cars winning both the Constructor’s and Driver’s titles in the World Formula 1 Championship in 1959 and 1960, for the first time in the history of motorsport with the engine mounted in the middle. And with this concept proving its success so convincingly, it is no surprise that soon all cars in Formula 1 came with a mid-mounted engine.

John Cooper and Alec Issigonis became close friends in the course of time after meeting and competing against one another at numerous races. There were also professional ties between the two enthusiasts, with the Cooper Car Company buying engines from BMC.

When it came to the Mini, however, the sporting ambitions of the two constructors were very different: Issigonis was looking above all at the right car for everyday motoring, Cooper was thrilled by the sporting potential of this small and nimble performer. So back in 1959, the very first year of the Mini, he sent his driver Roy Salvadori to Monza in the very first Mini Cooper, a special one-off model built specifically for this purpose. And indeed, this new sports car immediately proved its qualities on the way to Monza, Salvadori covering the distance more than an hour faster than his colleague Reg Parnell – who just happened to be driving an Aston Martin DB4.

Motivated by initial success in the 1960 Monte Carlo Rally, Cooper suggested building a GT model based on the Mini. And despite Issigonis’ rather sceptical opinion at least to begin with, George Harriman, the Chief Executive Officer of BMC, ultimately decided to build a small series of 1,000 Mini Coopers featuring a 55-hp power unit, that is 21 extra horsepower made possible by far-reaching modifications of the engine. The Mini Cooper’s top speed was approximately 130 km/h or 80 mph. The car’s transmission ratios were adjusted to the sporting potential of the engine and disc brakes on the front wheels ensured adequate stopping power.

Soon Issigonis was also thrilled by the results of these efforts. So joining forces with John Cooper, he quickly started working on the next engine upgrade, increasing engine bore to the ultimate limit on the Mini Cooper S: At 1,071 cc, engine capacity remained below the mark of 1,100 cc applicable in the particular class of motorsport seen as the target, with the engine revving up to impressive speeds. Maximum output was 70 hp at 6,200 rpm, maximum engine speed was 7,200 rpm. This version was again equipped with new brakes, braking power being boosted by a brake servo.

1964–1967: the golden years in the Monte Carlo Rally.

This set the basis for sensational success in motorsport, the Mini Cooper S hitting the headlines in Monte Carlo for the first time in 1962. With Finnish driver Rauno Aaltonen at the wheel, this small but highly nimble performer successfully left behind a whole pack of far more powerful Goliaths. But just three kilometres away from home, Aaltonen, leading the race at the time, misjudged a bend and finished the Rally with a rollover. Only a year later, however, Aaltonen made up for this misfortune, bringing home class victory in the Mini Cooper S and finishing third overall. But even more – and even better – was still to come: Entering the 1963/1964 rally winter, the Mini Cooper S was simply oozing power in comparison with its predecessor. So in a spectacular race, Paddy Hopkirk brought home first place overall in the Monte Carlo Rally, the small performer becoming a legend in motor sport virtually overnight.  A year later Finnish racer Timo Mäkinen with his co-pilot Paul Easter repeated the same triumphant victory, reaching the finish line after thousands of kilometres as the only driver without one single penalty point – despite the worst weather imaginable. Indeed, only 35 out of 237 cars entered in the event were able to finish the Rally that year, among them no less than three Mini Cooper S.

The following year was the year of the hattrick, Timo Mäkinen, Rauno Aaltonen and Paddy Hopkirk scoring an absolutely incredible victory, finishing first, second, and third. But this was followed by bitter disappointment, the first three cars being disqualified because the rally commissioners came to the conclusion that the low beams on the Mini’s main headlights failed to comply in full with the homologation rules.

Even so, the public were completely thrilled by the three Mini drivers, despite this questionable decision, Hopkirk, Aaltonen and Mäkinen therefore entering the annals of the Monte Carlo Rally as the “Three Musketeers”. And indeed, just one year later Rauno Aaltonen received truly overwhelming applause and acknowledgement when bringing home the third overall victory of the Mini Cooper S in the Monte Carlo Rally. Especially because this time there were no complaints about his car.

Legendary racing careers started at the wheel of a Mini.

The Mini was however highly successful not only in rally racing, but also on road circuits, bringing home numerous wins in the 1960s. Indeed, through its long list of successes in motorsport, the Mini became the most outstanding racing car of the entire decade.  A particularly interesting point is that many spectacular racing careers started at the wheel of a Mini, a certain racing driver from Austria called Nikolaus Andreas Lauda entering his first hill-climb race at the wheel of a classic Mini near the Austrian town of Linz in April 1968, and immediately finishing second. Only two weeks later Lauda again confirmed his talent when scoring his first racing victory in a career which would take him on to three Formula 1 World Championships. And just like Niki Lauda, Formula 1 Champions Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, John Surtees, Jochen Rindt, and James Hunt all gained their first racing experience in a classic Mini.

Just like the car’s sporting career, sales of the Mini Cooper with its special configuration developed by John Cooper Showed an exceptional story of success from 1961–1971, the name “Cooper” becoming a synonym worldwide for passionate driving pleasure in the Mini. The fact that this tiny car had inspired the two-time Formula 1 World Champion to build outstanding sports cars was sufficient proof of the Mini and its qualities. And indeed, the unique driving experience inducing John Cooper right from the start to continue the development of the Mini all the way to perfection was equally thrilling back then for every fan of sporting automobiles.

The world’s toughest rally: MINI with four back-to-back victories in the Dakar Rally.

MINI has now become firmly established in international rally sport. Spectacular performances by the MINI John Cooper Works WRC developed on the basis of the MINI Countryman in selected rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) enabled the brand to continue its success story in rally sport during 2011 and 2012. The MINI ALL4 Racing was designed specifically for marathon rallies and this took up a further particularly special sporting challenge. In 2012, MINI and motor-sport partner X-raid entered the Dakar Rally, the ultimate endurance test for drivers, vehicles and teams. The performance and reliability of the MINI ALL4 Racing resulted in back-to-back Dakar victories in the years 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. In 2016, MINI won the category of All-wheel Drive Vehicles in this rally.

MINI also demonstrated in the FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup how one success leads to another. The first win in the World Cup 2012 was repeated in three successive years (2013 – 2015). In 2017, the new MINI John Cooper Works Rally participated for the first time in this competition and in the Dakar Rally. In 2018, it won a further title in the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup.

John Cooper Works – the epitome for extreme driving pleasure in the MINI.

John Cooper Works guarantee outstanding performance not only on the race track, but also on the road. Even back in the 1970s, John Cooper Works Tuning Kits for production versions of the Mini were very popular and even back then the classic Mini equipped with such special features and components was able to show its most outstanding virtues both visually and in technical terms. The same applies to the tuning kits for the MINI Cooper S and the MINI Cooper successfully introduced after the re-launch of the brand and available in the market under the label of John Cooper Works. The current range of John Cooper Works accessories comprises lightweight alloy wheels, ventilated brake disks, integrated tailpipes and other retrofit products for the exterior and the interior in the appropriate selection for each model.

Furthermore, the performance-oriented character of the brand is embodied by four extremely sporty MINI models. The most important common feature of the elite athletes is the power-unit and chassis engineering derived from motor sport which is combined with the aerodynamically optimised body attributes. The extreme athletes in the small-car segment, the MINI John Cooper Works and the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible, are powered by a 170 kW/231 hp four-cylinder turbo engine. A 225 kW/306 hp four-cylinder turbo power unit delivers superb performance attributes in the latest versions of the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman and the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman.

In the anniversary year, another guarantee for extreme driving fun and unalloyed motor-sport passion is on the way to the starting line. In the summer of 2019, a prototype of the new MINI John Cooper Works GP completed intensive test drives on numerous race tracks throughout the world. This vehicle will also be powered by a four-cylinder engine packing in excess of 220 kW/300 hp. Its appearance with large air scoops, an independent design for the front and rear aprons and a striking roof spoiler gives an inkling of the outstanding high-performance characteristics. During test drives round the legendary North Loop of the Nürburgring, it actually completed the lap in less than eight minutes.

4.     MINI all the way – always different.
      Customize to your personal taste.

Driving a MINI is not just a matter of getting from A to B, but rather an expression of your own personal style. And indeed, the many options to customise the MINI give the enthusiast a wide range of opportunities in bringing out his – or her – personal taste and preferences. Offering a wider range of features and highlights and going into greater detail than any other manufacturer of small and compact cars, MINI gives the customer the freedom to bring out his or her individual style and choice on the car, an exceptionally wide range of exterior and interior colours, seat upholstery and trim variants setting the foundation for a personal configuration tailored to the driver.

A further point is that all the current MINI models are available with numerous highly attractive and sophisticated options straight from the plant, again enhancing both driving pleasure and motoring comfort. The range of Original MINI Accessories offers further highlights, comprising classic motorsport technology in John Cooper Works components, comfort-oriented features such as an iPod interface, features highly practical in everyday use such as a roof rack made of ultra-strong, eloxy-plated aluminium bars, or exceptional components such as additional headlights and extravagant roof trim.

From something special to a one-off masterpiece: customisation straight from the factory.

The unusually wide range of equipment and accessory features offered on the MINI reflects the strong awareness and critical perspective of the customer in choosing such a small premium car. Opting for a MINI, the customer from the start expresses his or her sense of special values. He identifies with a car concept which, more than any other, offers pure harmony of emotional values and up-to-date qualities. The characteristic design and the unmistakable style of the brand, unparalleled driving pleasure, premium quality and modern, very efficient drive technology form a symbiosis quite unique in this segment of the market. This exceptional position of the MINI comes out even more clearly whenever each specific model stands out from the crowd through its sophisticated and stylish features. Hence, a typical MINI is not just an exceptional vehicle, but in nearly all cases a genuine one-off masterpiece.

The wide range of options in customising the car is reflected right from the start in the production process. Every MINI is built specifically to the customer’s order at the MINI Plant in Oxford or at the production partner VDL Nedcar in Born, Netherlands. Every customer is able to put together his or her MINI precisely to his or her personal wishes. All production and logistic processes are highly flexible, catering for this wide range of variants right from the start.

Considering the numerous options and items of equipment and, as a result, the almost infinite range of variants conceivable, it is extremely unlikely that two absolutely identical MINIs will leave the plant within one and the same year of production. Customisation of the classic Mini: special models for VIP customers, more power straight from the factory for all drivers.

In the days of the classic Mini, only particularly prominent or affluent customers had the option to choose similar customisation features of this calibre straight from the plant. Clearly, this small but revolutionary performer right from the start arose the fantasy of particularly trendy aficionados, actors, fashion designers, musicians and even members of the Royal Family regularly expressing their demand for customised versions of the Mini. Special paintwork and particularly sophisticated equipment features came right at the top of their list, British actor Peter Sellers, for example, placing several orders for particularly extravagant special versions of the Mini in the 1970s. And in 1988 a member of the Brunei Royal Family also asked for a Mini in Flower Power design tailored to his individual wishes and of course appropriately tuned.

In the first year of the classic Mini customers already had the choice of the Austin Seven and the Morris Mini-Minor, which however only differed in terms of their radiator grilles, their body colour and wheel caps. The Riley Elf and the Wolseley Hornet then made their appearance just two years later in 1961 as particularly stylish versions of this new compact car with minor modifications on the outside and upgraded, distinguished features inside. Plush carpets and a genuine wooden dashboard exuded a genuine feeling of luxury.

Further body versions joined the family a bit later, ranging from the Van to the Pick-Up.

The common wish for extra power was also fulfilled quickly, above all through the initiative of sports car constructor John Cooper who had already worked together closely with Alec Issigonis, the creator of the Mini, during the initial development process. The first Mini Cooper delivering 55 instead of 34 hp made its appearance in 1961, with the 70-hp Mini Cooper S entering the market another two years later. The Mini with automatic transmission likewise appeared at a relatively early point in 1965, taking on a leading role in terms of motoring comfort – especially as up to that time only cars higher up in the market, that is in completely different segments, had offered the option of an automatic transmission.

Very sporting, young and trendy, or unusually distinguished – in the mid-70s fans of the Mini had the opportunity for the first time to highlight particular characteristics of the classic Mini through carefully configured edition models. The first of these special models was the progressively designed Mini Limited Edition 1000 in 1976, with further variants taking up the trend to growing customisation time and again. In many cases these special cars were named after well-known parts of London or famous streets, such as Piccadilly, Chelsea, Knightsbridge or Park Lane.

In 1982 the Mini Mayfair conquered the streets for the first time as a particularly exclusive, top-end model. And following the re-launch of the brand in 2001, special versions of this small but dynamic performer attracted great attention time and again, the MINI Seven bringing back a traditional model designation well-known from the original Mini, the MINI Checkmate highlighting above all the sporting characteristics of this agile athlete.

Paintwork, roof trim, interior materials: typical MINI style with maximum diversity.

The sheer diversity of the current model range as well as a wide choice of options in combining standard and special features in the current MINI generation provide a degree of customisation setting the benchmark even today in the modern world of motoring. Apart from the different engine variants, the wide choice of body paintwork colours, roof trim and soft top options, wheels and seat upholstery, interior materials and trim elements offer even the most discerning customer everything he or she desires to turn the relevant car into his or her very personal one-off masterpiece. The specific equipment packages for each model permit personal individualisation. They incorporate selective facets inherent in the character of each model so that they are particularly clearly highlighted on the exterior of the vehicle and in the interior – for example sporting prowess, elegance or robustness. Additional features include stripes for the engine bonnet and mirror caps in different colours and patterns, the options of Chrome Line and Piano Black for the exterior and a lighting package, a roof liner coloured in anthracite and the Chrome Line for the interior.

The accessories range also includes a choice of additional exterior mirror caps, side direction indicator surrounds, wheel-valve caps and door handles in different designs, a tank cap in chrome, sport stripes, bonnet stripes and special MINI stickers for affixing to the doors. And last but not least, the line-up of individual light-alloy wheels rims available for specific models is once again expanded by a number of options included in the range of accessories.

The performance components from John Cooper Works are perfectly tailored to the characteristics and style of MINI. The parts are available as accessories and they proudly reveal the long track record of experience and glorious tradition of both brands in motor sport. The highlights include John Cooper Works light-alloy wheels, ventilated brake discs, bumper trims, spoiler attachments, integrated tailpipes, exterior mirror caps and side scuttles. Matching decor trims, hand-brake lever, sports gearshift lever, interior mirror caps and foot mats create an even more sporting ambience in the interior.

Individualisation at the highest level: MINI Yours.

The options from the MINI Yours range pave the way for the most exclusive route to selective individualisation. High-quality materials, stylish design and precise processing to the very highest standards characterise these factory-supplied items of special equipment for the exterior and interior of current MINI models. They are unique individual options and are available in equipment packages put together specifically for each model.

The items of special equipment from MINI Yours are especially ideal for defining clear accents expressing exclusivity and stylish image when creating an individual vehicle design. All the packages reflect the British origin and the premium character of the brand. The outstanding level of material selection and the quality of craftsmanship meld together to create design infused with a sense of heritage and creativity, forging highlights in the appearance of the vehicle. The MINI Yours emblem defines yet another additional inimitable accent. The production of MINI Yours options is carried out in special production processes inspired by classic artisan craftsmanship.

The current MINI Yours range for individualising the exterior comprises exceptionally sophisticated paintwork options and impactful, athletic, elegant light-alloy wheel rims in a model-specific selection. The MINI Convertible also features a MINI Yours roof with a woven Union Jack. Personal style and a connoisseur’s sense of superlative quality are achieved with the MINI Yours packages for the interior. The MINI Yours Leather Lounge sport seats are upholstered and handcrafted in luxury smooth leather. Perforation technology integrates the classic Union Jack motif in the headrests. The MINI Yours Interior Styles are tailored to match specific models and comprise backlit surfaces, with light spots varying the colour to suit the ambient light conditions. Visible and tangible exclusivity also characterise the MINI Yours sports leather steering wheel finished in luxury soft nappa leather, the anthracite seams and spokes in high-gloss Piano Black.

MINI Yours Customised: From original to personalised custom special.

The MINI Yours Customised range gives customers the opportunity to style selected retrofit products with a design they have selected themselves and transform their own vehicle into a personalised customer special. The innovative package has been supplied for numerous MINI models in Europe and other major markets since 2018. The product range of MINI Yours Customised comprises the familiar side scuttles for the side indicators, decor trims for the interior on the passenger side, LED entry sills and LED door projectors.

The retrofit parts supplied in the product range of MINI Yours Customised can be selected, styled and ordered by customers in an Online Shop dedicated to the new range. The individualised products are subsequently manufactured using innovative production procedures such as various 3D printing processes and laser inscription. The advanced production processes permit precise implementation of customers’ wishes. The individually styled products are supplied within a few weeks. They are designed so they can then be integrated in the vehicle by customers themselves or by participating MINI service partners. 

5.  Traditional values and modern diversity.
Concept and technology.

The economical compact car has a great future! Precisely this was the fundamental idea and philosophy in developing the classic Mini. The objective was to combine compact exterior dimensions and generous spaciousness within the interior, comfortable and sporting driving behaviour as well as fuel-efficient power units likewise characterising the new extra-small model from British Motor Corporation (BMC). It was the Suez Crisis in 1956 leading to severe cut-backs in oil supply that prompted BMC to assign automotive engineer and constructor Alec Issigonis with this challenging task. Today, on the other hand, the quest for efficiency has become a general need in public life, this compact car from Great Britain again offering the most convincing answer to this challenge. 60 years ago, the revolutionary design principle of the classic Mini created the foundation for maximum interior space on a minimal footprint. The modern reinterpretation for creative use of space and unsurpassed driving fun made the MINI the original in the premium segment of small cars when it was launched in 2001. Today, the MINI brand is the epitome of scintillating driving in the urban traffic environment and beyond. In future, the brand will combine electromobility and a unique emotional experience with the new MINI Cooper SE. It is based on the MINI 3 Door and combines local zero-emission driving with premium quality and striking design.

The classic Mini: an ingenious concept for efficient use of space, outstanding safety on the road, and supreme economy.

Engineering qualities of the highest calibre already served on the classic Mini to provide truly outstanding and technically superior solutions. The first point is that Alec Issigonis opted for a front-wheel-drive concept with the engine fitted crosswise at the front. This principle, now well-established as the standard solution for compact cars, was admittedly not completely new at the time, but had never before been used so consistently to promote driving behaviour and the efficient use of space as it was in the classic Mini. The specific arrangement of the ten-inch wheels right at the corners of the car likewise served to promote both driving behaviour and the efficient use of space. Wheelbase measured 2.03 metres or 79.9", overall length was 3.05 metres or 120.0", width measured 1.41 metres or 55.5", and the height of the classic Mini was 1.35 metres or 53.1". And the most important point was that 80 per cent of the space occupied by the car – its “footprint” on the road, as it were – was just for the passengers and their luggage.

The body-in-white of the classic Mini weighed a mere 140 kg or 309 lb. But at the same time the bodyshell offered a standard of torsional stiffness quite exceptional back then – stiffness ensured by the two sills extending from front to rear, a lightweight tunnel in the middle of the car taking up the exhaust system, and the wheel arches.

Extending crosswise from left to right, the robust bulkhead between the engine compartment and the passenger cell, a strong crossbar beneath the front seats, and the rear bulkhead leading to the luggage compartment all contributed to this torsional stiffness. With this kind of stability and stiffness built in from the start, Alec Issigonis and his team of engineers were able to give the classic Mini slender roof pillars and large windows around the passenger cell, helping to enhance both all-round visibility and the feeling of space. The decision which engine to use in this new small car was no problem, with BMC opting for an updated version of the Series A power unit already featured in the legendary Morris Minor.

This four-cylinder came with a crankshaft running in three bearings, overhead valves operated via tappets and a camshaft at the bottom running on the same side as the intake and exhaust ducts. The fuel/air mixture was supplied by semi-downdraught carburettors, with an electric fuel supply pump being fitted right from the start. Issigonis and his team therefore reduced engine capacity to 848 cc and cut back engine output to 34 hp at 5,500 rpm. Indeed, this kind of engine speed alone was quite unusual at the time, with only thoroughbred sports cars achieving continuous engine speed of this standard back in the late ‘50s. Yet a further innovation was the arrangement of the four-speed manual gearbox beneath the engine and directly between the wheels, giving the engine and transmission a shared oil circuit. This left enough space beneath the bonnet for the radiator at the side as well as the steering and ancillary units.

The birth of that go-kart experience.

Issigonis and his team also took a new approach in the transmission of power, that is on the drivetrain. Since the propeller shafts used up to that time tended to deflect out of line under major steering lock, Issigonis decided to use homokinetic joints for the first time in an automobile. These joints were made up of a ball bearing surrounded by three cages, two of which were connected, respectively, with the incoming and outgoing drive shafts. This, in turn, allowed a sufficient steering angle without distortion or undue articulation, significantly reducing the effect of drive forces on the steering. And this, in turn, set the foundation for the go-kart feeling of the legendary Mini to this very day.

To reduce the forces acting on the light and compact monocoque steel bodyshell, the engineers mounted the entire drivetrain, steering and suspension on a subframe. The independent wheels at the rear were also mounted on a subframe, giving the classic Mini absolutely excellent directional stability. The other components on the suspension likewise came with a wide range of technical highlights, Issigonis replacing the usual coil, torsion or leaf springs by rubber suspension. To be specific, this was a structure made up of two cones with a layer of rubber in between. The upper cone was bolted firmly to a subframe, the lower rested on the wheel mount. With rubber becoming increasingly hard under increasing pressure, this gave the classic Mini a progressive suspension set-up. Indeed, the properties of this spring system were so good that small telescopic dampers proved to be quite sufficient. And to give the dampers a smooth and fine response, they were fastened outside on upper wishbones at the front and longitudinal control arms at the rear.

Extra comfort: Hydrolastic suspension and automatic transmission.

In 1964 Issigonis placed the emphasis on greater comfort and motoring refinement, introducing an early type of self-levelling on the Mini. To be specific, this was the new Hydrolastic suspension carried over from BMC’s larger saloons and modified for the small car segment. This unique suspension came with cylinders roughly the size of a one-litre oil can on each wheel comprising the springs and dampers and using a frost-resistant water emulsion as the damper fluid. On the Hydrolastic system the hydraulic chambers on the front and rear wheel dampers were connected to one another by pressure hoses on each side of the car. So whenever the front wheel ran over a bump on the road, some of the hydraulic fluid was pressed into the “partner” chamber on the rear axle, lifting up the body slightly also at the rear (and, of course, also in the opposite direction).

While this innovative system provided the basic configuration for consistent self-levelling of the car’s body, it never became a lasting success and was taken out of production after seven years. Issigonis and his team followed the example of larger cars in upmarket segments also in other areas, seeking quite often to achieve an even higher standard in the Mini. A good example is the automatic transmission introduced as an option in 1965 and making the classic Mini one of only very few small cars available at the time with such a “luxury”. An even more significant factor was that the automatic transmission taking up hardly any more space than a conventional manual gearbox came with four forward gears, while most luxury cars at the time had only three gears.

Sales of the classic Mini exceeded the figure of one million units just six years after the car had made its debut. By this time the range comprised not only the two original models, the Morris Mini-Minor and the Austin Seven, but also a Mini Van, a Mini Pick-Up as well as the Morris Mini-Traveller and Austin Seven Countryman estate models serving consistently to offer even more space inside the car: While the Traveller and Countryman were only 25 centimetres or not quite 10" longer than their respective counterparts, they were unusually versatile transporters thanks to their wheelbase extended by 10 centimetres or 3.9" and their twin doors at the rear.

Small engine, significant potential for further development.

John Cooper, the sports car constructor who recognised the great potential of this revolutionary small car very early on, is the man we must thank for giving the engine of the Mini originally cut back intentionally to 34 hp a lot more power just two years after the car made its debut. Engine capacity of the GT model built in a small series at Cooper’s initiative was increased to 997 cc, with stroke up from 68.3 to 81.3 millimetres (2.69–3.20") and bore down from 62.9 to 62.4 millimetres (2.48–2.46"). The compression ratio was raised from 8.3 to 9.0, further features being the larger intake valves and dual carburettors.

The exhaust opening was likewise enlarged and the crankcase reinforced to take up the extra power of the engine.

Cooper also changed the transmission ratio of the individual gears in order to give the car a higher speed in each gear, the first Mini Cooper with its 55 hp power unit now reaching a top speed of 136 km/h or 84 mph as opposed to the “regular” 120 km/h or 75 mph. And being a conscientious man, Cooper also upgraded the car’s brakes, fitting seven-inch Lockheed disc brakes on the front wheels.

The Mini Cooper S introduced in 1963 soon proved that even with these modifications the four-cylinder had not yet reached its limit. This time engine capacity was increased to 1,071 cc, providing maximum output of 70 hp. Naturally, this extra power also meant higher speed, in this case with an increase to 160 km/h or 99 mph, which is why Cooper once again upgraded the brakes, increasing disc diameter to 7.5" and boosting the brake power of the Mini Cooper S by means of a brake servo.

The series version of the classic Mini was also upgraded for more power in 1967, an increase in capacity to 998 cc giving the engine an appropriate boost in maximum torque from 44 to 52 newton-metres (32–38 lb-ft) and an increase in maximum output by 4 hp to 38 horsepower. This version of the four-cylinder was introduced from the start on the sister model of the classic Mini launched in 1969, the new Clubman, as the car was called, being 11 cm or 4.3" longer and the Estate version measuring exactly 3.40 metres or 133.9" in length. Width, height and wheelbase, on the other hand, were exactly the same as on the classic Mini.

A further new model introduced at the time as the successor to the Mini Cooper was the Mini 1275 GT, the top model in the Clubman series powered by a 59-hp 1.3-litre four-cylinder. This engine was later also featured in the classic Mini and was soon upgraded to an even more significant 63 hp. The 1.0-litre nevertheless remained in the range until 1992, after which all models were equipped with the 1.3-litre fuel injection engine already featured since October 1991 in the Mini Cooper and as of August 1994 also in the Mini, above all due to growing requirements in emission management.

Making a new start with traditional values.

Considered simply on paper, the MINI Cooper and the MINI One bringing back the famous brand in 2001 had hardly any substantial features in common with the classic Mini. Much stricter safety standards, significantly greater demands in terms of motoring comfort, and brand-new technical potentials allowed and required solutions Alec Issigonis and his team would not even have dreamt of in their days.

The MINI and its forefather nevertheless share some fundamental highlights and features clearly borne out from the start in the new model and expressed by the car’s characteristic design. A further point is that the MINI was developed from the start as a revolutionary new small car. And like the classic Mini, the new model once again featured innovations in technology giving the MINI its unique qualities.

Re-interpretation of traditional values likewise gave the MINI its unmistakable character right from the start, building its status as a youthful car transcending all social classes and highly desirable the world over. The classic Mini in its day made a significant contribution in introducing the principle of front-wheel drive and the power unit fitted crosswise at the front, making this the standard solution for particularly compact cars. The MINI, in turn, likewise came with short body overhangs, a long wheelbase, the one-wheel-at-each-corner stance and a low centre of gravity as ideal ingredients for extremely agile handling. Once again, therefore, the MINI re-defined the standard of optimum efficiency in the use of space and maximum driving pleasure in such a small car.

The quantum leap into a new era of technology.

Implementing this concept, it was obviously essential to use the most advanced and sophisticated technology. And clearly, four-cylinder power units displacing 1.6 litres, with 16 valves and an aluminium cylinder head were exactly the right successors to the Series A engines originally featured in the classic Mini.

Where 34 hp was still sufficient in 1959, the right kind of power was now 66 kW/90 hp in the MINI One and 85 kW/115 hp in the MINI Cooper. And while the classic Mini with its homokinetic joints for conveying power to the wheels and rubber springs set new standards in suspension technology at its time, the MINI with its McPherson front axle featuring axle shafts equal in length and the multi-arm rear axle likewise absolutely unique in this segment also introduced a new benchmark.

Disc brakes on all four wheels, the anti-lock brake system including CBC Cornering Brake Control and EBD Electronic Brake Force Distribution featured as standard also marked this quantum leap into a new era. As an option the MINI was also available from the start with ASC+T Traction Control and DSC Dynamic Stability Control.

The MINI also took on the top position in its segment right from the beginning in terms of passive safety. Indeed, with its extremely stable passenger cell, frontal and side airbags as well as optional head airbags at the side, the level of safety provided was absolutely outstanding. And last but not least, the Tyre Defect Indicator likewise featured as standard was an innovation never seen before in
a small and compact car. As an alternative to its five-speed manual gearbox, the MINI was available with infinite CVT automatic transmission incorporating a Steptronic function. Using a steel drive belt running on dual-conical pulleys, this transmission fed engine power through continuously variable transmission ratios to the front wheels, while retaining six firm transmission ratios in the Steptronic mode.

A joint control unit for the engine and transmissions served both in the automatic and the Steptronic mode to give the driver the ideal transmission ratio under all conditions. As an option there were also Steptronic switches on the steering wheel enabling the driver to shift gears manually without taking his hands off the steering wheel.

It did not take MINI long – to be precise only until January 2002 – to move up to an even higher level of driving pleasure, the most powerful model in the range ensuring fascinating performance even faster than with the classic Mini and far superior to its 70-hp forerunner.

This new high-performance model was the MINI Cooper S powered by a 120 kW/163 hp four-cylinder compressor engine and featuring both a sports suspension and a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. The first-ever MINI powered by a diesel engine saw the light of day just one year later, the MINI One D providing the most advanced rendition of the highly efficient four-seater philosophy which originally led to the development of the classic Mini: Displacing 1.4 litres out of four cylinders, this all-aluminium power unit featuring common rail fuel injection and an exhaust gas turbocharger offered an ample
55 kW/75 hp.

The new edition of the MINI: From the original to the original.

The modern qualities of the world’s first premium small car were emphasised even more emphatically when the new edition of the MINI was launched in November 2006. Under the motto “From the original to the original”, numerous details shaping the visual appearance of the MINI were refined. The sporting virtues of the compact king of curves were a particular focus with even more intense highlighting. At the same time, protection for the occupants was further optimised.

New, even more powerful and, at the same time, far more efficient engines together with the further enhanced suspension technology, served to redefine driving fun so typical of MINI. The MINI Cooper S with its 124 kW/175 hp power unit and the 88 kW/120 hp MINI Cooper models available at market launch from the start thrilled aficionados everywhere through their enhanced driving performance combined with significantly greater fuel economy and emission values. Both engines had a capacity of 1.6 litres, and a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct petrol injection were responsible for delivering the high output of the MINI Cooper S. The power unit of the MINI Cooper was fitted with fully variable valve control. Later on, this was also installed in the 1.4 litre engine generating 70 kW/95 hp mounted in the MINI One. Turbocharging and common rail direct injection generated outstanding efficiency in the diesel engines. The MINI Cooper D powered by 82 kW/112 hp was followed in rapid succession by the MINI One D generating 66 kW/90 hp and the MINI Cooper SD with 105 kW/143 hp. Finally, the MINI One powered by a 55 kW/75 hp engine was added to the range as an entry-level model. The mantle of elite athlete was taken on for the first time by the MINI John Cooper Works with a turbo engine packing 155 kW/211 hp and specific suspension technology.

In an appropriate combination on each model, the technologies offered as standard included Brake Energy Recovery, Auto Start/Stop, a gearshift point indicator, Electric Power Steering, a volume-flow-controlled oil pump, as well as on-demand coolant pump. All variants of the MINI now come as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, with optional six-speed automatic transmission enabling the driver to shift gears manually via paddles on the steering wheel.

The large choice in the engine portfolio was soon augmented by exceptional diversity in the MINI model range. Almost exactly one year to the day after the launch of the new model generation, the range was expanded by the MINI Clubman with a wheelbase extended by eight centimetres and a two-part rear door. In 2009, a new generation of the MINI Convertible came along. And as if this wasn’t enough, both the two-seaters MINI Coupé and MINI Roadster enabled the athletic prowess typical of the brand and open-top pleasure to be experienced in a particularly purist way from 2011 onwards. In parallel, the MINI Countryman presented in 2010 and the MINI Paceman available from 2013 conquered the premium compact segment. The ALL4 all-wheel drive developed specially for MINI was installed in these two models for the first time. The system is based on an electromagnetic centre differential and this enabled the power to be variably distributed between the front and rear axles.

The latest generation: Even more driving fun, efficiency and premium quality.

In 2014, the current generation of the MINI lined up at the start with a renewed evolutionary and advanced design, new drive technology and a large number of innovative equipment features. Engines with MINI TwinPower turbo technology and also a newly developed gearbox have since then increased the sprint capability of the MINI while at the same time resulting in reduced fuel consumption. Depending on the engine, the standard 6-speed gearbox can be replaced by a 7-speed Steptronic gearbox with twin clutch or an 8-speed Steptronic gearbox. An additional enhancement to efficiency is provided by the optimised weight and the improved aerodynamic characteristics. The option of an adaptive suspension is available for the first time. MINI Driving Modes is a choice available for the first time in the new MINI. Adaptive suspension influences the characteristic curves for the accelerator pedal and steering characteristics as well as the shifting characteristics of the automatic transmission and the damper tuning. The new operating concept comprises an instrument cluster on the steering column and optionally a MINI head-up display. The collision and pedestrian warning with city braking function, the driving assistant and parking assistant, and the reversing camera significantly expand the choice of driver assistance systems. Once again, the MINI also takes a leading role among competitors in the area of networking technology and digital services.

Already in the subsequent year, the model range was again expanded by a completely new body version for the MINI. For the first time, the British brand has a five-door version in the segment of small cars. With its wheelbase extended by 72 millimetres, the MINI 5 Door offers passengers in the front significantly more legroom alongside comfortable entry and exit. Since 2016, the range in the small-car segment has been completed by the new MINI Convertible.

The open-top four-seater is now equipped with an all-electric opening and closing mechanism for the fabric roof. An extremely athletic model version was also developed for the classic bodywork variant of the MINI 3 Door and for the MINI Convertible. The MINI John Cooper Works and the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible are each powered by a new, 170 kW/231 hp turbo engine.

The new MINI generation is represented by two models in the premium compact segment. A choice of three petrol and three diesel engines is supplied for the new MINI Countryman. The advanced ALL4 all-wheel drive system is also available as an option. Series equipment includes power transmission to all four wheels in the elite athletes MINI John Cooper Works Clubman and MINI John Cooper Works Countryman, which are powered by a 225 kW/306 hp turbo engine in the latest version. Furthermore, the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 (combined fuel consumption: 2.1 – 1.9 l/100 km; combined electricity consumption: 13.9 – 13.5 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 47 – 43 g/km) paves the way for zero-emission driving fun. The first plug-in hybrid model from MINI is powered by a three-cylinder petrol engine and an electric engine which together generate a combined system output of 165 kW/224 hp.

Electromobility in the MINI style: The new MINI Cooper SE.

 The MINI brand has now been the epitome of scintillating mobility in the urban traffic environment for the past 60 years. In future, the brand will incorporate local zero-emission driving in urban traffic with a unique emotional experience. The new MINI Cooper SE (combined power consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined electricity consumption: 16.8 – 14.8 kWh/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km) will be manufactured in series production at the British plant in Oxford from November 2019. This is the brand’s first all-electric powered model and it is a genuine MINI through and through. The vehicle concept is based on the MINI 3 Door. The dimensions, design, available space and interior ambience of the new MINI Cooper SE are clearly derived from the conventionally powered vehicle. The expansion of the model range by an all-electric version was already reflected in the development of this vehicle.

Instead of a petrol or diesel engine, an electric motor is mounted under the bonnet of the new MINI Cooper SE. The spontaneous power development of the 135 kW/184 hp electric motor, the front-wheel drive typical of the brand and innovative Dynamic Stability Control with actuator-related wheel-slip limitation assist the new MINI Cooper SE in achieving the unmistakeable agility known as the go-kart feeling that is perceived here as a particularly intense experience. The motor’s model-specific lithium-ion battery permits a range of 235 to 270 kilometres. The high-voltage battery is configured low in the vehicle floor so that there are no restrictions on the volume of the baggage compartment compared with a conventionally powered MINI 3 Door.

6.   From the Original to the Original.
The MINI Design.

Innovativ, Innovative, unmistakable, stylish – and inspiring time and again. Just like the classic Mini, the MINI stands for unique design providing brand-new answers to the challenges of its time. Creating the classic Mini, constructor Alec Issigonis and his team had succeeded in re-defining the entire philosophy of the small and compact car in 1959. Developing the MINI, his successors, as it were, re-interpreted the concept of maximum interior space on minimum road surface in modern, up-to-date style.

The result, created almost four decades apart, was two cars of supreme character proudly presenting their unique qualities in a truly unmistakable manner. Both back then and today, thrilling driving characteristics and irresistible design create one complete unit as the sign of distinction of an entire brand. The starting point for the design of the classic Mini was a vision following clear targets: smaller than all models produced so far by British Motor Corporation, the new car was still to provide sufficient space for four occupants and their luggage. Clearly, therefore, Issigonis focused on economy of space as the fundamental consideration in the development process.

At the same time, he wished to offer an innovative answer to the small and compact cars already available on the market in Europe, following his principle that a good designer should never ever copy the competition.

A clear vision and the right concept: the foundation for the classic Mini.

To provide as much space as possible for the occupants on the car’s very small footprint, even the technical features and components of the classic Mini had to be moved together. The ideal concept making this possible from the start was of course the engine fitted at the front in conjunction with front-wheel drive. But that alone was not enough for Issigonis. For while there was enough space for a four-cylinder power unit beneath the short bonnet, this was only because Issigonis fitted the engine crosswise and placed the gearbox beneath the drive unit. Certainly, an innovative interpretation of the “form follows function” principle is still one of the decisive factors in the design of the MINI to this very day.

Issigonis set forth all these plans and configurations not in long documents and studies, but rather in a host of drawings and personal sketches. Indeed, he had already succeeded in compensating for his rather limited ambition for mathematics at school and university through his excellent drawings. And now these drawings became the characteristic trademark of this ingenious engineer and constructor.

With just a few strokes of his pencil he was able to create visions, illustrate solutions for complicated technical problems, and therefore develop greater power of conviction than even the most moving speaker in a detailed technical lecture. Issigonis’ almost contagious euphoria was also expressed by the fact that he often did his drawing on paper table-cloths or menu cards, because his notepad was already full.

One of the legends circulating around the classic Mini is the story of a design sketch done by Issigonis on the paper napkin of a hotel restaurant later used for the first “official” draft on the drawing board in Issigonis’ construction office. In the course of 1958 both the exterior and the interior of the Mini took on their final shape. Striking features later to become characteristic of the classic Mini were the body panel seams between the wings and the bodyshell facing to the outside.

The reason for this particular feature was quite simply money: welding seams facing to the outside were a lot cheaper in production. The second feature typical of cost-oriented production also clearly visible from outside was the door hinges on the outside of the doors themselves. And the driver who was not able to make do with the luggage compartment offering capacity of 195 litres or 6.8 cubic feet, was able to quite simply leave the boot lid open – since the lid was hinged at the bottom, it served conveniently as a “tray” even taking up bulky objects fastened more or less safely in position. Indeed, this was not even a secret tip, since high-gloss brochures presented this enlarged loading capacity in colourful pictures.

The interior naturally also followed the car’s minimalist philosophy: A simple cable served to open the doors and the usual dashboard in front of the driver and passenger was replaced in the classic Mini by a small shelf. Right in the middle was the centre instrument, the speedometer and mileage counter as well as the fuel gauge, with two toggle switches for the screen wipers and the lights right below.

Despite numerous detailed changes and modifications, the basic shape of the classic Mini remained unchanged for no less than 41 years. In the course of time this revolutionary small car became a classic in the history of the automobile, a timeless masterpiece chosen in 1995 by the readers of Autocar, the British car magazine, as the “Car of the Century”. Like its driving behaviour, the typical look of the classic Mini remained a perfect image of the car’s character over years and decades, ultimately providing the starting point for the design of the modern MINI.

Creating the MINI: brand-new, but with unmistakable roots.

Back in the mid-1990s, shortly after BMW had taken over Rover Group, the first plans were considered for a new version of this unique compact car. A study of the MINI Cooper was the presented at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show, making it quite clear from now on that this was not going to be merely a copy of the classic model, but rather a modern interpretation of the Mini concept so rich in tradition. Indeed, this concept car combined the classic values of the classic Mini with the demands made of a modern automobile on the threshold to the 21st century.

A spectacular sports car concept had already been presented at the beginning of the year on the occasion of the Monte Carlo Rally. Thirty years after the classic Mini had won the Monte Carlo Rally the last time, this two-seater, right-hand-drive mid-engined ACV 30 (Anniversary Concept Vehicle) study definitely hit the headlines not just on account of its truly powerful and muscular proportions. Rather, the study also made it quite clear how the design features so characteristic of the classic Mini – such as the hexagon radiator grille and the large round headlights – could be carried over into a modern vehicle concept.

So the question is obvious: What would the ideal small car look like when carrying forward the ideas and principles of Sir Alec Issigonis, that ingenious constructor, from the 1950s into the 21st century, with all the technical options and customer preferences of these modern times? Looking for an answer to this question was certainly a promising undertaking right from the start, particularly as neither the drive concept of the classic Mini nor its virtually unchanged look had lost any of their charm over a period of approximately four decades.

Precisely this is why the MINI Project Team run originally by Frank Stephenson and later by MINI Chief Design Gert Volker Hildebrand attached great significance to conveying not only design details, but also the fundamental idea from the early years of the classic Mini to these modern days of motoring. The MINI was also to be a unique car offering ample space for four with their luggage, featuring an economical drive concept, and boasting driving and handling qualities no other model in this segment was able to offer.

At the same time the development engineers naturally also considered the high standard of comfort now taken for granted as well as the most demanding safety requirements. The result, obviously, was once again a revolutionary new small car oriented in every respect to the needs of its times and at the same time developed and manufactured according to the quality standards of a leading premium brand.

Design features and design icons.

This harmony of the targets set by the development engineers and the fundamental values of the concept is reflected in a unique design authentically visualising the common character shared by the classic Mini and the MINI and borne out by a beautiful play on lines and joints, circles and ellipsoids.

With the car measuring 3.63 metres or 142.9" in length, the overall layout and proportions, including short overhangs front and rear expressing the agile handling of the MINI through its exterior, were all retained as a faithful rendition of the classic Mini. The classic subdivision of the car into three sections – the actual body, the window graphics surrounding the entire vehicle as a kind of band, and the roof seeming to hover in space – was taken up again in a modern rendition. The shoulder line extends from the headlights across the muscular shoulders all the way to the C-pillars, where the roof is closer to the body than upfront on the A-pillars. This creates side window graphics opening up to the front and clearly emphasising the forward-pushing motion and the sportiness of the car.

Features typical of the brand and already unmistakable on the classic Mini were also re-interpreted on the new model. As an example, a modern rendition of the hexagon radiator grille and the round headlights now no longer surrounded by the wings, but rather integrated in the engine compartment lid, help to give the MINI its typical face so characteristic of the brand.

The side direction indicator surrounds serving on the MINI to distinguish the individual model variants, are also acknowledged as genuine icons in design. In particular, the side indicators guide the eyes of the beholder to the joint on the engine compartment lid of the MINI sweeping back at an angle like the joint on the side panels of the classic Mini. The rear light clusters standing upright also serve once again as a powerful sign of distinction now featuring a sophisticated chrome frame on the MINI. Indeed, this is once again a clear reminiscence to the classic Mini which always boasted its chrome look, consistently rejecting the inundation of plastic in automobile design of the ’70 and ’80s.

Last but not least, the very concave, three-dimensional and powerful design of the rims again takes up and reflects the style of the classic Mini, even if the wheels are now larger, wider, and come on runflat tyres.

The interior of the MINI is likewise unmistakable in its design, the Centre Speedo in the middle of the dashboard bringing back a characteristic feature of the classic Mini and enhancing this look to create a truly unique design element. Up to 1968 the speedometer on the classic Mini was also a central instrument which, through its looks alone, provided decisive inspiration for designing the surrounds on the MINI’s control units and switches.

Further, unique highlights come from the round air vents and the elliptic main elements on the door linings reflecting the design language of “circular elements” so typical of the MINI and also to be admired on the exterior. More than ever before, the current fortes of the MINI come out on the design of the latest model generation introduced in the autumn of 2013. Again following the philosophy of “From the Original to the Original”, both the basic design and the unique details of the car were revised and upgraded in the second generation in a painstaking, evolutionary process.

The powerful stance of the car on its big and muscular wheels now emphasises the sporting character of the MINI even more convincingly. The Centre Speedo is even larger than before even, now framed by a lighting band, and offers space for the display of a navigation system, again providing those unmistakable highlights so typical of the brand. Like the classic Mini, the MINI, thanks to its harmonious and perfectly balanced overall concept, arouses a feeling of affection and almost love at very first sight. To a large extent this is attributable to the cleverly integrated codes of “human body archetype” design language: Through its proportions and friendly mimicry, the MINI arouses the protector’s instincts. The powerful shoulders of the car, in turn, exude a sense of safety and security, and the body itself is characterised through its softly flowing shapes.

New opportunities: the MINI Concept.

Through its design philosophy alone, the MINI allows up-to-date, ongoing development of all features so typical of the brand while retaining its own, unique character. This starting point also provides a wonderful opportunity to carry over the design language so typical of MINI to innovative vehicle concepts extending the range and wealth of the MINI model family. The idea to present MINI in a new context was demonstrated for the first time in a fascinating study in 2005, when the MINI Concept made its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Presenting this unique study, MINI paved the way to a brand-new category of cars re-interpreting the classic shooting brake concept in modern style. The MINI Concept therefore took up traditional design philosophies already borne out in the 1960s in the guise of the Morris Mini-Traveller and the Austin Mini Countryman, applying these philosophies to modern-day requirements and therefore presenting new options in the body design and functionality of the MINI. Following the motto “Travel the World”, the MINI Concept was presented in a total of four renditions, each highlighting specific facets of the MINI brand and focusing on the place where the cars were being presented: In Frankfurt the emphasis was on elegance, at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show the concept model highlighted the British origins of MINI. At the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit the emphasis was on wintersport, and at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show the MINI Concept paid tribute to the legendary success of the brand in motorsport.

In all cases the concept car boasted a truly innovative door arrangement revolutionising the use of and access to the car’s interior: At the rear the designers introduced a Splitdoor configuration based on the classic door arrangement of the Morris Mini-Traveller and the Austin Mini Countryman. This two-piece rear door with each door element hinged far to the outside and opening outwards offered particularly generous access to the luggage compartment of the MINI Concept – a principle shortly thereafter presented for the first time in a production version of the MINI.

The MINI family grows: introduction of the MINI Clubman.

The 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show marked the world debut of the MINI Clubman which has been enriching the model family ever since. Compared directly with the MINI, the MINI Clubman offers 24 centimetres or 9.45" more body length and 8 centimetres or 3.15" longer wheelbase serving entirely to enhance legroom at the rear.

On the MINI Clubman the driver’s and front passenger’s doors are supplemented not just by the Splitdoor at the rear, but also by an additional opening on the right side of the car. This additional door on the right, the Clubdoor opening against the direction of travel like a coach door, offers passengers sitting on the rear seats of the MINI Clubman comfortable and convenient access to the rear passenger area. In its side view the MINI Clubman is characterised by a dynamic wedge shape created through the interplay of the shoulder line rising up slightly to the rear and the horizontal roofline.

Up the A-pillars, the MINI Clubman is identical to the “regular” MINI. It then gains its unique look through its longer wheelbase and longer roofline extending straight back to the steep rear end.

Yet a further special feature is the slight increase in the roof flanks extending on both sides from the A- all the way to the C-pillars along the entire length of the roof and referred to as the Dune Line. This gives the roofline a truly exciting, eye-catching “sweep” and raises the height of the car’s flank by approximately two centimetres. As a result, the proportions of the MINI Clubman are particularly smooth and well-balanced also from the side.

Like the classic Mini, the MINI is also available with contrasting colours on the roof – and indeed, this particular sign of distinction is of great significance on the MINI Clubman, where, apart from the roof, the C-pillars also come in the contrasting colour ordered by the customer to give the Splitdoor at the rear an additional optical effect. Ultimately this gives the car a very compact look at the rear and adds to its individual, unique appearance on the road.

MINI Convertible: consistently open, MINI all the way.

The open-air model of the brand is a genuine MINI but at the same time a truly unique character. The first new MINI Convertible was presented at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show three years after the closed MINI, but naturally with the same unmistakable design features. Apart from the soft roof combining the proportions typical of MINI when closed with a unique silhouette, the four-seater boasted a number of other features typical of a genuine Convertible. The waistline rising towards the end of the car, for example, was accentuated from the start by a chrome bar all round the vehicle, the steep windscreen was just as characteristic as the chrome-plated rollbar. And at the rear the boot lid opening downwards as well as the hinges at the outside offered further features reminiscent in their design of the classic Mini. The latest edition of the MINI Convertible experienced its first summer in 2016. 18 seconds suffice to combine the further enhanced driving fun in a MINI with the intense open-air feeling. This is facilitated in the new MINI by a fully-automated mechanism for opening the roof that is all-electric for the first time making it particularly low noise. There is now also a fully integrated rollbar.

Typically MINI – also in the premium compact segment.

Just as classical design features were transferred to a modern vehicle concept tailored to the requirements of the 21st century, the design so typical of the brand was also mapped onto the models of the premium compact segment. In 2010, the first MINI was presented with an exterior length of more than four metres, five doors and five seats. The MINI Countryman conquered new target groups across the world – with its unambiguous augmentation of versatility and the inimitable style of its design, making it a typical representative of the heritage British brand at first glance.

In the latest model generation, the MINI Clubman and the new edition of the MINI Countryman bring style typical of the brand into the premium compact segment. Reinterpreted and carefully enhanced, they also include typical MINI proportions, the characteristic three-way split between bodywork, window graphics and roof, the powerful stature underpinned by the wheels, and the unique details including the side scuttles, a large number of chrome elements, the hexagonal radiator grille and the large headlamps.

Dawn of a new era: The MINI Cooper SE.

As the first premium small car with all-electric drive, the new MINI Cooper SE also defines benchmarks for driving fun geared to the future in its design. It is based on the MINI 3 Door and differs from this with selective modifications and subtle differentiations from the conventionally powered models of the brand.

Powerful proportions, the horizontal vehicle structure, short overhangs and wheels positioned at the corners of the car characterise the appearance of the MINI Cooper SE. Precisely defined accents point to its future-proof drive system. The charging connection is positioned above the right-hand rear wheel and this is precisely where the tank nozzle is situated in the conventionally powered MINI 3 Door. An embossed MINI Electric Logo points to the difference in energy supply. Yellow versions of this logo also embellish the familiar side scuttles for the side indicators, the tailgate and the radiator grille. The central element of the vehicle’s front profile highlights the brand-typical hexagonal contour in the MINI Cooper SE, although it is shrouded owing to the low requirement of the electric motor for cooling air. A yellow trim bar on the grille and the wing-mirror caps finished in the same colour complete the model-specific design.

In the same way as the model-specific front grille, the essentially closed floorpan and the independent design of the rear apron contribute to the reduction of air resistance. The fact that the electrically powered MINI does not require an exhaust system, favours airflow in the floorpan and at the rear. An aerodynamically optimised surface is also highlighted by the optional 17-inch alloy wheels with an asymmetric design in the version MINI Electric Corona Spoke 2 Tone.

7.  The Revolutionary with the Drawing Pad.
Sir Alec Issigonis, the father of the classic mini.

He had already been successful with his own sports cars and he had been commissioned on a number of occasions to develop large saloons. But his favourite project, as Alec Issigonis made it quite clear, was the construction of a simple, extremely functional and very affordable small car. So when Issigonis, the Deputy Technical Director of the Austin Plant in Longbridge, was requested in late 1965 by Leonard Lord, the Chairman of British Motor Corporation (BMC), to develop a brand-new and truly innovative car, he was absolutely thrilled and knew exactly what he wanted.

The new car was to be smaller than all models built by BMC so far, but nevertheless offer sufficient space for four occupants and their luggage. A four-cylinder already built by the company was to provide the necessary power, while the driving characteristics and the all-round economy of the new small car were to set new standards. Considering this brief and the demanding requirements to be fulfilled, what Issigonis needed was no more and no less than an absolutely revolutionary new design – exactly the right job for him and his team.

Back then Alec Issigonis was 51 years old, a seasoned constructor and automotive engineer with an unconventional career and an exceptional approach to his work. At the time his contemporaries described him as an almost pedantic tinkerer and a passionate technician simply bursting with enthusiasm. Issigonis did not always do his designs on the drawing board in the construction office, but rather opted for paper napkins or the little drawing pad he always kept handy to present his ideas to his colleagues and staff members during lunch. Mathematics he regarded as the “enemy of every creative human being”, and with his wealth of ideas, his enthusiasm and his distaste for compromises he pushed his team forward to top performance time and again.

After just seven months: test drive in the prototype Mini.
Opting for front-wheel drive and the engine fitted crosswise at the front with the gearbox directly below, Issigonis right from the start created ideal conditions for excellent efficiency in the use of space. No less than 80 per cent of the space taken up by the Mini, what one might call the car’s “footprint” on the road, was exclusively for the passengers and their luggage. Overall length of the new car was 3.05 metres or 120.0", and the Mini might indeed have been even shorter. But Issigonis had exact ideas and intentions, which he presented to his team in a rather unusual manner: He had them cut through a model of the Mini right down the middle, then moving the two halves apart centimetre by centimetre. And when he finally cried out “stop!”, the Mini had reached its ideal length.

Just seven months after the official go-ahead, two prototypes of the new small car were ready to go. So Issigonis invited his boss Leonard Lord to a test drive he still recalled full of amusement years later: “We drove round the Plant, and I was really going like hell. I’m certain he was scared, but he was very impressed by the car’s roadholding. So when we stopped outside his office, he got out and simply said: ‘All right, build this car.’ ”

From this moment on the ongoing development of the Mini in becoming a genuine legend was unstoppable. And Issigonis had secured his position on the podium as one of the world’s most ingenious and influential automobile constructors. The master himself was a bit more reserved, making it quite clear that “I didn’t invent the Mini, I built it.”

Alec Issigonis: straight from a family thrilled by technology.

Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis was born in the Turkish town of Smyrna, today’s Izmir, as the son of a Briton of Greek origin and a mother from Bavaria, on 18 November 1906. He inherited his great interest in technology and machines from his father who, shortly after the turn of the century, ran a company for marine engine technology.

In 1922 the family was forced to flee to Malta when the Turkish state was established in very hectic turmoil. His father died on the island and his mother took him to England where, two years later, young Alec was finally able to drive his first car: a Weymann-bodied Singer in which he chauffeured his mother through Europe in 1925 in a “never-ending series of breakdowns”, as Issigonis recalled later. But it was precisely this unforgettable experience which, immediately upon returning back home, encouraged him to start a three-year course in mechanical engineering at Battersea Polytechnic in London.

Issigonis’ great talent for craftsmanship and his passion for designing and drawing new technical concepts proved barely sufficient at the time to set off his strong distaste of mathematical theory. So he just about managed his final exam, but did not qualify for ongoing studies at the college in Battersea. His obvious conclusion was to enter professional life as a technical draughtsman and salesman in a design office for automotive technology in London. Buying an Austin Seven from his first salary, he prepared the car for racing and entered his first event in March 1929. In the years to follow Issigonis developed his own monoposto in his spare time with design and construction features destined to later make him famous: the Lightweight Special was absolutely tiny, extremely light, but technically progressive – and successful. In 1934 Issigonis joined the design and construction team of Humber Ltd., the Coventry-based car maker, where he worked on the introduction of independent suspension. He proved so good at the job that Morris Motors recruited him themselves just two years later on account
of his skill in suspension development.

During the war Issigonis had no choice but to work on various military vehicles, which he nevertheless used as “guinea pigs” for technical innovations.

In 1941 Morris launched the Mosquito Project, a compact four-seater for the post-war era. And indeed, despite the most challenging conditions, Issigonis, reputed to be an all-out workaholic, and his the team had the first road-going prototype ready within three years. Precisely this model introduced as the Morris Minor in 1948 became the most successful car built by the brand in the post-war years.

When Morris and Austin Motor Company merged four years later to form British Motor Corporation, Issigonis no longer saw any perspectives for his creativity in future. So he started working for Alvis, with the intention to develop a luxury saloon. But with the project ultimately failing for financial reasons, BMC took Issigonis on again in 1955 as their Deputy Technical Director at the Austin Plant in Longbridge. Here Issigonis was to develop a number of new model series for the small, medium-sized and upmarket segments to secure the future of what was then Europe’s largest car maker. Since particularly the small car project was acknowledged as very urgent due to the Suez Crisis, the new model made its debut in 1959 as the Morris Mini-Minor and the Austin Seven. Large models only came later, with the four-door Morris 1100 midrange model entering the market three years later and the very spacious Austin 1800 in 1964.

Career and knighthood: honoured for his lifetime achievement.

The success of the classic Mini also gave worldwide fame to the car’s “father”. In 1961 Alec Issgonis, in his position as Technical Director, became a Board Member of Austin Motor Company, and two years later he was appointed to the Board of BMC. In 1967 he became a member of the Royal Society, the most renowned research society in Britain, and two years later the Queen knighted the father of the Mini. Sir Alec Issigonis retired in 1971, but remained an advisor to the company until 1987. One year later he died on 2 October, shortly before his 82nd birthday.

To this day this outstanding automotive engineer and constructor lives on in countless memories. And the market launch of the second generation of the Mini was indeed held exactly on 18 November 2006, the 100th birthday of the father of the classic Mini, in the honour of this great man.

8.   Made in England – then and now.
MINI Production between past And future.

The first Mini was an Austin Seven coming off the production line in Austin’s Longbridge Plant in Birmingham on 4 April 1959. The team of twins was subsequently completed five weeks later, the first Morris Mini-Minor leaving the Morris Plant in Oxford on 8 May. The two models were presented to the public together for the first time on 26 August 1959. Despite their different origin, the Austin Seven and the Morris Mini-Minor were virtually identical, the only distinctions on the outside being their radiator grilles, the wheel caps and body colours: The Austin Seven was available in Tartan Red, Speedwell Blue, and Farina Grey, the Morris Mini-Minor came in Cherry Red, Clipper Blue, and Old English White.

Production at the two plants continued for ten years with the model built in Longbridge bearing the name Austin Mini as of 1962. Plant Oxford, which had been building cars since 1913, built exactly 602, 817 units during this period, all of them the basic version of the four-seater. All other model variants ranging from the Mini Van through the Mini Pick-Up all the way to the Morris Mini-Traveller and Austin Seven Countryman were built in Longbridge. In 1969 all production activities were concentrated at the Longbridge Plant, with the model range being streamlined and Mini becoming the brand name for this revolutionary compact car. So the days of the twin brothers (or sisters?) were over once and for all.

A million cars in six years: the MINI repeats the rapid start of the classic Mini.

With the brand being re-positioned in 2001 under the guidance of the
BMW Group and production of the modern MINI starting as planned, it was only obvious that MINI had to move back to Oxford, the plant so rich in tradition thus once again becoming the starting point for a genuine revolution in the small car market. And like the classic Mini, the MINI made a remarkable start into the market exceeding all expectations: within just six years, Plant Oxford built no less than a million units of the MINI. This was indeed just as long as the classic Mini had taken to exceed the one-million mark, but back then production was still at two plants.

After 41 years and a production volume of more than 5.3 million units, the last classic Mini left Plant Longbridge on 4 October 2000. Since the decision to build the modern MINI in Oxford had already been taken half a year before, only nine months remained from then on to the start of MINI pre-production and just 13 months to the start of actual series production. Clearly, therefore, the roughly 2,500 employees in Oxford at the time and their colleagues from BMW Plant Regensburg supporting the modernisation process faced a great challenge and a truly tight timetable in making this new start into the market.

MINI production in Oxford according to the strict quality standards of the BMW Group.

The BMW Group had already invested some £ 280 million in the Rover Plant in Oxford back in 1996/1997, thoroughly modernising the Bodyshop and Final Assembly. Another project also completed back then was a state-of-the-art Paintshop, at the time the second-largest construction project in Great Britain following the Millennium Dome. And now this was followed by further investments amounting to some £ 230 million serving to modernise and re-structure the plant.

All this made Oxford one of the most modern car production plants in the world, boasting cutting-edge technology specifically for the production of the MINI. No less than 229 production robots were installed at the time to build the body-in-white, with a laser measuring system serving to check the body of the MINI down to a precision of no less than 0.05 millimetres. The Paintshop was likewise custom-built for the requirements of MINI production, not only allowing very precise and environmentally friendly application of the paint, but also providing the contrasting paint finish on the roof so typical of the MINI Cooper.

Oxford also became the first European car production plant to make exclusive use of electrical tools in final assembly, while the KISS (Core Production Integrating Management System) serves to fully automate communication in the production process by using the most advanced information technology. In this process the complete production of each individual model is electronically documented from the body-in-white all the way to final assembly, again ensuring that every MINI complies with the supreme quality standards of the BMW Group.

Team work for premium quality: The MINI Production Triangle.
When production of the new edition of the MINI was launched in autumn of 2006, the production facilities in Oxford (Bodyshop, Paintshop and Assembly), Swindon (Pressings) and Hams Hall (Engine Production) were integrated in the MINI Production Triangle for the first time. Body panels have been produced in Swindon, some 70 kilometres west of Oxford, since 1954. Today, pre-assembled body components such as lids and doors for the MINI Bodyshop are manufactured at Plant Oxford. Since 2001, the plant at Hams Hall near Birmingham has been the BMW Group’s Competence Centre for the production of four-cylinder petrol engines with a capacity of up to 2.0 litres. The plant delivers petrol engines directly to Oxford – just in time and just in sequence, that is at exactly the right time and in the right sequence for final assembly.

After 60 years: Ten million MINIs produced.

Capacity that started in 2001 as 300 vehicles manufactured each day has now increased to production output of around 1 000 units per day. Every 67 seconds, a workforce of 4 500 employees manufactures a MINI – each one of them is an ambassador for its idea, its country and its zest for life. In 2019, 60 years of the brand’s existence was celebrated in Oxford alongside a landmark production anniversary. The ten millionth vehicle of the brand rolled off the assembly line at the traditional site with an illustrious heritage: a MINI 3 Door from the 60 Years Edition.

Since 2000, the BMW Group has invested more than two billion pounds sterling in its production facilities in the United Kingdom. Recently, final assembly was expanded at the MINI Plant Oxford and a new paintshop was built. The latest investments have been channelled into the MINI Cooper SE. From November 2019, the first all-electric powered model manufactured by the brand will be produced at the MINI Plant Oxford.

Global growth strategy: Expansion of production capacities.

The models MINI 3 Door, MINI 5 Door and MINI Clubman are currently being produced at the MINI Plant Oxford. In order to take account of the continuous increase in demand, the BMW Group reached a decision in 2014 on contracted-out production of MINI models at the contract producer VDL Nedcar based in Born, Netherlands. MINI is therefore the only automaker to have series vehicles produced under contract manufacture in the Netherlands. The BMW Group benefits from the logistically advantageous location of the VDL Nedcar plant in the Born and its proximity to the British production triangle with locations in Oxford, Swindon and Hams Hall. The MINI Convertible and MINI Countryman models currently roll off the assembly line in Born.

In addition, the BMW Group and Chinese automobile manufacturer Great Wall concluded a joint-venture agreement in 2018. This covers a number of areas including the production of all-electric powered MINI vehicles for the Chinese market. A joint manufacturing facility is also scheduled for construction in the Chinese province of Jiangsu.

9.   Individualists united!
MINI fans are networked worldwide.

An active and truly versatile fan community all around the classic Mini was already established in the United Kingdom Great Britain, the home country of the classic Mini, way back in the 1960s. Right from the start, fans expressed their common interest in the car and the brand by exchanging knowledge and experience all about the Mini and its technical features. Due to the charming character of this small compact car, owners of a classic Mini strongly identified right from the start with both their car and the brand, sharing this enthusiasm in joint drive-aways and regular Mini meetings, with clubs originally organised on a local basis spreading wider and wider to bring together large regions.

A dynamic club scene also developed quite early on in Germany, gaining additional momentum through the re-launch of the brand and the introduction of the MINI. In the meantime, thousands of members are organised throughout Germany in more than 100 classic Mini communities and more than 50 MINI Clubs. Through their wide range of activities, these enthusiasts act as authentic ambassadors of the brand and competent partners for new fans of both the classic Mini and the MINI. Furthermore, MINI enthusiasts joined together to share activities in lots of other countries. The international MINI Community is a phenomenon without parallel in the world of the automobile. MINI owners are individualists and this is reflected in the styling and equipment of their vehicles geared to personal style. At the same time, they have much in common and this is expressed in exceptionally communicative engagement with each other and in enthusiasm for technology, motor sport, lifestyle and design.

MINI enthusiasts come together – online and in the street.

The Community became increasingly international with the general spread of modern means of communication. Upon the introduction of the MINI into the market in 2001, the brand was positioned with the same standard philosophy and spirit for the first time worldwide in all relevant markets. Above all, use of the internet had enhanced the options to interact across national borders and continents. Members of national MINI online communities foster contact with similar clubs throughout the world on the World Wide Web.

As in the past, real-life meetings which, thanks to the use of many communication channels and the support of MINI have taken on impressive dimensions, are naturally still among the highlights of all activities. In 2005, for example, MINI Germany, together with the national classic Mini and MINI Clubs, organised the first national meeting in Germany for fans of the brand. Back then more than 2,500 participants travelled to the National Meeting, heading for the Loreley Plateau on the River Rhine, where they enjoyed a highly entertaining programme with MINI Driver Training, a Design Workshop, meetings with Mike Cooper and rally legend Rauno Aaltonen, as well as the presentation of new versions of the MINI. A second meeting at the Hildesheim Aerodrome in 2008 proved even more successful, at least in terms of participation, with twice as many MINI enthusiasts from all over Germany attending the event.

The national and international activities in the British club scene are even more spectacular. In 1999, for example, more than 50,000 visitors attended the International Meeting in Goodwood celebrating the 40th birthday of the brand. In 2007 269 cars driving through Blackpool formed the longest MINI convoy the world has ever seen. Indeed, this unique parade was promptly entered in the Guinness Book of Records, breaking the former record set up by the MINI Club in Vancouver, Canada, when 195 cars had formed a similar convoy. The brand’s 50th birthday was celebrated at the MINI United Festival on the Formula 1 race track at Silverstone in Britain in 2009. Tens of thousands of fans enjoyed a varied mix somewhere between a lifestyle party and music festival, show programme and motor-sport action.

International Mini Meeting: Meeting point for fans of the British original for more than 40 years.

As a supplement to the market-specific activities in a large number of countries, the International Mini Meeting (IMM) has been held for the past 41 years. The IMM was launched on an initiative by German fans of the classic Mini. It was held for the first time in 1978 and since then it has developed into the world’s biggest annual event for the owners and friends of the classic Mini. Meanwhile, Mini Clubs in various European countries have taken on the role of host. At intervals of five years, the British homeland of the classic Mini and the MINI is the showplace for the IMM.

The focus of attention is always enthusiasm for the classic Mini and its exceptional history since 1959. The event is one of the highlights in the calendar of the international Mini Club scene. The participants undertake journeys over hundreds or even thousands of kilometres in order to present their lovingly maintained classic Mini or individually styled MINI to other enthusiasts, and to enjoy the togetherness experience of an exceptionally active community.

Happy invasion: MINI Takes The States.

Since 2006, MINI has been conquering the USA every two years. The rally MINI Takes The States is a happy invasion by thousands of MINI fans with their vehicles. They take part in a fun-loving and exciting tour over some 4 000 kilometres across the United States with lots of stops at famous sights and in major cities where MINI drivers present their vehicles, meet up at informal get-togethers and the massive convoy of varied classic Minis and MINIs continues to grow. The journey takes drivers along carefully selected routes and through some beautiful scenic countryside.

Apart from pure driving fun and the community event, the rally is also all about social engagement. A substantial portion of the starting fee is transferred to the aid organisation Feeding America, which provides meals free of charge for needy Americans. At the MINI Takes The States rally, which travelled from Portland in the far North West and Orlando in the South East to the meeting point at
Keystone / Colorado in the Rocky Mountains during the summer of 2018, donations for around 1.1 million meals were collected. The next MINI Takes The States Event will be held in 2020.

10. The car for all classes with
the qualities of a star.
MINI as a member of society.

Alec Issigonis saw the Mini from the start as a car for everybody – for all kinds of drivers and all social classes. He therefore sought, through the car he had created, to solve the everyday problems of individual mobility. With this in mind, the compact and economical Mini was exactly the right answer for increasingly dense traffic in the inner city and for the concerns at the time about the reduction of oil supplies following the Suez Crisis.

But soon it became clear that the Mini was much, much more. Its concept alone was so convincing that the car was seen and acknowledged as a trendsetter. Its sporting qualities made the Mini a genuine winner, its charming design made it incredibly popular throughout the population. So suddenly the Mini had become
a genuine cult, its innovative and non-conformist character perfectly reflecting the spirit of the 1960s, at a time when progressive concepts, the thrill of adventure, and even a certain lack of respect versus conventional values dominated the world. This was a car quite different from others but nevertheless offering more and providing even more fun – exactly the right car at the right time. Very quickly, therefore, fashion creators, musicians and other artists were captivated by the unique style of the Mini, stars discovering the qualities of the car and the world recognising the qualities of the Mini as a star itself.

Launched in 2001, the new MINI, a truly unique car just as popular and charming right from the beginning, quickly established a large, and, in particular, widespread fan community. All over the world, numerous celebrities now enjoy the agile driving pleasure offered by this modern and nimble performer. No surprise, therefore, that the MINI has already starred as the “leading car” in many Hollywood films. And it is also no surprise that the MINI is to be found in the private fleets of many famous actors, musicians, fashion designers and other stars in show business, society and sport.

Supported by the Queen herself.

The classic Mini quickly gained the reputation of a car for everybody on all levels of society. While Issigonis still regarded practical and economically-minded families seeking sensible mobility at low cost as his target group, he was also aiming at all levels of society as potential drivers of the Mini. Lord Snowdon, a good friend of Alec Issigonis, deserves the honour to have introduced the classic Mini into the society in London. One of the first owners of this small classic and completely thrilled by the car’s compact dimensions and excellent handling, Lord Snowdon soon became a common sight driving speedily through the British capital. As the husband of Princess Margaret, he obviously used his muscle, making sure that in 1960 Issigonis had the opportunity to present his small car to nobody else but his sister-in-law, Queen Elizabeth herself. So when the Queen took her seat next to Issigonis in the Mini, enjoying a lap through the big park of Windsor Castle, the classic Mini had really made a Royal breakthrough.

In the years to come the classic Mini became a genuine scene car particularly in Great Britain, gaining growing popularity throughout all levels of society, in all age groups, and with all nationalities. Time and again, prominent artists gave further momentum to the great reputation of this small performer. Fashion designers Paul Smith and Mary Quant discovered their love for the Mini, stars in the pop and rock scene such as The Beatles, Eric Clapton and David Bowie expressed a clear pledge to this small athlete from Britain.

Trends destined to soon influence not only the fashion, art or music scene worldwide, but also the world of politics and society, came out in full power from Swinging London in the 1960s. Paul Smith, who, among other achievements, became Britain’s most famous designer of men’s fashion by combining classic designs with modern, in many cases very bright and almost screaming colours, even created a limited Special Edition of the Mini in the 1990s. A unique, one-off Mini boasting paintwork created by Smith in his typical multi-colour stripe livery became at least as popular as this special series, even though it was built only once.

Mary Quant, the style icon of British women’s fashion and the inventor of the mini-skirt, was also inspired by the classic Mini. Shortly after she received her driver’s licence, she ordered a black Mini and later created her own Special Edition characterised by features such as the seat upholstery in black-and-white stripes. And she was just as thrilled by the new MINI: “A really fashionable, happy and smiling car”.

“Keep on Running!” – the Mini and rock’n’roll.

The British music scene in the 1960s had the same broad impact as the British world of fashion, musicians from Britain presenting that unique and unmistakable British style in truly revolutionary songs. And with the Mini offering very similar style and character, the stars were obviously thrilled by the new car. So bands like The Beatles, The Who or The Spencer Davis Group as ambassadors of a new British culture gaining growing popularity the world over also helped to promote the Mini and its unique image.

The legends and stories all about the Mini and its role as a means of transport for the stars remain fascinating to this very day. In 1964, for example, John Lennon ordered a Mini although at the time he did not even have a driver’s licence. His colleague George Harrison lent his Mini to Eric Clapton in 1967 and only got it back three years later. And the story about Spencer Davis is that he wrote the biggest hit his band ever had while driving through the night in the rainy Scottish Highlands on an almost empty tank. That was when, looking at the fuel gauge, only one thought went through his mind: “Keep on Running!”

In 1966, the Beach Boys from California in the US took their surfer sound on an international tour and posed in front of a Mini Moke in the United Kingdom. The picture of the Californian musicians and the beach buggy emblazoned with the name of the band went all over the world. At around the same time, American band The Monkees reached the peak of its popularity. A photo from this era shows guitarist and singer Michael Nesmith together with his wife Phyllis looking out through the folding roof of a Mini into the camera directed towards the couple from above.

Roll the film: the classic Mini takes care of the “Italian Job” and is later followed by the MINI.

Nobody knows how often the classic Mini served in films and television as a means of transport or as the star in the background. It is to be admired, at any rate, in the 1966 cult classic “Blow Up” and of course in countless TV and cinema appearances by comedian Rowan Atkinson better known as Mr Bean. A Mini Moke even starred in the James Bond thriller “Live and Let Die”. In 1973, Roger Moore embarked on a wild car chase in the beach buggy during his first appearance as agent 007. The classic Mini is also one of the very few British small cars ever to play a leading role in the cinema, for example in the 1969 classic “The Italian Job” starring Michael Caine. The whole film virtually revolves around only one subject, a wild pursuit through Torino with three Mini Coopers. No surprise, therefore, that immediately after the film had premiered Rover launched a special series of classic Minis finished like the film stars themselves and proudly bearing the title of the film. “The Italian Job” came back to the silver screen no less than 34 years later, this time starring Charlize Theron and Mark Wahlberg in the new version from Hollywood, presenting the story of a spectacular gold robbery in even more powerful and dramatic style. When “casting” the four-wheeled stars in the film the producer’s and director’s choice – obviously! – was to go for the new MINI Cooper S now able to present its agility and sporting performance not only on the streets of Los Angeles, but even below the streets of the city.

A year earlier the MINI Cooper had already shown its qualities as the ideal car for wild pursuits in the agents’ comedy “Goldmember”. In choosing the stars for his production, script writer and leading actor Mike Myers had picked not only an unusual line-up of Hollywood stars – ranging from Steven Spielberg to Tom Cruise, Michael Caine, Robert Wagner, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey, John Travolta and all the way to Beyoncé Knowles and Ozzy Osborne – but also six MINI Coopers in Union Jack livery. In the meantime, the MINI Convertible has also made its way to Hollywood, winning over the hearts of movie-goers once and for all in the year 2007. This was in the comedy “The Heartbreak Kid”, in which Malin Akerman and Ben Stiller went on their honeymoon journey in a MINI Convertible. Obviously, on the way this open four-seater became the scene for all kinds of wonderful debates and amusing stories involving the newly-wed on their trip together. A Hollywood career is also being pursued by the latest MINI generation. Four MINI Cooper S 3 Door models appeared in the science fiction comedy “PIXELS” driven by the main protagonists Adam Sandler, Peter Dinklage, Denis Akiyama and Josh Gad, with the aim of protecting the world against invaders from outer space in the form of video-game characters.

11. Small car, great show.
MINI Marketing.

The MINI always hits the headlines wherever it appears – even before a new model is introduced into the market. Innovative marketing campaigns always good for a surprise and generating great appeal present both the MINI brand and the individual models with their full impact.

MINI marketing uses an exceptionally wide range of communication channels to establish close contacts with potential target groups. Supplementing classic activities in print media, on the radio and television, MINI’s marketing experts developed innovative online activities right from the start tailored precisely to the modern, trend-minded and technology-oriented user of the world wide web and taking the options of interactive communication with the public into account. This approach empowers MINI to continuously generate new momentum in automobile construction and in the world of marketing.

The classic Mini – the “Most Exciting Car in the World”.

Innovative, self-confident, charming: right from the start the classic Mini clearly presented its exceptional character not only on the road, but also in a close dialogue with the public. From the early years classic marketing concepts were used consistently to present the special features of this revolutionary small car in truly convincing style. With a twinkle in the eye, even the very first sales brochures emphasised that the whole world had been waiting for the “Incredible Austin Seven”, the letter “v” in “Seven” being replaced by the number “7”. And the Austin’s sister model, the Morris Mini-Minor, was presented just as proudly as the “Most Exciting Car in the World”.

The Mini marketing experts also kept a close eye on the worldwide success of television, carefully using this new media also for the Mini. Special TV commercials were therefore produced for various purposes in the market, in all cases emphasising selected facets of the Mini’s character and naturally considering the cultural context of the local public. Whether as the perfect solution for congested traffic in downtown Paris or as the ideal means of transport to the beach in Australia – the Mini was always presented as the right car at the right place. Even in a cartoon it proudly presented its superiority, full of humour and again with that famous tongue-in-cheek style.

Making a new start with innovative ideas.

The re-launch of the brand in 2001 also marked a new beginning in marketing carefully prepared in parallel to the development of the car as such. The main challenge was to establish MINI as the first premium brand in the small car segment, with MINI to be positioned worldwide as a unique and fully independent brand in its own right – a brand revolving around the concept of enthusiasm and thrilling lifestyle.

These principles of brand management remain unchanged to this day, with the MINI characterised by its outstanding product substance and progressive technology, emotional design and agile driving behaviour as well as almost unlimited options in customising the car. A further significant point is finding the right balance of continuity of a brand now going back 60 years and its innovative capacities. Introducing the MINI, customers the world over for the first time had the opportunity to experience premium qualities in a small car. These outstanding qualities and features are indeed to be found in every model made by the brand, at the same time distinguishing MINI clearly from the competition. The same applies to the brand’s appearance in public, where all marketing tools follow a unique, consistently recognisable style. Graphic elements, colours, the language of pictures and the MINI concept conveyed in words and pictures are clearly defined. MINI is refreshingly different. Through its openness and self-confidence, the brand gains great acceptance, through its appearance it arouses curiosity
and appeal.

To arouse the attention of the target group in mind right from the start prior to the market launch of the MINI, the responsible marketing experts have been taking a new approach in communication from the beginning. The magazine “MINI international”, for example, regularly portrays selected cities around the globe, focusing on their particularly creative inhabitants. Apart from classic communication, other innovative forms of communication such as “guerrilla marketing” have always been implemented right from the start. In 2000, MINI
was the first car brand to use the internet not only as an information source, but also as a positioning medium.

Always good for a surprise: Creative campaigns with powerful impact.

In 2013, the brand continued the tradition of unconventional and humorous promotions in a broad range of communication channels with the campaign to promote the market launch of the new MINI. The launch campaign kicks off centred around elaborately produced TV commercials. Tongue-in-cheek stories showcase the unique driving fun offered by the brand as well as the powerful emotional bond established between drivers and their MINI. A familiar co-star with the fans of the brand will appear alongside the brand new MINI: the English Bulldog Spike. Individual lifestyle, enthusiasm for driving fun, innovative technology and a sense of quirkiness are highlighted in the TV commercial, which is shot with various endings. On his first trip in the new MINI, bulldog Spike gets to know and appreciate all the main strengths of the newest member of the British small car family.

The MINI Design Team also created a sensation with some exceptional happenings at Milan’s Salone del Mobile in 2013. Das MINI Design Team staged the MINI Paceman as a dynamic sculpture. The MINI KAPOOOW! installation was conceived in two parts in which the MINI Paceman broke through spatial boundaries and experienced a transformation of materials and forms. Athletic agility empowered the MINI Paceman to make the leap into a universe where colours and materials undergo transformation and open up unimaginable experiential spaces. The first phase showed the rear end of the MINI Paceman as a highly dynamic sculpture. It was presented as a chrome-plated authentic vehicle and then began to undergo metamorphosis. The individual parts of the vehicle appeared to fly apart. In the second phase, the MINI Paceman broke through a boundary in the middle of the space. In this new dimension, the vehicle changed its original form and the front end became an idea made of paper. The material of paper was presented as a metaphor for “prototyping” in the creative process.

Powered by a sustainable drivetrain through North, Central and South America: With the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 on the Panamericana.

The Panamericana is one of the last big automobile adventures. In 2018, three models of the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4$ with plug-in hybrid drives took on an intercontinental road trip along the world’s longest north-south road route in order to prove just how tough sustainability can be. The journey along the historic dream route – 17 000 kilometres from Dallas in the US State of Texas to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina – took them through different climate zones, across dense jungle and over challenging high-altitude mountain passes. Along with well-built highways, the three plug-in-hybrid models also had to contend with parts of the route network comprising dirt tracks and narrow mountain passes.

In 2018, the spectacular feat showcased MINI and the qualities of the electric power unit in those countries where awareness of sustainable mobility is only coming slowly to the fore. At the same time, these countries are being particularly affected by the consequences of climate change.

12. Inspiring Character.
MINI lifestyle and special editions.

Creating something very special on the basis of a car already very special – this is the hallmark of the special editions, limited editions and one-off showpieces built time and again in the last sixty years first on the basis of the classic Mini and then on the basis of the new MINI. This is not surprising, considering that this unique small car has fascinated and inspired artists in all disciplines time and again, fashion designers and painters as well as actors and musicians showing their creativity in designing and creating very special versions of the brand.

No other car has become the object of art and fashion as often and in the same diversity as the classic Mini and the MINI. Indeed, specialists discovered the potential of the classic Mini very early on, adorning the car both outside and inside with exclusive special features tailored to individual customer requests.
On behalf of affluent and prominent customers, they therefore created spectacular special models enhancing the cult status of the Mini to an even higher level.

Mini in noble style: the Wickerwork Look.

British actor Peter Sellers was one of the first celebrities thrilled by the Mini and seeking to live out their sense for exclusive style. So giving the originally rather spartan small car particular sophisticated features within the interior and finishing the body in wickerwork design, Sellers promptly started a new trend. Indeed, this design later thrilled Rainier of Monaco to such an extent that he also had a classic Mini built in wickerwork trim as his own very special toy.

Other special versions of the classic Mini likewise remained unique, one-off models being built for many years to the individual taste of their future owners. In fact, it was only in the 1970s that Mini had the idea to offer Special Editions straight from the factory in response to frequent requests for a truly exclusive model. The first car of this kind, the Mini Limited Edition 1000, immediately proved a success in 1976. On its 25th birthday in 1984, the Mini for the first time appeared as an Anniversary Model, with further Anniversary Models then following every five years until production of the classic Mini finally ceased in
the year 2000.

Silver and gold on the car’s 40th birthday.

In the last few years of its production life, the classic Mini again attracted great attention on the part of creative artists. In 1997, for example, British fashion designer Paul Smith created a one-off model boasting unmistakable stripe livery.

A year later Smith designed a Special Edition Mini standing out both through its brilliant blue paintwork and straightforward elegance within the interior.

Celebrating its 40th birthday, the Mini became the subject of passion among an illustrious group of artists, each giving this forever-young small performer their very own, truly unique design look. Super-model Kate Moss, for example, who had already been driving a classic Mini in London for a long time, opted for a cobweb motif, while pop icon Davie Bowie had a Mini manufactured all in chrome and
with reflecting glass surfaces. On the road, however, Bowie decided to stick to his regular production model he had bought only recently: “When it comes to parking the Mini is like a sandwich when you feel hungry – it is a perfectly designed classic”. Actor Michael Caine, to quote another example, gave his black Mini a
gold bar look alluding to the successful film “The Italian Job” in which Caine was involved in three Mini Coopers used to transport gold in one of the most spectacular pursuits in the history of the cinema.

A hit right from the start: the new MINI inspires pop musicians.

After the re-launch of the brand, the MINI again attracted the attention of fashion designers and many other artists almost over night. Celebrating the market launch of the MINI, the musicians of Jamiroquai created a one-off showpiece of the new MINI, Jay Kay, the group’s singer and a thrilled fan of stylish cars, adorning the MINI, among other features, with the group’s logo on its doors and bonnet as well as the name “Jamiromini”.

In one of her music videos, Madonna had a MINI Cooper converted for offroad use, the car giving up its doors but instead receiving offroad tyres and camouflage paintwork. Highlighting the start of sales of the first-generation MINI Convertible in 2004, designers at Bisazza, the Italian lifestyle label, had the idea to present this open four-seater in a dress made of tiny mosaic stones. Indeed, no less than three MINI Cooper S Convertibles as well as two fixed-roof models received this magnificent look in individual style and colours, with more than 30,000 glass stones used on each car.

MINI, fashion, and charity: showing social commitment at the Life Ball.

Joining forces with renowned artists, MINI has been committed for twelve years to the largest charity event in Europe, the Life Ball held annually in Vienna and generating revenues for national and international aids care projects. The event thus serves to support projects committed to enlightenment, medical research, and the treatment of HIV patients. Contributing to these projects, every year MINI has presented a special one-off model from the current portfolio finished in unique style by fashion designers.

The succession of Life Ball cars started just a few months after the official market launch of the new MINI with a car covered entirely by red fabric. A year later a MINI One proudly bearing the autographs of numerous celebrities made its appearance at the Life Ball. Since 2003, major fashion designers have given the MINI their special touch. The first of these designers was Angelo Missoni adorning a MINI Cooper with countless flower motifs. In 2004 Gianfranco Ferré gave a red MINI Convertible a truly impressive crocodile look, with a MINI Cooper Convertible in Donatella Versace’s exclusive blossom look following in 2005, its interior also highlighting that typical Versace style, with gold-coloured seams on the black leather seats and Swarovski crystals on the gearshift lever.

In 2006 another MINI Cooper Convertible made its appearance on stage at the Life Ball Gala in Vienna, this time in the trendy jeans look of the Diesel fashion label. And the 2008 Life Ball MINI, finally, proudly came in the provocative pin-up look of lingerie label Agent Provocateur. In 2013, Roberto and Eva Cavalli unveiled the Life Ball MINI 2013 refined by fashion designer Cavalli. Since 2002 the cars provided by MINI have been auctioned after the Life Ball Gala, with proceeds going to aids projects.

Architectural solutions for urban worlds of living: MINI defines life in the city.

“Creative Use of Space” lies at the core of the MINI brand. As early as 1959, the classic Mini offered an ingenious solution for one of the most pressing problems of that era – urban mobility at an affordable price. The solution was a vehicle that made the most of its potential and provided maximum driving fun on a minimal traffic footprint. The classic Mini demonstrated that even a small car can be exceptionally exciting and it went on to influence urban mobility for generations to come. Today, one of the biggest challenges in major cities is finding attractive and affordable living space. Once again, the solution here is: “Creative Use of Space”. Since 2016, the brand has used its initiative MINI LIVING to demonstrate how this principle can be transferred to urban living space. MINI LIVING adopts
a creative approach to the challenge in large cities – and presents architectural solutions for urban living worlds of the future.

MINI has joined forces with Chinese property developer NOVA Property Investment Co. to create the world’s first MINI LIVING building in Shanghai. The project is based on an innovative co-living concept. MINI is creating a vibrant urban neighbourhood out of a group of six buildings right at the centre of the city. This was previously a disused industrial complex in an upcoming part of the city’s famous Jing’An district. An urban hotspot is rising out of a former paint factory with lots of space for working, networking and living. The project is developing apartments of different sizes for singles, flat shares or families to rent on a short, medium or long-term basis. Anything that does not fit into the apartments themselves, whether this relates to activities or facilities, can take place or be accommodated in the community spaces. Generous lobbies, exhibition areas and a food court are an invitation to linger and spend time relaxing. The package is completed by gardens, play areas, shops and restaurants that will also be accessible to the general public. The idea of MINI LIVING is that sharers will get more out of life – to the advantage of the residents and the entire city. Digital booking of services complements the package. For example, the residents can make restaurant reservations, order food, or call up room cleaning and service, and book vehicles for shared use. MINI LIVING is demonstrating an intelligent approach to space and is also developing new opportunities for individual and at the same time communal life in the city.

13. A Question of Style.
THE MINI Lifestyle collection.

Driving fun in the MINI is fascinating. But the unique feeling so typical of the MINI goes much, much further. And to express his or her passion for unmistakable style also off the road, the genuine enthusiast will find lots of options in the MINI Lifestyle Collection. This unique Collection comprises fashion, jewellery, accessories and lots of lifestyle products which make it easier not only for the MINI driver to clearly express his or her individual style. Technology, innovation, fun and quality are the primary features offered by the MINI Lifestyle Collection. And like the MINI model range, the MINI Lifestyle Collection is constantly growing and becoming increasingly versatile. New models and new lifestyle products, therefore, enable the connoisseur to enjoy the typical feeling of MINI in a growing number of situations.

On its route in becoming an international best seller in all classes and on all levels of society, the classic Mini in its day already inspired the world of fashion time and again. Renowned designers created individual, one-off models with exceptional body paintwork and interior features. In the 1970s the Mini finally proceeded from the garage to the houses of its fans everywhere – as a miniature model for the children’s room or as a collector’s item for the display cabinet.

Introducing the MINI, the Company also decided to start the unique MINI Lifestyle Collection. And from the beginning, this exclusive line-up of outstanding products was characterised by stylish, cosmopolitan and highly appealing as well as truly surprising details. The MINI Lifestyle Collection takes up the latest exciting trends time and again, continuing and enhancing these trends in the typical style of the brand.

MINI all the way: imaginative, versatile, unmistakable.

In their drafts for the MINI Lifestyle Collection, the most outstanding designers focus not only on the latest fashion trends, but also on the design language and lines of the various MINI models. Indeed, the cars also set the foundation for the various products through their colours and materials, helping to create a product portfolio typical of the brand and truly versatile in every respect, and constantly introducing new ideas to remain absolutely unique. Yet a further highlight in
the current range is the John Cooper Works Collection comprising both fashion products and accessories as an expression of the brand’s sporting spirit also beyond the race track.

The MINI Lifestyle Collection: starring at fashion events and on the cinema screen.

The MINI Lifestyle Collection has already become a highlight in the fashion scene and is to be admired regularly at the most outstanding fashion events. One of these events is the renowned BREAD & BUTTER fashion show in Barcelona, where the MINI Lifestyle Collection has already been presented on various occasions. Other, comparable events likewise provide the ideal setting time and again for the MINI brand. Like the MINI itself, the products in the MINI Lifestyle Collection have also made it to the cinema screen, with numerous performances in many productions. The MINI Cuckoo Clock and the MINI Baby Racer, for example, played important roles in the Disney production Lily the Witch – the Dragon and the Magical Book. Together with the leading female star Alina Freund, the animated dragon Hector showed his great interest in the MINI Lifestyle Collection in this cinema production of the famous children’s book. In particular he loved the MINI Baby Racer that enabled him to get around in fast and furious style.

MINI Feeling everywhere – the current MINI Lifestyle Collection.

A clearly defined language of form, inimitable design and high-quality materials are the hallmark of the current MINI Lifestyle Collection 2018–2020. It offers a diverse selection of products that make the complex everyday routine simpler, more enriched or enhanced, and they embody the essence of the MINI brand – even beyond the vehicles themselves. The collection includes more than 100 items and encompasses clothing through accessories, bags and luggage to articles for children and mobility products.

The visual profile of the MINI Lifestyle Collection 2018-2020 features two new impressive accent colours “Island” and “Coral”. The contemporary shade of blue “Island” melds with the exterior colour of “Island Blue” from the current MINI Countryman. The bright shade of red “Coral” provides the ideal hue to complement this livery and defines a fresh accent. The two accent colours are a perfect foil in interplay with the basic colours of Black, White and Grey.

The product selection of the current MINI Lifestyle Collection ranges from the popular logo T-shirts, polo shirts and sweatshirts, through the MINI Logo Patch Sweatshirt Kids with practical kangaroo pocket and caps, to bags and suitcases of different sizes. Then there are also stylish accessories such as umbrellas, Bluetooth Speakers, watches, sunglasses and travel mugs, the MINI Cloth-Bound Notebook, the MINI Fountain Pen and the MINI Tea Maker. The range for younger MINI fans includes the MINI Bulldog and the MINI Puzzle Set. Juniors can experience different versions of driving fun with the MINI Pull Toy Car, the remote-controlled MINI Countryman RC and the MINI Tricycle. In addition, the MINI 60 Years Lifestyle Collection was created in celebration of the landmark anniversary, including special designer items in the style of the British brand.

All products in the MINI Lifestyle Collection are marketed worldwide through the MINI dealer network.

^{Die Angaben zu Kraftstoffverbrauch, CO2-Emissionen, Stromverbrauch und Reichweite werden nach dem vorgeschriebenen Messverfahren VO (EU) 2007/715 in der jeweils geltenden Fassung ermittelt. Die Angaben beziehen sich auf ein Fahrzeug in Basisausstattung in Deutschland, die Spannbreiten berücksichtigen Unterschiede in der gewählten Rad- und Reifengröße und der optionalen Sonderausstattung und können sich während der Konfiguration verändern.}

^{Die Angaben sind bereits auf Basis des neuen WLTP-Testzyklus ermittelt und zur Vergleichbarkeit auf NEFZ zurückgerechnet. Bei diesen Fahrzeugen können für die Bemessung von Steuern und anderen fahrzeugbezogenen Abgaben, die (auch) auf den CO2-Ausstoß abstellen, andere als die hier angegebenen Werte gelten.}

^{Weitere Informationen zum offiziellen Kraftstoffverbrauch und den offiziellen spezifischen CO2-Emissionen neuer Personenkraftwagen können dem 'Leitfaden über den Kraftstoffverbrauch, die CO2-Emissionen und den Stromverbrauch neuer Personenkraftwagen' entnommen werden, der an allen Verkaufsstellen, bei der Deutschen Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen, und unter https://www.dat.de/co2/ unentgeltlich erhältlich ist.}

Bitte wenden Sie sich bei Rückfragen an:
Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit

Matthias Bode, Pressesprecher Produktkommunikation MINI
Telefon: +49-89-382-61742, Fax: +49-89-382-28567
E-Mail: matthias.bode@mini.com

Andreas Lampka, Leiter Kommunikation MINI
Telefon: +49- 89-382-23662, Fax: +49 89-382-28567
E-Mail: andreas.lampka@mini.com

^{Die BMW Group
Die BMW Group ist mit ihren Marken BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce und BMW Motorrad der weltweit führende Premium-Hersteller von Automobilen und Motorrädern und Anbieter von Premium-Finanz- und Mobilitätsdienstleistungen. Das BMW Group Produktionsnetzwerk umfasst 30 Produktions- und Montagestätten in 14 Ländern; das Unternehmen verfügt über ein globales Vertriebsnetzwerk mit Vertretungen in über 140 Ländern.
Im Jahr 2018 erzielte die BMW Group einen weltweiten Absatz von mehr als 2.490.000 Automobilen und über 165.000 Motorrädern. Das Ergebnis vor Steuern im Geschäftsjahr 2018 belief sich auf 9,815 Mrd. €, der Umsatz auf 97,480 Mrd. €. Zum 31. Dezember 2018 beschäftigte das Unternehmen weltweit 134.682 Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter.
Seit jeher sind langfristiges Denken und verantwortungsvolles Handeln die Grundlage des wirtschaftlichen Erfolges der BMW Group. Das Unternehmen hat ökologische und soziale Nachhaltigkeit entlang der gesamten Wertschöpfungskette, umfassende Produktverantwortung sowie ein klares Bekenntnis zur Schonung von Ressourcen fest in seiner Strategie verankert.
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Munich. “I love this car. It’s more successful than the artwork,” was the opinion of Andy Warhol after his sweeping brush strokes had transformed the BMW M1. It took him less than half an hour to create the fourth exhibit in the BMW Art Car Collection. 40 years later, enthusiasm for the mid-engined sports car remains unabated. Already world-famous at that time, the US icon of Pop Art shared the same passion with many automobile fans of that bygone era. And the fascination of the unique special created by Warhol has indeed increased. Many fans regard his Art Car as the highlight of the entire collection. It’s therefore hardly surprising that Munich-based automobile photographer Stephan Bauer spontaneously opted for the BMW M1 finished in the Warhol design when he was selecting his dream subject on four wheels. Last year, Bauer (29) emerged as the victor in the Social Media Contest “Shootout 2018” organised by BMW Group Classic and he was given the opportunity for an exclusive photo shoot with BMW Art Car Number Four. A series of photos was created to mark the 40th birthday of the BMW M1 designed by Andy Warhol. They provide a completely new perspective on one of the most legendary vehicles from the history of BMW.

Five photographic artists entered their best shots from the world of BMW classic cars in the “Shootout 2018” competition held on the Instagram social media platform. BMW Group Classic joined forces with BMW Culture, BMW Motorsport, BMW M GmbH and BMW subsidiary companies in several international markets for the joint project. It focused the attention of young target groups on the numerous motor-sport successes and record chases with vehicles and engines from BMW over the past 100 years. The prize for the winner was an enthralling photo shoot with a vehicle of their choice from the comprehensive collection of BMW Group Classic. The choice of the winner fell on the BMW M1 in the powerful 470 hp racing version produced in conformity with Group 4 regulations. 40 years ago, this automobile both celebrated its sporting debut in the Procar Series and entered the annals of Pop Art history.

Against the backdrop of an old factory building in Cologne, Stephan Butler choreographed a spectacular contrast between the brightly coloured Art Car and the dour grey of the abandoned industrial structure. At a subsequent outdoor session, laser search lights shrouded the BMW M1 in a positively mystical atmosphere. In both settings, the Art Car kept emerging from a completely new perspective – and always to perfection. The results of the photo shoot are posted on the Facebook page of BMW Group Classic and on the Instagram Account of BMW Group Classic.

Andy Warhol’s Art Car proved to be a dream subject for the recent photo shoot in Cologne. The artist himself made things much more difficult for the photographers. 40 years ago, the cameras had hardly been set up when Warhol had already finished painting the bodywork in all the colours of the rainbow. As the artist explained later, his speed was a reflection of the statement made by his work of art: “I attempted to show speed as a visual image. When an automobile is really travelling fast, all the lines and colours are transformed into a blur.”

Very soon after the last brush stroke had been applied, the BMW M1 styled by Warhol demonstrated just how fast an artwork can be. In June 1979, the BMW M1 emblazoned with start number 76 competed in the 24 Hour Race of Le Mans. German driver Manfred Winkelhock, and Frenchmen Hervé Poulain and Marcel Mignot drove the Art Car to second place in its class and achieved a ranking of six in the overall standings.

Munich. 40 years after the start of the Procar Series launched specially for the BMW M1, the Procar will once again be captivating motor-sport fans. As part of the races for the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) on the Norisring (5 to 7 July 2019), 14 BMW M1s will be making a spectacular comeback on the track. This racing car was produced in conformity with the Group 4 regulations prevailing at the time and Formula 1 drivers and international privateer drivers then competed against each other. BMW Group Classic has also been able to rekindle the enthusiasm of famous drivers for a return to the cockpit of the BMW M1 for the Procar Revival at the Nuremberg city racing circuit. Former Formula 1 drivers Jan Lammers from the Netherlands and Marc Surer from Switzerland are two motor-sport legends who will be lining up at the start. They were already darlings of the public in the original Procar races four decades ago.

BMW Group Classic is recalling many different memories of the extraordinary race-track debut of the BMW M1 with historic motor sport in the warm-up programme for the German Touring Car Masters. The mid-engined sports car was developed for racing competitions and road registration, and launched in autumn 1978. Since delays in the production process prevented homologation by the deadline, the Managing Director of BMW Motorsport GmbH at the time, Jochen Neerpasch, worked together with the Formula 1 managers Max Moseley and Bernie Ecclestone to create a completely new race series. A total of 19 races were carried in the Procar Series in the years 1979 and 1980 and this developed into an ideal forum for the subsequent success of the BMW M1 in other international competitions.

The Procar races carried out as part of the warm-up programme for the European Grand Prix rounds gave privateer drivers and talented juniors the opportunity to race against the top stars of motor sport in BMW M1 cars with technically identical engineering. The five fastest drivers out of the Formula 1 drivers at the Friday training session qualified in each case to race in the BMW M1. Celebrity drivers like Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet, Alan Jones, Jacques Laffite and Emerson Fittipaldi loved driving round the thrilling curves with the fast and agile mid-engined racer. The BMW M1 generated 470 hp and the driver’s skill was the sole factor in determining who was victorious at the end of the race – this was instrumental in generating maximum excitement at every venue and it helped to make the Procar Series extremely popular.

The overall winner of the first Procar season was Niki Lauda. In the following year, Nelson Piquet took first place in the overall standings with three wins in succession. The BMW M1 continued its motor-sport career in other competitions such as the German Automobile Racing Championship and in the American IMSA GTO Championship. As a Group 5 racing car with turbocharger for its inline six-cylinder engine, an output of up to 1000 hp and imposing spoilers, the car also ranked there as one of the most spectacular and successful representatives of its era.

The Procar Series remains the most important chapter in the racing history of the BMW M1 to this day. 30 years after the debut of the mid-engined sports car, a Procar Revival in 2008 attracted fans of historic motor sport to the Hockenheimring. This circuit was the showplace for a Procar Series race in 1979 and 1980 and a lot of former drivers took the opportunity to try their luck competing in the BMW M1 once again. Another Procar Revival took place before the race for the “Austrian Grand Prix” at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg two years ago. The Austrian Formula 1 circuit is also among those circuits where races in the legendary Procar Series were held.

Procar racers are also not being hosted for the first time at the Norisring. In the second season of the previous race series, one of the Procar races started on the city circuit. At that time, the German racing driver Hans-Joachim Stuck won the race ahead of Jan Lammers and Marc Surer.

Munich. On 7 March 2019, the anniversary of the company’s establishment was celebrated for the 103rd time. During this period, a small aero-engine factory transformed itself into the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles. This development reflects the character of the company and the key people who shaped its success. The company ethos is based on the courage to innovate, the readiness to go the extra mile, the drive to compete with the best and the ability to overcome special challenges. In 2019, BMW Group Classic looks back on numerous events, outstanding achievements and innovations that are based on precisely these principles.

100 years ago: A high-altitude flight as the first record for BMW.

On 17 June 1919, the experienced test pilot Franz Zeno Diemer set out to help the fledgling company BMW achieve a first world record. He took off from Munich’s Oberwiesenfeld airfield piloting his aeroplane manufactured by Deutsche Flugzeugwerke and powered by the BMW IV aero-engine on the route to a sensational record attempt. The 230 hp engine was designed on the basis of a principle conceived especially for flying at great altitudes. Diemer took around one and a half hours to fly his machine up to an altitude of 9,760 metres. In the open cockpit, he had to contend with temperatures down to minus 50 degrees and breathe in air with gradually diminishing oxygen levels. Never before had an aircraft flown so high.

90 years ago: The BMW 3/15 hp – launch on four wheels.

Ten years later, BMW had already expanded its product portfolio with motorcycles – then came the next step. The Board of Management decided to get involved in the automobile business. The Chairman was Franz-Josef Popp, who had held a management position with the company in the early stages of aero-engine production. “Our experience in the area of motorcycle construction encouraged us to embark on the production of small cars, for which there appears to be a promising domestic market. With this end in mind, we purchased automaker Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach,” announced Popp in the company’s Annual Report. On 22 March 1929, the first BMW 3/15 PS left the assembly halls in Berlin-Johannisthal. Almost 16,000 units of the new small car followed in the years up to 1932.

60 years ago: Debut for the classic Mini.

He sketched out the first design drafts on a napkin. The designer Alec Issigonis created a revolutionary small car on the basis of the resulting plans. On 4 April 1959, the first classic Mini rolled off the assembly line at the Austin Longbridge plant in Birmingham. In spite of an external length of 3.05 metres, the little car provided sufficient space for four occupants and their luggage. Issigonis applied a completely new design at the time, with front-wheel drive, a four-cylinder transverse engine mounted at the front of the car, and the gearbox configured beneath. This design layout was soon adopted by virtually all manufacturers in modified form. It offered the best prerequisites for the principle of creative use of space and for excitingly agile driving performance – attributes which characterise the models of the British premium brand to this day.

60 years ago: The turnaround was achieved with the compact BMW 700.

During the 1950s, the company made significant contributions to getting people in the young Federal Republic of Germany on the road with the BMW Isetta and the BMW 600 that was derived from it. However, the aspirations of the customers continued to rise and it was necessary to create a new small car with a conventional design in order to compensate for falling sales. The Viennese BMW importer, automobile designer and former racing driver Wolfgang Denzel provided the key impetus. He presented the BMW Board of Management with the design for a two-door notchback car that had been designed by the Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti. The prototype formed the platform for the BMW 700, which was presented for the first time on 9 June 1959. By 1965, more than 190 000 units had been sold and BMW succeeded in ascending out of the economic trough.

60 years ago: Small shareholders defend the independence of BMW.

Sales problems in the automobile and motorcycle business had caused BMW serious financial difficulties during the 1950s. At the Annual General Meeting held on 9 December 1959, the takeover of the company by Daimler-Benz AG was therefore an item on the agenda. However, the restructuring plan associated with the takeover was opposed by many of the small shareholders. During the course of a turbulent discussion, the lawyer Friedrich Mathern managed to depict inconsistences about the official figures. He objected that all the development costs for the BMW 700 had unjustifiably been included in the balance sheet for 1958. He also criticised the fact that the value of the BMW brand and its employees had been valued much too low. The meeting was then adjourned – with the result that the time-limited offer from Stuttgart expired. BMW remained independent but the financial crisis had not been resolved. The increased commitment of major shareholder Herbert Quandt ultimately provided the assurance needed to move forward. In the following year, he submitted a new restructuring plan which also took account of the interests expressed by the small shareholders.

50 years ago: A new era of motorcycle production begins.

Aero-engines had already been manufactured in Berlin-Spandau under the direction of BMW since the 1930s and after World War II motorcycle and car compnents as well. In 1969, the entire production of motorcycles was relocated from Munich to Berlin. The start of production for the BMW /5 Series went hand in hand with the move. The technical director at the time, Helmut Werner Bönsch, presented it with self-assured words: “There is no doubt that BMW has been building the best and most advanced motorcycle in the world for many years. Our ambition is to maintain this reputation into the future.” This was indeed the case. The BMW 50/5, BMW R 60/5 and BMW R 75/5 models had been developed as sporty touring motorcycles in a modern design, and they had a completely new chassis with telescopic fork for the front wheel and variable rear-wheel suspension. And for the first time, customers were able to choose between versions with different colours.

40 years ago: The BMW M1 lined up on the grid in the Procar Series.

The BMW M1 mid-engined sports car was already irresistible when it was standing still. But it developed its true fascination on the racing track. This emerged above all in the Procar Series initiated by the Managing Director of BMW Motorsport GmbH at the time, Jochen Neerpasch. The races were staged in 1979 and 1980 as part of the warm-up for the Formula 1 World Championship races in Europe and they developed into a runaway success with the public. The protagonists themselves were also captivated by Neerpasch’s idea of staging races between Formula 1 drivers and touring car drivers piloting vehicles with identical engineering and generating 470 hp. On 12 May 1979, the first race in the Procar Series started in Zolder, Belgium, and 16 more races were to follow.

20 years ago: World premiere for the BMW X5.

An all-rounder with all-wheel drive which was not only capable of impressive driving on off-road terrain but also demonstrated excellent performance on the road – this was how the BMW X5 was presented in autumn of 1999, as the world’s first Sports Activity Vehicle. A few months later, the BMW X5 Le Mans demonstrated its huge potential for dynamic driving. This was an experimental vehicle with a V12 engine generating more than 700 hp. Racing driver Hans-Joachim Stuck achieved a top speed of 309 km/h in this car on the Nürburgring. 20 years after the debut of the first SAV, the family of BMW X models has grown to seven model series. In 2018, 37.3 percent of the brand’s total sales were generated by BMW X models.

20 years ago: The BMW Z8 exerts fascinating appeal with classic aesthetics.

In 1999, BMW also presented a milestone in its roadster history, which was certainly not lacking in highlights. The BMW Z8 styled by Danish designer Henrik Fisker created a sensation at its world premiere on the occasion of the International Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA). The elegant lines recalled the legendary BMW 507 and the luxurious cockpit make it an eye-catcher to this day. The classic forms clothed innovative engineering: a self-supporting aluminium frame with the external skin bolted on, powered by a 400 hp V8 engine. A total of 5,703 units of the BMW Z8 were manufactured between 2000 and 2003 at a dedicated production facility established especially for this vehicle at the BMW plant in Munich.

BMW Group Classic will be saluting these anniversaries in a variety of events and publications during the course of 2019. In the meantime, the Press Department of BMW Group Classic is providing more detailed information on the topics outlined above.

Munich. For the past twenty years, fans of historic motorsports have anticipated and even longed for an event held in the south of England in late summer. Memories of the spectacular car and motorcycle races that were regularly held on the local circuit between 1948 and 1966 will be revived in the grounds of Goodwood House, the estate of the Duke of Richmond. The Goodwood Revival is regarded as a particularly stylish classic event at which historic racing cars, often piloted by well-known drivers, are put to the test once again. Historic backdrops and an authentic ambience − from the starting grid to the outfits of the drivers and teams − await visitors at the Goodwood Revival 2018. BMW Group Classic’s appearance is wholly in keeping with the 1950s and 1960s. Outstanding classics from the BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad brands will be presented in exhibition halls designed in the style of the time on the weekend of 7 to 9 September 2018. In addition, BMW Group Classic will roll out a flotilla of racing cars to the starting grid, including two supercharged motorcycles based on the BMW R 57.

Goodwood House is also a great venue and always worth a visit for Maria Costello. Just a couple of months ago in July, the successful British motorcycle racer appeared at the Festival of Speed, which was also organised by the Duke of Richmond. Together with her compatriot Mark Wilkes, who is currently leading the Sidecar World Championship ranking as a passenger, she piloted a BMW racing combo at the legendary Goodwood Hill Climb. However, Maria Costello will be racing alone at the Goodwood Revival 2018, as she has been doing on racetracks around the world since the 1990s.

From the Isle of Man to Goodwood: Maria Costello and the supercharged BMW.

Maria Costello rose to prominence in 1998 as the fastest rider in the Manx Grand Prix on the Isle of Man. This competition for newcomers is run on the same circuit as the legendary Tourist Trophy, at which the Brit already appeared for the first time the following year. In 2004 Maria Costello entered the Guinness Book of Records with a new track record for women on the Isle of Man. And at the Manx Grand Prix the following year she was the first woman to secure a place on the winner’s podium.

Maria Costello has regularly ridden a BMW S 1000 RR in endurance races since 2015. At the Goodwood Revival, she will switch to a legendary superbike of yore. The supercharged motorcycle based on the BMW R 57 marked a milestone in the racing history of BMW Motorrad. Its history is as firmly linked to the long-distance races on the Isle of Man as is the career of Maria Costello. In 1939, Georg “Schorsch” Meier won the Senior TT at the Tourist Trophy on a supercharged BMW.

The winning streak of the charged Boxer engine continued into the post-war period and only ended with a change in regulations that banned the use of the supercharger in racing. At the Goodwood Revival, Maria Costello will be accompanied on her journey through time on the racetrack by top Australian racer Troy Corser. The two-time Superbike World Champion will be riding the second supercharged BMW on the Goodwood House circuit.

Success on the racetrack: the classic Mini and the “New Class”.

Among the four-wheeled classics starring at the Goodwood Revival are two successful machines from the 1960s. Dating back to 1964, the Austin Mini Cooper S Competition reminds us that the stellar racing career of the classic Mini is not limited to its three overall victories in the Monte Carlo Rally. Later Formula 1 champions such Niki Lauda, James Hunt and Jackie Stewart garnered their first competition experience at road races in the classic Mini.

The classic Mini is joined by a particularly sporty representative of BMW’s “New Class”. With the BMW 1800 TI / SA, the series presented in 1961 also caused a sensation in touring car racing. The special version (SA) of the four-door model is powered by a four-cylinder engine that generates a maximum output of 130 HP thanks to twin carburettors and increased compression. Only 200 units of the exclusive racing variant of this successful model were ever built.

Rarities from the 1950s: Elvis Presley’s BMW 507 and a Hollywood-style Rolls-Royce.

BMW Group Classic is presenting fascinating rarities not only on the racetrack. The exhibition halls in the style of the traditional London car dealership Kevill-Davies & March, visitors will experience the glamorous atmosphere that characterised the show and film business of the 1950s. The main protagonist of the scene is the BMW 507 that Elvis Presley drove during his military service in Germany. The roadster of the “King of Rock’n’Roll” was believed lost for decades. After its rediscovery it was painstakingly restored and presented to the public for the first time in 2016 at the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach.

Another emblem representing the new enthusiasm for luxurious locomotion that was ignited in the 1950s is the BMW 503 Convertible that will be shown at Goodwood. The four-seater appeared just a few months after the two-seater BMW 507 and, like its stablemate, was powered by an eight-cylinder engine. The exhibited motorcycles were developed by BMW Motorrad for much larger target groups and helped the brand to build quickly on old successes in the young Federal Republic of Germany as well as in many other countries.

The classic Rolls-Royce and Mini brands also recall the importance of British cars for the film industry. For example, visitors will be able to see an open Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. The fashionable four-seater played a central role in numerous convertible rides through the streets of London in the 1966 British film classic Blow-Up. And the classic Mini, which will be shown at the Goodwood Revival 2008, also has close ties to British film history. The special-edition Mini that was custom-made to the highest standards both inside and out by London coachbuilder Harold Radford & Co. testifies to the high esteem the revolutionary compact car enjoyed among film stars and many others. Actor Peter Sellers, for example, once gave his fellow actor and partner Britt Ekland a Radford-modified classic Mini.

Munich/Spielberg. When the anticipation of the next Formula 1 race mingles with the memory of magic motor-sport moments from the past, this is the starting gun for the Legends Parade. On Sunday 1 July 2018, the pageant of historic racing cars and celebrity drivers will once again unfold at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria. Just before the race to decide the “Austrian Grand Prix”, eleven touring-car classics from the 1970s and 1980s will re-live the glory days of the German Racing Championship (DRM – “Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft”) at the Red Bull Ring. BMW Group Classic is represented by two exceptional vehicles from its collection at this year’s Legends Parade. A mid-engine BMW M1 sports car from 40 years ago will be presented alongside a BMW 3.0 CSL, which gained sporting fame and fortune as the successful touring car that established the brand’s big coupé series launched 50 years ago.

The “Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft” was held from 1972 to 1985. It quickly developed into Europe’s most important and popular touring-car series. Numerous works teams and private racing stables provided some spectacular competitions for many years. Although the vehicles competing in the races were derived from series models, they were strategically tuned for high performance with comprehensive and advanced modifications. The race series was also closely associated with the names of legendary racing drivers such as Rolf Stommelen, Klaus Ludwig, Harald Ertl, Bob Wollek, Jochen Mass, Manfred Winkelhock, Markus Höttinger and Hans-Joachim Stuck. For Stuck, the years of the German Racing Championship were “quite simply a fantastic period”.

In the initial years, touring cars competed in accordance with Group 2 regulations, including the BMW 3.0 CSL, which had been specifically designed for motor sport. The designation of the two-door coupé was a reference to “Coupé, Sport, Lightweight”. The coupé was the top model of BMW’s great coupé series launched in 1968 and it was an exceptionally successful touring car. A total of six titles were won in the European Touring Car Championship with the BMW 3.0 CSL, the first being in the debut year 1973. The European Champion at the time was the Dutch racing driver Toine Hezemans and this year he will be part of the Legends Parade in Spielberg, once again behind the steering wheel of the BMW 3.0 CSL.

From 1977, Group 5 vehicles were also represented in the DRM. Four years later, this paved the way for the BMW M1 to compete in the popular national race series. Impressive spoilers and engine outputs of up to 1000 hp made this touring car one of the most spectacular phenomena at the German Racing Championship. Prior to this, the mid-engine sports car presented in 1978 had generated a sensation in the Procar Series created especially for this car. The Procar races were held in the warm-up programme before the European Formula 1 races in the years 1979 and 1980, with Formula 1 racing drivers of that era competing against national sports-car professionals and junior racing drivers.

The BMW M1 from the collection of BMW Group Classic will join the ranks of the Legends Parade in Spielberg. Formula 1 driver Christian Danner will be behind the steering wheel. During the course of his career, Danner also enjoyed success in touring-car motor racing and furthermore was one of the drivers who had already become familiar with the BMW M1 in the Procar Series. The array of erstwhile race cars from the German Racing championship also includes three additional BMW motor cars from private ownership, including a BMW 3.6 CSL Alpina. Three-times Formula 1 Champion Niki Lauda from Austria will line up at the start behind the wheel of this automobile.

Munich. On 23 March 2018, the new temporary exhibition opens in the BMW Museum focusing on the BMW i brand and its protagonists BMW i3 and BMW i8. The title of the exhibition is “BMW i. Visionary Mobility.” and it will present visionary mobility and vehicle concepts over a period of 18 months. The exhibition pays tribute to the performance of this brand, which initially set benchmarks with the BMW i3 and BMW i8 and revolutionised individual local traffic in big cities with a large number of mobility services. A theme park of some 30 stations now demonstrates the diversity of electromobility, the aspects of sustainable choice of materials and the challenges of future, emission-free mobility. This takes the BMW Museum on new routes – for the first time, the history, the present and the future of mobility are united under one roof.

The story of the future.

The thematic pathway through the new temporary exhibition begins at the origin of the need for alternative mobility concepts and its biggest sphere of action so far: in the urban space, particularly megacities. Impressive installations on the topic of resources and emissions highlight the challenges confronting our modern society and indicate the opportunities offered at the present time by electrification of mobility. A journey through history and the tradition of electromobility at BMW is also presented, starting with the modified BMW 1602 used during the summer Olympic Games in Munich through to today’s BMW i brand. An overview of the entrepreneurial milestones foregrounds the pioneering work that the BMW Group has carried out in the area of sustainable mobility. The exhibition has been staged on five platforms and it conveys a varied and informative impression of all the key focuses and facets of the BMW i brand.

Sustainability in every fibre.

In the “Architecture and Power Unit” zone, visitors are initially introduced to the fundamentally new basic structure in vehicle construction – the LifeDrive cell. They are also provided with an introduction to the electric motor and high-voltage energy storage. The centrepiece for this is the “Megacity Vehicle” concept car first presented at the IAA International Motor Show. The BMW i3 was developed from this concept car. Following a 360° tour round the topic of sustainability, the visitor’s roadmap continues to the second platform that presents the fascinating BMW i design: drawings and information panels bring the process of creation to life. The issue of “sustainable design” also plays a role here, as does the associated design philosophy of the brand. The material platform follows on from this and visitors are astonished if they have never heard of terms like olive-tree leaves, eucalyptus, kenaf and PET in connection with vehicle construction. The recycling and dismantling process of these vehicles is also presented at this point to give fascinating insights into environmental protection measures at the BMW Group.

Urban mobility in transformation.

The penultimate thematic area takes our focus back to the urban living environment where car-sharing concepts, charge networks and app solutions for mobility services have long been established. The everyday lives of many people are inconceivable without these adjuncts. The latest developments such as BMW Connected highlight the trend towards networked and personalised driving. The Urban Lounge showcases various projects which will complement the product range of large service providers in big cities in future. The exhibition closes with an outlook on the future. The top platform entitled “Visionary Mobility” is dedicated to the further alignment of the BMW i brand and its pioneering performance in the area of autonomous driving. Aspects of artificial intelligence are also addressed here and particular emphasis is placed on the role played by employees in this transformation. After all, this is the key factor for success in advanced development of the innovative BMW i brand.

The new temporary exhibition “BMW i. Visionary Mobility.” will be presented in the bowl of the BMW Museum from 23 March 2018 to the scheduled likely finishing date of September 2019. Entry to the temporary exhibition is included in the standard ticket price.

Additional information can be found at: www.bmw-museum.de

Munich. This year, successful racing cars are the focus at the traditional Festival of speed being held at Goodwood in South-east England. The successes of these cars left enduring traces and this has earned them a place of honour in the history of motor sport. BMW Group Classic is sending numerous winners in automobile and motorcycle racing history from its portfolio of vehicles to the British Isles. The selection encompasses a wide range of disciplines in which classics from the brands BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad created a sensation in their time. These events range from the Mille Miglia and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, through the Tourist Trophy and the German Touring Car Championship (DTM), to Formula 1 and the Dakar Rally.

The festival takes place on the estate of Lord March from 29 June to 2 July 2017. The hillclimb is a focal point when racing cars from yesteryear will once again demonstrate their racing talent. The demonstration drives in the style of historic competitions hark back to a private hillclimb held by the grandfather of today’s host in the park of Goodwood House. This racing atmosphere was created for the first time in 1936.

Mille Miglia winner meets World Champion of Formula 1, Touring Car Champion meets Winner of the Dakar Rally.

Fans of historic motor sport can look forward to a rendezvous in Goodwood with the BMW 328 Mille Miglia Touring Coupé. In 1940, this car took overall victory at the Mille Miglia in a new record time with its reliable six-cylinder engine, reduced weight and favourable aerodynamic values. The Brabham BMW BT52 undoubtedly also ranks among the vehicles that are worthy of the motto for the Festival of Speed 2017, “Peaks of Performance – Motor-sport’s Game Changers”. In 1983, it became the first vehicle in the history of Formula 1 to succeed in taking the World Championship title with the assistance of a turbocharged engine. The racing car is in the professional hands of long-time Formula 1 driver Ricardo Patrese, who was a member of the Brabham BMW Team in 1983.

A BMW M3 Group A DTM is also lining up at the start of the hillclimb with Italian racing driver Roberto Ravaglia at the wheel. The first generation of the BMW M3 laid the foundation for an exceptional career which made this vehicle the most successful model in touring-car history. In 1987, Ravaglia won the first Touring Car World Championship driving the BMW M3. Two years later, he again took the title in the German Touring Car Championship. The appearance of the BMW V12 LMR recalls the success achieved in the 24 Hour Race at Le Mans in 1999. The car is being driven by Pierluigi Martini from Italy. Together with Joachim Winkelhock and Yannick Dalmas, he gained overall victory in the legendary endurance race driving this vehicle powered by a twelve-cylinder engine.

The MINI brand is represented at the Festival of Speed 2017 with a series winner which laid the cornerstone for its successes in off-road terrain. In the period from 2012 to 2015, the MINI ALL4 Racing stormed to four back-to-back victories at the Dakar Rally, the world’s most challenging endurance competition. The MINI ALL4 Racing succeeded in achieving an equivalent successful back-to-back series over four years in the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup.

Tourist Trophy Winners from two eras and a World Champion sidecar combination.

The supercharged BMW WR 500 from 1929 presented at the Festival of Speed 2017 is one of the milestones in the history of racing at BMW Motorrad. A flat-twin Boxer engine with vertical drive shaft and supercharger propelled this motorcycle to an outstanding achievement and to its legendary status in racing history. In 1939, Georg “Schorsch” Meier won the Senior TT at the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man riding a supercharged BMW. Numerous other successes were to follow in circuit and road races. A change in the regulations during the post-war period prohibited the use of superchargers in racing and this put an end to any further series victories.

The classic motorcycle comes face to face at Goodwood with a Tourist Trophy Winner from the recent past. Two-times Superbike World Champion Troy Corser is presenting the BMW S 1000 RR Senior TT there from the year 2014. The Australian played a significant role in developing the four-cylinder superbike, which Michael Dunlop from Northern Ireland rode to a three-fold success on the Isle of Man in 2014. Dunlop won the races in the Superstock TT, the Superbike TT and the Senior TT. The contingent from BMW Group Classic is completed by a sidecar and two incumbent World Champions. Pekka Päivarinta and Kirsi Kainulainen from Finland, current title holders in the FIM Sidecar World Championship (SWC), will appear in the hillclimbs with their BMW Sidecar LCR. The sidecar combination is powered by the four-cylinder engine from the BMW S 1000 RR. This power unit and the experts from BMW Motorrad Motorsport enabled the two Finns – who are also a couple off the race track – to secure the World Championship Title in the 2016 season and write racing history. This was already the fifth World Championship in the career of Pekka Päivarinta. But his co-rider was on the podium for the first time. Kirsi Kainulainen is the first female World Champion in the history of road racing.

You will find images of the event from 1 July on the BMW Group Classic Media Server under http://www.bmwgroupclassic-downloads.com

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Munich. To coincide with the start of the motor sport season, BMW Lifestyle is presenting the latest edition of the ever-popular BMW Motorsport Collection and expanding its portfolio with a new collection line: the BMW Motorsport Heritage Collection. Inspired by the company’s many years in motor sport competition, the two collections translate the passion of motor racing then and now into stylish articles for everyday use that are guaranteed to make a sporty impression both at the race track and beyond.

Sporty looks for motor racing flair every day of the week.

The new garments in the BMW Motorsport Collection all make a stunning impression, thanks mainly to sporty and expressive styling whose defining features include the stripes in BMW Motorsport design and the BMW Motorsport logo.

The exceptional vehicle prints on the BMW Motorsport “Motion” T-Shirt – featuring transparent high-gloss elements on the men’s and silver appliqués on the ladies’ version – are one of the design highlights of the new collection and bring its dynamic essence prominently to the fore.

A host of ingenious details ensure the items not only look great but are also extremely practical. Take, for example, the block colour BMW Motorsport Jacket made from laminated, lightweight, windproof and water-resistant material or the BMW Motorsport Hoodie in a sophisticated neoprene look, both designed to keep the wearer snug and warm when the weather takes a turn for the adverse.

The BMW Motorsport Paper Jacket is an absolute must for keen trackside autograph hunters. Made from state-of-the-art, tear-proof Tyvek® material, the jacket has paper-like qualities and is perfect for scribbling on with waterproof markers. Once the requisite autographs have been collected, the paper jacket can be conveniently stowed away in the accompanying compact pouch.

The smart BMW Motorsport Drift Cat 5 Sneakers add an elegant finishing touch to sporty outfits. The non-slip sole has been designed to look like the surface of a car tyre and offers very good grip. Sporting a BMW logo pin and novel perforated elements, anyone wearing the trainers is sure to make a stylish entrance. The ladies’ trainers come in White and the men’s are finished in Team Blue.

Besides apparel and accessories, the BMW Motorsport Collection also features a wide choice of luggage items brimming with motor racing flair. The cushioned back panel of the BMW Motorsport Messenger Bag and the BMW Motorsport Backpack replicate the stitching of a racing car seat, for instance. The backpack also features a roomy main compartment with a roll-down zipper that allows the carrier to vary the amount of room inside. And to keep important items such as a laptop or tablet within easy reach, the backpack has an additional padded compartment that opens separately.

The BMW Motorsport Sports Bag likewise boasts a series of neat features, including an adjustable shoulder strap that allows it to be converted into a backpack as and when required. The roomy main compartment has a roll-down zipper and two extra straps to keep it securely closed, and is large enough to easily accommodate two full-face helmets.

For fashion trendsetters: the BMW Motorsport Heritage Collection.

With its exclusive BMW Motorsport Heritage Collection, BMW Lifestyle is keeping up with the latest trend by turning the clock back to the 1970s. Comprising beautifully finished classics, like the BMW Motorsport 
T-Shirt Heritage with its eye-catching old-style BMW Motorsport logo and the BMW Motorsport Sunglasses Heritage in retro look with blue-grey graduated lenses, the collection is sure to delight both vintage and logomania fans and BMW Classic enthusiasts in equal measure.

The collection’s ultimate statement piece is the white BMW Motorsport Leather Jacket Heritage made of soft lambskin leather. Quite apart from the top-class craftsmanship on display, it is the jacket’s design that makes this a real must-have for both fans and followers of fashion. Contrasting BMW Motorsport stripes on the stand-up collar, shoulders and sleeves plus the logo badge in vintage 70s design add striking touches that give the jacket a punchy look.

The jacket makes a perfect match with the BMW Motorsport Cap Heritage – a trendy trucker cap with mesh panels and lightly padded peak bearing an elaborately embroidered BMW Motorsport logo – and the BMW Motorsport Bag Heritage, which sports a distinctive 70s retro look with padded BMW Motorsport stripes on the side pocket.

These and further products from the BMW Motorsport Heritage Collection and BMW Motorsport Collection are now available at shop.bmw.com and from selected BMW dealers.

Manufacturer’s recommended retail prices:

BMW Motorsport “Motion” T-Shirt, ladies’ and men’s: €39.90     

BMW Motorsport Jacket, ladies’ and men’s: €120.00

BMW Motorsport Hoodie, ladies’ and men’s: €79.00

BMW Motorsport Paper Jacket, men’s: €49.00

BMW Motorsport Trainers Drift Cat 5, ladies’: €120.00

BMW Motorsport Messenger Bag: €59.00

BMW Motorsport Backpack: €69.00

BMW Motorsport T-Shirt Heritage, men’s: €59.00

BMW Motorsport Leather Jacket Heritage, men’s: €590.00

BMW Motorsport Cap Heritage: €39.90

BMW Motorsport Bag Heritage: €120.00

Westport Co. Mayo is set to see an invasion of MINI’s old and new later this month, as the 2017 International Mini Meeting gets underway from the 25^th May to 28^th May. Described as a ‘MINI’ Electric Picnic, this event is expected to attract close to 3,000 fans and 1,200 MINI cars of all shapes and sizes, new and old which will be proudly presented by their loving owners.

Event highlights include a MINI treasure hunt along the Wild Atlantic Way, A Puc Fada Competition, MINI owners Club Olympic Games, slalom races and awards for the most beautiful, extraordinary and fastest versions of the classic MINI. Guests of honour who will open IMM 2017 include Irish motor racing legend Mervyn Johnson and Paddy Hopkirk who won the Monte Carlo Rally in a classic Mini in 1964.

But it is not just about the old generation MINI’s. One of MINI Ireland retail centres’ Colm Quinn MINI, is also partnering at this event. “It’s not every day a festival like this comes to Ireland and we are delighted to get the opportunity to be involved. Congratulations to the Irish MINI Owners Club for securing Ireland as the host country for the established International Mini Meeting, it is a great honour for us to be involved” said Colm Quinn.

The event grounds are located on the famous Westport House which was chosen as the venue for this event because of its breath-taking setting and the fantastic facilities. The beautiful estate is steeped in History and beauty however the energy, enthusiasm and passion shown by the team will ensure a very memorable event.

A fantastic experience awaits families and MINI enthusiasts with a broad range of activities organised for the weekend. Enjoy vintage MINI car shows, music entertainment and many family activities while soaking up the atmosphere of Westport House. The Colm Quinn MINI team will be on site showcasing their new generation range of models with fun interactive activities up their sleeves to enhance the extensive and exciting events programme. 

The event is open to all fans and the general public, tickets can be found on the IMM 2017 website and is being organised by the Irish MINI Owners Club. Weekend tickets are priced at €95 (includes camping), meanwhile on Sunday the 28^th gate tickets will be available for guests who would like to soak up the atmosphere, tickets are €10 per person (Children are free) and car & driver is €20.

The International Mini Meeting is one of the highlights of the calendar year for all MINI Clubs. The meeting has become a generation-spanning event in several respects and many visitors see the IMM as an opportunity for everyone to enjoy as a family outing.

MINI too has spanned many generations and this event offers you the opportunity to see how MINI has evolved during this time. Starting with the Mini Cooper, which was first made by the British Motor Corporation in 1961 to the latest model generation, MINI has a lot of fun and driving history to show. Old or new, past or present, the MINI has always been more than a car, it’s a statement as well. 

Of course this is not the first International Mini Meeting, established more than five decades ago, enthusiasts from all over the world have been sharing their passion for the classic Mini since 1978, when it started as a small three day camp event in Germany over Whitsun weekend. After several years its popularity has grown over the German borders and this has resulted in an international event which takes place every year in a different country.

Whether you are a MINI lover looking for a weekend away or simply looking for a day out, Westport House is the place to be from 25^th – 28^th May.

Munich. Six young people, three young-at-heart BMW automobiles, a unique adventure. The endurance rally Allgäu – Orient 2017 is not simply attractive because of its exotic destination of Amman in Jordan. The unusual choice of route away from any well-built highways is also appealing. The “5ever” private team will be lining up at the start with six people in three BMW 520i touring automobiles from the E34 Series. They are receiving some robust support from the BMW Group as their cooperation partner.

Start in Allgäu. More than 6000 kilometres to the finishing line.

On Sunday, 7 May 2017, the starting flag came down in the picturesque region of Oberstaufen. Now the teams have got to prove that they are well prepared and most importantly that they have not left anything behind. The coming days and weeks will require toughness, skill and a talent for improvisation. Everybody at the starting line-up was in the best of moods. There was a relaxed atmosphere and this was perfectly reflected in the exceptionally varied field of starters. The spacious and elegant first-generation BMW 5 Series Touring cars driven by the “5ever” team started on their long journey packed to the gunnels and fitted with special roof racks. The BMW Group is crossing its fingers for them. The team is now on its own and has to make the best use of its resources.

The rally: one of the last great automobile adventures.

The Allgäu – Orient Rally (start: 7 May 2017) covers a distance of more than 6000 kilometres, making it one of the longest endurance rallies in the world. And there’s no doubt that it is one of the last great automobile adventures because the conditions along the way are tough. They are also based on the principle of maximum cost reduction. No car should be less than twenty years old or more expensive than 1,111 euros. Then there are no overnight stays in luxury hotels. The maximum cost of accommodation permitted is 11.11 euros per person. But the competitors should preferably sleep by the side of the road in a tent. Motorways are also banned, in the same way as modern navigation devices. Side roads and good, old-fashioned maps are the order of the day. This year, the route to the exotic and fascinating destination of Amman in Jordan goes through Turkey and Israel. Special tests and tasks ensure that the journey is characterised by variety. The entire venture is also in aid of a good cause. The surplus from the rally and the proceeds obtained for the automobiles at the destination will be distributed to various local charities. And naturally, there is also a prize – in the form of a fully grown camel. There is a good reason why the camel is the team logo. And Karim – a typical representative from Upper Bavaria – provided the first impressions at the team presentation.

The team: dedicated and motivated.

You need a dedicated bunch of people to take part in a rally like this. It’s absolutely excellent that the “5ever” team have been the best of friends for a long time. The initiator of the venture was Julia Hiltrop (32) who is currently working in Florence and is not keen to spend all her life in an office. Together with Adil Sbai (31) and his exceptionally well developed talent for organisation, they formed the core for this ultimate endurance kick, which brings together such very different characters and talents. Sofia “Soffa” Wieczorek (26) fits in very well because she is passionate about driving. She also happened to grow up with a father who liked tinkering with cars. She works hard on the press side of things as well to ensure good communication across the world. Sebastian “Basti” Schulz (30) got to know the 5 Series BMW as a child on the back seat of his parents’ car. He is going to take care of filming and photography because what is the point of an unforgettable adventure trip like this without great pictures? Meanwhile Andreas Zachai (28) is more the quiet type and as a musician he will keep spirits up with evening entertainment around the camp fire. He is also indispensable as a talented DIY enthusiast and technie. Finally, there’s Regina Herz (29), who immediately fell in love with the BMW 5 Series Touring when it was purchased. After all, it has now graduated to become a young classic and she is already suffering at the thought of having to part with it at the destination. The talented designer also crafted the team logo that embellishes the cars.

The automobiles: BMW 520i touring as a perfect partner for the rally.

The elegant Touring featuring a rear window that can be opened separately is reckoned to be extremely tough, comfortable and excellent for long distances. Kilometrage way in excess of 300,000 km is by no means unusual for the 6-cylinder BMW 520i touring. Last but not least, the size and the large number of cars on the market make this the perfect candidate for this kind of rally.

The first BMW 5 Series Touring (E34) was launched in 1991 and was immediately positioned as an innovative high-tech vehicle in the upper mid-range segment. The automobile followed on from the BMW 3 Series Touring (E30) in 1987 as the second BMW Touring and established a unique position in the marketplace with its combination of dynamic performance, innovative engineering and generous space. It provided a convincing package with harmonious and sporting design, high body stiffness and a lot of clever solutions in the detail. Nearly 31,000 units were produced, making the BMW 520i touring the second most popular model after the BMW 525tds. From May 1990, the M50 engine was enhanced to 4-valve technology and generated 150 hp in the 520i to provide perfectly adequate driving performance in this guise.

The preparations of the “5ever” private team are being supported with advice and assistance from the experienced mechanics and professionals at BMW Group Classic. After all, the search for suitable vehicles is already the first challenge since the task is to find an automobile in the low price segment up to 1,500 euros. We are therefore providing the team with advice on the purchase and assisting them with preparing the cars for the journey. The drivers will also have the opportunity to gain some practical experience with the modern classics at BMW Driving Experience so that they are able to take on the rally with confidence.

Vehicle purchase, workshop and improved driving skills: proactive support from the BMW Group.

The private team “5ever” was supported by experienced mechanics and skilled professionals at BMW Group Classic when they purchased the vehicles. Advice and assistance was also at hand in preparing the automobiles for the rigours of an endurance rally. After all, the search for suitable vehicles is already a key challenge since the task is to find an automobile in the low price segment up to 1,500 euros. After the team had looked at promising 5 Series Touring automobiles on the relevant used-car websites, they were supported by a BMW Group Classic mechanic on the ground when they went to assess the cars. Since most of the team members only had limited experience in purchasing used cars, they were very glad to receive advice from a professional.

Later on, a thorough check-up was carried out in the workshop of BMW Group Classic. This included the necessary service work. The team members were also given a short course on taking care of breakdowns so that they also had the skills to cope with difficulties on the journey. The absolute highpoint for the preparations included special driver training at BMW Driving Experience in Maisach. Marco Wittmann won the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) twice and he gave the team exclusive tips about taking evasive manoeuvres, emergency braking and drifting – in current and classic BMW 5 Series automobiles. In particular, “drifting” was completely new to most of the team members. A great deal of adrenalin ensured happy faces and high spirits.

You can follow all the preparations for the “5ever” team on the following channels:

BMW Group.

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupView

BMW Group Classic.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BMW.Classic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupClassic

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

BMW Classic#heart: http://www.bmwgroup-classic-heart.com/de/bmw-classic-blog/

Team 5ever.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/5ever017/

Website: https://5ever.blog/

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

E-Mail: presse@bmw.de

If you have any questions, please contact:

Florian Moser, Press Spokesman BMW 1 Series and BMW 2 Series

Tel.: +49-89-382-62847

Email: florian.moser@bmwgroup.com

Benjamin Voß, BMW Group Classic, Press Communication and Events

Tel.: +49-89-382-16362

Email: benjamin.voss@bmw.de

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

Email: presse@bmw.de

Munich/Monte Carlo. The winning car seemed to be absolutely minute, but the cheering was epic. Relief, pride, and a certain amount of satisfaction mingled with enthusiasm when Finnish driver Rauno Aaltonen steered a BMC Competition Departement Mini Cooper S across the finishing line as overall winner of the 36th Monte Carlo Rally on 20 January back in 1967. This was already the Mini’s third triumph in Monaco after the victories in 1964 and 1965. Yet the win also had particularly symbolic power. The year before, the driver of the little British car believed it had secured a win for the third race in succession but the Mini was then disqualified by the race officials in a decision that drivers and fans alike still find difficult to comprehend even today. The empathy felt by the race-going spectators for the David in the field of high-powered Goliaths actually increased as a result of this outcome. And thanks to Aaltonen’s driving skills, the classic Mini had now delivered the appropriate riposte.

Up until today, the three title wins gained in the Monte Carlo Rally have defined the quintessential sporting cachet enjoyed by the brand. These successes were highlighted at the production anniversary held at the MINI plant in Oxford and at the debut of the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman. And even the MINI John Cooper Works Rally developed for the Dakar Rally – the ultimate endurance test in the modern world – continues to reflect the glory of the three-times “Monte” winner. The fascination remains unbroken and this continues to be the case on the 50^th anniversary of the victory that ultimately transformed the classic Mini into a motor-sport legend.

Rauno Aaltonen has decided to celebrate the anniversary in a way dear to his own heart. He will be getting into the cockpit of a classic Mini, taking on the hardships of a drive to Monaco over a distance of nearly 1 250 kilometres, and steering the diminutive British car up and down the steep mountain roads through France’s Maritime Alps, looking for the perfect braking point on icy surfaces. This is where average drivers in modern cars today can’t even identify the second or third best braking point. In short, just a few weeks after his 79^th birthday, Aaltonon will be competing in the Monte Carlo Rally Historique 2017. And he muses out loud as to how great it would be if he were to win the race again, 50 years after his great triumph, and stand once more on the winners’ podium at Port Hercule in Monaco.

The classic Mini is ready to go, the team is in the starting blocks and the “road book” is complete.

Aaltonen’s sporting ambition has also captured the imagination of BMW Group Classic. It is sending a special MINI CLASSIC Rallye Team along to line up at the start of the 20^th edition of the traditional competition and relive the glory days of the “Monte” in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.  The team has prepared the ideal car for the Finnish driver – a Mini Cooper S that already competed in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1965 and has now been completely rebuilt by Swedish company Söderqvist Engineering. They have brought it up to competition standard. CEO of the company Hans-Åke Söderqvist and his son are part of the service team, alongside Swedish driver Stig Blomqvist, Rally World Champion in 1984, and Phil Anning from British company Swiftune Engineering, which has been involved in the development and production of racing engines for the classic Mini for more than 50 years. Ten sets of spiked wheels will be in the baggage. They were specially produced in Finland for the 10 inch wheels of the classic Mini and then painstakingly finished by hand.

Like the team and the classic Mini, Aaltonen has also made meticulous preparations. In December, the Finnish driver surveyed the entire route in a brand new MINI Cooper S Clubman in order to write a complete “road book”. The memories of the winning drive back in 1967 came flooding back with every curve and on each climb. But a seasoned old hand is not going to rely on memories alone. His meticulous approach earned him the nickname of “Rally Professor” all those decades ago, and he recorded all the important details about the route. Aaltonen also has an experienced co-driver at his side. Hans Sylvan (72) from Sweden took on the role of co-driver looking after navigation and timing. Sylvan has also competed in the “Monte” several times and he enjoyed a successful career over many years with Stig Blomqvist.

From Bad Homburg to Monaco – and that is just the warm-up.

The “Monte” has been hailed as the most spectacular and toughest racing competition of its kind for decades. There are innumerable legendary tales about the marathon stages at the start of the race, icy roads over mountain passes, snow storms coming out of nowhere and the “Night of the Long Knives” at the high mountain pass Col de Turini. In 1998, the organisers at the Automobile Club de Monaco created a new edition for historic automobiles to celebrate the legendary status of the event. The rally is always held some two weeks after the actual race and emulates the original rally with the first leg held as a star rally. This year, seven European cities serve as star points. On Friday 27 January 2017, Aaltonen and Sylvan will start off in Bad Homberg on the route to Monaco. There they will drive the first leg to Valence. The race then continues with a round trip and return to Monte Carlo, followed by the final night drive on 31 January.

Only vehicles of the type that were able to line up at the start of the Monte Carlo Rally between 1955 and 1980 are permitted to take part. There are no such restrictions for the drivers. However, relevant experience of the rally is not likely to be a disadvantage. Nevertheless, nobody in the current field of starters can possibly have enjoyed such a wealth of intensive, diverse and ultimately also successful knowledge of the “Monte” as Rauno Aaltonen.

The passionate start was followed by a class victory.

At the end of 1961, the Finn has just become national rally champion in his home country and he was then on the look-out for a vehicle to take on the challenge of the “Monte”. He struck lucky with the works team of the British Motor Corporation. Aaltonen debuted together with the Mini Cooper, which proved to be extremely competitive from the outset in contrast to the less powerful previous model. However, the promising liaison almost came to a tragic end. Three kilometres before the finishing line, the car was in second place when it came off the road, turned a somersault and then went up in flames. Aaltonen and his co-driver Geoff Mabbs were able to get out of the car at the last minute. After this dramatic opening gambit, Aaltonen returned to line up at the start driving the Mini Cooper in 1963. This time he finished the Monte Carlo Rally as class winner and third in the overall placings.

In the following year, the Irish driver Paddy Hopkirk drove the classic Mini to its first overall victory. Aaltonen achieved seventh place. The era of the “Three Musketeers” started at the “Monte” in 1964 – Aaltonen and Hopkirk were joined by Finnish driver Timo Mäkinen to make up the trio. In 1965, Mäkinen achieved the second overall victory in the classic Mini in a drive without earning any penalty points, while his fellow countryman was not included in the placings after he had to take time out. This was an unsatisfactory start to the year for Aaltonen, although he succeeded once more in taking the national champion’s title in Finland and went on to achieve overall victory in the European Rally Championship.

Successful trio: The “Three Musketeers”.

The “Three Musketeers” had their strongest outing at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1966. Timo Mäkinen, Rauno Aaltonen and Paddy Hopkirk dominated the race right from the start. At the end of the race, they were ranked one to three in that order for the overall placings. But the joy of a hat trick for the classic Mini was exceptionally brief. The trio of drivers was subsequently disqualified because of lights that were supposedly not in compliance with the official regulations according to the French race officials.

One year later, the consternation about this decision had melded into steadfast determination. 1967 sounded the hour of the third “Musketeer” in the Monte Carlo Rally. Altonen and his co-driver Henry Liddon, who had previously been in the winning car alongside Paddy Hopkirk in 1964, were the fastest pair of the BMC Team and they were in a very promising position at the start of the “Night of the Long Knives”. The race was decided on the Col de Turini in driving snow. And as Aaltonen was to relate only many years later, fast cornering almost brought about the same outcome as at his “Monte” debut five years earlier. This was because the Mini Cooper S accidentally took off when the descent down the mountain became too adventurous. The car then crashed through the undergrowth and to the surprise of the crew they suddenly found themselves back on the road again. Aaltonen and Liddon took a deep breath and drove the car to a successful finish.

Rauno Altonen wants to take a more measured approach to racing in the new edition of the race 50 years later. The Monte Carlo Rally Historique is being staged as a reliability rally. This means that low speeds and excessively high speeds can be punished with penalty points. Aaltonen and Sylvan are also starting the race in the class of “Low Average Speed”. They are therefore relying on routine and precision. And they are looking for victory, as a very special detail indicates. Their classic Mini bears the start number 177. This is the exact sequence of figures that became a lucky number for the winning car in 1967.

Munich. 2016 marks the 30th anniversary of a motoring icon, one which revolutionised the mid-size sports car segment when its production started in 1986. The very first BMW M3 set a new standard by which other carmakers would be measured – and, five model generations later, are still judged today. BMW Motorsport Division, the precursor to BMW M Division, was incredibly rigorous in its deployment of undiluted motor racing technology in the development of the first-generation BMW M3. Its endeavours produced a thoroughbred high-performance sports car – based on the series-produced BMW 3 Series – that was perfectly suited to daily use. Over the three decades that have followed, BMW M has gently refined its trailblazing and highly successful creation from one generation to the next, while always taking great care to preserve the original character of the M3. The upshot is that there is arguably still no other car that blends such prominently honed motor sport genes and uncompromised everyday practicality into such an emotionally stirring overall package.

The 30th anniversary of the BMW M3 provides an ideal opportunity to look back at four highly intriguing model variants that, for various reasons, never made it past the prototype stage. Four surprise guests will therefore be attending their progenitor’s birthday party: the BMW M3 Pickup from 1986, the BMW M3 Compact from 1996, the BMW M3 Touring from 2000 and the second incarnation of the BMW M3 Pickup unveiled in 2011.

Use in touring car racing was the overriding development objective for the first-generation BMW M3.
The BMW M3 was not an attempt to produce a sporting flagship for a volume-produced model range; instead it originated from the idea of developing a racing car for motor sport that would also be available in a road-going version. The selected category of racing was Group A production touring cars – as seen in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) that had succeeded the German Racing Championship (DRM). The Group A regulations stated that for a racing car to be homologated, at least 5,000 road-legal units had to be sold within 12 months.

Having the chance to develop the production and race versions of the car alongside one another presented the development team with a tremendous opportunity, which they duly capitalised on. The axle kinematics, suspension and damping were all perfectly tailored to the future demands of motor racing, as was the braking system, which combined the standard ABS with inner-vented brake discs at the front and an engine-driven high-pressure pump. Details such as the transmission’s shift pattern with first gear at the bottom left also gave a clear indication of the vehicle’s singular focus on racing.

On top of this came extensive weight-saving measures. While the body with broad wheel arches was manufactured from sheet metal in the traditional manner, the front and rear bumpers along with the side skirts, boot lid and spoiler were made of plastic, reflecting the engineers’ commitment to intelligent lightweight construction. The BMW Motorsport experts tweaked the car’s aerodynamics too, with the C-pillar of the BMW M3 following a slightly shallower angle than the standard body and having a broader base. This allowed the airflow to be directed towards the distinctive rear spoiler more effectively.

Extensive use of high tech in the powertrain, too.
The experts at the Motorsport department used the two-litre four-cylinder engine fitted in series-production models as the basis for the M3’s unit, as the low weight of its construction and its high-revving capabilities meant it had exactly the right ingredients for a racing engine. To transform the well-mannered everyday engine into an athletic performer with sports car credentials, however, they had to subject it to some intensive power therapy.

First, they increased its displacement to 2.3 litres and converted it to a four-valve arrangement. For this purpose, the team employed a suitably modified cylinder head taken from the six-cylinder engine featured in the BMW M1, whose combustion chambers were – conveniently enough – spaced exactly the same distance apart as the four-cylinder unit’s. The crank drive on the BMW M3 was designed to be so rigid that it could handle 10,000 revolutions per minute and more. The standard production car’s rated engine speed of 6,750 rpm therefore left plenty of margin for further evolutions of the motor sport off-shoot.

From sporting machine to heavy-duty transporter: the BMW M3 Pickup (1986).
When the first generation of the BMW M3 was brought out, it wasn’t just customers who were enthralled by its exceptional dynamic abilities. It also caused quite a stir within the BMW Motorsport department responsible for its development, who saw it as the perfect means of transporting work equipment and parts around the premises of what is now BMW M Division in Garching near Munich. The only problem was that goods transport didn’t figure very highly on the list of the first BMW M3’s many talents.

It didn’t take long to remedy the situation, the body of a BMW 3 Series Convertible being transformed into a BMW M3 Pickup. “The convertible bodyshell was chosen as the basis for two reasons,” recalls Jakob Polschak, head of vehicle prototype building and workshops at BMW M Division and an employee at the company for more than 40 years. “Firstly, we happened to have such a model at our disposal and in perfect condition. And secondly, the convertible’s built-in bracing made it the ideal choice for a pickup conversion.”

The first BMW M3 Pickup did not sport the original’s boldly flared wings, as it was equipped with the narrower body of its regular, volume-produced sibling. At first it was powered by the engine fitted in the so-called “Italian M3”, which had a reduced two-litre displacement due to tax regulations there and an output of 192 hp. “Later we switched to the original 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine with 200 horsepower,” reveals Polschak. The BMW M3 Pickup went about its work around the factory premises reliably for over 26 years before finally being retired four years ago.

The BMW M3 Pickup’s long service life alone is clear evidence that the one-off versions being presented here are not mere gimmicks or engineering exercises. On the contrary, they are high-performance cars that have been optimised to perfectly match their intended task or field of use. As such, they epitomise the philosophy of BMW M. Plus, they also fulfilled another important purpose: “Our apprentices, graduate trainees and placement students assisted in the construction of all of these prototypes,” explains Polschak. “This allowed them to gain invaluable hands-on experience at the same time as freeing up resources for us – a classic win-win situation.”

A starter model for young target groups: the BMW M3 Compact (1996).
The same was also true of the 1996 BMW M3 Compact, of course. The idea behind this model was to present younger customers, in particular, with an entry point into the world of BMW M cars. “To a certain extent, the M3 Compact can be regarded as the forefather of today’s BMW M2,” remarks the BMW M workshop chief with a twinkle in the eye, and it’s easy to see why he draws the comparison. If it had gone into production, the M3 engine’s power would in all likelihood have been lowered somewhat. In the prototype, however, it was allowed to unleash its full 321 hp, which made easy work of propelling a lightweight car (it tipped the scales at just 1.3 tonnes). “It is 150 kilograms lighter, more agile, firmer and even more uncompromising,” enthused German motoring magazine “auto motor und sport” (issue no. 13/1996) after testing it.

A feasibility study under real-world conditions: the BMW M3 Touring (2000).
The BMW M3 Touring prototype likewise materialised because a production model was under consideration. The M3 Compact was made available to journalists for testing in order to both project an image and sound out customer interest. But the M3 Touring served entirely in-house purposes. “This prototype allowed us to show that, from a purely technical standpoint at least, it was possible to integrate an M3 Touring into the ongoing production of the standard BMW 3 Series Touring with very little difficulty,” explains Jakob Polschak. “One important thing we needed to demonstrate was that the rear doors of the standard production model could be reworked to adapt them to the rear wheel arches without the need for new and expensive tools.” Once it had passed through the assembly line, the M3 Touring required only minimal manual follow-up work to fit the M-specific add-on parts and interior details, for example.

History repeats itself: the BMW M3 Pickup (2011).
Once the first-generation BMW M3 Pickup described above eventually started to show the first serious signs of wear after around a quarter of a century of service, it was time for a successor. As with the original, those responsible for its creation again opted for a convertible body due to the existing strengthening elements. “The conversion work had initially proceeded in the usual, largely unspectacular manner during the spring of 2011. But then someone came up with the idea of marketing the vehicle as an April Fools’ joke, as April 1 was just around the corner,” recounts Polschak. To prime the public, spy shots of calibration runs on the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit emerged in the run-up to the day, which served to fuel speculation about plans to build a production model.

And it worked. Reports from the time show that a good many journalists and bloggers took the bait and believed the rumours. Even the official press release published on 1 April 2011 did not immediately set matters straight, first presenting the BMW M3 Pickup as the “fourth body variant” following the Sedan, Coupe and Convertible, before going on to say: “309 kW/420 hp under the bonnet and a payload capacity of 450 kilograms over the rear axle take the BMW M models’ hallmark blend of racing-style driving pleasure and everyday practicality to a whole new level.” It also pointed out that the Cd was only marginally higher than that of the BMW M3 Coupe, the car was 50 kilograms lighter than the Convertible and the 20-kilogram targa roof could be removed to further lower the centre of gravity and therefore deliver even sharper handling dynamics.

It wasn’t until the final paragraph that the press release discreetly revealed the model in question was actually a one-off built for use as a workshop transport vehicle. Unlike its predecessor, however, it had also been licensed for road use.

The BMW M3: a sporting icon and dynamic benchmark for five generations.
30 years ago almost to the day production began of the first series-produced BMW M3s. This represented the opening chapter in a story of success which has no equal in the automotive world. The 2.3-litre four-cylinder unit with four-valve technology produced 147 kW/200 hp and accelerated the M3, which weighed just 1,200 kilograms, from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 6.7 seconds. Top speed was 235 km/h (146 mph). In 1988 the Evo version was unveiled, with power increased once again to 220 hp and its top speed to 243 km/h (151 mph). And this was followed in 1990 by the final development stage of the first-generation M3: the BMW M3 Sport Evolution with 238 hp 2.5-litre engine, produced in a limited run of 600 examples.

The second generation of the BMW M3 – not developed specifically for use in motor sport this time – was a much more understated affair. Unveiled in 1992, its six-cylinder engine developed 210 kW/286 hp from three-litre displacement and peak torque of 320 Newton metres (236 lb-ft). It also featured the innovative new camshaft control system VANOS. The new model set two world records – for the highest output per litre (97 hp/l) and the highest specific torque (108 Nm (80 lb-ft)/l) produced by a volume-produced naturally-aspirated engine.

An extensive facelift in 1995 saw the displacement of the six-cylinder in-line engine increased from 2,990 to 3,201cc, with output rising to 236 kW/321 hp. Added to which, the new engine also employed Double-VANOS, which brings fully variable camshaft control on both the intake and exhaust sides. In summer 1996 the BMW M3 became the first series-produced car to be offered with the option of an SMG automated manual gearbox.

Featuring an aluminium bonnet with powerdome, prominently flared wheel arches, an aerodynamically optimised boot lid with rear spoiler lip and four tailpipes exiting the dual-flow exhaust system, the third-generation BMW M3 unveiled in 2000 cut an extremely eye-catching figure once more. Power again came courtesy of a naturally-aspirated six-cylinder in-line engine. The completely newly developed unit developed output of 252 kW/343 hp from its 3,246 cc and peak torque of 365 Newton metres (269 lb-ft).

Instead of being equipped with a straight-six engine, like the two previous generations of the car, the fourth incarnation of the BMW M3 presented in 2007 was powered by a high-revving, naturally-aspirated V8 developing 309 kW/420 hp. Among the extensive intelligent lightweight design measures employed were the carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof fitted as standard and a front axle made almost entirely from aluminium.

The current (fifth) generation of the BMW M3 was introduced in spring 2014. In keeping with the change in nomenclature for BMW’s series-produced models, only the four-door sedan is badged “M3”, while the coupe and the convertible variants were given the model designation M4. In all three body variants, a free-revving straight-six engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology and 317 kW/431 hp provides the power. Rigorously applied intelligent lightweight design elements include the extensive use of lightweight materials such as CFRP and aluminium for many chassis and body components. All of which has shaved around 80 kilograms off the weight of its predecessor.

This summer, BMW M Division released an exclusive special-edition model – limited to 500 units worldwide – as a special tribute to the successful 30-year history of the BMW M3. With its Macao Blue metallic exterior paint finish, the BMW M3 “30 Jahre M3” harks back to the first generation of car, for which this colour shade was first offered. The Competition Package, which is included as standard and comprises extensive powertrain and suspension modifications, pushes the engine output of the anniversary model up by 14 kW/19 hp to 331 kW/450 hp.

BMW and motor sport – these two concepts belong together. A shining example of this integration is provided by the BMW 02 Series, which was launched in 1966. This model was extremely popular with lots of BMW fans, and various versions have achieved an incredible number of motor-sport successes. The Historic Grand Prix Zandvoort is consequently an absolute priority for celebrating “50 years of BMW 2002”. BMW has therefore created the “BMW Centenary Trophy: BMW 2002 meets BMW 3.0 CSL” as an accolade to this heritage. This is a race between the BMW 2002 and an equally high-performing contemporary automobile, the successful BMW 3.0 CSL. You can look forward to a starting field with around twenty-five racing cars, including some seventeen 2002 automobiles.

BMW has also invited a number of motor-sport legends to this very special race. Prinz Leopold von Bayern and Harald Grohs are iconic BMW drivers who played an active role in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM). Jan Lammers and Michael Bleekemolen took part in various races including the legendary BMW M1 Procar championships, which featured in the warm-up programme for Formula 1 in 1979 and 1980. Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design and project manager responsible for the two BMW hommage cars, is competing in his own BMW 2002 TISA, which he has already driven in the Historic Grand Prix Zandvoort.

The “BMW Centenary Trophy: BMW 2002 meets BMW 3.0 CSL” will take place on the Saturday as a 30 minute race. A presentation lasting half an hour is planned for the Sunday.

Special warm-up laps

The race will be launched on the Saturday with two special warm-up laps. Apart from the BMW M6 Safety Car from the Zandvoort Circuit Park, the field will be led by two striking duos: the BMW Group Classic BMW 2002 together with the BMW 2002 Hommage and the BMW Group Classic 3.0 CSL together with the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R. This represents a unique experience when two exceptional concept cars like the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R and the BMW 2002 Hommage can be admired together alongside each other. These modern interpretations of two legendary classics will be presented in the Tango Paddock near the Tarzan Corner. This is also the location of the drivers’ paddock for the BMW 2002 and 3.0 CSL racing cars. Moreover, you will have the opportunity of seeing some of BMW’s stars giving interviews here. All the BMW 2002 and 3.0 CSL automobiles will also be in action during the drivers’ parade through the streets of Zandvoort on Saturday 3 September from around 19.30.

Entry from twenty euros

Entry tickets for the Historic Grand Prix Zandvoort are available in advance starting at twenty euros. This includes a day ticket and access to the drivers’ paddock. An entry ticket for three days is available for just forty euros. Children between five and twelve years old are entitled to a fifty percent discount in the company of an adult. Entry for very small children is free of charge.

Munich. The glittering comeback is now following one of the most spectacular classic-car discoveries of recent times. The BMW 507 was driven by US musician Elvis Presley, famous already at that time as the “King of Rock’n’Roll”, while he was doing his military service in Germany. After that it disappeared for nearly 50 years and was believed to have been lost before returning to the limelight. After almost two years of exacting restoration work, BMW Group Classic is presenting the roadster for the first time in a public arena. Restored to its original condition, it will be exhibited on 21 August 2016 at the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, California. The BMW 507 with chassis number 70079 will be on view for visitors to the popular classic car show exactly as it was when soldier Elvis Presley took delivery of the car on 20 December 1958: with paintwork finished in Feather White, the 150 hp V8 aluminium engine under the bonnet, centre-lock rims, black-and-white interior and a Becker Mexico radio.

“The opportunity to bring back the BMW 507 owned by the King of Rock’n’Roll to us here in Munich for purposes of restoration in accordance with the wishes of the previous owner, Jack Castor, was a dream come true for all those involved,” commented Ulrich Knieps, Head of BMW Group Classic. “This was an exceptionally fascinating project. The outcome is not simply a source of great pride to us. Jack would undoubtedly have been delighted by the outcome.” In the summer of 2014, the exhibition of the unrestored discovery at the BMW Museum generated a great deal of excitement among classic car enthusiasts, but it also threw up questions: Was this really once Elvis’ BMW 507? And will it even be possible to transform this roadster back into a jewel of the 1950s?

From “Return to Sender” into “It’s Now or Never”.

The condition of the two-seater really was a cause for concern. Although the original body parts and other components were virtually all present and intact, the roadster had lost its engine and gearbox. The rear axle was a “replacement part” of unknown origin, rust was eating away the floor assembly, the seats were worn and there was no instrument panel. However, the fascination of a rare and beguilingly beautiful automobile outweighed all the inadequacies and deficiencies, augmented by the memory of Elvis Presley and his greatest hits. While the roadster came back to Munich under the slogan of “Return to Sender”, the solution was undoubtedly “It’s Now or Never”. A project managed by BMW Group Classic succeeded in restoring the automobile. In-house experts and external specialists joined forces to carry out the work and the result defined new benchmarks for the restoration of a BMW 507.

Looking back on the process, the story of Elvis’ BMW 507 and its restoration is pure Rock’n’Roll: as captivating as the swinging hips of the “King”, energy sapping, an emotional roller-coaster, and full of surprising twists and turns. This is not simply a tale about the young GI Elvis Presley. It is also about the experienced “hillclimb champion” Hans Stuck, kissable lips daubed on white paint, a retired space engineer and a warehouse for pumpkins, a Chevy engine that was much too big, rubberised coconut mats and door handles printed in a 3D process. And the story already began three years before the “King” started military service with the US Army stationed in Hesse, Southern Germany.

Myth among rarities: The BMW 507 of the “King”.

The BMW 507 has always been one of the most exclusive and sought-after rarities in the model history of the brand with just 254 automobiles being produced between 1955 and 1959. Right after its world premiere at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in 1955, the two-seater penned by designer Albrecht Graf Goertz was hailed in the press as the “Dream from the Isar”. Celebrity owners like Alain Delon, Ursula Andress and John Surtees contributed to the image of the roadster as a status symbol. However, no other automobile of this model is shrouded in mythology like the BMW 507 once owned by Elvis Presley. This particular roadster was believed to have been lost for almost five decades. In fact, there was not even certainty about the chassis number of the car driven by the “King”. There were also doubts about whether Elvis Presley had ever transported the car back to the USA after he finished his military service in Germany, and nobody knew anything about the subsequent ownership of the car.

All these puzzles have now been solved thanks to the experts at the BMW Group Classic Archives and American journalist Jackie Jouret, who works for “Bimmer” magazine in California. In 2006, she was already searching through contemporary reports for Elvis’ BMW 507 and relevant literature going into the history of this model. During the course of her work, she uncovered an essential detail. Various sources highlighted the fact that the BMW 507 delivered to Elvis Presley in Germany was not a brand new automobile but had previously been used by racing driver Hans Stuck. Between May and August 1958, the racing driver known as the “Hillclimb Champion” won a number of hillclimbs in Germany, Austria and Switzerland – in a white BMW 507 with chassis number 70079 and registration plate M–JX 800. It is also a known fact verified by photographs that this roadster rolled off the assembly line on 13 September 1957. A few days later, it was exhibited at the Frankfurt International Motor Show and repeatedly used for test drives by the press. As early as October 1957, Hans Stuck presented the car at the London Motor Show and then drove the roadster through Belgium, where he presented it to King Baudouin, before motoring down to the Turin Motor Show. And as if that were not enough, in the summer of 1958, Stuck’s BMW 507 won the automobile beauty competition in Wiesbaden and then played a role in the Bavaria film studio for the feature film “Hula-Hopp Conny” with Cornelia Froboess and Rudolf Vogel.

This vehicle had been carefully serviced at BMW after every race, the engine had been upgraded and a new gearbox fitted when it ended up with a dealer in Frankfurt in the autumn of 1958. The young US soldier Presley was 23 at the time, and he came along and took it out on a test drive for a spin. The “King” was immediately impressed by it and decided to buy the car. Photos taken at the time show that export licence plates had already been fitted to the BMW 507. Later on it was given a registration from the US military that changed every year. This was part of the reason why subsequent identification of the vehicle proved to be complicated later on. The experts from the BMW Group Classic Archives were only absolutely certain about its provenance when they came across the insurance proposal from December 1958 which contained the chassis number 70079 alongside registration of the keeper of the vehicle as Elvis Aaron Presley.

Pampered in Germany, radically modified in the USA.

Elvis Presley used the BMW 507 to drive between his home in Bad Nauheim and the US Army Base in Friedberg. His female fans always kept a close eye on him and he was often mobbed by them. The paintwork of the roadster was frequently daubed with messages of love painted in lipstick. These signs of adoration were by no means unusual for a rock star but they were an embarrassment to Presley as a young US soldier. A new livery in Red for the vehicle solved the problem.

In March 1960, Elvis Presley ended his military service in Germany. Back on American highways, he must have abandoned sheer driving pleasure in an open-top BMW since a few months later he traded in the red roadster bearing chassis number 70079 with a Chrysler dealer in New York. The dealer in turn sold the car for the ridiculously low price from today’s perspective of 4 500 dollars to radio moderator Tommy Charles. Charles took the automobile to his home town of Birmingham in the state of Alabama where a very successful racing career began, although this move was very questionable when it came to the issue of authenticity. The BMW 507 was fitted with a Chevrolet engine in preparation for action on the race track. This took up so much space that parts of the front frame carrier had to be cut out. The gearbox and the rear axle, and the instruments in the cockpit were replaced. Charles won a race in Daytona Beach/Florida with the radically modified roadster and he lined up on the starting grid in several more competitions before selling the vehicle in the course of 1963.

Two more changes of ownership followed and the BMW 507 then went to California. Space engineer Jack Castor acquired the car in 1968 and he used it occasionally as a runabout for everyday use before deciding to put the car into storage for a subsequent restoration. Castor was a passionate collector of historic bicycles and over the years he also amassed an impressive collection of classic automobiles in Half Moon Bay to the south of San Francisco. He got involved with several classic car clubs and delved into the history of the vehicles he had acquired.

The “Holy Grail” in the pumpkin warehouse.

Castor also put together a comprehensive dossier on his BMW 507. Meanwhile, the engineer had gone into retirement and one day he happened to see the article in “Bimmer” magazine. Castor wrote to the author, told her about the BMW 507 with chassis number 70079 that he owned and invited her over to look at the vehicle. He was aware that he was the owner of the racing car driven by “hillclimb champion” Hans Stuck, but up to then he had only been able to speculate about a potential connection with Elvis. However, Jackie Jouret was absolutely certain about this issue. She accompanied Jack Castor to a warehouse for pumpkins where the red BMW 507 was stored alongside other venerable vehicles. “Jack had tied down its engine bonnet with ropes,” recalled the journalist when she looked back on the moment of discovery. “It took some time until we actually got the engine compartment open and identified the stamped chassis number: 70079, the Holy Grail among BMW numbers.”

Jack Castor had already collected a large number of parts carefully stowed in boxes for the planned restoration of the roadster to its original condition. What he lacked was an appropriate engine and the necessary time to see the project through. However, things then started to happen. Jackie Jouret set up the contact with BMW Group Classic where new information about the identity of the BMW 507 used by Elvis Presley in Germany was being gathered. This allowed the facts that had been researched in the USA to be confirmed.

Jack Castor was not interested in making a fast buck out of the unexpected additional fame of his BMW 507. However, the contact with BMW Group Classic was strengthened. After several years and a number of discussions with the experts for restoring classic cars at BMW Group Classic, Klaus Kutscher and Axel Klinger-Köhnlein, an agreement was reached. Alongside the purchase of the vehicle by BMW Group Classic, it also included the authentic restoration of the car along the lines envisaged by Castor.

By container to the museum – and from there into the workshop.

The time had come in the spring of 2014. The BMW 507 was shipped to Germany in a container, together with the spare parts collected by Castor. The first stop in Munich was the BMW Museum where the roadster was presented to an admiring audience in the special exhibition “Elvis’ BMW 507 – lost and found”. Work then began on restoration in the workshop of BMW Group Classic.

As was usual for projects of this nature, phase one was primarily destructive in nature. The vehicle was completely dismantled, a process which in this special case took an entire week, rather than the two days that had been originally planned. Initially, the aluminium body was separated from the floor assembly made of sheet steel. This was the only way of retaining as much of the original material as possible. The paint was then removed from the floor assembly in an acid bath and from the body in an alkaline bath. The engine had already been removed and the remnants of the interior that remained had been set aside.

A lot of components had to be remanufactured from scratch because the stocks of original parts for the BMW 507 are limited even at BMW Group Classic. Traditional craftsmanship in the style of the 1950s was melded with high-tech production procedures of the modern world. The instrument panel was newly cast on the basis of the original. The leather upholstery was created to precisely match the pattern shown in old photographs and catalogues. When the seats were reconstructed, it proved possible to use the original steel subframe for the seats after all the rust had carefully been removed. A rubberised coconut mat was then drawn over the steel springs. This natural material was already being used in the 1950s for series production of the BMW 507, alongside the overlaid felt and linen layers to make the seats as comfortable as possible. Window winders and door handles were remanufactured in an advanced, modern 3D printing process based on the original dimensions. After producing a digital data set by three-dimensional scan of the original part, a facsimile was generated with the help of additive manufacturing and mirror finished afterwards. By contrast, the rubber seal for the tank cover was reproduced in a conventional manufacturing procedure. Since this component like many others in the BMW 507 had fallen prey to the ravages of time, a small series was produced. This means that roadster users are now able to source this spare part in the parts shop of BMW Group Classic.

The BMW 507 makes a comeback – it’s just like the car Hans Stuck drove, the one Elvis purchased, and this is the way Jack Castor wanted it.

The engine for Elvis’ BMW 507 was completely rebuilt from spare parts. The 3.2 litre V8 engine was reconditioned precisely in conformity with the original specifications of the BMW 507, but it was not given an engine number on account of the unavoidable but otherwise unusual use of old and new components. The front frame carrier, which had been cut down at an early stage, also had to be reproduced in its original geometry and integrated in the floor assembly. The wooden nailing strip for fixing the soft top in place was also reproduced using materials and processing methods in keeping with the 1950s.

Maximum authenticity was also the objective in painting the vehicle. The BMW 507 is now resplendent once again in Feather White. The primer coat, the filler and the top coat were not applied by the methods that are commonplace today. Rather, they were implemented in a procedure that corresponds to the technology in use some 60 years ago. This enabled the excessive colour brilliance to be avoided which is considered desirable nowadays but is inappropriate for classic cars.

Similar to the reconstruction of the V8 engine and the use of true-to-original parts and production procedures, the selection of paintwork also corresponds precisely to the conditions defined by Jack Castor. Right from the start, he wanted to restore the roadster to the original condition it was supplied in back in 1958. However, his aspiration to be able to see the BMW 507 through the eyes of the “King” remained unfulfilled. Jack Castor passed away at the age of 77 in November 2014. We will therefore remember him at Pebble Beach. The BMW 507 will be presented there for the first time not simply as the automobile of the “King”, but also as the legacy of Jack Castor and a masterpiece of BMW Group Classic.

Munich. BMW Group Classic has completed the move to its new headquarters located on a historic site. The company archive and the vehicle collection, the workshop and the customer centre together with the parts service for classic automobiles and motorcycles are now located together in an ensemble of buildings in the district of Milbertshofen in Munich. This situates the history of the BMW Group in a new home during the centenary year of the company and at the same time roots it in its historic location. The site at Moosacher Straße 66 measuring around 13,000 square metres includes one of the first production buildings of what was at that time still a fledgling company. It was preserved during the restoration work, as was the heritage gatehouse, which is today a listed building, and now forms the entrance to the history of the BMW Group.

“Now we have everything under one roof and this provides us with the ideal conditions for maintaining our historic heritage,” commented Ulrich Knieps, Head of BMW Group Classic. “We have already been able to manage the first major events like the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the Mille Miglia and the Festival of Speed from our new site. And the event venue has already proved its worth, for example at the press conference to celebrate 100 years of existence of the company.”

The new location for BMW Group Classic also provides a touchpoint for owners and fans of classic vehicles of the brands BMW, MINI und Rolls-Royce with information and services relating to the preservation and care of their automobiles and motorcycles. Vehicles and numerous other exhibits from the comprehensive collection of BMW Group Classic are presented in the historic production hall. The facilities and event spaces created there can also be booked for events. Guided tours are offered to give participants an overview of the new venue and provide information about the history of the company. Café “Mo 66” is open to visitors and gives them a vantage point looking directly into the glass vehicle workshop of the BMW Group Classic Centre.

At its new location, BMW Group Classic has significantly expanded opportunities for staging activities relating to the history of the company and its three brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce. Questions about the history of the company, brands and products are answered in the BMW Group Archives. The teams responsible for communication with the media and for marketing now also carry out their work in the new centre alongside the specialists involved in organising events and exhibitions. The staff of the BMW Group Classic Centre have a long track record of experience, expertise and passion. They work on the preservation and restoration of historic automobiles and motorcycles, and offer support for purchasing or selling a classic vehicle. The offering of BMW Group Classic also includes the loan of classic vehicles and the parts shop. The range of parts offered comprises more than 55 000 items and it is continuously growing. Owners of collectables on four wheels and two will benefit from this supply of original spare parts.