BMW

22nd November 2008 4:00 pm BMW

BMW’s biggest selling model range, the 3 Series, has been voted the most reliable car in a survey of Britain’s vehicle leasing companies. The poll, which covered the reliability history of nearly 900,000 vehicles in 2008, also revealed that BMW was the most reliable manufacturer overall.

In an historic win over the Japanese car manufacturers who traditionally dominate in reliability surveys, BMW topped the charts in this year’s annual FN50 reliability survey. The BMW 3 Series was the most rated model for reliability, with the MINI hatch and BMW 1 Series also making the top ten, sitting fifth and seventh most reliable respectively.

The survey compiled by Fleet News looked at multi-marque leasing companies. 881,000 cars were assessed according to the number of breakdowns per 100 of each type of model on each leasing company’s fleet. Points were then awarded according to the number of times that brands or particular models appeared in the tables supplied by the leasing firms and also for the position in which they were placed.

BMW honoured for EfficientDynamics
News of BMW’s success in the FN50 reliability survey comes swiftly after the marque won a trio of important environmental awards in recognition of its EfficientDynamics technologies.

The Energy Saving Trust staged the 2008 Fleet Hero Awards to idenitify companies that have gone to impressive lengths to cut down on fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. BMW was announced the winner in the ‘Industry supplier’ category for the introduction of EfficientDynamics. Meanwhile, BMW picked up two awards in the GreenFleet Awards 2008. The marque was presented with ‘Car Manufacturer of the Year’ in honour of its innovative engineering solutions to modern day motoring issues and ‘Green Marketing Campaign of the Year’ for its accurate and effective promotion.

FN50 Survey results

Top 10 most reliable manufacturers
1 BMW 3 Series
2 Honda
3 Toyota
4 Ford
5 Volkswagen
6 Mercedes-Benz
7 Audi
8 Lexus
9 Mazda
10 Vauxhall

Top 10 most reliable models
1 BMW
2 Toyota Avensis
3 Honda Accord
4 Volkswagen Golf
5 MINI
6 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
7 BMW 1 Series
8 Honda Civic
9. Ford Focus
10. Audi A4

BMW Group: Market climate significantly deteriorated

16th November 2008 4:00 pm BMW

Munich. The knock-on effects of the international financial crisis and a downturn in the global economy had a significant negative impact on the performance of the automobile industry in the third quarter. Ongoing consumer reticence on the main sales markets, the weak state of the pre-owned car markets together with difficult refinancing conditions also took their toll on the BMW Group, resulting in a perceptible drop in revenues and earnings.

Group revenues for the quarter were down by 8.6% to euro 12,588 million (third quarter 2007: euro 13,778 million). The profit before financial result (EBIT) fell by 60.2% to euro 387 million (third quarter 2007: euro 973 million) reflecting the significant impact of adverse external factors. The pre-tax profit, at euro 279 million (third quarter 2007: euro 765 million), was down by 63.5%. The profit after tax decreased by 62.9% to euro 298 million (third quarter 2007: euro 803 million).

Higher expense for residual value and bad debt risk provision

Nine-month revenues increased marginally to euro 40,425 million (first nine months 2007: euro 40,412 million). EBIT amounted to euro 1,639 million (first nine months 2007: euro 2,904 million/-43.6%) and the profit before tax was euro 1,522 million (first nine months 2007: euro 2,682 million /-43.3%), both below the previous year’s figures. Group net profit fell by 39.7% to euro 1,292 million (first nine months 2007: euro 2,143 million).

In the face of a general reticence to spend by consumers, the ongoing difficulties of the pre-owned car markets and increased bad debt risks, the BMW Group again raised its provision for residual value risks and credit risks during the third quarter. The expense for risk provision was euro 342 million in the third quarter, bringing the total expense recognised in the first nine months of the year to euro 1,037 million. In addition, a further euro 258 million was incurred during the period from January to September in conjunction with previously announced measures to reduce the size of the workforce.

BMW Group will emerge stronger from current difficult situation

“The financial crisis is by no means behind us yet, particularly its impact on the real economy in 2009. The automobile industry is without doubt facing some extreme challenges. However, we need to look at the opportunities such times may bring us. As a strong and innovative company, the BMW Group will overcome the current difficult situation, putting it into an excellent starting position for the future”, stated Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG in Munich on Tuesday.

Due to the worsening of the financial crisis, it is currently impossible to make stable forecasts for the rest of the year and beyond. “Difficult business conditions and the volatile climate on the market mean that it is as good as impossible from today’s perspective to make a reliable prediction of the earning outcome for the financial year 2008. We will, however, achieve a result that is clearly positive”, continued Reithofer. Previously, the BMW Group had forecast a return on sales of at least 4% for the year: this is no longer feasible given the sharp deterioration in market conditions.

The BMW Group forecasts that its worldwide sales volume for the full year will not be as high as the previous year’s record level. In view of the weak state of the global economy, the BMW Group will bring production volumes into line with market demand, and in additional to the 25,000 units already announced, will cut back production for the year by at least a further 40,000 units compared to the original forecasts. The BMW Group has a highly versatile production network with flexible working-time accounts which allow it to “breathe”.

Profitability programme generates operational improvements

A host of efficiency improvement measures are being implemented at great pace on both the cost and the revenues side to enable the BMW Group to rise to future challenges. One important aspect of this is investment in the future, pushing ahead for example with measures such as “EfficientDynamics” and “project I” as part of its strategy Number ONE. The sharper focus on profitability will result, amongst other things, in product decisions being revisited. As a result, the BMW Group will no longer produce a series version of the Concept CS since this vehicle does not meet the internal requirements for rates of return.

The BMW Group has continued to achieve improvements in operational terms during the period under report, even if the general positive trend has been increasingly overshadowed by the impact of adverse external factors (risk provision and severance pay) totalling approximately euro 1.3 billion.

The BMW Group has significantly increased efficiency in the area of research and development, with third-quarter R&D expenditure down by 5.1%. Sales and general administrative costs also fell sharply after adjustment for severance pay expense. Third-quarter cost of sales was reduced by 5.5% despite the higher level of expense recognised in the areas of risk provision, currency and raw materials. This is a clear indication that efficiency improvements are beginning to benefit material and fixed costs.

Discussions are currently being held with the Works Council with a view to achieving a closer link between voluntary payments over and above union-agreed rates and the BMW Group’s financial performance. These negotiations have already resulted in some successes. In view of the expected decrease in company earnings, the employee profit share for the current financial year (which is due for payment in 2009) will be reduced compared to the previous year. The Christmas bonus for the current year will be paid on the old basis. From 2009 onwards, a new basis will be used.

In the light of the increasing effectiveness of its profitability improvement measures as part of the strategy Number ONE, the BMW Group continues to target a group return on sales of at least 6% for the year 2010. This does, however, depend on the markets recovering. For the year 2012, the BMW Group continues to target a return on capital employed (ROCE) in excess of 26% and an EBIT margin of between 8% and 10% for its Automobile segment.

Numerous new models launched

The BMW Group will launch a number of new models in the near future that will provide momentum for business. The revised models of the BMW 3 Series Limousine and the BMW 3 Series Touring have already been available on European markets since the end of September. The new Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé has also been available on the markets since September. The new BMW 7 Series will follow in mid-November. The BMW Group also presented three concept vehicles — the BMW Concept X1, the BMW Concept 7 Series Active Hybrid and the MINI Crossover Concept — at the Automobile Show in Paris. With the BMW X6 Active Hybrid and the BMW 7 Series Active Hybrid, two models employing the highly efficient Active Hybrid technology will be available in series cars from the beginning of the coming year.

Automobiles segment earnings adversely affected by external factors

In addition to model life-cycle factors, the third quarter sales volume performance was perceptibly affected by reduced customer spending in the wake of the financial crisis. The total number of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles delivered to customers decreased by 4.2% to 349,098 units (third quarter 2007: 364,564 units). Sales of BMW brand cars went down by 5.3% to 290,661 units (third quarter 2007: 306,964 units). MINI registered a 1.4% sales volume increase to 58,105 units (third quarter 2007: 57,315 units) despite the forthcoming model change of the Convertible. Rolls-Royce achieved a significant sales volume, with 332 units (third quarter 2007: 285 units) sold.

The number of cars sold in the first nine months of the year edged up by 1.7% to 1,113,972 units (first nine months 2007: 1,094, 849 units). Sales of BMW brand cars, at 928,230 units, were almost at the previous year’s level (929,379/-0.1%). The MINI brand also made good progress, with sales up by 12.1% to 184,915 units (first nine months 2007: 164,891 units). Rolls-Royce handed over 827 units to customers (first nine months 2007: 579 units), 42.8% up on the corresponding period last year.

Third-quarter earnings of the Automobile segment were adversely affected by uncertainties on the part of consumers, the higher expense recognised for residual value risks, currency factors and high raw material prices. EBIT fell by 82.1% to euro 141 million (third quarter 2007: euro 788 million) and the profit before tax decreased by 97.4% to euro 18 million (third quarter 2007: euro 704 million). Revenues decreased by 15.2% to euro 11,113 million (third quarter 2007: euro 13,107 million).

Nine-month revenues dipped by 4,5% to euro 37,029 million (first nine months 2007: euro 38,782 million). The EBIT of the Automobiles segment decreased by 49.2% to euro 1,155 million (first nine months 2007: euro 2,273 million) and the profit before tax fell by 58.3% to euro 882 million (first nine months 2007: euro 2,114 million). The expense for risk provision during the first nine months of the year was euro 560 million.

Third-quarter sales volume increase for BMW Motorcycles

The BMW Group’s Motorcycles segment sold 24,818 units in the period from July to September (third quarter 2007: 23,549 units), an increase of 5.4% over the previous year. This performance was helped by the positive resonance received from customers and media for the new F 650 GS and F 800 GS models.

Revenues of the Motorcycles segment for the three month period increased by 4.6% to euro 271 million (third quarter 2007: euro 259 million). As a result of adverse external factors, EBIT fell to a negative euro 5 million (third quarter 2007: positive EBIT of euro 7 million). The loss before tax was euro 7 million (third quarter 2007: profit before tax of euro 5 million). The number of motorcycles sold during the nine-month period fell by 2.5% to 80,750 units (first nine months 2007: 82,779 units), while segment revenues slipped by 1.4% to euro 1,008 million (first nine months 2007: euro 1,022 million). EBIT fell by 14.7% to euro 87 million (first nine months 2007: euro 102 million) and the profit before tax dropped by 15.8% to euro 80 million (first nine months 2007: euro 95 million).

Financial services business severely affected by credit crisis

The knock-on effects of the international financial crisis severely affected financial services business during the period under report. Third-quarter segment revenues rose by 14.4% to euro 4,084 million (third quarter 2007: euro 3,569 million). Third-quarter segment EBIT turned from a positive amount of euro 176 million in 2007 to a loss of euro 26 million in 2008. The pre-tax loss was euro 17 million (third quarter 2007: pre-tax profit of euro 191 million). In the third quarter 2008, the Financial Services segment recognised an additional provision expense for credit risks and residual value risks amounting to euro 232 million. The expense for the nine-month period totalled euro 477 million. Earnings were also adversely affected by higher refinancing costs caused by wider credit spreads on the capital markets.

Revenues increased by 17% during the period under report to euro 11,818 million (first nine months 2007: euro 10,101 million). EBIT fell by 83.1% to euro 92 million (first nine months 2007: euro 545 million). The segment profit before tax fell by 76.7% to euro 131 million (first nine months 2007: euro 563 million).

The business volume of the segment in balance sheet terms rose by 17.1% to reach euro 57,944 million at 30 September 2008. The number of lease and financing contracts in place with dealers and retail customers rose by 17.0% to a total of 2,971,437 contracts. The proportion of new BMW Group cars financed by the Financial Services segment during the first nine months of the year amounted to 48.0%, 3.3 percentage points higher than the proportion recorded one year earlier.

Workforce reduced

The number of employees was decreased in line with previously announced plans. The BMW Group workforce comprised 103,625 employees worldwide (September 30, 2007: 107,731 employees). This corresponds to a reduction of 3.8%, including the 1,778 employees of the Cirquent Group. With effect from 30 September, the BMW Group sold 72.9% of its shares in the IT consultancy firm to the Japanese company, NTT Data. By the end of the year, the BMW Group will have achieved its target of cutting out 8,100 positions worldwide, including 3,100 from the core workforce. These figures do not include Cirquent employees.

The BMW Group remains committed to fulfilling its social responsibilities. More than 1,100 apprentices will be taken on in the coming year, 1,080 of them in Germany.

Driving Change, a new consumer report from BMW

29th October 2008 9:00 am BMW

Drivers are ready to buy more energy efficient cars but only if they can still deliver the highest levels of driving dynamics. And while modern-day motorists are opting for lower emission cars, it’s not to save the planet, it’s because the cars will be kinder to their wallets.

While the environment is fast becoming an issue, with 20 per cent of Britons now saying they look at CO2 levels when buying a new car, new research announced by BMW today also reveals their honest motivations. Three quarters of motorists would purchase a lower-emissions car only if it saved them money. These are the conclusions of the Driving Change report in which BMW quizzed 2,068 motorists(1).

Car choice – the bottom line
When questioned why they thought people choose to drive a more environmentally friendly car, 59 per cent of respondents identified lower bills as being the main reason whereas only 13 per cent cited reduced emissions as the key motive.

In the current economic environment and with higher-than-usual fuel costs, the report highlights how choosing a more fuel efficient car can make substantial savings. Using BMW’s EfficientDynamics technologies, all BMW cars are more fuel efficient than their competitors. According to independent studies, the BMW 123d Coupé uses £127.52 less fuel per 10,000 miles than its closest competitor. In addition, the BMW 318d SE Saloon uses £182.55 less fuel per 10,000 miles than the Mercedes C-Class C200 CDi Elegance.

And the savings don’t stop there. Motorists who buy lower emission vehicles pay less in car taxes, while higher polluting cars are likely to depreciate more as demand increases for low emission vehicles. To compare cars in the Executive class, it’s easy to see the impact made by EfficientDynamics technologies:

Model + Version / CO2 Emissions (g/km) / Combined Fuel Consumption (mpg) / Vehicle Excise Duty Band / Annual Car Tax (£) / % Residual Value after 3 yrs or 30,000 miles

BMW 520d SE Saloon / 136 / 55.4 / C / 120 / 58
Audi A6 SE TDI / 151 / 48.7 / D / 145 / 41
Mercedes Benz E220 Cdi Saloon / 160 / 46.3 / D / 145 / 52
Saab 9-5 Vector Sport TiD / 174 / 44.1 / E / 170 / 38

Please see downloadable document for clear table of data

Power and performance
The report highlights that it’s not enough to simply be seen in a more efficient car. 21st century consumers have high expectations – as well as low fuel costs, they are demanding premium performance as well. And contrary to popular perception, cars can be both fuel efficient and powerful - BMW makes models that can hit 140mph and return 70 mpg(4).

Richard Hudson, Marketing Director for BMW UK, said: “This report has provided tremendous insights in to the honest motivations for today’s consumers. It’s all very well to offer more efficient products, but unless the quality and performance also progress, they simply won’t sell.”

The move to cleaner technology
As one in five Britons says their carbon footprint is now their top priority when choosing a car, compared to zero stating this two decades ago(2), motorists are also becoming more aware of their options. The survey reveals more than one in two people (54 per cent) correctly say a diesel-engined car is more efficient over long distances than a current, comparably-sized, hybrid.

Indeed, independent studies(3) into fuel economy show BMW’s diesel models fare better on long motorway journeys than similar vehicles from Audi and Mercedes and even the hybrid Toyota Prius.

While many drivers believe current hybrid vehicles have shortcomings and are not always the cleanest and most efficient, or the best driving experience, the industry is moving towards cleaner energy. And Driving Change reveals that over a third of Brits (36 per cent) believe the car manufacturing industry has done more than any other to reduce carbon emissions.

Hudson continues: “In the current climate, finance is an overwhelming issue and external factors like the Government’s CO2-related taxes and the rising cost of fuel are all having an impact. More and more people are considering emissions alongside their longer-term cost savings when buying cars. On top of that is a social pressure about the environment that models featuring BMW EfficientDynamics technologies work well to relieve. They balance the desire for high performance and an engaging driving experience with improved fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions.”

In facing the challenges of 21st century living where consumers demand excellence in performance, lower costs and less impact on the environment, Driving Change reveals that the industry has responded – through innovation, new technology and real results.

The BMW EfficientDynamics programme is inspiring engineers to constantly evaluate ways in which BMW models can be significantly more fuel-efficient whilst continuing to develop the driving experience. And to highlight the success of the programme, over 800,000 EfficientDynamics-equipped cars will be sold by the BMW Group worldwide in 2008. The EfficientDynamics principle has led to an evolving array of innovations that benefit the driver by reducing fuel consumption and emissions levels and, crucially, saving them money, whilst still improving performance.

Automotive Design Studios Visualize Auto Racing In The Year 2025

24th October 2008 2:00 pm BMW

Today’s race cars have ground-breaking technology to improve speed, power, performance and safety but what a difference 17 years into the future can make. Imagine race cars that go beyond the expectations and challenges of racing today, such as never needing to stop for re-fueling or collision avoidance assistance technology for enhanced safety.

Nine of Southern California’s automotive design studios did just that, predicting how auto racing will change by the year 2025. The designs are part of the fifth annual Los Angeles Auto Show’s Design Challenge, where studios including Audi, BMW, GM, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Volkswagen are pitted against each other to showcase their talents and further explore new ideas in automotive design.

“Automotive designers have always been fascinated with Motor Sports and this year’s Design Challenge has provided them with the opportunity to use their creative talent to look at these cars with new eyes, using innovative technologies and approaches,” said Chuck Pelly, director of Design Los Angeles and partner in The Design Academy, Inc. “This adds to the excitement, interest and personal involvement in the sport that has thrilled people of all ages for many years…and many more years to come.”

Entries in this year’s Motor Sports 2025 Design Challenge include:

• Audi of America Design Center California: The Audi R25 incorporates innovative features such as high-velocity banks and tunnels, which allow cars to race “inverted” and the opportunity to pass anywhere with aerodynamic racecars.

• BMW Group DesignworksUSA: The BMW Hydrogen Powered Salt Flat Racer reuses existing, ordinary and mundane materials such as old oil barrels and BBQ lids to whimsical and sustainable by employing goldfish as “co-pilots” to ensure that the vehicle is running clean emissions.

• General Motors Advanced Design: The GM Chaparral Volt collects and generates its own energy from three different clean, renewable and abundant California resources: Earth, Wind and Fire to create an entirely new category of racing - the eco-triathlon.

• Honda Research and Development, North America: The Great Race 2025’s sonar/echolocation sensors are able to detect changes in speed, terrain, and altitude, allowing it to switch to any configuration to circumnavigate the globe in 24 hours on land through the U.S., by sea through Asia and by air over Europe.

• Mazda R&D of North America: The MAZDA KAAN is an electric race car that has a patented electronic tire system to reach 250 mph with no harmful emissions. The vehicles are piloted by individual drivers but teams are made up of thirty cars, all on the track together.

• Mitsubishi Research & Design of North America: The MMR25’s multi-terrain, omnidirectional wheels consist of eight independently-controlled motors, allowing for “8 x 4” wheel drive so that the car can be driven forward while pointing in any direction.

• Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of North America: Luxury racing arrives in the Formula Zero Racer by incorporating the thrill of Formula One, the track dynamics of the bobsled or luge, and the grace and efficiency of yacht racing.

• Toyota’s Calty Design Research: The Toyota Le Mans Racer is the ultimate race car that never needs to stop. Powered by highly efficient hydrogen fuel cell electric motors, each of its body panels is embedded with photovoltaic panels to supply electricity when extra energy is needed.

• Volkswagen of America Design Center: In the Bio Runner, the rider is positioned inside a protective cage on a motorcycle-like saddle with controls attached to the hands and feet. These controls manipulate all wheels via synthetic muscle-based suspension which offers unparalleled control and traction.

Entries will be judged by Tom Matano of San Francisco’s Academy of Art University, Imre Molner of Detroit’s College for Creative Studies and Stewart Reed of Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design. Daniel Simon, an established car designer and founder of Cosmic Motors, is the special guest judge this year. Simon began his design career at Volkswagen and recently published his first book: Cosmic Motors-Spaceships, Cars and Pilots of Another Galaxy.

The winning design will be announced at the Design Los Angeles conference Nov. 20 at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

About the Design Challenge
The Design Challenge is part of the Design Los Angeles automobile designers’ conference that has evolved into an integral element of the Los Angeles Auto Show. Entering its fifth year, Design Los Angeles provides designers with leading design speakers and the opportunity to address common issues. More than 500 designers attended last year’s event.

Active and passive safety at the BMW Group

24th October 2008 12:00 pm BMW

“Supreme safety of the highest standard is a natural asset for the premium manufacturer. What makes our cars so unique is the overall approach we take in our safety concept” - states Klaus Kompass, BMW Group Director of Vehicle Safety, in describing the safety philosophy of the BMW Group.

The BMW Group’s safety concepts are always based first and foremost on reality. Precisely this is why BMW Group experts in accident research examine a wide range of real-life accidents each year, interacting with biomechanics, doctors specialising in accident treatment and prevention, as well as traumatologists in Germany and the USA, and naturally sharing their experience with researchers and developers at BMW.

The knowledge gained in these processes goes directly into new concepts for active and passive safety, where the second aspect of the BMW Group’s safety philosophy comes to bear: Safety, as seen by BMW, starts with sheer driving pleasure, that is long before a possible accident. For the best accident is an accident avoided right from the start - an accident that never happens. And, at the other end, the concept continues on a long way, only ending long after the accident as such has occurred.

The BMW Group has always attached great significance to safety in road traffic. To this day there is not one single safety system in production cars which the BMW Group has not examined or developed, in many cases taking on the role of a pioneer, as in the case of the head airbag. An exceptional highlight of BMW’s approach in this context is the integration of precise driving dynamics, specific support of the driver and optimum occupant protection within one overall package focusing on a very ambitious target: to ensure maximum safety all round and at all times.

BMW Group safety starts from the ground up on the car’s suspension.

No statistics reveal the accidents which never happened. And indeed, we all experience incidents and situations even in normal road traffic which potentially might lead to an accident - whether it is misjudgment, unclear situations on the road, or adverse weather and ambient conditions. In a BMW Group car the driver is able to take these situations in superior, relaxed style, a BMW or a MINI behaving the right way for the driver also under exceptional conditions and giving the driver all the benefi ts of his everyday motoring knowledge.

The objective of the chassis engineer in developing new chassis technology is to ensure safe and superior driving behaviour. For such superiority on the road creates the conditions required for relaxed motoring, smooth performance, and exemplary active safety. The driver remains in full control of his car, enjoying superior driving dynamics and safe motoring stability. And in the process he is supported by control systems handling particularly dynamic situations with ease and appropriate care.

Whenever the car reaches the limit, chassis control systems intervene actively to maintain the car’s stability or to reinstate the stability required - also under adverse road conditions. DSC Dynamic Stability Control, for example, prevents the car from swerving out of control, for instance in an abrupt manoeuvre, by applying the brakes as required on individual wheels. BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive technology, in turn, likewise applies the brakes exactly as required and ensures a good balance of torque to avoid understeer right from the beginning and give the car safe and secure handling even in dynamic and fast bends. And other systems serving to enhance both steering precision and tracking stability are Dynamic Performance Control and Dynamic Drive.

The effects and contributions of these systems in enhancing safety increase to an overproportional extent when linked with one another. As an example, Active Steering in the new BMW 7 Series interacts with the car’s DSC sensors. So that when applying the brakes with the wheels running on different surfaces, this intelligent technology prevents the car from swerving out of control by intervening appropriately in the steering.

The human factor - providing appropriate support and enhancing the driver’s supremacy at the wheel.

Offi cial statistics show that almost 99 per cent of all accidents are attributable to human error and false behaviour. So to prevent accidents right from the start, the first essential point is to assist the driver in the process of driving the car. Various driver assistance systems are used for this purpose and already make an important contribution to active safety, that is the avoidance of accidents, today. Such systems and concepts nevertheless still offer significant room for improvement and further development, while the various features and options supporting passive safety have already reached a high level.

Driver assistance systems relieve the driver of unpleasant chores and enhance his supremacy at the wheel by providing information, warnings, and help in taking the right decision. Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, referred to in brief as ACC Stop & Go, for example, not only maintains the desired distance from the vehicle ahead, but also controls the speed of the car in dense traffic all the way down to a standstill. And at the same time the system offers a proximity warning, optical and acoustic signals urging the driver to apply the brakes himself if, for example, the driver ahead is likewise braking very hard and slowing down very quickly. At the same time the vehicle itself is prepared for hard application of the brakes, again helping to keep the stopping distance short and, if everything works out, to avoid an accident.

ACC Stop & Go is only one of the many assistance systems the BMW Group offers its customers. Further examples are:
• Lane Change Warning giving the driver a visual and touch-stimulated warning of vehicles approaching in the driver’s blind angle.
• Lane Departure Warning recognising unintentional deviation from the right lane and again giving the driver clear feedback via the steering wheel.

Other assistance systems help to improve the driver’s perception and his overview of traffic conditions, offering him more information and allowing him to look further ahead. Among others, these systems include:

• The Speed Limit Indicator introduced for the first time ever in the BMW 7 Series and informing the driver at all times of the maximum speed allowed on the route he is currently taking.
• BMW’s new Night Vision with detection of individual persons offering preventive pedestrian safety by recognising people up to a distance of 300 metres or almost 1,000 feet and warning the driver of dangerous situations. Considering that far more than 50 per cent of all fatal accidents involving pedestrians occur at night or in the dark (source: DESTATIS), such a safety system is particularly helpful.
• The Head-up Display providing information relevant to the driver in his direct line of vision. This minimises the need for the driver to take his eyes off the road and increases driving safety accordingly.
• Adaptive Headlights, variable light distribution, Bending Lights, adaptive headlight range control and the High-Beam Assistant offer a unique lights package ensuring optimum illumination of the road ahead at night, in fog and bad weather, without dazzling oncoming drivers.
• Like Park Distance Control, the back-up camera signifi cantly facilitates the process of parking and manoeuvring.
• In the new BMW 7 Series the Safety Package is further enhanced by Side View enabling the driver to check out traffic crossing from the side in unclear crossings and road junctions.

Even with all these assistance and supporting systems, the most powerful element within the car remains the human being. And since practice makes perfect, as the old saying goes, the BMW Group also offers BMW and MINI Driver Training on virtually on levels.

When the worst comes to the worst, even the last millisecond counts.

Particularly the last few seconds prior to an inevitable collision may save lives, provided these brief instants are used properly. Precisely this is why the various features and elements of active and passive safety interact within the BMW Group’s concept of integral safety, offering all their benefits and advantages shortly before an accident actually occurs. Assistance systems giving the driver the necessary information and warning prompt him to act the right way and in good time, the proximity warning, for example, telling him to apply the brakes. Dynamic Brake Control is activated at the same time in this process, chassis stability systems stabilising the car and helping to prevent a dangerous rollover.

The sensors fitted in the car, in turn, offer valuable information in order to pre-set the car’s passive safety systems, the electric belt roll-up function, for example, serving to tighten the seat belts and thus ensure optimum restraint and safety right from the start.

The particular skill of the BMW Group’s safety experts is to perfectly harmonise and match these processes to one another, in this way gaining decisive milliseconds in the interest of extra safety. The objective of all these features and technologies, fi nally, is to minimise accident severity to the greatest possible degree, if the accident cannot be avoided in the first place.

Passive safety means reducing the consequences of an accident to the greatest possible degree. A safe passenger cell, safe body structures with defined crash zones and optimised restraint systems are the basic elements within each safety concept. The development and use of an optimum passive safety concept is naturally of utmost significance to the BMW Group, three-point belts on all seats, six airbags featured as standard, and a strong body structure with specific deformation elements therefore forming part and parcel of all vehicle concepts today.

To prepare appropriately for the future in every respect, the BMW Group has consistently enhanced and renewed its testing facilities in recent years. All vehicles are tested and checked in crash testing and simulation systems not only for their full compliance with legal requirements, but also with the BMW Group’s own and far more demanding internal standards: To ensure consistent safety on the road the world over.

This safety concept even continues beyond the actual occurrence of an accident, activation of the hazard warning flashers and the interior lights warning other road users and improving the chances of being rescued. The Safety Battery Terminal, for example, reduces the risk of fire. And depending on the car’s features, the rescue headquarters are alarmed at the same time the automatic emergency call is sent out, receiving important information on the severity of the accident.

Implementing such a safety philosophy calls for the significant involvement of all parties concerned within the BMW Group. So the engineers are of course always very happy to receive mail such as this letter from the Ukraine stating right at the top: “Thank you, the whole BMW Team”. This BMW customer, after surviving a head-on collision at high speed, even wrote BMW from the hospital: “I only survived because of your car - so let me express my heart-felt gratitude for such an outstanding achievement of engineering.”

BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna press conferences at the EICMA 2008

24th October 2008 11:00 am BMW

Munich. We are pleased to invite all journalists to attend the BMW Motorrad press conference at this year’s EICMA in Milan
on Tuesday, November 04th 2008
at 12:00 am
at the BMW Motorrad stand in Hall 18.

Press material on the new models will be available after the press conference at the counters and at about 1 pm at the BMW PressClub at www.press.bmwgroup.com.

Further we would like to invite all representatives of the press to the Husqvarna press conference

on Tuesday, November 04th 2008
at 12:30 pm
at the Husqvarna stand in Hall 18.

All-electric MINI E to be unveiled at Los Angeles Auto Show

24th October 2008 10:00 am BMW

BMW Group will present the new, electrically-powered MINI E to the global media for the first time at the Los Angeles Auto Show on 19/20 November 2008. 500 MINI E vehicles will then be shipped to the US states of California, New York and New Jersey for testing with private and corporate customers.
The development of the MINI E underlines BMW Group’s commitment to reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in road traffic, without compromise to the driving experience. The 500 cars bound for North America will offer BMW Group the opportunity to evaluate ownership potential for vehicles supplied with an electric power supply. BMW Group aims to begin series production in the medium term of all-electric vehicles as part of the company’s Number ONE strategy.

The cars will be delivered to customers on a one-year lease with an extension option. Monthly lease installments will cover any required technical service including all necessary maintenance and the replacement of wearing parts. At the end of the lease, all of the automobiles belonging to the project will be returned to the BMW Group’s engineering fleet where they will be subjected to comparative tests.

MINI E specification and performance
The MINI E’s electric drive train produces a peak torque of 220 Nm, and power is delivered to the front wheels via a single-stage helical gearbox. This unique engine and transmission arrangement powers the MINI E seamlessly to 62 mph in 8.5 seconds and on to an electronically-limited top speed of 95 mph.

Based on the current MINI Hatch, the car will initially be available as a two-seater. The space normally inhabited by rear passengers is reserved for a lithium-ion battery.

When in use in the zero-emissions MINI, the battery unit combines high output with ample storage capacity and remarkable power output. The lithium-ion storage unit will have a maximum capacity of 35 kilowatt hours (kWh) and transmit energy to the electric motor as direct current at a nominal 380 volts. The rechargeable battery is made up of 5,088 cells grouped into 48 modules. These modules are packaged into three battery elements that are compactly arranged inside the MINI E.

The energy storage unit’s basic components are based on technologies proven in power supply units for mobile phones and portable computers. The MINI E’s lithium-ion battery can be plugged into all standard power outlets. Its charge time is strongly dependent on the voltage and amperage of the electricity flowing through the grid. In the USA, users can recharge a battery that has been completely drained within a very short period of time using a wallbox that will be supplied as standard with every MINI E.

The wallbox will be installed in the customer’s garage, enable higher amperage, and thus provide for extremely short charging times. Wallboxes fully recharge batteries in just two-and-a-half hours. Only lockable garages or similar buildings will qualify as power stations for the MINI E.

Driven by electricity: zero emissions at minimal cost
A full recharge draws a maximum of 28 kilowatt hours of electricity from the grid. Based on the car’s range, a kilowatt hour translates into 5.4 miles. Besides the benefit of zero-emissions driving, the MINI E thus offers significant economic advantages over a vehicle powered by a conventional internal combustion engine.

The heavy-duty battery delivers its power to an electric motor, which is mounted transversely under the MINI E’s bonnet. This power unit is able to unleash its full thrust from a dead standstill and is complemented by its dynamic deceleration potential, which is directly coupled to the accelerator pedal.

As soon as the driver releases the accelerator pedal, the electric motor acts as a generator. This results in braking force, and the power recovered from the kinetic energy is fed back to the battery. This interaction ensures a comfortable and smooth driving experience. In city traffic, some 75 per cent of all deceleration can be done without the brakes. Making substantial use of this energy regeneration feature extends the car’s range by up to 20 percent.

The MINI E’s brake system comes with a newly developed electric pump. Its Electrical Power Assisted Steering (EPS) is the same as the one used in mass-produced MINIs.

The MINI E’s 1,465 kilograms is evenly distributed across the car. Handling safety is ensured by modifications to the suspension system and the car’s Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), which is adapted due this model’s specific wheel loads.

Unique styling to mark out the new MINI E
Every MINI E produced for this pilot project will have the same paintwork and bear a serial number on their front bumpers.

The MINI E’s coachwork features an exclusive combination of metallic Dark Silver on all panels but the roof, which is clad in Pure Silver. What distinguishes the zero-emissions MINI E is a unique logo in Interchange Yellow, depicting a stylized power plug in the shape of an “E” set against a silver background. It has been applied to the roof, in smaller dimensions to the front and back, to the charger port lid, the dashboard trim, and – combined with the MINI logo – to the door jamb, in slightly modified form. The color of the roof edges, mirror housings, interior style cues and seat seams will also match the logo’s yellow hue.

Inside, the central gauge and battery level indicator behind the wheel of the MINI E - which replaces the MINI’s rev counter - feature yellow lettering against a dark grey background. The battery level is displayed in percentage figures. The central gauge includes an LED display indicating power consumption in red and power recuperation in green.

Maintenance by qualified specialists
The electric drive’s high-voltage technology requires that maintenance work be done by qualified personnel using special tools that are not included in MINI service partners’ standard toolboxes. In light of this, a service base will be set up for customers in California, New York and New Jersey, staffed by MINI service engineers that are specially trained to perform maintenance and repair work on the MINI E’s electrical components. In the event of drive malfunction, these experts will provide professional support at the customer’s local MINI dealer or the service base’s specially equipped workshop. Technical inspections will take place after 3,000 miles (just under 5,000 kilometers) and at least after six months.

Production in Oxford and Munich
The MINI E has already gone through the major phases of product development for mass-produced vehicles and passed numerous crash tests on the way. The MINI E’s energy storage unit emerged completely unscathed from all of the crash tests mandated by US standards, which are especially high.

Production of the 500 cars will take place at the company’s Oxford and Munich sites and is scheduled for completion before the end of 2008. MINI’s Plant Oxford will be responsible for manufacturing the entire vehicle on the standard production line, with the exception of the drive components and the lithium-ion battery. The units will then be transferred to a specially equipped manufacturing facility situated on BMW plant premises where the electric motor, battery units, performance electronics and transmission will be integrated.

MINI Aldridge Special makes public debut at Design Museum

16th October 2008 12:00 pm BMW

A unique MINI featuring a visually stunning exterior designed by legendary artist, illustrator and graphic designer Alan Aldridge, is now on show at the Design Museum in London. The MINI Aldridge Special is an exhibit in a retrospective display of Alan’s work, entitled ‘The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes’.
Alan Aldridge is known primarily for his creative work throughout the 1960s and 70s. Dubbed ‘The Graphic Entertainer’, Aldridge illustrated lyric books for the Beatles, album covers for The Rolling Stones, The Who and Elton John, was Art Director for Penguin Books and illustrated much-loved children’s books such as ‘The Butterfly Ball’.

Now working in Los Angeles, Alan Aldridge was keen to mark the opening of his exhibition by recreating an iconic cover of the Sunday Times Magazine, which in 1965 featured a classic Mini painted in his own, inimitable style. The updated interpretation of this image, using a new MINI One as the canvas for Alan’s design, featured in the 12 October 2008 edition of the publication. Again, warranting front cover status.

The MINI Aldridge Special is adorned with an array of images, shapes and patterns, each reflecting either a male or female theme, just as the 1965 car did. The design theme is split between each side of the car, the driver side being largely set on a blue background and masculine in appearance, with passenger near side artistry backed on pink.

MINI UK General Manager Andy Hearn said: “The work of Alan Aldridge is synonymous with some of the most important names in the history of British culture, so MINI is delighted to support this exhibition by offering Alan a car to work on’’.

“MINI will be celebrating its 50th birthday in 2009, so this is the perfect way to begin celebrating fifty years of the car in the UK.”

‘The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes’ exhibition runs until 25 January 2009. MINI fans and the British public will get another chance to see the MINI Aldridge Special in the metal at MINI United next year, the global MINI event which will be staged at a renowned British race circuit between 22-24 May 2009. Further details will be announced by MINI UK in the near future.

Fourth year of BMW support for Frieze Art Fair

15th October 2008 12:00 pm BMW

BMW will for the fourth consecutive year be supporting the Frieze Art Fair by providing its VIP courtesy car service. The fleet of luxury BMWs will be available throughout the duration of the Frieze Art Fair and available to artists, gallery owners, art critics and buyers amongst the guests at the sixth annual fair.
Established in 2003, Frieze Art Fair is one of the youngest - but already widely regarded as one of the most influential – art fairs in the world. Almost 70,000 visitors attended Frieze Art Fair in 2007, and strong sales and visitor numbers are anticipated over the five days of the fair beginning Wednesday 15 October.

Richard Hudson, Marketing Director, BMW UK said: “BMW is proud and excited to be associated with the Frieze Art Fair for a fourth year. We have a long history of supporting the arts; associations that range from presenting the car as an art form in the guise of our 16 Art Cars, to active involvement with major arts events such as Frieze Art Fair. The BMW design team led by Chris Bangle fundamentally believes that car design should stimulate the senses in the same way that driving a BMW stirs emotions. We hope that our limousine service proves an appropriately engaging way for Frieze Art Fair visitors, guests and artists to arrive at, or leave, the fair.”

Frieze Art Fair takes place every October in Regent’s Park, London. The fair provides an environment to introduce and showcase new and established artists to visitors from around the world. It features more than 150 galleries from around the world, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to see and buy art by the world’s leading artists.