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BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team completes first winter test in preparation for the FIM EWC 2022 – Jéremy Guarnoni joins the team.

BMW:BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team completes first winter test in preparation for the FIM EWC 2022 – Jéremy Guarnoni joins the team.

Almeria. After the successful 2021 season, victory in Most
(CZE) and second place overall in the FIM Endurance World
Championship (FIM EWC), the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team is now
concentrating fully on preparations for 2022. Team manager Werner
Daemen has taken the team to Almeria in Spain for the first
three-day winter testing session. A new face is in action on the #37
BMW M 1000 RR alongside Markus Reiterberger (GER), Ilya Mikhalchik
(UKR) and Kenny Foray (FRA): Jéremy Guarnoni (FRA). He will be the
new team-mate for Reiterberger, Mikhalchik and Foray for the
upcoming 2022 season.

 
The 28-year-old Frenchman Guarnoni is a familiar face in
the Endurance World Championship. He appeared in his first FIM EWC
race at the age of 18, competing in the 2012 Bol d’Or in Magny-Cours
(FRA). He has been a fixture in the FIM EWC since 2018 and became
world champion in the 2018/19 season. He was also the 2010 Superstock
600 European champion before competing for many years in the FIM
Superstock 1000 Championship, where he claimed third place in the
championship on two occasions and also got to know his new team-mates
Reiterberger and Mikhalchik. Guarnoni spent a season racing in the FIM
Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) in 2014.
 
The BMW
Motorrad World Endurance Team is using the test in Almeria to continue
work on optimising the #37 BMW M 1000 RR. New components and set-up
solutions are being evaluated. Together with tyre partner Dunlop, the
team is testing a range of tyre options. Guarnoni also has the option
of using the testing to familiarise himself with the motorbike and the
team.
 
Three race dates have already been confirmed for the
2022 season in the FIM EWC. The season starts on 16th/17th April with
the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA), the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps will
take place on 4th/5th June and the 8 Hours of Suzuka (JPN) will return
to the FIM EWC calendar on 7th August. Further race dates are yet to
be confirmed.
 
Quotes on the Almeria test.

 
Werner Daemen, Team Manager BMW Motorrad World Endurance
Team: “It has been a fantastic year for us, our first full
year in FIM EWC. I am very proud of the whole team and everyone at
BMW, as we finished second in the championship together. I think we
really deserved that, especially the victory in the final race. We are
now here testing for 2022 already. We have a lot to do over the next
few days, but I am very happy with the set-up we have now. Markus,
Ilya and Kenny are excellent guys and top riders. Jéremy Guarnoni is
new to the team. I have been a fan of his since day one. He is a real
endurance rider and a very good addition to the group. We have already
had a lot of fun, which I feel is very important.”
 
Jéremy Guarnoni: “I have a very good impression of
the bike. The performance is really unbelievable, and I immediately
felt good on it. I am also very happy with the team, which is very
professional. I have a really good feeling about the mechanics, the
crew chief and my team-mates. I already knew Ilya, Markus and Kenny as
opponents, and now they are my team-mates. That is really cool. I am
sure we can achieve great things next season, and I am looking forward
to it.”
 
Markus Reiterberger: “Firstly, after a good season in
2021, we know exactly what we need to work on. I am very pleased that
we still have a test this year. That is very important for us, as it
allows us to lay important foundations for the coming year. I am
pleased to be able to welcome Jéremy – another strong rider and a
former world champion – to the team. The first day of testing was
really tiring for everyone, as it was very cold and there was a lot to
test. We got through most of the programme, but there are still a few
important things to do. The initial impressions are definitely
promising. With the improvements we can still make, I believe we will
be able to make up that one position we missed out on this season. I
am very confident and pleased to be part of the team.”
 
Ilya Mikhalchik: “It feels really good to be able to
start preparations for 2022 this year. Firstly, I would like to
welcome our new team member, Jéremy. I hope we can achieve some good
results together. He is a very experienced endurance rider and I think
we will learn a lot from each other. I am very happy to be riding with
him in the team and on this bike. We have made a few improvements. I
think we have a good overall package, with which we can win. We showed
that in the last race. We are now testing a few things, to give
ourselves an even better chance. I believe we have the potential to
challenge at the top next year.”
 
Kenny Foray: “Our winter test is very early, but that
is very good for us. The new bike is even better than the old one. It
is really enjoyable to ride. I am hoping for a really good year for
the whole team. If I am able to contribute to us improving, then I am
definitely ready.”

Original Press Release

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BMW M Sports Trophy: BMW M Motorsport honours the most successful private teams and drivers of the 2021 season.

BMW:BMW M Sports Trophy: BMW M Motorsport honours the most successful private teams and drivers of the 2021 season.

Munich. At the end of the season, BMW M Motorsport honours the
most successful drivers and teams for their performances in recent
months with the BMW M Sports Trophy awards. Victory in this year’s
Drivers Competition went to American Sean Quinlan. He enjoyed many
successes at the wheel of the BMW M4 GT4 in GT4 America and GT
America. In the Team Competition, FK Performance Motorsport took
first place, courtesy of its title wins in the DTM Trophy and the
Nürburgring Endurance Series. Furthermore, selected drivers were
given the opportunity to join BMW M Motorsport in Almeria (ESP) this
week for a test.

 

“Even though the current pandemic situation is once again preventing
us from celebrating our traditional end-of-season event together with
the private BMW M Motorsport drivers and teams, we will obviously not
miss out on honouring the winners of this season’s BMW M Sports
Trophy,” said Jonas Krauss, Sales Head of Motorsport. “Through their
success in BMW M Motorsport cars, drivers and teams catch the eye all
over the world, making them outstanding ambassadors for the BMW brand.
Congratulations to Sean Quinlan and FK Performance Motorsport, who
have won the BMW M Sports Trophy Driver and Team Competitions for the
first time. A glance at the winners list for both competitions shows
emphatically just how international the BMW M Sports Trophy is.”

Quinlan scored points towards the Drivers Competition at the wheel of
the BMW M4 GT4 mostly in the GT4 class of GT America and the Pro-Am
class of GT4 America. In GT America, he took six class victories and
was second overall. In GT4 America, he claimed one race win in the
Pro-Am class and a further four podiums, finishing third in the
Drivers’ Championship. “It is a great honour for me to win the Driver
Competition,” said Quinlan. “The BMW M Sports Trophy was a big thing
for us this year, and we kept an eye on the points to see whether we
might achieve a top result. I had more joy than expected in GT
America, in particular. Thank you to BMW M Motorsport for the
fantastic support throughout the entire season. I am already really
looking forward to next season, in which we will start in the IMSA series.”

Second and third places went to the champions in ADAC GT4 Germany and
the DTM Trophy, Michael Schrey (GER) and Ben Green (GBR). Gabriele
Piana (ITA), winner of the BMW M Sports Trophy Drivers Competition for
the past two years and ADAC GT4 Germany champion alongside Schrey in a
BMW M4 GT4 in 2021, finished fourth this year.

In the Team Competition, there was no beating FK Performance
Motorsport. The team can look back on an outstanding season. In the
DTM Trophy, both the Team and the Driver title, courtesy of Ben Green,
went the way of FK Performance Motorsport. The team achieved the same
feat in the BMW M2 CS Racing Cup NLS, which was held within the
Nürburgring Endurance Series. The two team principals, Martin Kaemena
and Fabian Finck, are responsible for this success. “For everyone in
our team, being recognised as the best private BMW M Motorsport team
in the world is a fantastic reward for all the hard work,” said
Kaemena. Finck added: “Our team has done an outstanding job this
season. As well as everything we do to create a good atmosphere within
the team, the sporting success is obviously the biggest motivation. As
such, it is great that there is such a strong manufacturer involvement
as the BMW M Sports Trophy. The intensity, with which BMW M Motorsport
supports its private teams within the framework of this competition,
is unique at this moment in time.”

BMW M Motorsport attends test in Almeria with selected drivers.

Last week, selected drivers were given the opportunity to show what
they are capable of at the wheel of the BMW M6 GT3, under the watchful
eyes of BMW M Motorsport engineers and BMW works driver Philipp Eng
(AUT). This opportunity was primarily offered to those drivers who had
caught the eye with impressive performances in various BMW M
Motorsport cars. The drivers in action in Almeria, Spain, were Robby
Foley (USA), Ben Green, Benjamin Lessennes (BEL), Thomas Neubauer
(FRA), David Pittard (GBR), Ben Tuck (GBR) and Marius Zug (GER).

The top 25 in the BMW M Sports Trophy Drivers Competition:

Pos.

Driver

Nat.

 

Pos.

Driver

Nat.

1

Sean Quinlan

USA

14

Theo
Oeverhaus

GER

2

Michael
Schrey

GER

15

Ranko Mijatovic

SUI

3

Ben Green

GBR

15

Christian
Konnerth

GER

4

Gabriele
Piana

ITA

17

Gregory Liefooghe

USA

5

Danny Brink

GER

18

Chandler
Hull

USA

6

Robby Foley

USA

19

Yann Zimmer

SUI

7

Christopher
Rink

GER

20

Gustavo Sandrucci

ITA

8

Philipp
Leisen

GER

21

Will Burns

GBR

9

Philipp
Stahlschmidt

GER

21

Gus Burton

GBR

10

Daniel Zils

GER

23

John
Capresto-Dubets

USA

11

Tom Capizzi

USA

24

Steven
Palette

FRA

12

Paolo Meloni

SMR

25

James Walker

GBR

12

Massimiliano
Tresoldi

ITA

The top 10 in the BMW M Sports Trophy Team Competition:

Pos.

Team

 

Pos.

Team

1

FK Performance
Motorsport

6

Auto Technic Racing

2

Walkenhorst
Motorsport

7

Turner Motorsport

3

Adrenalin
Motorsport

8

BimmerWorld Racing

4

Hofor
Racing

9

Team AVIA Sorg Rennsport

5

Stephen Cameron
Racing

10

Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport

Original Press Release

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BMW Motorrad Rider Equipment Collection 2022.

BMW:BMW Motorrad Rider Equipment Collection 2022.

For the 2022 motorbike season, the rider equipment from BMW Motorrad
provides highest-quality workmanship according to the latest trends.

With the Plugged to Life range BMW Motorrad
presents practical and stylish products that are best suited for daily
motorbike rides and remain absolutely suitable for everyday use even
when you get off your bike. A special highlight here is the Barcelona
GTX suit, the perfect suit for daily commuting.

Also new: In the Never Stop Challenging range,
all new products now have a consistent, exciting design language and a
high recognition factor, from the M Pro Race Comp leather one-piece
suit to the Sidepod AIR jacket.

The Soulfuel range has cool outfits for
motorbikes and their riders – with a look that is particularly
impressive with its retro racer style. The Schwabing jacket for men
and women and the new Moabit and Kreuzberg jeans are highlights.

The Ride and Share range consists of new
equipment, combined with a newly interpreted “Make Life a Ride” style.
The classic Atlantis suit has also evolved to the new Furka suit here.

For those who cannot wait for the next adventure on wheels, the
new additions to our Spirit of GS range bring some
real must-haves in the field of functional clothing. These include the
GS Rally GTX suit (for the first time also for women) and the GS Rally
AIR suit.

On the following pages you can find all the details of the new
products. Have fun discovering and looking around!

Original Press Release

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The 2022 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este: a concorso of the most beautiful and fastest of their time.

BMW:The 2022 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este: a concorso of the most beautiful and fastest of their time.

Do you need help? Please contact our support team from 9 to 17 CET via support.pressclub@bmwgroup.com.

PressClub Global · Article.

Thu Dec 02 16:01:18 CET 2021 Press Release

Registration for the competition now open +++ From 20 to 22 May 2022, BMW Group Classic and the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este will be showcasing the world’s most exclusive and traditional concours d’elegance for historic cars +++ The first six ranking categories for classic cars have already been announced by the Selecting Committee +++

Registration for the competition now open +++ From 20 to 22 May
2022, BMW Group Classic and the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este will be
showcasing the world’s most exclusive and traditional concours
d’elegance for historic cars +++ The first six ranking categories for
classic cars have already been announced by the Selecting Committee
+++ The Grand Hotel Villa d’Este is celebrating its 150th season and
looking back on especially gorgeous winners of the prestigious Coppa
d’Oro Villa d’Este and “Best of Show” trophy since 1929 in a separate
ranking category.

Munich/Cernobbio. The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa
d’Este is always a spectacular event where rare historic cars are
presented against the backdrop of Lake Como in Cernobbio. The
October 2021 edition of the world’s most prestigious event for
historic vehicles was

particularly exclusive. After an unintentionally long break, this
was the first opportunity for all participants to finally experience
the revitalising energy and joy of being there together, something
that only happens when you can meet in person.

The prep time for the next edition of the Concorso d’Eleganza
Villa d’Este, which will take place from 20 to 22 May 2022, is
extraordinarily short since this year’s competition had been moved
to autumn. Owners of classic vehicles are now invited to register
for the upcoming competition.

The top-class Selecting Committee has started selecting
vehicles for participation and is looking forward to receiving
soon submissions. The first six vehicle categories for the 2022
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este have already been specified. In
addition, applications for the competition in the Concept Cars and
Prototypes category are also being accepted.

This traditional beauty contest is organised jointly by BMW
Group Classic and the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este. In 2022, around
50 classic cars with their own special history will once again
compete for victory in their category as well as for the Coppa
d’Oro Villa d’Este and the coveted Trofeo BMW Group for “Best of Show”.

Exceptionally beautiful and elegant cars were first
presented as part of a competition on Grand Hotel Villa d’Este
premises in 1929. However, the venue’s tradition goes back
even further. The iconic Grand Hotel Villa d’Este on Lake Como
was built as a cardinal residence in the 16th century. This
stunning property was transformed into a luxury hotel in 1873,
becoming a magical place celebrated all over the world.

In 2022, the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este will enter its
150th season. The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este will
celebrate this special anniversary with a separate vehicle category.

Under the motto “And the Winner Is…: A Celebration of
Villa d’Este’s 150th Season”, vehicles that have been the
winners of the prestigious and historical Coppa d’Oro Villa
d’Este or the coveted “Best of Show” since the first event
in 1929 will be on exhibit.

The “The Carriage Becomes a Car” category is devoted to
the exciting transformation that took place in the early
years of the motorcar around 120 years ago. After all, the
first motorised vehicles did not yet have any examples to
look to except for the usual means of contemporary
transport, like the horse-drawn carriage. In the first
three decades, engineers worked hard, and at an ever
increasing pace, to reach new milestones and achieve the
best performance. This made design more and more challenging.

By the end of the 1920s, the car featured a growing
number of functions and had become an impressively
designed object that was shaping its time. Looking back
on how this developed promises to be both remarkable and eye-opening.

With the technological foundation successfully laid
out, designers in the following decade were able to
specialise in their work and concentrate on new,
distinct areas. The “Speed Shapes Form” category
focuses on particularly sophisticated and
aerodynamically-optimised body designs from 1930 to 1940.

Their lines became more and more streamlined and
aimed at speed, a trend that was strongly influenced
by aviation, an emerging sector at the time. With
the futuristic style of these vehicles, the 2022
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is also looking
back on a decade of brilliant engineering.

The 2022 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este will
be celebrating another anniversary with a special
look at the Ferrari brand. This Italian car
manufacturer will be celebrating its 75th
anniversary. The extraordinary history of this
brand will come to life with its own

competition category: “The Cavallino at 75:
Eight Decades of Ferrari Represented in Eight
Icons”. Each vehicle will thus represent the
vision of its decade and the technological
excellence behind its creation. In addition,
special models from the recent past, each

bearing the legendary “Cavallino Rampante”
(prancing horse) symbol, will be exhibited for the
first time.

The third anniversary being celebrated at the
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is for a
company that is intimately linked to motorsport.
BMW Motorsport GmbH was in fact founded 50 years
ago. Today, this BMW Group subsidiary is known
as BMW M GmbH. Its first independently developed
vehicle, named the BMW M1 and introduced in
1978, was a milestone in its history. BMW M GmbH
continued its impressive history by then
designing engines for Formula 1 and developing
the most successful touring car in the history
of motorsport, the BMW M3. The 2022 Concorso
d’Eleganza Villa d’Este will chronicle this
story with the competition category titled “Mean
Machinery: 50 Years of BMW M”.

Speed has always had a magical effect on
automotive aficionados. Since the invention of
the motorcar, higher top speeds have always
been regarded as a sign of technological
progress and a key to success.

After having exceeded top speeds of 150
km/h relatively early, it took considerable
engineering skill to reach and exceed 300
km/h.

These technological achievements
were awarded with their own category under
the title “Breaking the Speed Barrier! The
First Machines to Cross the 300 kph
Threshold” at the 2022 Concorso d’Eleganza
Villa d’Este.

With registration now open, the time
for the nomination phase has come.
Owners of extraordinary historic cars
are called upon to register their
vehicles for participation in the
competition. This applies both to
classics, which can compete in one of
the six categories already created, as
well as to other outstanding rarities.

Interested owners can register online
at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este website:

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CO2 emission information.

The following applies to consumption figures for vehicles with new type approval, September 2017 onward: The figures for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and energy consumption are obtained in accordance with the specified measuring procedure (EC Regulation No. 715/2007), as issued and amended. The figures are for a basic-version vehicle in Germany. The bandwidths allow for differences in the choice of wheel and tire sizes and items of optional equipment and can be changed by the configuration.

Obtained on the basis of the new “Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure” (WLTP), the figures are converted back to the “New European Driving Cycle” (NEDC) for the sake of comparability. Values other than those stated here may be used for the purposes of taxation and for other vehicle-related duties relating to CO2 emissions.

More information about official fuel consumption figures and the official specific CO2 emissions of new passenger cars can be obtained from the “guideline on fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and current consumption of new passenger cars”, available here: https://www.dat.de/co2/.

Original Press Release

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BMW Digital Key now available for Android smartphones.

BMW:BMW Digital Key now available for Android smartphones.

Munich. Together with its partners BMW – in the
context of the Car Connectivity Consortium – is continuing to press
ahead with the development and distribution of the BMW Digital Key.
Now the BMW digital key will be available for Android operating
system-based smartphones. With this update, the number of compatible
smartphone models is increasing and thus also the pool of BMW drivers
who will be able to use the BMW Digital Key in the future. The BMW
Digital Key is now available for Android smartphones, starting with
Samsung Galaxy S21 Series and Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro.

With the BMW Digital Key, customers can easily unlock and lock their
BMW simply by holding their smartphone next to the handle of the
driver’s door. The engine can also be started when the mobile phone is
placed in the BMW wireless charging compartment. To ensure maximum
ease of use and security, the BMW Digital Key is stored on the secure
element of the smartphone. It can be easily configured via My BMW app
and is then available as an option for almost all BMW models. In the
next release, it will be possible to pass the key on to five friends.
The functionalities of the BMW Digital Key Plus based on ultra-wide
band will also be introduced for Android smartphones in a future release.

BMW has been committed to establishing global standards in the field
of keyless entry systems since 2018 and is considered one of the
pioneers in the use of the smartphone as a digital car key. The latest
stage of development is the result of a close collaboration between
BMW, Google and Samsung for further improving the ease of use and
availability of the digital key. BMW is also the first manufacturer to
offer a system according to the global CCC standard (Car Connectivity
Consortium) that is available for both iOS and Android.

Availability of BMW Digital Key for Android smartphones:

Google Pixel 6/Pixel 6 Pro: U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Germany,
France, Italy, Spain, Japan, Australia, Taiwan and Singapore

Samsung Galaxy S21/S21+/S21 Ultra: France, Germany, Italy, Korea,
Spain, United Kingdom, United States.

Original Press Release

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Management changes in BMW Group production network

BMW:Management changes in BMW Group production network

+++ Hans-Peter Kemser named as plant director for planned site in
Debrecen, Hungary +++ Petra Peterhänsel will take over at Plant
Leipzig +++ 

 

Munich. The BMW Group has named Hans-Peter Kemser as
plant director for the planned site in Debrecen, Hungary. He will
oversee construction of the future plant from January onwards. The
56-year-old is currently in charge of BMW Group Plant Leipzig. Petra
Peterhänsel will take over from him as head of the site in Saxony. The
55-year-old currently manages the Painted Body, i.e. press shop, body
shop and paint shop technologies, at the BMW Group’s largest European
plant in Dingolfing.

Hans-Peter Kemser will bring years of expertise in the fields of
vehicle production and electromobility to his new role from January
onwards. He has been in charge of BMW Group Plant Leipzig since 2015,
where he was responsible for production of the BMW 1 Series and 2
Series ranges, as well as the fully-electric BMW i3* and, up until
2020, the BMW i8. “Hans-Peter Kemser is an absolute production expert
and his years of experience make him the perfect choice for
successfully implementing the plant ramp-up in Debrecen,” said Milan
Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible
for production. From 2025 onwards, Debrecen will produce the Neue
Klasse, which will be uncompromisingly geared towards electric drive trains.

Petra Peterhänsel will take over as the new head of Plant Leipzig.
The trained quality specialist has been with the BMW Group since 2012
and brings a wealth of international experience spanning all areas of
the automotive industry. “I am delighted to welcome an experienced
production expert like Petra Peterhänsel to strengthen our management
team,” underlined Nedeljković: “Just like Hans-Peter Kemser, she
brings extensive process know-how and outstanding leadership
qualities. Both will push forward with our focus topics, the
transformation towards electromobility, digitalisation and further
expansion of sustainability.”

Exciting challenges await the designated plant directors at both locations.

Construction of the first buildings for the future BMW Group plant in
Debrecen in the east of Hungary will get underway in early 2022,
starting with the central office building and a training centre, to
complement the infrastructure that has already been built, with roads
and car parks, as well as water and energy supplies. The buildings and
equipment required for car production will be put out to tender in the
near future. All technologies – from press shop to body shop, paint
shop and assembly – are planned for BMW Group Plant Debrecen. The
plant will be the first production location for the Neue Klasse. Going
forward, the site will employ up to 1,000 people, so that up to
150,000 vehicles per year can be built in Hungary. At the time of its
planned commissioning in 2025, the plant will set new benchmarks for
flexibility, digitalisation and productivity in production.

Electrification also continues to progress in Leipzig. The plant
recently celebrated 20 years since the decision to build in Leipzig
and, today, it is the BMW Group’s pioneer plant for electromobility:
It has been building the BMW Group’s first fully-electric vehicle, the
BMW i3*, since 2013. The location also began producing battery modules
this year, creating around 175 new jobs in this area so far. The
company has already decided to further increase capacity: A second
production line will come on stream in 2022. The expertise and
experience gained by staff at our site in the field of electromobility
over the years will also be leveraged for production of the successor
to the MINI Countryman, which will be built in Leipzig as a
fully-electric vehicle.

BMW i3: Fuel consumption combined: 0.0 l/100 km;
power consumption combined: 13.1 kWh/100 km (NEDC)/16.3-15.3 kWh/100
km (WLTP); CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km.

Original Press Release

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Endurance test on ice and snow: The BMW i7 undergoes driving dynamics testing at the polar circle.

BMW:Endurance test on ice and snow: The BMW i7 undergoes driving dynamics testing at the polar circle.

Munich. With the consistent expansion of its range to
further vehicle segments, the BMW Group is pushing ahead with the
transformation to electric mobility. During the forthcoming year, the
Munich-based premium automobile manufacturer will already present the
world’s first all-electric luxury sedan – the BMW i7 (power
consumption combined: 22.5 – 19.5 kWh/100 km according to WLTP; CO2
emissions: 0 g/km; prognosis based on the vehicle’s current level of
development). Within the framework of its series development process,
the BMW i7 is currently undergoing driving dynamics testing on the
premises of the BMW Group winter test centre in Arjeplog, Sweden.
There, just a few kilometres away from the Arctic Circle, test
engineers find the frozen surfaces and snow-covered roads offering the
ideal preconditions for the integrated application of all drive and
suspension systems. With the test programme held in the biting cold,
they pave the way to a new interpretation of luxury driving pleasure.
For the first time, it will be possible to experience a maximum in
characteristic BMW dynamics, comfort and supremacy in the luxury class
with absolutely zero local emissions.

The suspension components, steering and braking systems as well as
driving dynamics and vehicle stability systems developed for the
future generation of the BMW 7 Series are designed to raise the
balance between sportiness and ride comfort so typical of the brand’s
luxury sedans to the next level. This also includes
performance-oriented tuning of the wheel suspension, springs, dampers
and various regulating systems to match the various different drive
types. They all undergo intensive testing in Arjeplog under extreme
climate conditions.

In Lapland’s winter landscape, the test engineers find the perfect
preconditions for this. During test drives around the snow-covered
roads around Arjeplog, they are able to test and optimise all
functions under extremely challenging conditions in order to achieve
an absolutely harmonious and BMW-typical driving experience. Moreover,
they make use of test surfaces on frozen lakes with their low road
friction coefficient in order to achieve particularly fine tuning of
suspension control systems. The steering application undergoes
meticulous tuning as do the numerous functions of the Dynamic
Stability Control system (DSC) and the accurately regulated
interaction between friction brake and deceleration by means of energy recuperation. 

The winter programme also focuses in particular on the components of
the all-electric drive system. The BMW i7’s electric drive,
high-voltage battery, power electronics and charging technology all
originate from the fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology, which
already provides for sustainable driving pleasure in the BMW iX. Above
all, it is the motor, the battery and the temperature control system
of the BMW i7 that prove their high level of maturity in extreme
sub-zero temperatures in the north of Sweden.

With the BMW i7, the brand’s current model offensive in the luxury
segment is being continued in a particularly progressive way. For the
first time, it is possible to experience a luxury sedan that is
characterised by elegance, ride comfort and supremacy without
restriction and in conjunction with a purely electric drive system.
The BMW i7 is based on the same vehicle concept as all further model
variants of the BMW 7 Series. This integrated development also
guarantees locally emission-free driving with the characteristic
combination of both sporty and comfort-oriented handling properties
along with the exclusive spaciousness of a BMW luxury sedan. 

BMW i7

Power consumption combined: 22.5 – 19.5 kWh/100 km
according to WLTP; CO2 emissions: 0 g/km; prognosis based on the
vehicle’s current level of development.

Original Press Release

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BMW continues successful audio entertainment format and makes it interactive: Second season of the podcast thriller “Hypnopolis” launched.

BMW:

BMW continues successful audio entertainment format and makes it interactive: Second season of the podcast thriller “Hypnopolis” launched.

Munich. The English-language podcast thriller
“Hypnopolis” by BMW is being continued. The second season of
the successful audio entertainment format starts today. It is
completely fictional, stands out from the competition and is the first
ever interactive podcast published by a brand. The episodes of the
first season released last year, starring time-travelling journalist
Hope Reiser, topped the podcast charts and were played in 26 countries. 

“Hypnopolis II, Utopia in progress” bases its plot, even
more so than in the first season, on data-based future scenarios from
the BMW Group. The main focus is on the megatrend of the circular
economy and the responsible use of resources. The protagonists of the
new edition of the eco-thriller travel in futuristic airships to
stunning locations of a slowly regenerating world, such as a solar and
recycling farm in North Africa. The “Hypnopolis” story
deliberately focuses neither on the BMW brand nor on vehicles, but it
does draw on the expertise of the BMW Group. The plot is based on
assumptions made by the company’s ‘future” experts – for example about
how cities and mobility will develop.

BMW now focuses even more on a futuristic storytelling format as part
of its highly regarded audio strategy. The listening experience has
been improved even further. Conceived by the British star author
Robert Valentine together with the Hamburg creative agency Jung von
Matt/NEXT ALSTER and elaborate production in Los Angeles and Hamburg,
“Hypnopolis II” season is an interactive podcast. Listeners
can influence events with individual decisions by speaking short voice
commands. So the outcome of the story varies depending on the choices
a listener makes. This makes the podcast even more personal, authentic
and entertaining. “With the second part of our successful
fictional podcast series, we are providing an even more personalised
listening experience with new, interactive elements. Listeners can
influence the course of the story through their decisions – this is
how we emotionalise the brand and consistently follow our
customer-centred marketing approach,” says Stefan Ponikva, Head
of BMW Brand Communication and Experience.

Since the format has also been implemented in the entertainment
programme of BMW vehicles, customers can enjoy the podcast as an
“in-car experience”. “Hypnopolis” alongside
“Changing Lanes”, “Creators of a different beat”
and “KulturMobile. The Literature Podcast.” is the fourth
podcast from BMW.

All BMW Group podcasts can be accessed as follows:

“Hypnopolis” bmw.com, youtube, Spotify,
Apple Podcasts, deezer, Google Podcasts

“Changing Lanes”: bmw.com, youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts,
deezer, Google Podcasts

“Creators of a different beat”: youtube, facebook

“KulturMobile. The Literature Podcast.”: bmwgroup.com,
youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, deezer, Google Podcasts

Original Press Release

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May your December be MINI and bright – Festive MINI Electric embarks on charity tour.

BMW:May your December be MINI and bright – Festive MINI Electric embarks on charity tour.

Munich. Lighting the way after the Festive MINI
Electric’s first public appearance at The Lexicon Bracknell in
Berkshire, on the 25th November, the car is travelling to
various locations around the UK, driven by project creator Nicholas
‘Nico’ Martin.

The sen-sleigh-tional project first started over three years ago,
with Nico hand-wrapping his MINI in fairy-lights and displaying it in
his local town of Bracknell. However, in December 2020, without the
usual Christmas switch-on displays delivering much-needed festive
spirit, Nico realised he could use the Festive MINI to bring joy and
positivity to people on their own doorsteps, whilst also raising
awareness and over £5000 for the MS
Trust and Duchenne UK,
two charities very close to his heart.

Nico said, “I’m so pleased to be back with the Festive MINI charity
tour. I just knew last year I had an opportunity to cheer people up
and also to raise funds for the MS Trust and Duchenne UK. Both
charities mean a lot to me – unfortunately my mother was diagnosed
with Multiple Sclerosis six years ago, and in 2019 I was asked to take
the Festive MINI to surprise an incredible young boy, Marcus Rooks,
who was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. When I saw his
face light up with so much joy and excitement, I realised that I had
created something truly special. Ever since meeting him and learning
about his condition, I’ve wanted to support him in any way I can.”

This year, Nico has introduced a guest charity spot taken up by Alzheimer’s Society and he
has rallied support from MINI UK, Festive Lights and Italian smart
lighting company Twinkly, to up the voltage on his project and make it
bigger and better than ever, with an aim of raising as much money as
possible for the three special causes.

Nico added: “I’m so grateful for the incredible support behind the
project and the teams involved this year. The MINI Electric is even
more exciting to drive and means all my trips on the tour are
environmentally friendly and the app-controlled Twinkly lights with
their amazing customisable animations really give the car a bit of
extra magic. I can’t wait to get out on the road to spread some
Festive MINI spirit and raise lots of money for the three charities!”

David George, Director, MINI UK said, “We’re extremely humbled to be
a part of Nico’s fundraising project with the Festive MINI Electric.
It’s a wonderful idea that will bring people together, make them
smile, and also raise funds for some amazing charities.”

For more information on the Festive MINI Tour and to keep updated on
where it’s headed visit www.festivemini.com

Donate here:  https://festivegiving.org.uk/fundraising/festive-mini/

Follow Nico’s journey on Instagram: @drivingwithnico

In case of queries, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Sarah Bauer, Product Communication MINI
Tel.: +49-89-382-94180
E-mail: sarah.bauer@mini.com

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

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

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the
BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles
and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility
services. The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production
and assembly facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global
sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2020, the BMW Group sold over 2.3 million passenger vehicles
and more than 169,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax
in the financial year 2020 was € 5.222 billion on revenues amounting
to € 98.990 billion. As of 31 December 2020, the BMW Group had a
workforce of 120,726 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

Original Press Release

Posted on

Electrifying moments at BMW Welt: First customers take delivery of their fully-electric BMW i4 vehicles.

BMW:Electrifying moments at BMW Welt: First customers take delivery of their fully-electric BMW i4 vehicles.

Munich. From the heart of the BMW brand –
fully-electric on the road: The first BMW i4 vehicles were delivered
at the BMW Welt last weekend. Bernhard Kuhnt, Senior Vice
President BMW Group Market Germany, is delighted: “It
is a very special moment for us when we hand over brand new models to
customers for the first time. The BMW i4 shows in an emotional way how
well fully-electric mobility and sporty driving dynamics fit together.
For us, it is therefore clear: the BMW i4 will offer our customers a
whole new dimension of driving pleasure.”

On this special occasion, the BMW Group did not miss the opportunity
to invite the customers of the first BMW i4s to an accompanying
programme around the fully-electric Gran Coupé in Munich.

Customers are excited

Stefan Ballin, owner of an electrical contracting company and one of
the first customers, was delighted to take delivery of his BMW i4: “It
wasn’t possible, at the time I placed the order, to take a test drive,
but I knew the BMW i4 was exactly the right car for me! I was
impressed by the concept – the symbiosis of range, elegant design and
unmistakeable BMW sportiness. I also wanted a car that would show how
we, as an innovative company, can comfortably integrate
electromobility into both our private and working environments. I’m
also looking forward to sporty driving pleasure with zero emissions in
the i4 – because the electricity I need to run it will come from our
own photovoltaic system.”

Bernhardt Kuhnt confirmed: “With the BMW i4, we have
absolutely struck a chord. You can see this from the very high demand
for this car. We are delighted to be expanding our electrified product
line-up with this sporty, fully-electric Gran Coupé at exactly the
right time and to present the first vehicles to our customers today –
three months earlier than originally planned. The first delivery of a
BMW i4 today, and the first BMW iX in about a week, are further
milestones for the BMW Group on the road to electromobility.”

One in four BMW Group vehicles in Germany electrified

Kuhnt goes on to explain: “One in four BMWs delivered in Germany
today already comes with a fully-electric drive train or is a plug-in
hybrid. By the end of the third quarter, around 41,900 electrified
BMWs and 8,820 electrified MINIs had been delivered to customers this
year. The fully-electric MINI Cooper SE alone already accounts for
about 20 percent of MINI brand sales. The BMW Group has almost doubled
its sales of electrified models in Germany compared with the previous
year, at around 25 percent.”

Impressive driving dynamics thanks to model-specific chassis
technology and electric drive train

The BMW i4 combines characteristic sportiness with elegant design –
and brings electromobility to the traditional core of the BMW brand.
The four-door Gran Coupé is the first fully-electric BMW consistently
geared towards driving dynamics. Impressive driving dynamics and high
range are combined by harnessing the power of efficient drive
technology and intelligent lightweight construction.

Range and innovative technology were also purchasing considerations
for Ronny Scharschmidt, whose firm implements regional construction
projects with renewable energies: “I decided on the i4 because of the
range and the many new driving functions and on-board sensors that
make driving safer and more comfortable. My first long drive in the
BMW i4 will be from Munich directly home to Saxony-Anhalt: In the
meantime, there are enough fast chargers that you don’t have to worry
about charging anymore.”

Convenient charging

When BMW Group customers buy an electrified vehicle, it comes with a
BMW or MINI Charging Card that gives them access to one of the world’s
largest charging networks. BMW also offers two options for convenient
charging at home: the BMW Wallbox and the Smart Wallbox from BMW Group
partner NewMotion. For example, this wallbox also enables company car
drivers to precisely record charging processes for accounting purposes.

 

BMW Group electro-offensive continues

In addition to the two main innovation flagships, the BMW iX and BMW
i4, the BMW i3, MINI SE* and BMW iX3* are already on the market. These
will be followed in the coming years by fully-electric versions of the
BMW 7 Series, BMW X1 and the high-volume BMW 5 Series. Every plant in
Germany will produce fully-electric cars from 2022 onwards. A
fully-electric successor to the MINI Countryman and the all-electric
Rolls-Royce Spectre will also be released onto the market. By 2023,
the BMW Group will have at least one fully-electric model on the roads
in about 90 percent of its current market segments. The BMW Group
expects fully-electric vehicles to account for at least 50 percent of
its global sales in 2030.

*Consumption/emissions data:

BMW iX3: Power consumption in kWh/100 km combined:
18.9-18.5 WLTP

MINI Cooper SE: Power consumption in kWh/100 km
combined: 16.9-14.9 NEDC, 17.6-15.2 WLTP

If you have any questions, please contact:

 

BMW Group Corporate Communications

 

Micaela Sandstede, press spokesperson, Market Germany

Telephone: +49 89 382-61611

E-mail: Micaela.sandstede@bmwgroup.com

Eckhard Wannieck, Head of Communications Corporate, Finance, Sales

Telephone: +49 89 382-24544

E-mail: eckhard.wannieck@bmwgroup.com

Media website: www.press.bmwgroup.com

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 31 production and assembly
facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global sales network in
more than 140 countries.

In 2020, the BMW Group sold over 2.3 million passenger vehicles and
more than 169,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the
financial year 2020 was € 5.222 billion on revenues amounting to
€ 98.990 billion. As of 31 December 2020, the BMW Group had a
workforce of 120,726 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/

*Consumption/emissions data:

BMW iX3: Power consumption in kWh/100 km combined:
18.9-18.5 WLTP

MINI Cooper SE: Power consumption in kWh/100 km
combined: 16.9-14.9 NEDC, 17.6-15.2 WLTP

Original Press Release