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The next step: BMW Motorsport expands its involvement in sim racing and cooperates with four top teams.

BMW:The next step: BMW Motorsport expands its involvement in sim racing and cooperates with four top teams.

Munich. BMW Motorsport is expanding its sim racing activities
in the coming year. As well as various different BMW SIM Cup
formats, it will focus on new partnerships with four top teams and
founding a “BMW Motorsport SIM Academy”. A “BMW SIM World Tour” is
also planned, and is scheduled to start with a roadshow in Austria
in 2021. Even more virtual BMW race cars will be available on the
most important sim racing platforms, and the development of
innovative sim racing hardware with BMW Motorsport know-how will
also continue. The goal is to incorporate the sim racing community
as an equal partner in all programmes and, together, to continue the
boom that virtual motor racing in Esports has enjoyed in 2020.

 

“In recent months, we have experienced an incredible dynamic in sim
racing,” said Rudolf Dittrich, Head of BMW Motorsport SIM Racing. “At
BMW Motorsport, we have learned a lot this year and are determined to
put what we have learned into practice, with regard to our 2021
programme. The area of hardware development will also focus on
technological innovations and new developments next year. Our BMW SIM
Cups will once again play an important role, but in an adapted form.
Our cooperations with four of the best sim racing teams in the world,
and our new academy, see us continue our approach of promoting sim
racing as part of the community through mutual dialogue. Together, we
will continue to fuel the growth in this exciting Esports sector. The
BMW Motorsport sim racing programme provides the ideal basis for this.”

 

BMW SIM Cups.

Last year’s successful Cup formats on various sim racing platforms
will be continued and expanded in 2021. This allows the best sim
racers in the world to continue to compete in the BMW M8 GTE on the
iRacing platform within the BMW SIM GT Cup. Over the course of the
year, the BMW M4 GT3 will also be introduced. The virtual version of
this car is currently being developed by iRacing at the same time as
the real car is being developed. The BMW SIM M2 CS Racing Cup will
also offer spectacular racing again. However, it will no longer take
place exclusively on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, but at various
racetracks within the support programme for the GT Pro Series on
rFactor 2. New to the programme is the BMW SIM Time Attack by Assetto
Corsa Competizione. This sees drivers race against the clock with the
BMW M4 GT4 in monthly competitions. All participants have the same
goal: to compete at the BMW SIM Live event, which will once again
provide the stage for the grand finales of all the BMW SIM Cups in 2021.

BMW Motorsport cooperates with top sim racing teams.

The partnerships with four of the best sim racing teams in the world
underline the fact that BMW Motorsport is very ambitious and
determined to celebrate victories in Esports. Team Redline, Williams
Esports, G2 Esports and BS+COMPETITION will compete with BMW cars and
represent BMW Motorsport at many top-class sim racing events on the
biggest platforms in 2021. Each team brings its own specific strengths
and different focusses to the partnership. Team Redline can look back
on a unique success story in sim racing and is one of the favourites
in every race that features a Redline car. The Williams Esports team
is positioned very broadly in sim racing and regularly challenges for
victories and titles on many different platforms – with the same name
as the Formula 1 team. BS+COMPETITION has a big squad of so-called
hybrid racers, who are successful in real and virtual motor racing.
BMW and G2 Esports already cooperate successfully in other areas of
Esports. Sim racing is now being added to this cooperation. The focus
of G2 Esports Sim Racing is on outings in the Assetto Corsa
Competizione simulation.

BMW Motorsport SIM Academy.

With the construction of its own academy, sim racing is being given a
physical home at BMW Motorsport. At the “Home of BMW Motorsport SIM
Racing”, ambitious and inexperienced sim racers will be given the
opportunity to call on the extensive range of training opportunities
and motor racing expertise at BMW Motorsport. This begins with
coaching from professional sim racers in the BMW Motorsport SIM Racing
partner teams, and continues through to mental training courses, which
BMW works drivers have been attending regularly for many years, in
order to optimise their concentration during races. The training
sessions at the BMW Motorsport SIM Academy are available streamed
online and – as soon as it is possible again – in person. The academy
is currently being set up. Further details of this programme will be
announced during the first half of 2021.

BMW SIM World Tour.

Also new for 2021 is the BMW SIM World Tour. This will – if the
pandemic situation allows it – kick off in April 2021 with an
innovative roadshow through Austria, under the motto “From Showroom to
Racetrack”. Mobile BMW racing simulators offer customers and
interested parties the opportunity to enjoy an immersive motorsport
experience, with the prospect of winning attractive prizes and a place
in the national final. A total of 40 event days throughout Austria are
planned for the pilot project. The car of choice for the virtual heats
will be the entry-level model in the BMW M Customer Racing range – the
BMW M2 CS Racing.

Original Press Release

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World premieres at BMW SIM Live: Technology transfer from real and virtual motor racing.

BMW:World premieres at BMW SIM Live: Technology transfer from real and virtual motor racing.

Munich. BMW Motorsport SIM Racing presented three spectacular
world premieres at its digital BMW SIM Live event, each of which
take the transfer of technology between real and virtual racing to a
totally new level. The BMW M4 GT3, which is set to become the new
flagship in the BMW M Customer Racing range of race cars from 2022,
made its debut on the iRacing sim racing platform as a prototype
ahead of its first real race outing. The steering wheel in the BMW
M4 GT3 has been developed in cooperation with Fanatec and is the
first of its kind to work in both a race car and a race simulator.
The third global innovation is the concept study of the “Fusion SL”
sim lounge furniture. In just a few simple steps, it can be
converted from a designer table into a fully-fledged race simulator.
With these developments, BMW Motorsport is underlining its
aspirations not only to use the event characteristics of sim racing,
but also to actively promote the industry through such innovations
as the hardware that forms part of its holistic involvement.

 

“With BMW Motorsport SIM Racing, we are following a 360-degree
approach. This means that we have our eye on the big picture,” said
Rudolf Dittrich, Head of BMW Motorsport SIM Racing. “We have achieved
an awful lot in the first year of our involvement. At the same time,
we have also identified great potential and, based on that, have
decided to continue to focus strongly on hardware developments in
2021, with which we can promote technical innovations and develop new
product categories and markets. With this alignment, we are
positioning ourselves in our competitor’s environment in a totally
unique way. We really enjoy developing creative solutions and seeing
fast results with our process partners, with whom we are developing
the world firsts of today and tomorrow.”

BMW M4 GT3 steering wheel, the first of its kind for race car
and simulator.

BMW Motorsport has collaborated with sim racing hardware producer,
Fanatec, to develop a steering wheel for the BMW M4 GT3 that can be
used in both a race car and a race simulator – a technology transfer,
the likes of which has never been seen before in motor racing.
Absolutely no modifications are required for it to be used in the race
car. The carbon steering wheel is a motorsport design, with
illuminated buttons and magnetic, dual-action shift paddles also made
of carbon. The fact that the hybrid steering wheel perfectly fulfils
both roles was demonstrated emphatically by BMW works driver Philipp
Eng (AUT) at BMW SIM Live. He entered the stage in the real BMW M4
GT3, emerged holding the steering wheel, inserted it into the
simulator, and promptly completed a number of laps in the car’s
virtual counterpart. Extensive tests allow the BMW Motorsport
engineers to constantly monitor the durability of the steering wheel
in real racing situations. It will be available from Fanatec in the
first half of 2021.

“The first time I heard of the idea to design the BMW M4 GT3 steering
wheel to be compatible with a simulator, I was flabbergasted – because
I was thrilled by the concept from the word go,” said Eng. “You have
to take your hat off to the pioneering role that BMW Motorsport and
Fanatec have taken on here, and to the courage to implement a project
of this kind. I know the people who were involved in the development
at BMW Motorsport and at Fanatec, and never doubted that they would
design a superb steering wheel. Compared to the steering wheel in the
BMW M6 GT3, for example, the new wheel has extremely good ergonomics.
It is very comfortable to hold. You can tell that real professionals
have been at work in every area.”

 

The BMW M4 GT3 as a prototype on iRacing.

As with the BMW M8 GTE and BMW M4 GT4 before it, BMW Motorsport has
worked very closely with popular sim racing platform iRacing over the
past few months, in order to integrate the BMW M4 GT3 as faithfully as
possible in the simulation. The difference this time is that the car
is being used as a test car on iRacing even as it is being developed.
As such, the sim racers can follow the development together with BMW
Motorsport, and can help drive the development forward until the final
version is available on iRacing and to real motor racing customers
later in 2021. At the same time as the real car is being developed,
BMW Motorsport engineers have provided their colleagues at iRacing
with CAD data and photos as a reference, which they can then use as a
basis when programming and designing the virtual BMW M4 GT3. In an
additional data package, iRacing received all the information on the
driving dynamics of the BMW M4 GT3. BMW Motorsport engineers use the
same set of data to operate the BMW Motorsport simulator, for example.
In total, over 70 GB of data has already been exchanged. The common
goal: to recreate the actual driving dynamics as realistically as possible.

Philipp Eng was impressed by how successfully this had been achieved
when he took the virtual BMW M4 GT3 for a spin for the first time on
the simulator at BMW SIM Live. “I find it extremely cool that the BMW
M4 GT3 has been introduced on iRacing parallel to its actual
development. After all, I am not only a thoroughbred racing driver,
but also a thoroughbred sim racer,” said Eng, who, as an alpha tester
for iRacing, plays a role in ensuring that the handling of the BMW M4
GT3 is as close as possible to reality. “iRacing is doing a fabulous
job when it comes to being realistic. Just a few years ago, I would
never have believed that something like this was possible. iRacing has
achieved an incredibly high standard in cooperation with BMW
Motorsport. I am very excited to see how good the digital BMW M4 GT3
will be in the end.”

BMW Motorsport, BMW Designworks and Sedus combine
functionality and home design in the “Fusion SL” concept furniture
.

Sim racing is growing in popularity all over the world. As such, the
number of users building comprehensively-equipped rigs at home is also
growing. At BMW Motorsport, this raised the question of how to
integrate these rigs in everyday life. Together with BMW Designworks
and furniture manufacturer Sedus, they have come up with a solution.
The concept study is called “Fusion SL” – a unique combination of sim
racing rig and lounge furniture. The idea was to develop a piece of
furniture that would save space and could be aesthetically integrated
into a modern living environment. It can be converted into a rig in
just a few simple steps, but which is otherwise folded down to serve
as a desk, coffee table or seat, thus making “boost” and “ease”
concepts that can be experienced not only in the car, but also in the
living room.

To implement the project, the engineering quality of BMW Motorsport,
design expertise of Michael Scully and his BMW Designworks team, and
the production performance of Sedus – one of the leading full-service
providers for office furnishings and workplace concepts – were brought
together. “The ‘Fusion SL’ concept combines the best of two worlds,”
said Scully. “It is not necessarily intended to replace the high-end
sim rigs used by professionals. Our goal was rather to make sim racing
and the hardware required attractive for new target groups – and, to
be honest, their fellow occupants. It is not easy to strike the right
balance between the necessary stability, portability, flat profile,
torsional rigidity and a visual impression that will bring the piece
of furniture out of the cellar and into the living room, as many of
these aspects contradict each other. However, design is all about
overcoming these challenges.” Ernst Holzapfel, Head of Marketing at
Sedus Stoll AG, added: “The ‘Fusion SL’ concept is the perfect home
office for sim racers. The Wooom chair is its perfect partner. One
minute you can be relaxing comfortably in it, the next it offers you
everything you would expect from a good racing seat, with its sporty
seating position and good lateral support, thanks to the padding provided.”

Original Press Release

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Changes at BMW Motorsport: Farewell to BMW Teams RBM and Schnitzer, BMW Team RMG now involved in the GT3 development.

BMW:Changes at BMW Motorsport: Farewell to BMW Teams RBM and Schnitzer, BMW Team RMG now involved in the GT3 development.

Munich. The international motorsport landscape is currently
undergoing a raft of changes – and as a result, this also applies to
the works-based BMW Motorsport team line-up. Therefore, the long
collaboration with the iconic BMW Teams RBM and Schnitzer will not
continue. BMW Team RMG will be working with BMW Motorsport to
develop the new BMW M4 GT3 in the coming season.

After the premature end of the Class 1 DTM, the fields of activity
for BMW’s works-based presence had to be adapted. BMW Team RMG, that
previously was one of the works teams in the DTM and celebrated two
driver’s titles with Marco Wittmann (GER), will serve as a development
team for the new BMW M4 GT3 in the future.

In contrast, the collaboration with BMW Team RBM is ending, as there
is no longer a classic works involvement in the new, customer
racing-based DTM.

The BMW Motorsport family has enjoyed many fantastic successes with
Bart Mampaey’s (BEL) team on the international motorsport stage over
25 years. Founded in 1995, the team became an official BMW works team
in 2006 after being crowned European and World Touring Car Champions.
Two more World Championship titles followed. With its outstanding
performances, BMW Team RBM has made a major contribution to the fact
that BMW became one of the most successful manufacturers in the World
Touring Car Championship. Since the return to DTM in 2012, BMW Team
RBM has been one of the BMW works teams in the series and claimed nine
race victories.

The necessary realignment of the works-based team structure also
means that the partnership with BMW Team Schnitzer will not be continued.

Since the 1960s, Schnitzer Motorsport has been one of the most
influential and successful teams in the world of international GT and
touring car racing – always with BMW race cars. BMW Team Schnitzer has
forever earned an important place in BMW history, thanks to many
prestigious national and international triumphs in renowned
championships and at legendary endurance races, like those at the
Nürburgring and at Le Mans. Through its passionate commitment and
magnificent success, Schnitzer has also been instrumental in shaping
the BMW brand in terms of sportiness and dynamics. The level of the
team’s performance was demonstrated most recently at the Nürburgring
24 Hours, when it finished third under the leadership of Herbert
Schnitzer jun.

Quotes:

Bart Mampaey (Team Principal BMW Team RBM): “It is a
great shame, but we respect the fact that BMW Motorsport is unable to
continue the collaboration with us as a works team. I would like to
thank BMW for the fantastic partnership, which we have enjoyed for 25
long years. BMW has always been at our side, from the very beginning
to the final curtain in the DTM, and our relationship will remain a
strong one, even if we are no longer a works team. Times are changing
and we are all facing a challenging future. At RBM, we will initially
reduce our racing activities. However, that does not mean this is the
end of our motorsport chapter. We want to continue in motor racing and
see what options arise. I also think that we can apply the values and
skills that we have at RBM in other industries outside motorsport.
They always say: when one door closes, another one opens. So I am very
excited to see what opportunities come our way in the future.”

Herbert Schnitzer jun. (Team Principal BMW Team
Schnitzer): “We very much regret that, given the changes in
motorsport, it is no longer possible to continue the cooperation with
BMW Motorsport. However, we obviously understand and respect the
decision. We are proud that we Schnitzers have, together with BMW,
shaped international motorsport for so many decades. It is a pleasure
to look back on all the big successes we have enjoyed together in such
a wide range of categories. We are also very proud to be a part of
motorsport history at BMW. We would like to thank BMW Motorsport for
this long, unique partnership. BMW was our life and our passion.”

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal BMW Team RMG): “We
are very much looking forward to our new role as development team for
the BMW M4 GT3, and thank BMW Motorsport for the faith it has placed
in us. The BMW M4 GT3 is the new flagship of BMW Motorsport, and we
will do our bit to make it another successful BMW. For us as racers
and technicians, it is very exciting to be closely involved in the
development of a race car. We will now apply all our know-how and
skills to this project.”

Note to editors: Over the course of the coming week,
we will pay tribute to the two departing BMW teams, RBM and Schnitzer,
and will look back at milestones in the shared history.

Original Press Release

Posted on

The perfect example of synergies between real-world motorsport and sim racing: the BMW M4 GT4.

BMW:The perfect example of synergies between real-world motorsport and sim racing: the BMW M4 GT4.

Munich. The BMW M4 GT4 played a leading role in the technology
transfer between real-world motorsport and sim racing in the 2020
season. The introduction of the car on the simulation platforms
iRacing and Assetto Corsa Competizione is just as much a new
dimension of creating synergies between real-world and virtual
racing as the livery contest and the virtual track day with the BMW
M customer racing car. BMW Motorsport SIM Racing followed all these
projects with intense media coverage.

 
“The BMW M4 GT4 is a superb example of what we mean when
we emphasise that the BMW Motorsport SIM Racing projects are also
about synergies between real-world and digital racing. This pillar of
our racing programme is self-contained, but pays in to all of the BMW
Group’s motorsport,” says Rudolf Dittrich, Head of BMW Motorsport SIM
Racing. “Building the bridge between real-world and digital racing
makes a great deal of sense in the case of a BMW M customer racing car
such as the BMW M4 GT4. Many customers have explicitly asked for this
car to be implemented. On the one hand, to have spectacular virtual
races – particularly during the pandemic – and on the other hand, to
practice for the next real appearance at home, and in doing so have
almost exactly the same driving experience as in the real-world racing
car. Enabling a much larger customer base to test the BMW M4 GT4
virtually, and in doing so to get a good initial impression, might
result in one or more additional interested parties in a real car. No
doubt we will apply this principle again in future projects with BMW
racing cars.”
 
Development of the digital BMW M4 GT4.

The digital version of the BMW M4 GT4 made its debut on the
simulation platform iRacing at the start of June. Over the course of
the year, the platform Assetto Corsa Competizione also introduced the
car. To make the driving experience as realistic as possible for the
sim racers, the BMW Motorsport engineers collaborated extremely
closely and transparently with the simulation platform
colleagues.
 
In the case of iRacing, the developers
received two large data packages of several gigabytes from BMW
Motorsport. Dittrich explained the process in a press release at the
end of May 2020 as follows: “The first package contained the CAD data
with all the specifications of the car parts. That is exactly the same
data that a supplier gets from us to produce the real component.
iRacing also scanned a real car, in this case the Turner Motorsport
BMW M4 GT4. The second large data package contained all the
information on driving dynamics. We use the same data set to do
simulate lap times or to operate our BMW Motorsport simulator, for
example. This data includes damper curves, engine performance curves,
axle kinematics, weight distribution, aerodynamic values: any figures
that we had calculated for the car we passed on to iRacing. iRacing
ended up knowing as much about the car as our customer teams do.”
 
Virtual track day with the BMW M4 GT4.

To give potential customers the opportunity to experience the
BMW M4 GT4 in the race simulator, the first BMW Motorsport SIM Racing
Track Day was held at the end of June. A selection of BMW M customer
racing drivers took to the track at the virtual Nürburgring and
received tuition from well-known “instructors”: BMW works driver
Philipp Eng, who enjoys great success in the simulator himself, and
the three sim racers Alexander Voß, Laurin Heinrich and Nils Koch. In
addition to the pure driving experience, the procedure during a race
was also simulated, with free practice sessions, qualifying and races.
Instructors used a voice app to give the participants valuable tips on
set-up work with digital race cars.
 
“With their various
commitments and activities, BMW has long demonstrated how seriously
they take the field of sim racing,” said Eng in the press release at
that time. “This event showed that once again. I think it’s great that
customer teams and drivers from the BMW Sports Trophy are also being
given the opportunity to collaborate with sim experts.”
 
BMW M4 GT4 livery contest.

In July 2020, BMW Motorsport SIM Racing announced the BMW M4 GT4
Livery Contest with the tagline “THE FUSION OF REAL WORLD AND SIM
RACING” – a design competition in which entrants from the sim racing
community were able to let their creativity run free, and even have
their dream design feature on the real-world
racetrack.
 
Chan Wen Bin prevailed over numerous rivals
with his suggested design for the BMW M4 GT4 and received a cash prize
of 3,000 US dollars and the joy of having his design used on a real
racing car. The BMW M customer racing team FK Performance contested
the season finale of the DTM Trophy in Hockenheim with the BMW M4 GT4
in the winning design in November 2020.
 
The 27-year-old
graphic designer from Malaysia won over not only the top-class jury
consisting of multi-media artist and BMW Art Car artist Cao Fei,
Michael Scully (Global Automotive Director @Designworks) and BMW works
driver Bruno Spengler with his design; BMW Motorsport fans also had
the opportunity to vote for their favourites via social media and
influence the decision.
 
“With the BMW M4 GT4 Livery
Contest we showed that in addition to racing drivers, you can also
integrate and speak to other communities, as well as support graphic
designers digitally via sim racing and make them more well known,”
says Dittrich.
 
BMW SIM Live on 5th December 2020.

BMW SIM Live 2020, which will be broadcast from 4.00 PM CET on
5th December via a livestream on the BMW Motorsport and BMW
Esports channels, will include the final races in the BMW SIM 120 Cup
and the BMW SIM M2 CS Racing Cup. When the season’s race winners come
together they will be competing for a total prize fund in excess of
25,000 euros.
 
BMW Motorsport SIM Racing will use the event
framework to present its extensive programme for the upcoming season.
This will be expanded significantly in many areas, to do justice to
the momentum of the rapidly emerging digital racing sector. Plans
include the one-make cup competitions, hardware developments and
collaborations. BMW Motorsport SIM Racing will present several
spectacular world premieres in these areas at BMW SIM Live 2020.
 
Live streams of the BMW SIM Live 2020:

 
BMW Motorsport Youtube: 
https://b.mw/sim_live

BMW Motorsport Facebook: https://b.mw/sim_live_FB
BMW Motorsport Twitter: https://b.mw/sim_live_TW   
BMW Motorsport Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/bmwmotorsport
BMW Esports Twitter: 
https://b.mw/esports_sim_live_TW

Original Press Release

Posted on

New film “The Drop” again invites the global BMW M Community to “M Town”.

BMW:New film “The Drop” again invites the global BMW M Community to “M Town”.

Munich. “Welcome to M Town”: With a new film, the BMW
M GmbH is continuing its successful campaign focusing on the global
BMW M Community’s virtual Eldorado. The “The Drop” attracts horsepower
enthusiasts and petrolheads once again to “M Town”, where, since 2018,
everything has revolved around the most powerful letter in the world
and the passion for high performance. This time, director Micky
Sülzer, who was already responsible for the iconic videos about the
special life attitude in “M Town” two years ago, is presenting the
broad spectrum of current BMW M models, some of which boast extremely
eye-catching body colours, whilst incorporating special vehicles from
BMW M’s Heritage fleet, including a red BMW E30 M3.

“M Town is the most successful digital campaign from the BMW M GmbH,
particularly as the entire BMW M Community throughout the world
actively participates and shapes it. This enthusiasm and this
identification create that very special something that makes BMW M so
unique. Therefore, we are happy to continue this success story with
the next film whilst also giving a small glimpse into the future,”
says Lothar Schupet, Director Global Sales and Marketing BMW M.

Since 2018, “M Town” has served as the social and digital
communication platform for BMW M fans all over the world. They
register with bmw-m.com as citizens of  “M Town” and create their own
individual digital BMW M pass. “M Town” stands for unique
storytelling, original online videos, numerous creative products in
the BMW M Town
merchandising shop and a large number of events around the
globe. Visitors to BMW Welt in Munich gain a very realistic impression
of “M Town” on a specially designed 180 square metre exhibition area.

As we are familiar with from the previous online videos, numerous BMW
M vehicles also play the leading role in the new film “The Drop”. A
total of 18 various models from BMW M’s latest range make shorter or
longer appearances in “The Drop”. The spectrum of exceptional
high-performance vehicles ranges from the BMW M2 CS (combined fuel
consumption: 10.4 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions:
238 g/km*) to the BMW M8 Gran Coupe (combined fuel consumption:
10.7 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 244 g/km*). In
addition to some hidden highlights, special one-offs such as the BMW
M2 by FUTURA 2000 and the BMW M3 Pickup from the year 2011, which
delivers a charging station, are also featured. So, for the first time
in an “M Town” film, the BMW M GmbH is offering a small glimpse into
an electrifying future and blending “Utopia” with the real future.
2021 will already witness the first electrified model from BMW M as a
performance variant based on the new BMW i4, and further models –
including high-performance vehicles – are to follow.

The protagonist of the film, in which notable influencers from the
automotive scene were also involved, drives a red BMW E30 M3 from the
BMW M Heritage fleet. Moreover, BMW M GmbH classics are represented by
a M3 GTS, a BMW M3 CRT, a BMW M4 GTS and a BMW 1 Series M Coupe.

Totally in line with the Community concept, the new film showcases
not only vehicles from the BMW M GmbH fundus but also from “M Town”
citizens. For this purpose, members of the BMW M Community provided
their own vehicles for the shooting of the film. These special places
had been previously raffled off in an online campaign.

Agencies

Created by Jung von Matt

Produced by Zauberberg Productions

Directed by Micky Sülzer

BMW M2 CS:

Combined fuel consumption: 10.4 l/100 km; combined
CO2 emissions: 238 g/km*.
BMW M8 Gran Coupe:

Combined fuel consumption: 10.7 l/100 km; combined
CO2 emissions: 244 g/km*.
*The fuel
consumption, CO2 emissions, electric power consumption and
range figures were based on the new WLTP test cycle and translated
back into NEDC-equivalent values in order to ensure comparability
between the vehicles. With respect to these vehicles, for
vehicle-related taxes or other duties based (at least inter alia) on
CO2 emissions, the CO2 values may differ from
the values stated here (depending on national legislation). 

Original Press Release

Posted on

Your World. My BMW. The new-generation app for BMW customers. Now available in 30 European markets, China and Korea.

BMW:Your World. My BMW. The new-generation app for BMW customers. Now available in 30 European markets, China and Korea.

Munich. Ever since the introduction of the BMW i
Remote app in 2013, followed by the BMW Connected app, BMW has offered
its customers the option of effortless connectivity between their
smartphone and vehicle. A new-generation app is now available to
customers in 30 European markets, China and Korea: the My BMW App
features a new-look design, intuitive and simplified user experience,
and new services to support individual electromobility.

“With the new app generation, we are taking a further step in
extending the digital customer experience around our vehicles and thus
meeting the increased customer demand for digital services and
functions,” said Peter Henrich, Senior Vice President BMW Group
Connected Company Customer. “With the My BMW App and the

MINI App, we seamlessly integrate our vehicles into the digital
lifestyle of our customers. Both apps offer a lot of useful content
both for the daily use of the vehicle and in the personal interaction
with us as a brand, which we are continuously expanding”.

Stephan Durach, Senior Vice President BMW Group Connected Company
Development, Technical Operations, adds: “My BMW and the MINI App set
the standard for usability, safety and reliability. User feedback and
information on the behaviour of users of the previous generation of
the app were critical to the development process. The two apps include
popular and frequently used functions, and the new platform allows us
to continuously add new functionality, adapted to our customers’ needs.”

Summary of highlights

  • The My BMW App is the new universal interface to
    the vehicle. It displays information on the status of the vehicle
    and, depending on the equipment, allows functions to be activated
    remotely (e.g. to locate the vehicle, lock and unlock the doors, or
    monitor the vehicle surroundings (Remote 3D View)).
  • Destinations are easy to find via the integrated search function
    and can be sent directly from the app to the vehicle’s navigation
    system. It is also possible to transmit destinations from
    third-party apps. The map shows the current traffic situation,
    filling stations and charging stations, as well as parking options.
  • Customers are informed of available Remote Software
    Upgrades     via the
    My BMW App and can easily download
    these upgrades at home before transferring them to and installing
    them in the vehicle. With Remote Software Upgrades, the BMW Group
    offers customers with BMW Operating System 7 new and improved
    digital features on a regular basis and the ability to ensure that
    their vehicle software is always up to date.
  • The BMW Digital Key, which turns an iPhone into a
    vehicle key, offers convenient set-up via the My BMW App in just a
    few steps (the necessary hardware needs to be available in the
    vehicle). The BMW can then be used without a physical key and this
    access can be shared with up to five other people. If desired,
    restricted rights, such as a reduced maximum speed, can also be
    applied when sending a key – perfect for novice drivers.
  • With My BMW, Amazon Alexa can be used in vehicles
    with BMW Operating System 7. Once the customer has linked their
    Amazon account in the app, they can use the voice assistant in the
    vehicle by saying the activation word “Alexa” or at the touch of a
    button. Customers can use this voice control to play music, access
    news, control compatible smart home devices and access thousands of
    skills. Alexa is initially available in Germany, Austria, Spain,
    Italy and Great Britain. The voice service will be rolled out in
    more countries from March 2021.
  • The app offers additional features for electrified BMW
    vehicles    , including an improved overview of the electric
    range, charging status and charging history. Customers can use the
    charge and climate timer to optimise the charging process by
    defining specific time slots for charging and set departure times.
    Pre-conditioning is also available (to heat the vehicle in winter or
    cool it in summer, for example) for enhanced comfort.
  • With the introduction of BMW Points, customers
    will be rewarded for electric driving in a BMW plugin hybrid model:
    customers collect points and can then redeem them for free charging
    time from BMW Charging. The My BMW App allows
    customers to keep track of their BMW Points and to manage them. BMW
    Points is already available in Belgium, Germany, France, Austria,
    the Netherlands and Switzerland.
  • Personalisation: Once linked with a personal BMW
    ID    , individual preferences can be set in any current BMW
    vehicle quickly and automatically. Thanks to the My BMW App, logging
    in is now even easier – instead of manually entering a username and
    password, customers can simply scan a QR code to securely transfer
    their user settings. Users can also choose a profile picture via the
    app, which is now automatically transferred to the vehicle.
  • The My BMW App offers easy access to the BMW ecosystem. It can be
    used to contact BMW Service Partners directly, and
    customers can keep an eye on their vehicle’s service requirements in
    the app. Service appointments can be made directly from the app if
    needed. BMW Roadside Assistance can also be contacted via the app in
    the event of problems with the vehicle. If consent is given, the
    service personnel will see the location of the vehicle and its
    status so that immediate over-the-air assistance can be provided. At
    the same time, customers can track the service vehicle’s journey.
    The app also offers easy access to the BMW ConnectedDrive Store and
    the BMW Online Shop.

The new-generation app can be downloaded free of charge from the
Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. By mid-2021, My BMW will be
available in 23 languages and more than 40 countries, including the
USA, Canada, Brazil and Mexico, as well as additional markets in
Southeast Asia.

You can find more information on related topics here:

Remote
Software Upgrade

BMW
Digital Key

BMW Points

Original Press Release

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Tap into your MINI with the new app generation for customers and fans.

BMW:Tap into your MINI with the new app generation for customers and fans.

Munich. By means of a built-in 4G-SIM Card and the
MINI Connected App, MINI has been offering its customers a seamless
connection between smartphone and vehicle since 2018. As of today, a
new app generation is available for customers in 30 European markets
and Korea: The MINI App comes in a new design, with
intuitive and simplified user experience and new services supporting
individual electromobility.

“With the new app generation, we are taking a further step in
extending the digital customer experience around our vehicles and thus
meeting the increased customer demand for digital services and
functions,” said Peter Henrich, Senior Vice President BMW Group
Connected Company Customer. “With the My BMW App and the MINI
App, we seamlessly integrate our vehicles into the digital lifestyle
of our customers. Both apps offer a lot of useful content both for the
daily use of the vehicle and in the personal interaction with us as a
brand, which we are continuously expanding”.

Stephan Durach, Senior Vice President BMW Group Connected Company
Development, Technical Operations, adds: “My BMW and the MINI App set
the standard for usability, safety and reliability. User feedback and
information on the behaviour of users of the previous generation of
the app were critical to the development process. The two apps include
popular and frequently used functions, and the new platform allows us
to continuously add new functionality, adapted to our customers’ needs.”

MINI App features and highlights

  • IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO VEHICLE STATUS AND FUNCTIONS.
    The MINI App is the new universal interface to the vehicle. It
    displays information about the status of the vehicle and, given
    required options, allows access to remote services as, for instance,
    locating the vehicle or locking and unlocking the doors.
  • HANDY NAVIGATION FEATURES. Destinations are easy to
    find using the integrated search function and can be sent directly
    from the app to the vehicle’s navigation system. It is also possible
    to send destinations from third-party apps. The map shows the
    current traffic situation, petrol stations and charging stations as
    well as parking facilities.
  • SMART SERVICES TO SUPPORT CUSTOMERS’ E-MOBILITY
    LIFESTYLE.     The app offers new services for the MINI
    Countryman Plug-In Hybrid and the all-electric MINI Cooper SE, e.g.
    an improved overview of the electrical range, the charging status
    and charging history. Using the app’s charging and climate timer,
    customers can optimise the charging process by defining specific
    time windows and departure times. In addition, the vehicle can be
    pre-conditioned (e.g. by heating in winter or cooling in summer) to
    increase comfort.
  • THE SHORTEST WAY TO MINI AFTERSALES SERVICE. The
    MINI App enables direct contact with a MINI Service Partner and
    customers can keep an eye on their vehicle’s service requirements.
    If required, an appointment can be made directly in the app. The
    MINI Roadside Assistance can also be reached via the app in the
    event of problems with the vehicle. If approval is given, service
    staff can see the location of the vehicle and its status for
    immediate over-the-air assistance. At the same time, customers can
    track the arrival of the service vehicle. The MINI Online Shop can
    also be conveniently accessed from the app.

The new app generation can be downloaded free of charge from the
Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. By mid-2021 the MINI App
will be available in more than 40 countries and 23 languages.

Original Press Release

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Focus on production: BMW Motorsport to call time on its Formula E involvement after Season 7.

BMW:Focus on production: BMW Motorsport to call time on its Formula E involvement after Season 7.

Munich. After seven successful years, BMW Group will end its
involvement in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship at the end
of the coming season. As a partner from the word go, BMW has
consistently supported the Formula E project and been instrumental
in the series’ success story. BMW has enjoyed victories and podiums
with the BMW i Andretti Motorsport team. BMW Group has always used
Formula E as a tech lab for production.

The same engineers who develop the drivetrains for electric
production vehicles are also responsible for the drivetrains in the
race cars. Examples of the successful transfer of technology between
the Formula E project and production development include new findings
regarding energy management and energy efficiency, the transfer of
software for power electronics from racing to production, and an
improvement in the power density of the e-motors.  

When it comes to the development of e-drivetrains, BMW Group has
essentially exhausted the opportunities for this form of technology
transfer in the competitive environment of Formula E.

Furthermore, the strategic focus of BMW Group is shifting within the
field of e-mobility. In the future, greater emphasis will be placed on
the comprehensive scaling of the offering and global production. BMW
Group plans to have put one million electric vehicles on the roads by
the end of 2021. The goal is to increase this figure to seven million
by 2030, of which two-thirds will be fully-electric.

Since entering a works team in Season 5, BMW i Andretti Motorsport
has claimed four victories, four pole positions and nine podiums in
its 24 races so far. In the coming season, the team will do everything
it can to achieve as much sporting success on the track as possible
with the BMW iFE.21 and drivers Maximilian Günther (GER) and Jake
Dennis (GBR).

Original Press Release

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Video explanation: What is sim racing?

BMW:Video explanation: What is sim racing?

Munich. On 5th December, BMW Motorsport SIM Racing
will introduce themselves at BMW SIM Live, which will be held
exclusively via livestream due to the pandemic. By way of
introduction, BMW Motorsport produced a video that imparts basic
info on the rapidly growing sector of sim racing. The short clip
also explains BMW Motorsport’s current involvement in digital racing.

 

“We identified sim racing as an exciting field of activity for us
early on and established it as a permanent pillar in our motorsport
programme. The rapid development this past year confirms that we were
right,” said Rudolf Dittrich, Head of BMW Motorsport SIM Racing. “Sim
racing is becoming more and more professional and is establishing
itself as a standalone racing discipline. It also offers a new,
affordable way to get involved in racing and reaches new target
groups. We’re using the freedom in this dynamic environment for
intensive technology transfer and are creating many synergies between
digital and real-world racing.”

BMW Motorsport added sim racing to its racing programme as a
standalone, equal pillar in 2020 and, in close collaboration with the
rapidly growing sim racing community, helped raise the industry to an
even more professional level. Working closely with the simulation
platforms iRacing and rFactor 2, BMW Motorsport integrated racing cars
such as the BMW M8 GTE, the BMW M4 GT4 and the BMW M2 CS Racing into
the simulations as realistically as possible. The best sim racers in
the world went head to head in these digital versions of the cars
during the course of the season, in the BMW one-brand BMW SIM 120 Cup
and BMW SIM M2 CS Racing Cup.

BMW SIM Live on 5th December 2020.

BMW SIM Live 2020, which will be broadcast from 4.00 PM CET on
5th December via a livestream on the BMW Motorsport and BMW
Esports channels, will include the final races in the BMW SIM 120 Cup
and the BMW SIM M2 CS Racing Cup. When the season’s race winners come
together they will be competing for a total prize fund in excess of
25,000 euros.

BMW Motorsport SIM Racing will use the event framework to present its
extensive programme for the upcoming season. This will be expanded
significantly in many areas, to do justice to the momentum of the
rapidly emerging digital racing sector. Plans include the one-make cup
competitions, hardware developments and collaborations. BMW Motorsport
SIM Racing will present several spectacular world premieres in these
areas at BMW SIM Live 2020.

Link to live stream:
https://b.mw/sim_live
.

Original Press Release

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‘Born Electric’: The fully electric BMW iX takes centre stage in the BMW winter sports commitment.

BMW:‘Born Electric’: The fully electric BMW iX takes centre stage in the BMW winter sports commitment.

Munich. With the BMW iX (combined power consumption:
< 21 kWh/100km in the WLTP test cycle*; CO2 emissions
combined: 0 g/km), BMW Group ushers in a new age of mobility. The new
fully electric BMW model interprets the electric mobility theme
innovatively, making use of totally new technologies. The BMW iX,
currently in the final stage of development, is due to come onto the
market at the end of 2021. However, winter sports fans will get a
taste of the new technology flagship in the coming months when under
the motto ‘Born Electric’, the BMW iX takes centre stage in the
extensive BMW winter sports commitment for the 2020/21 season.

BMW Group has supported the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon, the BMW IBSF
World Cup Bob & Skeleton and the FIL Luge World Cup as a strong
partner for many years. As part of this commitment, BMW Group will now
bring the BMW iX and the motto ‘Born Electric’ into the biathlon
stadiums and to the ice channels.

Electric mobility reinterpreted.

The BMW iX is the first BMW model to be based on an all-new
technology toolkit and was conceived from day one purely for electric
mobility. It innovatively unites the areas of sustainability and
climate protection, design, versatility and driving pleasure, and
leads the way with future technologies that will also be incorporated
into other BMW models in the foreseeable future. According to the
latest predictions, the maximum output of the BMW iX will exceed
370 kW/500 hp – with absolutely zero emissions and tremendously low
power consumption.

The BMW iX on a winter tour through Europe.

As part of BMW’s involvement in winter sports, the BMW iX is going on
a huge tour of Europe in the 2020/21 season. The BMW IBU World Cup
Biathlon will be heading to Kontiolahti, Hochfilzen, Oberhof and
Antholz. The highlight of the season is the world championships in
Pokljuka, Slovenia in February, followed by the season finale in Nove
Mesto and Oslo. The locations for the BMW IBSF World Cup Bob &
Skeleton and the FIL Luge World Cup include Sigulda, Innsbruck,
Winterberg, St. Moritz and Königssee near Berchtesgaden. The Eisarena
Königssee will also host the FIL Luge World Championships at the end
of January. The BMW IBSF Bob and Skeleton World Championships will be
held in Altenberg in the Erz Mountains in February.

* Data on driving performance, energy consumption and range are
preliminary and based on forecasts.

BMW iX:
Combined power consumption:
< 21 kWh/100km in the WLTP test cycle*; CO2 emissions
combined: 0 g/km.
* Data on driving performance,
energy consumption and range are preliminary and based on forecasts.

Original Press Release