Capital Cities BMW

At the New York International Auto Show, BMW was presented with both the "Coolest Brand" and "Best Performance Brand" awards in Kelly Blue Book's 2011 Brand Image Awards.

"What could be cooler than The Ultimate Driving Machine," said Jim O'Donnell, President and CEO of BMW of North America. "We are redefining performance by offering the best performing electric, diesel and hybrid vehicles in America, in addition to our gasoline-powered cars, like the Z4 Roadster with the new TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder engine. Who but BMW would introduce both a full-electric and an M version of the 1 Series Coupe in the same year that it's introducing a new 6 Series Coupe and Convertible."

"Anyone who's driven a BMW will understand why the team from Munich won best Performance Brand for 2011," wrote the editors of Kelly Blue Book. "With powerful yet increasingly efficient engines, legendary ride and handling, and aggressive looks to match, BMW's vehicles are the yardstick by which innumerable carmakers measure their products."

"Defining 'cool' is tricky business, but BMW certainly has most of the boxes checked," noted the editors of Kelly Blue Book. "Effortless performance? Avant-garde styling? A heritage worth remembering? Check, check and check. For some, cool is synonymous with desirable. If resale value and sales figures are any indication, BMW has that box checked, too."

Today BMW North America made three announcements in New York City to contribute to furthering sustainable mobility and recognizing the important role New York City plays as a proving ground in this area. These announcements include the significant renovation of two structures for BMW and MINI of Manhattan dealerships; the US introduction of the new BMW ActiveE full-electric vehicle; and the return of powerful, efficient and clean 4-cylinder BMW engines to the United States after a more than 10 year absence.

The dealership renovations deepen the company?s commitment to the future of mobility in one of the world?s most heavily populated urban centers.  BMW of Manhattan will remain at 555 W. 57th Street and will continue to sell and service BMW automobiles and sport activity vehicles, BMW Motorcycles, and is intended to be a BMW i Center when the company begins to introduce the first two vehicles of this new brand in 2013, the i3 and i8.   The creation of a standalone MINI of Manhattan dealership and a BMW Certified Pre-Owned sales center in the Chapman Building at 11th Avenue and 56th Street will begin at the same time.  Construction of BMW of Manhattan is expected to be completed by the end of 2012 and MINI of Manhattan will be completed by the end of 2011.

?New York is an important market for BMW, and as America?s foremost megacity, it?s a great incubator to develop vehicles, facilities and services for a sustainable mobility future,? said Peter Miles Executive Vice President Operations BMW NA.  ?This renovation and new construction represents more than just a fiscal investment and also underscores the BMW Group?s commitment in America and in New York City.?

These announcements come only two weeks after the company announced BMW i Ventures, another pillar in its commitment to urban mobility and another commitment to New York City as a center of mobility technology and innovation.

BMW i Ventures will focus on premium mobility services ? meaning that it will also look for solutions that are not exclusively related to automobiles.   The fund?s first investment was in MyCityWay, a set of location-based apps for urban navigation that provides users with information on public transportation, parking availability and local entertainment.

When work begins to completely renovate the BMW of Manhattan dealership and establish an all new MINI facility and center for BMW Certified Pre-Owned vehicles on 11th Avenue at 56th Street, it will highlight another investment in New York City.

Upon completion, both facilities will be truly sustainable major urban center dealerships.  They will be LEED Certified in keeping with BMW?s commitment to sustainability in all of its activities.  Specific design elements will include:

• Specially-designed louvers on the exterior of the building to reduce heat loads while maximizing daylight;
• Installation of solar panels on the roof of the MINI building;
• High efficiency fluorescent, metal halide and LED light fixtures;
• New high-efficiency mechanical equipment  including heat exchangers to capture heat from exhaust air;
• Low-flow plumbing fixtures;
• Regionally sourced materials that have a substantial recycled material content;
• Implementation of waste recycling practices during and after construction.

Both buildings will feature a full complement of electric vehicle charging stations and be capable of handling all customer and service needs of alternative powered vehicles, including hybrids and full-electric vehicles.   All service reception and vehicle flow through the buildings will be optimized to minimize the number of times a car must be moved between arrival and delivery.

With the consolidation of MINI sales and service under one roof, the brand will now have a very visible presence on 11th Avenue.  The exterior will feature MINI?s recognizable rectangular grid architectural style and announce the brand?s presence with the use of colorful frames and MINI logo on a black background.

The BMW ActiveE, the first full-electric BMW available to customers, was unveiled today in advance of the New York International Auto Show, where it will make its North American debut. This is another significant step in the BMW Group?s commitment to be a sustainable leader in automotive products and services. Based on the 1 Series Coupe, the BMW ActiveE will accelerate from 0-60 mph in under nine seconds, making it the first electric vehicle to combine the dynamic characteristics typical of a BMW with the zero-emissions benefits of driving an electric vehicle.  It will incorporate specially-designed lithium ion batteries which are being used for the first time and that allow for a range of around 100 miles in everyday driving.  The batteries will feature liquid heating and cooling, as well as the ability to pre-condition the system while connected to the grid enabling maximum range capability regardless of ambient conditions.

Seven hundred BMW ActiveE vehicles will be coming to the U.S. beginning this fall in metropolitan New York and other select US metropolitan markets. A 24-month lease will be offered for $499 per month with a down payment of $2,250. The reservation process will begin in late summer 2011.

?The BMW ActiveE is part of our ongoing strategy to develop environmentally friendly, yet high-performance vehicles,? said Rich Steinberg, manager of Electric Vehicle Operations and Strategy, BMW NA. ?It brings us another step closer to the realization of the BMW i3, which we will launch in 2013.?

In order to help consumers determine if an ActiveE is right for them, the new app, BMW Evolve is now available for download from the Apple iTunes Store and later this month in the Android Marketplace. It was developed with the input of our MINI E drivers and will help drivers track their daily driving habits, regardless of their current car in order to determine if a full-electric vehicle like the BMW ActiveE will fit their lifestyle. More information is available at www.BMWActivatetheFuture.com.

The new BMW Z4 sDrive28i Roadster will be the first model in the U.S. to feature the company?s new powerful, efficient and clean TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder engine. It also marks the return of BMW 4 cylinder power to the United States for the first time in over a decade.

This newest engine, another part of the company?s on-going development of BMW EfficientDynamics, is the latest to combine twin-scroll turbocharging technology with high-precision direct injection and BMW?s Valvetronic throttle-less control system. Taken together, these technologies improve performance while at the same time reducing emissions and lowering consumption.

With 240 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, this new engine offers similar  power to the normally aspirated 3.0-liter inline six currently offered in the Z4 Roadster and more torque.. Maximum output of 240 horsepower is achieved at 5,000 rpm, 1,500 rpm lower than in the normally-aspirated 3.0-liter inline six. The peak torque of 260 lb-ft comes on stream at just 1,250 rpm. Not only is that nearly 20 percent more torque than the aforementioned inline six, it also peaks 1,500 rpm earlier.  The new BMW Z4 sDrive28i will arrive in US showrooms this fall.

The new BMW ActiveE production-ready electric vehicle made its official US debut today at the 2011 New York Auto Show. The 1 Series Coupe electric conversion joins the MINI E as the second BMW Group electric vehicle to hit the roads.

Similar to the MINI E, ActiveE field trial begins first in the United States when later this fall, selected consumers will have the opportunity to take over a 24-months lease offered by BMWNA at a monthly price of $499 with a down payment of $2,250.

ActiveE represents BMW's last step before the new "i" sub-brand will launch in 2013. Several key technologies tested during the ActiveE trials will make their way into the first Megacity car, the i3.

Just like the MINI E, the BMW ActiveE is a conversion car, an electric vehicle based on the body shell of a vehicle with a combustion engine. The BMW ActiveE integrates all electric drive components such as energy storage unit, electric motor and power electronics in a vehicle body that was not originally intended for this purpose ? and without compromising on space or comfort in the interior.

With the newly developed lithium-ion battery unit, the driving range of ActiveE is approximately 100 miles (160 kilometers) on a full charge.

Design wise, the BMW ActiveE resembles almost identically the regular 1 Series Coupe. The Alpine White body features silver "circuit-inspired" graphics on a blue background. A power dome in the hood accommodates the battery pack. Because there are no exhaust pipes, the rear diffuser is replaced by a closed rear apron. Low-rolling-resistance tires are wrapped around 16? wheels.

BMW also launches a new set of ConnectedDrive features in the ActiveE. With BMW MyRemote, BMW enables the user to access the extensive range of BMW ConnectedDrive functions via an app for the Apple iPhone (from 3G) and the iPad. The user has at his or her disposal all BMW ConnectedDrive remote functions using the CE device such as locking and unlocking the doors, the activation of the horn or headlamp flasher for locating the vehicle within sighting or hearing range, the CarFinder for locating the car within a radius of up to 3,300 feet as well as the Google Local Search function.

The reservation process for the ActiveE leases will begin in late summer 2011.

Popular CNET magazine reviews the 2011 BMW X3 xDrive35i. The new top model BMW X3 xDrive35i features BMW?s newest turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 ?N55? engine combining direct fuel injection, twin-scroll turbo technology and Valvetronic. The N55 engine develops a maximum output of 300 hp at 5,800 rpm, with peak torque of 300 lb-ft available all the way from 1,200?5,000 rpm. Redline is 7,000 rpm.

This engine enables the X3 xDrive35i to sprint from 0 to 60mph in just 5.5 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 150mph when fitted with the optional Sport Package.

The new model was built under the codename F25 and while maintaining the ?boxy? look, the 2011 X3 is a half-inch taller, 3.4 inches longer and 1.1 inches wider than the current model, aligning in size with the first generation BMW X5. The X3 sports flared wheel arches and more aggressive design cues. The dynamic side creases around the fenders are becoming a common trait in recent models.

Our readers have commented over the years that BMW should have brought a 5 Series diesel to market when they re-introduced oil burners to the US.

The model that everyone has been clamoring for is the 535d and The Diesel Driver went to Europe to drive just that model.

It comes as no surprise to us that the editor drooled over the 535d?s balance of luxury, power and efficiency. We wouldn?t expect anything different from a turbo diesel powered BMW.

?On our 528 km (328 mile) drive from Munich to Bratislava to Vienna and back to Munich, the 535d delivered excellent real-world fuel economy, using only 7.1 l/100 km (34 mpg) at an average speed of 111 km/h (68.9 mph).?

Official Release: The contrast of racing the 12 Hours of Sebring to racing in the streets of Long Beach, California could not be greater, but BMW Team RLL is looking for a similar outcome ? a 1-2 BMW finish in the American Le Mans Series GT class.

In the four weeks since the success at Sebring, the team has been preparing for a race only two hours long with increased attention to maximizing the application of the M3 GT?s V8 power to the rear Dunlop tires. Quick acceleration out of the tight temporary street circuit corners is critical to fast lap times at Long Beach ? especially exiting the hairpin turn that leads onto the longest straight. Both cars will be aerodynamically trimmed to maximize downforce.

Last season the race at Long Beach produced a third consecutive podium finish for the team. With the 1-2 finish at Sebring, BMW Team RLL enters Long Beach in the lead of every ALMS GT championship category.

?We could not have asked for a better result in Sebring?but that was just the first round of a long fight for the championship,? said Bobby Rahal, Team Principal. ?I think the win definitely helped our confidence and at the same time, it also put the target on our back, so we will need to keep improving every week if we want to be in the hunt at the end.?

Bill Auberlen, driver No. 55 M3 GT ? ?Long Beach is my home track. I?ve been all over the victory podium, but never on the top spot. I believe this is our year. We have the car, the team and the tire to win it.?

Dirk Werner, driver No. 55 M3 GT ? ?A street circuit is always a challenge and experience is quite valuable. You don?t have a lot of practice time to feel comfortable and to set up the car. This will be only the second time I?ve raced at Long Beach, but with Bill being my teammate, I?m sure I?ll get some valuable information how to race in his ?living room?.

Joey Hand, driver No. 56 M3 GT ? ?Long Beach is great fun! The tight corners and big field makes it a street fight! My momentum could not be better with my two biggest career wins leading me into this race. BMW Team RLL is making a big push for Long Beach. Our focus is on the championships and we want to win each race.?

Dirk Mueller, driver No. 56 M3 GT ? ?I am very excited about Long Beach. It has been always a very special event for me. I do very much like street circuits and especially Long Beach. I know that after our fantastic result in Sebring the whole team will be highly motivated again to repeat this great success.?

Practice and qualifying for the American Le Mans Series at Long Beach will be held on Friday, April 15 with the two-hour race scheduled to take the green flag at 4:30 p.m. PT Saturday, April 16. The race will be broadcast live on ESPN3.com and rebroadcast on EPPN2 from 5 ? 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 17.