The world debut of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan once again marks the epitome of aesthetic design and supreme driving pleasure in the upper midrange segment. Through its sporting and elegant looks, driving dynamics typical of the brand, outstanding efficiency as well as innovative comfort and safety features, the sixth generation of BMW’s executive express convincingly reflects the supreme standard of the world’s most successful manufacturer of premium cars throughout the entire process of development.

Design: charismatic, elegant, sporting.

With the longest wheelbase in the segment, a long and sleek engine compartment lid, short overhangs front and rear and a coupé-like, graceful roofline, the new BMW 5 Series Sedan stands out clearly from the competition.

Overall, the aesthetic looks of the car are clearly determined by perfectly balanced proportions. Design features typical of the brand are to be found both at the front with its BMW kidney grille inclined slightly forward and on the strikingly chiselled engine compartment lid, in the stylish and elegant side view of the car, and on the muscular rear end.

Within the interior modern function and a superior ambience come together in perfect harmony, unmistakable style and clear orientation to the driver in the cockpit guaranteeing a truly unique driving and travelling experience.

Driving experience: supreme dynamics and outstanding comfort.

The most advanced drivetrain and suspension technologies ensure supreme sportiness and an even higher standard of motoring comfort all in one. At the same time optional Dynamic Driving Control enables the driver to set the suspension individually to his personal requirements. The new BMW 5 Series Sedan is available with Adaptive Drive encompassing´Dynamic Damper Control and Dynamic Drive stability control, as well as BMW’s Integral Active Steering.

The new BMW 5 Series Sedan is making its debut with one eight-cylinder and three six-cylinder petrol engines as well as two six-cylinder diesels. The range is rounded off by a four-cylinder turbodiesel with an aluminium crankcase and common-rail direct injection. Maximum output in this case of 135 kW/184 hp makes the BMW 520d fitted as standard with Auto Start Stop the new efficiency benchmark in its segment. Average fuel consumption in the EU5 test cycle is just 5.0 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 56.5 mpg imp), the CO2 emission rating is 132 g/km (provisional figures).

The top-of-the-range BMW 550i comes with an eight-cylinder boasting BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and High Precision Injection for maximum output of 300 kW/407 hp. The straight-six with BMW TwinPower Turbo, High Precision Injection and VALVETRONIC in the BMW 535i delivers maximum output of 225 kW/306 hp, while the two straight-six power units featuring High Precision Injection and lean-burn operation develop 190 kW/258 hp in the BMW 528i and, respectively, 150 kW/204 hp in the BMW 523i.

Straight-six diesels with the most advanced technology give the BMW 530d maximum output of 180 kW/245 hp and the BMW 525d an equally impressive 150 kW/204 hp. Fitted with optional BMW BluePerformance technology, the BMW 530d fulfils the EU6 emission standard. And it almost goes without saying that all versions of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan comply in full with the EU5 standard in Europe.

BMW EfficientDynamics: BMW 5 Series increasing the lead.

All versions of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan are available as an option with BMW’s new eight-speed automatic transmission. The BMW 550i comes as standard with BMW’s automatic transmission optimised for efficiency, just like EPS Electric Power Steering featured on all models.

BMW EfficientDynamics technologies are naturally featured as standard in appropriate combinations on each model, with features such as Brake Energy Regeneration, a gearshift point indicator, active air flap control, and on-demand operation of ancillary units including a detachable a/c compressor. Intelligent lightweight construction, finally, is ensured by features such as the doors, engine compartment lid, front side panels and suspension components made of aluminium.

Innovative driver assistance systems with BMW ConnectedDrive.

The driver assistance systems offered for the first time in the context of BMW ConnectedDrive include a Parking Assistant, Surround View, collision warning with application of the brakes in conjunction with Active Cruise Control plus Stop & Go, and a new Speed Limit Device. Further features also available are Lane Change Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Speed Limit Info, a Head-Up Display, BMW Night Vision with detection of individual persons, and a back-up camera.

Description in Brief.

Joint development and production together with the BMW 7 Series.

* The world debut of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan opens up the latest chapter in a truly impressive story of success. In the course of five model generations, overall sales of the BMW 5 Series already amount to more than 5.5 million units. Now the new model is based on a newly developed vehicle architecture also featured in the BMW 7 Series luxury sedans.

* Joint production of the BMW 5 Series Sedan and the BMW 7 Series at BMW Plant Dingolfing, together with the extensive use of shared components, ensures highly efficient production with a supreme standard of quality following the most demanding benchmarks in the market.

* World debut of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan, the epitome of the sporting but elegant, innovative and driver-oriented executive express. The sixth generation of BMW’s immensely successful four-door stands out through modern aesthetics in design, conveys all of the Sheer Driving Pleasure so typical of BMW, and offers unparalleled efficiency in the upper midrange segment.

* The premium character of this outstanding Sedan is underscored by features and technologies otherwise to be found only in the luxury class. In the sum total of its features, the new BMW 5 Series Sedan thus represents the outstanding competence in development of the world’s most successful manufacturer of premium cars.

* The sophisticated aesthetics and dynamic looks of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan are the result of perfectly balanced proportions. Again in the typical style of the brand, the new 5 Series Sedan boasts a long and contoured engine compartment lid, short overhangs, a coupé-like flowing roofline as well as the longest wheelbase in the entire segment.

* The charismatic flair of the upright front section and the BMW kidney grille inclined slightly forward from certain perspectives, the stylish elegance of the side view and the muscular sportiness of the rear end all come together in typical BMW design language to provide an outstanding look of style and supremacy.

* Within the interior horizontal surfaces and exciting lines create a truly generous and harmonious ambience. The clear structure of the cockpit enhances the high level of driver orientation, while the stylish, modern design of the interior may be further refined by top-quality materials and tastefully composed colour combinations reflecting the individual choice of the customer.

* Benefiting from BMW EfficientDynamics naturally featured as standard, the new BMW 5 Series Sedan further extends BMW’s leadership in the segment also when it comes to efficiency. All power units fulfil the EU5 emission standard, the new BMW 530d with optional BMW BluePerformance technology even comes with EU6. Intelligent lightweight technology is borne out among other things by chassis components as well as the engine lid, front side panels and doors all made of aluminium.

* The new BMW 5 Series Sedan is entering the market with one eight-cylinder and three six-cylinder petrol engines as well as two six-cylinder diesels. The top model is the BMW 550i powered by a V8 with BMW TwinPower Turbo featuring High Precision Injection (300 kW/407 hp). Then there are the world’s first straight-six petrol engine with TwinPower Turbo, High Precision Injection and VALVETRONIC (225 kW/306 hp) in the BMW 535i as well as two straight-six petrol engines with High Precision Injection and lean-burn technology in the BMW 528i (190 kW/258 hp) and the BMW 523i (150 kW/204 hp).

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AUDI AG: New Q3 SUV generation to be produced in Martorell, Spain as of 2011

* Audi CEO Rupert Stadler: “Consistent strategy of growth and internationalization through this product and production decision”
* Investments of around €300 million, production capacity of up to 80,000 units yearly

A production site for the Audi Q3 was chosen today: the SEAT site in Martorell, Spain. Manufacture will begin in 2011 with an annual production capacity of up to 80,000 units. The total investment will amount to around €300 million.

“Following in-depth consideration of all relevant factors and an extensive international comparison of various sites, we selected Martorell,” explained Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management at AUDI AG. This decision enables Audi to continue its strategy of growth and internationalization. Mr. Stadler added: “We are counting on this Spanish site’s efficiency, the excellent quality of the Production department, and its highly trained staff. We will use the Group’s synergies to sharpen our competitive edge and help protect around 1,200 jobs. The decision furthermore safeguards workplaces at other Audi locations.”

Audi Board Member for Production Frank Dreves: “Starting in 2011, the Audi Q3 will be produced to Audi quality standards at the Martorell factory. This gives us additional flexibility regarding future decisions about products. We will begin preparing at once.”

Having agreed that the Q3 will be manufactured in Spain, a decision about production in the USA has been postponed. Mr. Stadler: “We will systematically explore our options in the context of the current market crisis. Audi is in a good position. There is currently no urgent need to select additional sites.”

A small, sporty SUV, the Audi Q3 will join the family consisting of the Audi Q5 (produced in Ingolstadt, Germany) and the Audi Q7 (produced in Bratislava, Slovakia). Yet another compact vehicle in a new model range is thus set to join the A1 in 2011. The Q3 will further expand the Q family. A coupé-like five-door SUV with seat positions, wheel size, and ground clearance characteristic of a typical SUV, the Audi Q3 will stand out thanks to a supremely sporty driving experience. The Q3 will blend a compact car’s design and driving dynamics with an SUV’s spaciousness and versatility. True to Audi tradition, innovative technical solutions will blaze new trails in efficiency, driving pleasure, and comfort. The market launch of the Q3 is scheduled for 2011.

The production facility in Martorell is yet another cornerstone in AUDI AG’s portfolio of sites. Audi produces its vehicles in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm (Germany), Hungary, Belgium, Slovakia, India, and China.

Sources claim this BMW will move away from the polarizing design of the current model. Already under development with the internal codename ‘F10,’ the next-generation BMW 5-series will soften the harder lines of the current E60 with more conventional-looking headlights and a cleaner front-end design. New European pedestrian safety standards are expected to drastically alter the design of many European cars for the worse, but BMW will not only maintain its classic twin-kidney grille design, it will also reduce the length of the front overhang.

Back in December, we got a dismembered preview of the 2010 BMW 5 series’ new fascia, complete with a restyled air dam and more sculpted headlamps inspired by the new Z4 and 7 series. The supposedly leaked image above fills in the rest of the details of the upright nosejob, along with a set of LED indicators nestled into the air dam and a revised hood that includes an ovoid character line leading from the roundel to the windshield.

BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo

Character:

• With the future still offering sufficient room for an exciting new driving
experience, BMW has once again defined a brand-new vehicle segment:
The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo is the series-based adaptation
of the Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS) in the upper midrange segment,
offering an impressive outlook on the extension of the BMW 5 Series by a
new, additional concept.

• With its stylish appearance and comfortable driving experience, the BMW
Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo transfers the characteristics of a classic
Gran Turismo to a very special four-door vehicle with four seats. These
features so typical of a Gran Turismo are then enriched by the highest
standard of intelligent, versatile functionality.

• The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo combines elegance, space,
comfort and variability. In a combination never seen before on any other car,
the characteristic features of a prestigious sedan, a modern and versatile
Sports Activity Vehicle, and a classic Gran Turismo are all united in this
unique Concept Car.

• Besides the typical BMW proportions, the coupe-like roofline accentuates
the elegant yet sporty character of the car and the sheer length of the
car’s body. In addition, the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo has four
frameless doors and elegant aluminium highlights.

• The luxurious interior is surprisingly generous considering the coupé-like
silhouette of the car, creating a spontaneous feeling of well-being for driver
and passengers. This impression is further enhanced by a comfortable
entry to the car, the slightly elevated seating position, and the panorama
roof providing a particularly pleasant travel experience.

• The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo is highly versatile: a flexible
interior comprising the rear seats, the partition wall wall, and the luggage
compartment allows the adjustment of the interior individually to personal
requirements – from a separate luggage compartment, like in a sedan, all
the way to a loading capacity of 1,650 litres or almost 58 cubic feet with the
rear seats folded down. This flexibility is rounded off by a two-piece tailgate
with separate openings for additional convenience.

• The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo addresses a demanding and
modern target group – discerning individuals who attach great importance
to genuine style, luxurious comfort and flexibility in use. This gives BMW
the opportunity to win over customers who today drive either a sedan, an
SUV or an wagon model in the respective competitive segments.

• The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo extends the BMW’s model
range by an intelligent, new and indeed unparalleled vehicle concept for
modern mobility at highest standard. Through its unique combination
of elegance, space, comfort and variability, the car creates a powerful
impression of relaxed presence. Indeed, these new characteristics enrich
Sheer Driving Pleasure to an even higher standard and appeal to additional
target groups. And last but not least the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran
Turismo authentically visualises premium quality and a new standard of
sporting performance borne out by the car’s dynamism and efficiency.

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source:Autoblog.com

Chris Bangle, one of the most well-known and controversial people in the auto industry, is leaving premium carmaker BMW after heading up its design department since October 1992.

“Bangle’s plan to pursue his own design-related endeavours beyond the auto industry marks the start of a new phase in his life while maintaining strong ties with the BMW Group,” the company said in a statement.

The 52-year-old American, who was the object of multiple online petitions calling for his sacking, first grabbed headlines in 2002 with his redesign of the 7 Series sedan.

The vehicle was voted one of the 50 worst cars of all times by Time magazine, along with such other infamous models as the 2001 Pontiac Aztek and the 1998 Fiat Multipla.

Adrian van Hooydonk, 44, responsible for BMW Automobile Design, will replace Bangle as head of group design.

“Love or loathe his work, Bangle’s impact on auto design has been profound. No other designer, not even legendary GM design chief Harley Earl, has so rapidly become a part of the industry lexicon,” wrote enthusiast magazine Motor Trend following an interview with the BMW designer.

“Christopher Bangle has had a lasting impact on the identity of BMW Group’s brands,” Dr. Klaus Draeger, a member of BMW’s board of development, said in a statement. “His contribution to the company’s success has been decisive, and together with his teams he has mapped out a clear and aesthetic route to the future.”

That team included Bangle’s right-hand man, Adrian van Hooydonk — who will take over as head of design.

Although Bangle was named head of design for BMW Group in 1992, he didn’t gain infamy until 2001 when he unveiled the new 7-Series sedan (pictured below) at the Frankfurt auto show. When we first saw the back end of the car, with its ungainly trunk lid, we were reminded of Sergio Pininfarina’s response to the Triumph TR7 when he saw it unveiled at the Detroit auto show. Walking from one side of the car to the other, he said of the swooping character line along its flank, “Oh no, they did it on this side, too!”

The same kind of response met Bangle when people saw the 7’s trunk, which to this day remains known as a “Bangle Butt.” Time magazine named the 7 one of the 50 worst cars of all time. Since then, auto enthusiasts have taken to using terms like “hit with the Bangle stick” to describe especially ugly cars.
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Woodcliff Lake, NJ – December 13, 6:00PM EST 2008… Poised to lead its market segment once again, the 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster will make its North American debuts at the 2009 North American International Auto Show on January 11.

Return of a Classic

The classic roadster is back – more powerful and more stylish than ever before. It is the BMW Z4, the only car in its segment combining classic roadster proportions with a seating position moved close to the rear axle, rear-wheel drive, with a retractable hardtop.

The new BMW Z4 offers all the driving pleasure of a BMW Roadster with particularly refined and stylish flair. Driving with the roof down, this two-seater offers a refreshingly intense experience of the sunshine and the wind rushing by – and driving with the hardtop closed it provides all the comfort of a sporting coupe in the premium segment. So through this diversity and wide range of qualities, the new BMW Z4 is the re-birth of the roadster.

The design of the new Z4 comes out through classic details interpreted in new, up-to-date style. This outstanding two-seater offers a unique combination of elegance, agility, and supreme comfort. The aluminum shells of the two-piece lightweight hardtop come to rest in the roof compartment, saving maximum space in the process. Even with the roof closed, the new Z4 retains the proportions typical of a genuine roadster.

To ensure driving pleasure, the new BMW Z4 is offered with two inline-6 engine displacing 3.0 liters: 300 hp in the BMW Z4 sDrive35i and 255 hp in the BMW Z4 sDrive30i ensure truly outstanding acceleration and response at all times.

Comprehensive use of BMW’s EfficientDynamics technologies serves to provide an unparalleled balance of driving pleasure and fuel efficiency. While both models are available with a manual six-speed gearbox, the Z4 sDrive35i is available also with a dual-clutch sport automatic transmission featuring seven gears. The six-speed sport automatic is available on the Z4 sDrive30i. Both sport automatic transmissions feature steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Featuring Dynamic Drive Control as standard, the BMW Z4 enables the driver to choose between three drivetrain and suspension settings at the touch of a button.

Design: the modern look of a classic roadster.

The new BMW Z4 takes on the classic look of the roadster in modern, flowing lines. The car’s proportions are borne out by the long and low-slung engine compartment lid, short overhangs, the long wheelbase and large wheels as well as the low seating position near the rear axle.

The front view features a large, upright BMW kidney grille, wide air intake and the dual round headlights, typical of the BMW brand. All surfaces and lines, including the character lines on the hood, strive towards an imaginary target point on the road ahead.

The side view is dominated by the dynamic flow of the car’s shoulder line connecting the front and rear wheel arches and accentuating the stretched, athletic look of the Roadster. The horizontal orientation of the car’s lines and surfaces at the rear, in turn, emphasizes the sheer width of the new BMW Z4. Further characteristics are the extra-large hood extending far over the wheel arches, the black A-pillars, the gills at the side with their integrated LED direction indicators, as well as the slender rear fixtures with three-dimensional LED-fed rows of light.

Stylish, sophisticated, and typical of a genuine roadster: the interior.

For harmonious unison of the exterior and interior so important in an open-air car, the shoulder line is reflected by the door panels with their unique configuration and flow from front to rear.

The contoured surface to the left and right of the steering wheel incorporates the controls for the lights and air conditioning. These elements are available trimmed in Satin Silver matte, Brushed Aluminum, and Ash Grain Wood, the respective color and trim variant also being used on the center console and door handle.

The standard seats with integrated headrests on the BMW Z4 sDrive35i feature high-quality Kansas leather in a choice of three colors. A fourth choice, Ivory White Nappa leather, is also available as part of the Exclusive Ivory White Leather Package, which includes sport seats and Anthracite wood trim.

An Extended Leather option (Z4 sDrive35i only) adds leather on the upper section of the instrument panel, the doorsills, the sun visors in Black leather as well as the leather-finish door closing handles in upholstery color on the passenger’s side.

The entire range of paintwork colors available on the new BMW Z4 is made up of no less than nine color tones including Orion Silver metallic exclusive to the new Roadster.

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As many as 733 temporary workers at BMW’s Greer plant will be laid off in December as the German automaker begins to feel the effects of the world financial crisis.

Job reductions at the plant that is a powerful economic engine sustaining thousands of jobs in the Upstate and across South Carolina are limited for now to temporary workers the plant employs through the MAU Inc. staffing company.

The plant has a permanent work force of about 5,400 BMW-hired workers, in addition to hundreds of contract and contingent employees.

Those jobs have a potent multiplier effect. An estimated  23,000 jobs have been created through a network of companies in the Upstate that supply the automotive parts and services. How this reduction could play out through that network was unclear late Thursday.

The company said, however, it remains focused on its planned expansion of the plant, which now makes the X3, X5 and X6 models. It plans to launch a diesel-power X5 this year and a hybrid X6 next year.

Bobby Hitt, a spokesman for BMW, said the company “is not unlike any other manufacturing facility in that it is not immune to uncertain circumstances that we are all witnessing in the economy and, more specifically, the automotive industry.”

The layoffs come after a drop in BMW’s U.S. sales in September. Sales of BMW-branded vehicles plunged nearly 30 percent, compared to the same month last year, the company said. Counting Mini-brand vehicles, the sales drop was 25.8 percent.

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These latest spy shots of the 2009 BMW Z4 caught testing in Germany clearly show that the new two-seat roadster will be getting a folding metal roof in place of the current car’s fabric item.

The next Z4 will make its debut at the LA motor show in November before going on sale in the last quarter of next year.

Other changes to the popular convertible appear to be much more evolutionary than revolutionary but there are still some significant differences that can be easily seen. The central rear brake light has been moved inboard from the lip of the trunk lid to near the rear windscreen, and the shoulder line of the Z4 has been smoothed out considerably.

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