The BMW stand at the IAA Cars 2019 international motor show in Frankfurt am Main focuses on the theme of future driving pleasure. Alongside the latest new additions across a broad range of segments revealed by BMW as part of its ongoing product offensive, the premium carmaker is also exhibiting fascinating vehicle studies and trailblazing technologies expected to have a major impact on individual mobility in tomorrow’s world.
The new products on show at the IAA Cars 2019 reflect both the rich variety of the company’s model portfolio and its capacity for innovation in the future-focused fields identified as part of the NUMBER ONE > NEXT strategy and known by the acronym D+ACES (Design, Automated driving, Connectivity, Electrification and Services). The brand’s multifaceted presentation programme includes the world premieres of the BMW Concept 4 and BMW i Hydrogen NEXT, the latest new models for the luxury and high-performance segments, additions to the BMW X family, newcomers in the premium compact and premium midsize segments, and alluring special editions from BMW i. Plus, the BMW Vision M NEXT study car makes its show debut, offering visitors another glimpse of driving pleasure in the years ahead.
The upshot of the largest model offensive in the BMW Group’s history was that the company sold more vehicles worldwide between January and June 2019 than ever before in the first six months of a financial year. The BMW Group continues to be the world’s most successful supplier of premium cars and is able to offer customers in more than 160 countries just the right selection of models while catering to all sorts of different legal conditions, technical requirements and individual preferences. Besides a flexible marketing strategy and a diverse product portfolio, this also calls for a broad range of drive technologies comprising highly efficient petrol and diesel engines, all-electric powertrains and plug-in hybrid systems – plus, looking further ahead, hydrogen fuel cell drive systems.
The BMW Group has gained a clear advantage over its rivals by using flexible vehicle architectures that allow any particular model to be quickly produced with different drive technologies as demand dictates. This high degree of customer-centric flexibility is illustrated to impressive effect by the globally successful BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicle, which will be available with a choice of conventional engines, a plug-in hybrid system or all-electric drive from next year. The BMW Group’s outstanding expertise when it comes to integrating highly complex yet beautifully harmonious complete systems underlines what a strong position the company is in as it competes with established suppliers and newcomers in the automotive sector.
BMW Group leads the way in electrification.
Following an early product offensive that has resulted in a wider choice of models than any of its rivals can offer, the BMW Group has also emerged as a leading force in the manufacture of vehicles with electrified drive systems. The company is ranked as the market leader in Germany for newly registered cars with all-electric or plug-in hybrid drive systems and the most successful established premium brand at both a European and global level (source: IHSMarkit Report 8/2019). The introduction of the very latest battery cell technology in the plug-in hybrid versions of the BMW 2 Series, BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series, BMW 7 Series, BMW X5, MINI Countryman and BMW i cars further increases the electric range of these models, and also adds additional convenience-enhancing charging functionality. All of which makes electric cars an appealing alternative for an ever-increasing spread of customer groups. By increasing the proportion of electric driving and employing digital services such as the BMW eDrive Zones function for automatically detecting green zones, the new plug-in hybrid models on display at the 2019 Frankfurt show will be able to make a major contribution to cutting CO2 emissions in urban areas.
The BMW Group will be bringing out yet more models with electrified drive systems as soon as 2020, including the plug-in hybrid variants of the BMW X3, BMW X1 and BMW 3 Series Touring and the all-electric MINI Cooper SE, which is also receiving its show premiere in Frankfurt. This will once again involve harnessing the expertise in the field of electrified drive systems that has been amassed during development of the BMW i models for transferring technology to the BMW and MINI brands. By 2023, the total number of models with an electrified powertrain offered by the BMW Group’s brands is set to increase to 25.
Driving pleasure across an even wider spectrum: the premieres at the IAA Cars 2019.
The universally popular family of BMW X models is receiving further reinforcement in the form of the latest Sports Activity Coupe. The new BMW X6 is making its global debut at the IAA Cars 2019, marking the arrival of the third generation of the BMW model that first spawned this breed of vehicle. Joining the standard production model on stage will be a spectacular show-car version. Visitors to Hall 11 at the main entrance to the Frankfurt trade fair arena on 12 – 22 September 2019 will also be able to experience how BMW’s characteristic brand of driving pleasure is set to evolve both now and in future with a wide array of vehicle concepts hailing from all manner of different segments. The third generation of the compact BMW 1 Series is celebrating its show premiere, as are the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe four-door luxury sports car, BMW M8 Coupe (fuel consumption combined: 10.6 – 10.5 l/100 km [26.6 – 26.9 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 242 – 238 g/km) and BMW M8 Convertible (fuel consumption combined: 10.8 – 10.6 l/100 km [26.2 – 26.6 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 246 – 241 g/km) high-performance models, the immensely sporty and versatile new BMW 3 Series Touring and the new edition of the BMW X1.
Exclusive special editions of the BMW i3s (electric power consumption combined: 14.6 – 14.0 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km) and BMW i8 Coupe (fuel consumption combined: 1.8 l/100 km [156.9 mpg imp]; electric power consumption combined: 14.0 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 42 g/km) and BMW i8 Roadster (fuel consumption combined: 2.0 l/100 km [141.2 mpg imp]; electric power consumption combined: 14.5 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 46 g/km) enhance sustainable driving pleasure with their all-electric and plug-in-hybrid drive systems respectively. The new BMW X5 Protection VR6 Security Vehicle (fuel consumption combined: 13.0 l/100 km [21.7 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 298 g/km) making its maiden appearance in Frankfurt combines the ability to power over any terrain with high levels of personal protection.
The study cars on display at the IAA Cars 2019 likewise offer a glimpse of the broad thematic landscape on which the BMW Group is shaping future mobility. The world premiere of the BMW Concept 4, for example, brings a new dimension in elegantly sporty driving pleasure to the premium midsize segment. The BMW i Hydrogen NEXT, which will also be unveiled for the first time in Frankfurt, showcases the latest innovations in the field of fuel cell technology and therefore represents another development focal point en route to locally emission-free mobility in the future. And the presentation of the BMW Vision M NEXT provides a foretaste of the future of motoring at its sportiest extreme. This progressive plug-in hybrid sports car serves up a captivating blend of emotion-stirring design and pioneering drive technology.
World premiere: the BMW Concept 4 – the aesthetic essence of a modern BMW coupe.
The IAA Cars 2019 show is the venue for the world premiere of the BMW Concept 4, a future-focused interpretation of the BMW brand’s enduring DNA. With its athletic body, slung low with sporting intent, a silhouette exuding elegance and dynamism in equal measure and ultra-pure surfaces, the concept car radiates the magic of BMW coupes, laced with an extra layer of excitement. “The BMW Concept 4 embodies the aesthetic essence of the BMW brand. It combines perfect proportions with a clear and precise design,” explains Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design.
Commanding the attention at the heart of the front-end design is a vertically oriented BMW kidney grille high on class and confidence. The high-standing grille gives the BMW Concept 4 its expressive face, a distinctive structure and decorative elements providing elaborate details. It fits seamlessly into both the front-end proportions of the Concept 4 and the heritage of BMW as a whole. The form and design of the kidney grille reference legendary brand classics such as the BMW 328 and BMW 3.0 CSi and therefore shine the spotlight on BMW’s long and successful history as a maker of fine coupes. The side view of the BMW Concept 4 is defined by its stretched bonnet, long wheelbase, flowing roofline and short overhangs. A slim glasshouse and powerfully sculpted rear wheel arches ensure sporting looks take a front seat. The rear, too, is dominated by generously sized and clear surfaces interspersed by just a small number of lines. Other elements in the sophisticated and richly characterful aesthetic of the BMW Concept 4 are the striking exterior paint shade Forbidden Red, 21-inch light-alloy wheels and intricate, two-section exterior mirrors.
World premiere: the new BMW X6 show car with Vantablack® paint finish.
Accompanying the world premiere of the new BMW X6 at the IAA Cars 2019 is the presentation of a lone spin-off example of the Sports Activity Coupe. The show car captures the imagination with a body paint finish to which no other car (past or present) can lay claim. The exterior of this spectacular creation – the fruits of a collaboration between BMW and Surrey NanoSystems – sports a Vantablack® VBx2 nanostructure coating, which highlights the design of the new BMW X6 even more vividly. Vantablack® is regarded as the “world’s blackest black” and was initially developed for aerospace applications to supress stray light from the sun during observation of celestial bodies in faraway galaxies. A surface structure made up of tiny carbon nanotubes almost completely absorbs the light striking the surface. This means the three-dimensionality of the X6 show car’s body surfaces as perceived by the observer is significantly reduced and only noticeable at closer inspection. The result is a fascinating contrast between the Sports Activity Coupe’s deep black surfaces and design highlights such as the optional illuminated BMW kidney grille, prominent twin headlights and strikingly designed rear lights.
World premiere: the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT with hydrogen fuel cell drive system.
In its push towards zero-emission driving, the BMW Group is forging ahead with development work in the field of hydrogen fuel cell technology alongside battery-electric and plug-in-hybrid drive systems. For example, the IAA Cars 2019 will host the world premiere of the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT, a development vehicle that looks ahead to a small series of next-generation fuel cell vehicles based on the new BMW X5 and planned for 2022. The modified design of the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT incorporates precise accents focusing on its innovative and sustainable character.
The BMW i Hydrogen NEXT provides further evidence of the BMW Group’s commitment to sensibly considered emission-free mobility – and uses a variety of drive technologies to take into account the mobility needs of customers around the world. Hydrogen fuel cell technology offers vast potential, thanks to short refuelling times, handsome operating range, and convenience and versatility on a par with conventionally powered vehicles. The BMW Group has been pushing ahead with its activities in the field of hydrogen fuel cell drive systems as part of a development collaboration with the Toyota Motor Corporation launched in 2013. BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo-based prototypes with a fuel cell drive system have been involved in testing since summer 2015. And now the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT takes the next step in a strategy aimed at applying this drive technology in series-produced BMW Group models.
Show premiere: the new BMW 3 Series Touring – more space for sporting flair.
Characteristic sportiness and versatile functionality set the tone for the new BMW 3 Series Touring, which is making its show debut at the IAA Cars 2019 and will be arriving in dealer showrooms in September 2019 too. Equipped with the latest generation of engines and cutting-edge chassis technology, the sixth generation of the Touring model once again sets the benchmark for agility and driving dynamics in the premium midsize class. Heading the model range is the new BMW M340i xDrive Touring (fuel consumption combined: 7.5 – 7.1 l/100 km [37.7 – 39.8 mpg imp], CO2 emissions combined: 170 – 162 g/km) with its 275 kW/374 hp six-cylinder in-line petrol engine. A plug-in hybrid version of the BMW 3 Series Touring is going to be offered for the first time from summer 2020.
A host of intelligent details give an added boost to the Touring model’s state-of-the-art functionality, including the anti-slip rails for the boot floor and the separately-opening rear window. Boot capacity can be increased from 500 to a maximum of 1,510 litres. The premium ambience of the interior, the top-class standard specification, the sophisticated display and operating concept – which can be optionally upgraded to also include gesture control and the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant – and the latest digital services from BMW Connected and BMW ConnectedDrive combine to ensure impressive levels of driving pleasure and passenger comfort.
World premiere: the BMW i3s Edition RoadStyle and BMW i8 Ultimate Sophisto Edition.
Attractive and distinctive special-edition models accentuate the inimitable combination of driving pleasure and sustainability on offer in the BMW i brand’s pure-electric and plug-in-hybrid models. The interior and exterior design of the BMW i3s Edition RoadStyle – making its debut at the IAA Cars 2019 – is brimming with sporting elegance. This includes a Fluid Black exterior paint finish with accents in the exclusive colour shade E-Copper, 20-inch twin-spoke BMW i light-alloy wheels in Jet Black, sun protection glass, natural leather appointments in Stellaric/Dalbergia Brown and an instrument panel in Dark Oak matt fine wood. The special edition of the electric car, whose 135 kW/184 hp puts even greater power at the driver’s disposal, will be launched in November 2019 in a limited run of 1,000 units.
Just 200 examples of the BMW i8 Coupe and BMW i8 Roadster will be offered worldwide in Ultimate Sophisto Edition form. Its exterior paintwork in Sophisto Grey Brilliant Effect is complemented by accents in E-Copper – the first time this colour shade has been deployed in such a way – and similarly exclusive, 20-inch BMW i light-alloy wheels in radial-spoke design and a bi-colour Black/E-Copper finish. Another special feature making its debut appearance are clear-glass rear lights. The Accaro interior design in Black/E-Copper dovetails perfectly with the exterior look.
Show premiere: the BMW Vision M NEXT – the future of sporty motoring.
The BMW Vision M NEXT was one of the highlights at the #NEXTGen Event held at BMW Welt in Munich. Now, visitors to the IAA Cars 2019 show are also being treated to a glimpse into the electrified future of the BMW M brand. Like the BMW Vision i NEXT that is also being exhibited in Frankfurt, the BMW Vision M NEXT represents a prototype version of the BMW driving experience of tomorrow. The all-electric BMW Vision iNEXT mainly serves as a showcase for the EASE experience concept, illustrating how autonomous driving is set to transform life on board vehicles.
The BMW Vision M NEXT, on the other hand, places the focus more on the pure and emotionally engaging experience of driving yourself in the BOOST concept. The Vision Vehicle takes the form of a progressive plug-in hybrid sports car with an emotion-stirring design and cleanly arranged interior that places the focus squarely on the active driver. Its Power PHEV drive system opens up a new dimension in sporty driving, offering a choice between electric all-wheel drive and pure rear-wheel drive, with either all-electric propulsion or the power of a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. It generates a system output of 441 kW/600 hp and enables the car to sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph) from rest in just three seconds. There is also a BOOST+ mode that puts extra drive power on tap at the push of a button for an even more exhilarating performance experience. The car has a range of up to 100 kilometres (62 miles) when driving in all-electric mode, allowing the majority of journeys to be completed with zero local emissions, both in urban areas and beyond.
With its unmistakable sports-car proportions, low-slung, wedge-shaped silhouette, gullwing doors and clear, pared-back styling, the BMW Vision M NEXT succeeds in blending classic design cues for dynamic performance with sustainable driving pleasure. Inside the cabin, innovative technology is used to focus the driver’s attention on what is happening on the road ahead. The “focus logic” takes BMW’s famed driver focus to the next level by adapting the information displays to the changing driving situation. As the vehicle speeds up, the readouts shift increasingly into the driver’s direct field of view and centre more and more on driving-related information.
World premiere: the new BMW X5 Protection VR6 – a supremely capable Security Vehicle.
The BMW Group has been developing and building Security Vehicles for state authorities, public representatives and private individuals requiring special protection for over 40 years now. The new BMW X5 Protection VR6 (fuel consumption combined: 13.0 l/100 km [21.7 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 298 g/km) is being unveiled for the first time at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. The fourth generation of the Security Vehicle based on the brand’s successful Sports Activity Vehicle offers effective protection against violent attacks using various types of firearms, blunt objects or explosive devices. For this purpose, the new BMW X5 Protection VR6 is equipped with model-specific armouring and security glazing that was already taken into account during development of the production vehicle, meaning it forms a perfect fit with the vehicle’s body.
The holistic security concept employed in the new BMW X5 Protection VR6 has the additional benefit of ensuring that the chassis technology is carefully tuned for this specific model’s weight. As a result, the Security Vehicle with its 390 kW/530 hp V8 engine is able to offer the same agile handling and versatile performance that the BMW X5 is renowned for. Visually speaking, there is also very little to differentiate the new BMW X5 Protection VR6 from the standard production vehicle, and this anonymous appearance also serves to enhance security for the occupants. The vehicle has been certified as a whole by national test centres to verify its ability to offer class VR6 protection in accordance with official standards. Besides numerous comfort features, standard specification also comprises an intercom system and a panic alarm. In addition to this, bespoke optional equipment for a wide variety of purposes is available ex-factory.
