BMW M no Salão Internacional de Genebra 2004

1. BMW Concept M5. 3 2. Show-car
BMW Individual 6 Series Convertible. 7 1. BMW Concept M5. - The
world's first V10 high-revving engine in a saloon car. - The world's
first 7-speed SMG in a saloon car. - The best power-to-weight ratio in
its market segment. Precisely 20 years have already passed since the
BMW M5 established a new segment, which has in the meantime also been
discovered by other car manufacturers. And that car - the original - is
still by far the most successful player in the high performance saloon
car segment. Spread over three generations of production, more than
35,000 units were built - initially manually at the BMW M plant in
Munich and later at the 5 Series assembly line in Dingolfing. These
units were then sold worldwide. The secret of the BMW M5's popularity
has always been the successful synthesis of unobtrusive yet powerful
appearance, combined with a high-performance power unit - a sports car
featuring Formula 1 technology and at the same time a saloon car
offering premium comfort. In terms of driving dynamics, the BMW M5 had
always set standards in its segment. It not only excelled due to its
high performance, but due to the way in which M power was produced and
developed. It appeared as if this first-rate car's inexhaustible power
reserves had created a totally new dimension in effortlessness. BMW M5
parameters: Performance, style and driving fun. Due to the change of
model within the 5 Series, the BMW M product portfolio is currently
presented without a BMW M5, even though the demand for such a car has
never diminished. For this reason, BMW M designers have begun designing
a possible successor based on the new BMW 5 Series. This car is a
far-reaching concept on an appealing subject: the BMW Concept M5. Such
a car could undoubtedly serve as a stimulus and offer solutions for a
future series-production vehicle. Totally in keeping with the high
demands of our clientele, whose main reasons for purchasing a car are
performance, style and driving fun, the BMW M5 Concept makes its living
out of contrasts: the principle of optimal performance wrapped in a
discreet but, by comparison with the 5 Series, distinctive body design.
When seen alongside the new 5 Series, the exterior design of the BMW
Concept M5 has its very own uniqueness. Modified front and rear air dams
and side sills, a slightly lower body, side air vents, an exclusive
wheel design as well as the four M-type tailpipes, visually accentuate
the vehicle?s claim to being a sports car. The first V10 high-revving
power unit in a saloon car. The heart of every M automobile, and that
includes the BMW Concept M5, must be its exclusive high-performance
power unit with high-revving air intake technology, an engine which
sets a benchmark in this field. With this engine, BMW M is presenting a
masterpiece in power unit technology that undoubtedly has just what it
takes: the figure 5 is predominant with a 5.0-litre capacity producing
around 500 bhp (368 kW) and a maximum torque of at least 500 Nm, these
being the kind of figures BMW M considers worthy of a possible new M5.
And the figure ten will also gain in significance, as, for the first
time in BMW history, a series-production saloon car is to be powered by
a ten-cylinder internal combustion engine, the sound and power of which
is closely related to the engine currently providing monstrous power to
the BMW Williams Formula 1 racing car, without a doubt the most
powerful car on the starting grid. The engine powering the BMW Concept
M5 should be in a position to mobilise the enormous power reserves
required to assist this unique sports saloon car in achieving a
remarkable driving performance. Engineers at BMW M envisage the car
accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) over the classic distance
in well under 5 seconds, the 200 km/h mark being reached in just 13
seconds. It is not power alone that makes an M power unit so unique.
The technology of this newly-developed ten-cylinder engine should not be
perceivable by single-dimensional power or sheer performance alone, but
first and foremost by the method of achieving such performance. M power
featured in the new BMW Concept M5 will once again rise to the occasion
and become a perfect example of what is technically feasible and
appropriate. This is evident not only in the extremely appealing design
of a BMW high-performance engine. Needless to say, this specially
developed BMW M engine incorporates typical features such as
high-pressure VANOS, individual throttle butterflies, engine
electronics designed by our own engineers and based on knowledge gained
from Formula 1 racing as well as traverse force-regulated oil supply.
BMW M engineers would not focus on sheer torque alone, but first and
foremost on engine power, a sign of effective utilisation of the
undoubtedly very substantial performance potential that is available.
Moreover, the BMW Concept M5 stands out from others by having the most
innovative drive concept in its class. Thanks to a superior gearbox
solution, the driver can benefit from a completely new 7-speed SMG, a
rapid manual gear-shift and, if required, comfortable cruising. This
piece of technical mastery also has its origins in Formula 1 synergism.
Optimum driving behaviour, whether in town or on the Nürburgring.
The designers of the BMW Concept M5 were, of course, eager to succeed
against competition in building the lightest car, as BMW wishes to
continue pursuing the concept of intelligent lightweight construction
in order to achieve a high level of longitudinal and lateral dynamics.
As seen on the new 5 and 6 Series, BMW has already presented an
innovative example of a lightweight front end construction. BMW M
engineers aspired to achieve the best power-to-weight ratio in this
market segment, thereby fully utilising their abundant experience in
suspension design. Based on the excellent all-aluminium suspension of
the new BMW 5 Series, with the addition of some elements from the new
BMW 7 Series, they have designed the BMW Concept M5 for maximum comfort
when driving for longer periods on motorways or in stop-and-go city
traffic, as well as for putting on a good show when racing round the
north loop of the Nürburgring. In addition to a specially tuned
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), a variable M-type limited-slip
differential, which we are already familiar with from the BMW M3,
ensures optimum driving behaviour in all situations. The 9½
inch light-alloy rear wheels, manufactured especially for the BMW
Concept M5, boast specially designed, extra wide 285/35 ZR 19 tyres. At
the front there are 255/40 ZR 19 tyres on 8½ inch wheels,
controlled by a newly designed Servotronic steering which is fitted as
standard. A reinforced breaking system developed especially for the BMW
Concept M5 enables the driver to fully control the engine?s exceptional
performance. Equipment in a class of its own. Needless to say, the BMW
Concept M5 also offers scores of ideas for equipping the car with
particularly exclusive and sporty options. Without going into detail
right now, it can be said that the special solutions required to satisfy
the demanding customer's preferences in this particular market segment
have been realised. When exactly the concept of a series-produced M5
will be realized cannot be confirmed at the present time. However, it
can be assumed that a successor to the extremely popular BMW M5, based
on the BMW Concept M5 now being exhibited, could possibly go on sale
during the course of the year 2004. 2. Show-car BMW Individual 6 Series
Convertible. Whilst international automobile production is putting an
increasing number of colours and materials on show, BMW Individual is
resolutely following its own path as far as choice is concerned. As a
corporate division of BMW M, BMW Individual offers its customers a
unique choice of paints, high-quality leathers, high-grade wood and
high-tech solutions, all of which make up an extraordinary product
range. These are products developed by our company, which often
anticipate market trends and which, of course, are only available from
BMW Individual. Using such exclusive ingredients, designers create
comprehensive concepts, as in the case of the show-car BMW Individual 6
Series Convertible now being exhibited at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show.
Although it is still at the stage of a show-car similar to a
series-produced vehicle, this very special automobile offers specific
characteristics, which can later be realised by the customer - for
example the BMW Individual paintwork in malachite dark green metallic.
This colour owes both its name and its unique charisma to the crystals
of the emerald-green malachite. The premium quality effect of the
dark green paintwork is complemented by a highly polished shadow-line.
Complete leather interior in Merino Champagne with additional Amarone
walnut interior trim are proof that contrasts can be harmoniously
matched. 19'' BMW Individual alloys in V-spoke design give the BMW
Individual 6 Series Convertible show-car its dynamic appearance.
Show-car BMW Individual 6 Series: Free Internet access for driver and
co-driver. In addition to offering exclusive colours and materials, the
BMW Individual product range stands out due to its innovative and
convenient solutions. An Internet browser, especially adapted by BMW
Individual, provides both the driver and the front-seat passenger with
unrestricted Internet access. Operation via iDrive and the 8.8'' info
display built into the dashboard are highly convenient features. This
new show-car provides a foretaste of the BMW 6 Series Individual product
range available as from the autumn of 2004. This range of equipment
exudes an inimitable superiority, which will appeal above all to those
customers who wish to fulfil their dream of owning an individual,
extroverted automobile