The BMW X3 embarks on a mission to “explore” its home turf

• Local and international media tour completed state-of-the-art BMW Group Plant Rosslyn – the result of R6,1 billion investment since 2015.
• BMW Group Plant Rosslyn to draw 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by the end of 2018 – ahead of BMW Group’s 2020 goal for all production locations to transition to fully renewable electricity supplies.
• The first-ever BMW X Lifestyle Park to open in November 2018.

• Exploring Mpumalanga and Limpopo’s top attractions.

Midrand, South Africa – Following BMW Group South Africa’s R6,1 billion investment announced in the past three years for the production of the BMW X3 and customer vehicles rolling off the production line since April 2018 at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn, the locally produced BMW X3 is currently embarking on a tour to explore its new home turf.

The tour, which is called the “BMW X3 xPlore Tour”, will see local and international media visiting BMW Group South Africa’s completed state-of-the-art production plant in Rosslyn, north of Pretoria, exploring the first-ever BMW X Lifestyle Park (XLP) as well as the Bio2Watt biogas plant – Plant Rosslyn’s renewable energy supplier – and Mpumalanga as well as Limpopo’s top attractions.

Exploring the fruits of infrastructure investment at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn.

The BMW X3 xPlore Tour at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn includes the viewing of the largest infrastructure upgrades in the plant’s 45-year history. The upgrades included a new body shop housing almost 300 robots that lend a hand to the plant’s production line employees to begin the process of building the BMW X3. The paint shop, the next chain in the BMW X3 production process, received major modifications in new paint technology and body storage. On the other hand, the assembly line, the last chain in the production process also received significant adjustments – the biggest being the elevation of the roof height and body carriers given the size of the BMW X3 compared to the BMW 3 Series that was produced at the plant. All these infrastructure upgrades have raised the maximum production capacity of the BMW X3 by almost 10% to 76,000 units, leaving the plant with excellent potential in the future to produce the highest volume ever in its 45-year history!

Key to the progress of BMW Group Plant Rosslyn is people. It is for this reason that BMW Group South Africa has taken training and development to the next level by investing R73 million for a new Training Academy at its Rosslyn plant. With this academy, the company is able to host a staggering 300 apprentices per year and conduct training for its employees and managers. More than 2,000 people have moved from the BMW Group Training Academy to Plant Rosslyn since the inception of the academy and history of the Plant.

Unleashing the inner strength of the BMW X3 at the first-ever BMW X Lifestyle Park – to open to the public in November 2018.

With more than 30% of BMW’s global sales being made up of BMW X models, the BMW X3 xPlore Tour will make a turn at the newly developed BMW X Lifestyle Park in Waterfall, Midrand. Scheduled to be open to the public in November 2018, the BMW XLP is a 1,3km off-road track that has been developed to showcase the capability of the BMW xDrive system within all BMW X models via twelve off-road modules. The cost for off-road BMW Driving Experience courses will start from R2,750 when the facility opens. The BMW XLP will also offer various family-orientated lifestyle experiences such as abseiling, zip-lining and park runs. Additional features will include a BMW Lifestyle store with BMW accessories, a coffee shop and food stalls as well as fitness activations.

Witnessing how more than 25,000 cows power BMW Group Plant Rosslyn’s electricity needs.

Demonstrating BMW Group Plant Rosslyn’s green credentials, the BMW X3 xPlore Tour will go through the Bio2Watt Biogas Plant in Bronkhorstspruit. The plant is located on the premises of one of South Africa’s larger feedlots, run by Beefcor and provides the facility with proximity to key fuel supplies, grid access and sufficient water.

About 40,000 tons of cattle manure and 20,000 tons of mixed organic waste per annum is fed into two anaerobic digesters in which biogas is produced. This then goes into a gas engine to produce electricity, which is distributed into the grid for uptake by power purchasers such as BMW. The City of Tshwane is also a key supplier of waste to the project.

By the end of 2018, 100% of BMW Group Plant Rosslyn’s electricity supply will be obtained from renewable sources – in line with the BMW Group’s 2020 deadline for all group production locations to transition to fully renewable electricity supplies.

The third generation BMW X3 – uncompromising dynamics on every terrain.

The BMW X3 was the car that launched the mid-size SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) segment in 2003. Since then, BMW has recorded more than 1.5 million new registrations of the X3 across the two model generations so far. And now the third generation BMW X3 – which was launched in South Africa in November 2017 – is writing the next chapter in this success story with an even more striking, dynamic design language, powerful yet also efficient drive systems and luxurious arrangements.

Like all members of the successful X family, it blends standout driving qualities on any terrain with unrestricted everyday usability.

On the BMW X3 xPlore Tour, the first BMW X3 (xDrive30d) that was produced by BMW Group Plant Rosslyn will be among the convoy of other locally produced BMW X3s (xDrive20ds and xDrive30ds) to explore the top attractions of the Mpumalanga and Limpopo province.

The BMW X3 xDrive30d: mightier and cleaner than ever before.

The BMW X3 xDrive30d features a 3.0-litre straight-six diesel engine under the bonnet and delivers maximum output of 195 kW (fuel consumption combined: 6.1 – 5.7 l/100 km]; CO₂ emissions: 162g/km; predecessor: 190 kW) and peak torque has been increased by an impressive 80 Nm to 620 Nm between 2,000 and 2,500 rpm.

As a result, the new BMW X3 xDrive30d storms from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds and goes on to reach a top speed of 240 km/h. It returns average fuel consumption of 5.7 litres per 100 kilometres, while emissions have also been cut once again: the average CO₂ figure works out at 149 grams per kilometre (a reduction of 7 g/km).

The BMW X3 xDrive20d: reduced fuel consumption and emissions.

With an output of 140 kW (fuel consumption combined: 5.5 – 5.0 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions: 146g/km) and torque peaking at 400 Nm between 1,750 and 2,500 rpm, the vital statistics of the diesel engine in the new BMW X3 xDrive20d are unchanged from the predecessor model. The BMW X3 xDrive20d completes the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in 8.0 seconds and posts a top speed of 213 km/h.

The cutting-edge BMW TwinPower Turbo technology at the heart of the BMW X3 petrol engines comprises TwinScroll turbocharging, High Precision Injection, Double-VANOS variable camshaft control and Valvetronic fully variable valve timing. The diesel units, meanwhile, employ a turbocharger with variable turbine geometry as well as a common-rail direct injection system generating injection pressures of up to 2,500 bar.

From September 2018, BMW Group Plant Rosslyn will begin producing the entry level petrol engine (BMW X3 xDrive20i) to join the current BMW X3 engine line up.

The BMW X3 xDrive20i is as dynamic as ever to drive and yet more efficient than comparable rivals. In this power variant, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine musters 135 kW (fuel consumption combined: 7.4 – 7.2 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 169 – 165 g/km) and transmits its peak torque of 290 Nm (predecessor: 270 Nm) to the crankshaft between 1,350 and 4,600 rpm. The dash from 0 to 100 km/h takes just 8.3 seconds in the new BMW X3 xDrive20i, while top speed is 215 km/h. Average fuel consumption is now 7.2 litres per 100 kilometres equating to CO₂ emissions of 165 grams per kilometre.

The BMW X3 xPlore Tour bears testimony that indeed BMW Group Plant Rosslyn is all set to be a part of the growing global success story of BMW X models.

For more information on the BMW X3 visit www.bmw.co.za/x3

The price list can be accessed via this link: http://www.bmwgroup-media.co.za/digital/documents/pricelist/G01_X3_Price_List.pdf

Media queries regarding this press release can be addressed to BMW Group South Africa’s Group Communication Division as follows:

Edward Makwana

Manager: Group Product Communications

Group Communications Division

BMW Group South Africa

Tel: +27-12-522-2227

Mobile: +27-71-666-2227

Email: edward.makwana@bmw.co.za

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