PressClub United Kingdom · Article.
BMW 118d wins World Green Car of the Year
Thu Mar 20 12:00:00 CET 2008 Press Release
Worldwide judging panel honours lowest ever CO2 producing BMW at New York International Auto Show
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Barbara Brailey
BMW Group
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Author.
Barbara Brailey
BMW Group
BMW's award-winning EfficientDynamics programme has been honoured with a global
brand. A jury consisting of 47 motor journalists from 24 countries has awarded
the BMW 118d, a model that displays all facets of EfficientDynamics, with the
"World Green Car of the Year" at the New York International Auto Show 2008.
Judges of the World Car of the Year Awards praised BMW and its 118d for
offering buyers a model with a range of innovative technologies that reduce
fuel consumption and cut CO2 emissions as standard. The three- and five-door
BMW 118d record an impressive 62.8mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions
of just 119g/km - putting it into the Band B category for Vehicle Excise Duty.
The BMW 118d now costs just £35 a year to tax.
To help it achieve these impressive figures, EfficientDynamics technologies
such as Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start-Stop and Electric Power Steering
are employed to cut fuel bills and emissions. An optimum gearshift change
indicator is included to encourage economical motoring.
Tom Purves, Chairman and CEO of BMW of North America, said: "BMW is very
excited that the BMW 118d with EfficientDynamics won the World Green Car title.
The measures that we've implemented within our EfficientDynamics strategy into
every BMW mean that we're able to provide customers with the driving pleasure
they expect from a BMW, while still meeting the stringent requirements for
fuel-efficiency and low emissions."
The award has cemented BMW as the world's leading producer of environmentally
friendly premium cars and comes swiftly after BMW received recognition for
EfficientDynamics by winning similar 'green' awards in the UK and abroad. What
Car? and CAR magazine 'Green Awards' and the Fleet News Environmental Award
were presented in the UK. A host of other European publications and
organisations, including the coveted Auto 1 Innovation Award presented during
the Geneva Motor Show, have also been bestowed on BMW.
Judges of the World Car awards previously presented BMW with the World Car of
the Year honour for the 3 Series model range in 2006. This time the BMW 118d
was chosen ahead of 10 other environmentally friendly production vehicles for
the World Green Car of the Year. The Mercedes Benz Smart fortwo cdi and the
Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI were the two other top three contenders.
Ends
Note: The World Car of the Year Awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially
launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as
well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international
scale. The awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing
national and regional Car of the Year programs.