January News in Brief

BMW X5 named luxury used car of the decade          
The BMW X5 has been named by CAP as the luxury used car of the decade.  The residual value and whole life costs experts praised the X5 for setting a new benchmark and taking the 4x4 from the field and putting it on the motorway, but most of all making it feel like it has always belonged there.  It was the effortless usability, faultless build quality and strong influence on the marketplace that wooed the judges. 

Mike Hind, CAP Communications Manager, said: “For the used car buyer who does need a workhorse, with towing power and room for the whole family’s holiday load, the 2000 – 2006 BMW X5 provides it.  But it also offers the opportunity to leave the green wellingtons and the horse box at home and enjoy driving as a pleasure in itself.”

Since its inception in 2000 the BMW X5 has been a popular choice with British car buyers, selling 65,353 since its launch.  The first model to feature BMW’s acclaimed xDrive four-wheel-drive system, the X5 has inspired other BMWs as well as created a new class of vehicle that has since been emulated by many other manufacturers.

New Service Inclusive prices on all BMWs

BMW’s Service Inclusive package now makes even more financial sense following a revision to the pricing.  Now starting from just £250 the BMW Service Inclusive package lasts for five years/60,000 miles and covers the cost of all labour and parts for routine servicing* for added peace of mind. Should the vehicle be sold, the subsequent time left is fully transferable to the next owner, enhancing the resale value of the car.

The new prices for BMW’s Service Inclusive packages are as follows: 

BMW model

Service Inclusive prices

1 Series, X1

£250

3 Series, X3, Z4

£300

5 Series, 5 Series GT, X5, X6

£350

6 Series, 7 Series

Standard

M cars

£1000

*Cover includes: brake fluid, air filters, micro filters, fuel filters (diesel models only), spark plugs, oil filters and engine oil.

BMW X1 gets five-star star Euro NCAP rating

The new BMW X1 has been awarded the maximum 5-star safety rating in the latest Euro NCAP crash test results.  The X1’s safety ratings – with scores of 87 per cent for adult occupant protection, 86 per cent for child protection, 71 per cent for safety assist equipment and 63 per cent for pedestrian protection – place it as one of the safest cars in its class. It obtained by far the highest pedestrian safety rating, of the 12 cars recently tested.

All BMW X1s come as standard with a comprehensive safety package developed specifically for X models.  It comprises many different elements including front, side and curtain airbags, front and rear anti-roll bars, deformation zones with door reinforcements and Dynamic Stability Control as well ISOFIX points for installing children’s seats at the rear.  The restraints are controlled centrally and are triggered electronically to provide the most effective protection, taking into account the type and intensity of the impact.

The entire safety package impressed the Euro NCAP testers and led them to conclude that the X1 has an extremely stable passenger cell, offering excellent protection for adults and children alike.  The exterior design and material quality significantly reduce the risk of head injury to passengers and cyclists, leading to the appointment of the five-star Euro NCAP rating. 

The BMW and MINI Business Partnership programme
A new programme developed specifically for businesses running 50 company cars or less has been launched by BMW Group UK. The BMW and MINI Business Partnerships is a scheme aimed at taking the hassle away from company car ownership while offering tangible benefits to be part of the partnership.

Members benefit from preferential BMW and MINI Contract Hire rates, free specification upgrades and the support of a dedicated Business Manager to offer guidance on the latest motoring and tax regulations. For example, the Business Manager can manage vehicle servicing, organise extended test drives and help with issues such as capital allowances, driver benefit in kind taxes and Duty of Care legislation.

Membership also brings the added benefit of invitations to exclusive previews of new BMW models ahead of the public launch and access to the Business Partnership website where valuable information on fleet management is held along with the latest product offers. Small to medium businesses wishing to sign up for the scheme should contact their local dealer for further information or visit www.bmwbusinesspartnership.co.uk. Participation in this scheme is free. Further information on BMW’s EfficientDynamics technologies and why this makes the marque class-leading can be gleaned from www.bmw.co.uk/efficientdynamics

BMW Group scoops Greenest Manufacturer of the Year award
The BMW Group has been named Greenest Manufacturer of the Year 2009 by one of the UK’s leading eco-motoring websites. The highly respected Green-Car-Guide.com recognises the manufacturer who has made the biggest impact in bringing lower emission cars to British car buyers each year. For 2009 BMW Group was awarded the coveted title for the second time in three years.

The judges were impressed by BMW Group’s fuel-saving and emissions-reducing EfficientDynamics technologies which have been applied to its entire range as standard compared to rivals who only offer ad hoc ‘green’ models. BMW and MINI products were also praised for not compromising styling or driving enjoyment to achieve their outstanding fuel efficiency and emissions figures – something rivals can’t equal.

Paul Clarke, Founder and Managing Editor of Green-Car-Guide.com, said: “The focus of our award is on best-in-class low emission cars that should also be great to drive and the BMW Group offers an ideal range of vehicles to meet the criteria. It is a worthy winner as it has also achieved all of this without demanding a surcharge of its customers for the measures.”

Stephen Chater, Corporate Sales Manager, said: “85 per cent of the energy used in a car’s lifetime is in the fuel it consumes so BMW Group’s class-leading advances in overall engine performance are of huge benefit to owners. We won a plethora of green awards in 2009 and hope to continue this trend with the launch this year of innovative products such as the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Saloon with its 109g/km CO2 emissions and 68.9mpg combined consumption figures.”

The BMW Group has a strong company-wide ethos of sustainability. The Dow Jones Sustainability Index has named BMW Group the “most sustainable car company in the world” in 2009 for the fifth year in a row. BMW and MINI have also been involved in other initiatives such as partnering with the Energy Saving Trust to provide a fleet of cars to support its Smarter Driving programme.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Krystyna Kozlowska            BMW Media Relations Assistant

Tel: 01344 480707             Email: Krystyna.Kozlowska@bmw.co.uk

Gavin Ward                           BMW Media Relations Manager
Tel:  01344 480829            Email: Gavin.Ward@bmw.co.uk

Wieland Bruch                      Product Communications Manager

Tel: 01344 480113             Email: Wieland.Bruch@bmw.co.uk

Graham Biggs                       Corporate Communications Director

Tel:  01344 480109            Email:  Graham.Biggs@bmw.co.uk

Press office fax:                   01344 480306

Media website:                    www.press.bmwgroup.co.uk
Customer website:              www.bmw.co.uk