January News in Brief.

A new era for BMW ConnectedDrive

As a continuing commitment to technological innovation, BMW has redefined its ConnectedDrive offering.  It now gives customers a choice of additional functionality and the ability to future-proof their BMW, enabling its connectivity to be upgraded throughout the car’s lifetime.

The current BMW Business and Professional Media packages will be replaced by a new three-tier offering; Business, Business Plus and Professional Media packages.   All three packages offer a BMW Navigation system, enhanced multimedia and progressive levels of BMW ConnectedDrive Services.

Offering a new entry point at £990, the new Business Media package includes; Business Navigation, BMW Emergency Call (eCall) and BMW Teleservices.  This new structure means that both BMW eCall and Teleservices are active for the life of the vehicle, not just benefiting new customers, but also future generations of BMW owners.  

The Business Plus Media package is priced at £1,400 and builds on the entry level package.  In addition, it gains BMW Online Services, information Plus and Remote Services to provide extra levels of connectivity.

The fully equipped Professional Media package is priced at £1,990 and sees an upgrade to the latest generation of BMW Professional Navigation.  This is combined with a full suite of ConnectedDrive Services including Real Time Traffic Information and the BMW Apps Interface which supports the integration of popular iPhone applications into the car, such as Facebook and Twitter.

These new BMW ConnectedDrive packages will be rolled out across the model line-up during 2013, starting in March with the BMW Z4, BMW X1, BMW 3 Series Saloon and Touring, BMW X3 and all of the BMW 6 Series range. 

Four times a charm for BMW at the Business Car 2013 Awards.

BMW UK has scooped four awards from one of the country’s leading fleet publications.  BusinessCar magazine has honoured BMW with the headline accolade of ‘Manufacturer of the Year’, for the fifth year in a row, in recognition of BMW’s continuous improvements to its product portfolio, offering breadth, quality, efficiency and performance to Business Car drivers.

The highly covetable title of ‘Business Car of the Year’ has been awarded to the new BMW 3 Series Saloon in honour of its ability to blend driving pleasure with low emissions.  Not content with one award, the BMW 3 Series Saloon also takes the title of ‘Upper Medium Car of the Year’ for the fourth year in a row.  Its wide appealing model range and enviable emissions have ensured that the BMW 3 Series Saloon remains the most aspirational choice of car for Business Car drivers. 

For the fourth year in a row the BMW X5 held on to its title, having once again been named ‘Large 4x4 of the Year’, thanks to its class leading emissions and car-like handling. 

The BusinessCar Awards have particular gravitas as they are the only awards voted for solely by the title’s readers, reflecting the opinions of the people who really matter in the fleet industry.

BMW 3 Series Touring named TopGear Magazine ‘Family Car of the Year’

TopGear Magazine has bestowed the prestigious title of ‘Family Car of the Year’ on the BMW 320d Touring.  Credited for capturing the imagination of the buying public since its inception in 1987, the BMW 3 Series Touring combines the practicality of its 495 litre boot, with an exceptional drive – 184hp taking the car from zero to 62mph is just 7.6 seconds - and award winning EfficientDynamics technology, resulting in 123g/km CO2 and 60.1mpg, to take home this impressive honour.

TopGear Magazine Editor-in- Chief, Charlie Turner, said:  “Forget mini-MPV’s or small SUVs or any of the other random initialisms designed to tempt you into new ways of thinking about the same problems.  All you need for 99 per cent of the time is a BMW 320d Touring. Job done.”

Regus and BMW help fleet drivers work smarter

A new partnership between Regus and BMW UK will see Businessworld Gold Cards offered to BMW and MINI fleet drivers. As a result, thousands of drivers will enjoy on-demand access to over 1,200 Regus business lounges across the world.

This venture will enable UK business drivers to leverage the benefits of flexible and mobile working. Those who already work on the move can trade in noisy coffee shops and working from their backseat for professional workspaces across the world, complete with Wi-Fi, meeting space and free tea and coffee.

The dual-branded Businessworld Gold Cards will also help office-based fleet drivers switch to more flexible ways of working. They’ll be able to use Regus business lounges a short drive from home, minimising the traditional daily commute to a distant office.

According to Steve Purdy, UK Managing Director at Regus: “This Regus-BMW partnership offers a more productive way to work, letting people perform better, use their time better, and cut the stress associated with commuting and working on the move.”

Adam Harley, Corporate Dealer Operations Manager, at BMW UK, adds: “This partnership with Regus is a great fit with our customers’ lifestyles and requirements. Regus’s excellence in flexible working, and its understanding of new ways of working, will help our customers perform more efficiently, wherever they are.”

Ends

The BMW Group

The BMW Group is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI, Husqvarna Motorcycles and Rolls-Royce brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 29 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2012, the BMW Group sold about 1.85 million cars and more than 117,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2011 was euro 7.38 billion on revenues amounting to euro 68.82 billion. At 31 December 2011, the BMW Group had a workforce of approximately 100,000 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been built on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy. As a result of its efforts, the BMW Group has been ranked industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the last eight years.

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For further information please contact:

Krystyna Kozlowska            BMW Media Relations Executive

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

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