PressClub United Kingdom · Article.
October News in Brief
Mon Oct 24 11:22:50 CEST 2016 Press Kit
• Apple CarPlay via wireless connection is now available with BMW Professional Media System. • Prices announced for the new 2017 BMW 5 Series range. • Marco Wittmann wins his second DTM Drivers’ Championship. • Alessandro Zanardi races to victory in Mugello. • BMW UK strengthens its leasing team. • The BMW X5 is awarded best tow car.
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Chris Overall
BMW Group
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Apple CarPlay now offered with BMW Professional Media
System.
Available on almost all models within the BMW
range, customers with the BMW Professional Media System now have the
option to purchase Apply CarPlay preparation enabling the wireless use
of their iPhone including selected third party apps in their BMW.
Unlike the integration seen on other vehicles within the
industry, the connection in the BMW is wireless ensuring maximum
convenience for the user. Smartphone content such as iMessages, SMS,
Telephony, Entertainment, Apple Maps and selected third party apps can
be displayed and operated on the iDrive either using the iDrive
controller, touch or voice input. The available smartphone content can
be viewed on the iDrive while still having access to information from
your BMW in the split screen such as the BMW entertainment details,
navigation guidance, vehicle information etc.
Alongside the optional Apple CarPlay preparation, all BMW's
feature Apps Interface allowing the use of BMW Connected as well as
selected third party apps including Audible, Deezer, Glympse, Spotify,
Stitcher and more.
Apple CarPlay is priced at £235 and available on 1 Series, 2
Series Coupé and Convertible, 3 Series, 4 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series,
X3, X4, X5, X6, M2, M3, M4, X5M, X6M and M6.
Prices announced for the new 2017 BMW 5 Series
range.
With a broad range of engines and the
introduction of BMW’s xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system
available, the new 2017 BMW 5 Series remains as competitive as ever.
This seventh generation model uses the very latest technology from
within BMW to create a saloon that’s more refined than ever before,
significantly lighter, safer, and more fuel efficient. Prices shown below:
Model | Power Hp | Torque Nm | 0 – 62mph Seconds | Top Speed Mph | Combined Mpg | CO2 Emissions g/km | Prices from OTR |
530i | 252 | 350 | 6.2 | 155* | 48.7 | 132 | £40,120 |
540i xDrive | 340 | 450 | 4.8 | 155* | 39.2 | 164 | £46,645 |
520d (520d xDrive) | 190 | 400 | 7.5 (7.6) | 146 (144) | 68.8 (62.7) | 108 (119) | £36,025 |
530d (530d xDrive) | 265 | 620 | 5.7 (5.4) | 155* | 60.1 (53.2) | 124 (138) | £43,835 |
Figures in brackets apply to xDrive variant. *Top speed
electronically limited.
Marco Wittmann of BMW Team RMG is the new DTM
champion.
Finishing fourth place in the final race of
the year at the Hockenheimring (DE) was enough for the 26-year-old at
the wheel of the Red Bull BMW M4 DTM to gain the DTM title. Starting
from fifth on the grid, Wittmann produced another flawless race to
wrap up the title.
Wittmann is the first BMW driver ever to win the DTM Drivers’
Championship twice, having previously been crowned champion in 2014.
At the age of 26 years and 327 days, he is the youngest double DTM
champion of all time. In the team standings, BMW Team RMG ended the
season in second place with 290 points and a deficit of 29 points. BMW
is also in second place in the manufacturers' standings, with a total
of 647 points.
Marco Wittmann, BMW Team RMG, said:“What a feeling! Being
crowned DTM Champion for the second time in four years is incredible.
It was a difficult season, but now the emotions are indescribable. We
fought right down to the wire and had no idea that we would finish at
the top before the season started. We've done it now. Crazy. Massive
thanks go to my team, BMW Motorsport and everyone involved. And I have
huge respect for Edoardo Mortara. He had a great season. In the end we
did enough. Now it's time to celebrate.”
To commemorate the historic win, BMW M unveiled a special
edition model based on the current BMW M4 Coupé. The BMW M4 DTM
Championship Edition is on sale now boasting 500hp and a six-cylinder
turbocharged engine that can hit 62mph from standstill in 3.8 seconds
before going on to a top speed of 190mph.
Alessandro Zanardi races to victory in
Mugello.
After a break of over a year and after winning
two gold and one silver medal in the para-cycling competitions on Rio
de Janeiro (BR), Mugello marked the comeback in the racing cockpit for
Alessandro Zanardi where he raced onto the top step of the podium in
the BMW M6 GT3.
Zanardi had qualified third on the grid for Sunday’s race, but
was promoted to second place after a competitor’s car was damaged in
an accident on Saturday and could not take part in the second race.
The Italian was third after the opening lap, but when the pit stop
window opened he took the lead. And when he returned to the track
after his mandatory pit stop he was still leading the field. Zanardi
opened up a gap of several seconds and raced to his first ever win in
the BMW M6 GT3.
Alessandro Zanardi, expressed his victory: “There are no words
to describe what I feel. Today I saw the sun setting and it never
looked that beautiful. What a year, not only what a day. Once more I
enjoyed beautiful moments in Rio de Janeiro, and now just jumping into
this beautiful car was amazing,” Zanardi enthused. “But to win the
race is something else. I did not have the start I wanted, but I had a
great car underneath me. So I knew it was just a question of putting
in some good laps as soon as the guys in front of me pitted, and that
is what I did. So when I came back on the circuit I found myself with
a very comfortable lead, and I had the speed to stay away from the
guys behind me and finish with the victory.”
Three new Leasing Key Account Managers join Corporate Sales
department.
BMW Group has recently strengthened its
leasing company relationship management team with the appointment of
three new Leasing Key Account Managers. Ian Munro joins from Fiat
Chrysler Automobiles where he held a number of positions focussing on
leasing company relationships and residual value management. Hollie
Crumlish joins from the Manufacturer Engagement Team at LeasePlan UK
and Jack Munford transfers from Alphabet and builds on experience
gained in the leasing sector and BMW Retailer network. Finally, Lee
Pennells takes on the newly created role of Tactical Leasing Manager,
focussing on tactical sales and BMW Group’s approach to the Broker Sector.
Adam Harley, National Leasing Manager, commented: “This new
structures allows us to build on our core strengths of collaboration
and partnership. Clearly defined Key Account Management roles will
deliver even higher standards of customer service to our leasing
company partners. With a more complex market place, technological
advances such as Connected Car and Teleservices and any potential
changes to the tax landscape, it remains vital to recruit the very
best candidates and I am delighted to have recruited such high quality
individuals to represent our brands. Separating the tactical sales
activity and having a specific focus on the SME and Broker Sectors
will allow us to better understand how to engage with this growing market.”
The BMW X5 is class winner at The Caravan Club Towcar of the
Year 2017 Competition.
For vehicles priced over
£45,000, the BMW X5 xDrive40d M Sport stole the show with its power,
poise and practicality. Also voted winner of the category “All-Wheel
Drive over 1800kg” the BMW X5 beat off stiff competition and impressed
the judges with its towing abilities.
The Caravan Club Towcar judges, explained: “The BMW deploys a
raft of technological tricks to make the towing experience as
comfortable as possible- offering a range of suspension and drive
settings plus and economy setting which returns fuel economy in the
high 40s.”
Ends
The BMW Group
With its three brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 31 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2015, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.247 million cars and nearly 137,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2015 was approximately € 9.22 billion on revenues amounting to € 92.18 billion. As of 31 December 2015, the BMW Group had a workforce of 122,244 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based 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.
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For further information please contact:
Gavin Ward BMW Media
Relations Manager
Tel: 01252 921261
Email: Gavin.Ward@bmw.co.uk
Lauren Prema BMW Media Relations Executive
Tel: 07815 370746
Email: Lauren.Prema@bmw.co.uk
Piers Scott General Manager, Product and Internal Communications
Tel: 01252 921265
Email: Piers.Scott@bmw.co.uk
Graham Biggs Corporate Communications Director
Tel: 01252 921256
Email: Graham.Biggs@bmw.co.uk