Media Alert: 2012 BMW 3 Series Sedan to Premiere at The North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 9th

Additional Featured BMW Vehicles Include: 2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 (World Auto Show Premiere); 2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 5 (North American Premiere) and The First Two BMW i Concept Vehicles – BMW i3 Concept and BMW i8 Concept

The newly-redesigned 2012 BMW 3 Series Sedan will make its World Auto Show Premiere at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday, January 9 at the BMW Stand from 11:40 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. at COBO Center, One Washington Boulevard Detroit, MI 48226.  Also premiering in Detroit will be the BMW ActiveHybrid 3 (World Auto Show Premiere) and the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 (North American Premiere).  Additionally, the automaker will showcase the first two concept cars from its visionary and sustainable new BMW i brand – the BMW i3 Concept, or Megacity Vehicle, and the BMW i8 Concept, which can be seen in its previous form as the Vision EfficientDynamics in the new film, “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” starring Tom Cruise.     

The sixth generation BMW 3 Series Sedan will be the first BMW to be available in three lines: sport, luxury or modern, in addition to the base model, it features powerful styling meant to represent a fresh interpretation of traditional BMW design cues – with greater visual flair.  The BMW 335i comes equipped with a muscular TwinPower Turbo inline six-cylinder engine, while the BMW 328i will feature a new TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder variant which offers both a dynamic driving experience and reduced fuel consumption.  The all-new BMW 3 Series Sedan arrives in U.S. showrooms in February 2012.

The 2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 is the world's first-ever full hybrid among the compact sports sedans of the premium segment. The 2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 5 brings together BMW’s 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline six-cylinder engine, an electric drive system and an eight-speed automatic transmission for the first time.  Both vehicles boast an exceptional balance of performance and fuel economy. 

The first two vehicles from BMW’s new visionary and sustainable brand, BMW i – the fully electric BMW i3 Concept and the hybrid-electric BMW i8 Concept – will be showcased in Detroit.  The BMW i3 and i8 Concept vehicles represent the first purpose-built electric and electric-hybrid vehicles to be made primarily of carbon fiber when they become available in 2013 and 2014, respectively.  

DATE:       Monday, January 9, 2012

TIME:        Press Conference: 11:40 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.; Interviews: All Day

PLACE:     COBO Center, Detroit, MI

                   BMW Stand

                                                      # # #

BMW Executives available for interviews include:

• Ludwig Willisch, President, BMW North America

Ludwig Willisch became President of BMW North America on October1, 2011 and is available to discuss overall company business in North America.  Willisch began his career with the BMW Group in 1996 as manager of the BMW branch in Düsseldorf.  He later gained further national and international sales experience as head of the local sales subsidiaries in Germany, Japan and Sweden and served as Head of European Sales. 

• Peter Miles, Executive Vice President of Operations for BMW of North America

Peter Miles is the Executive Vice President of Operations for BMW of North America and is available to discuss all facets of BMW business in North America including sales and strategy.

• Adrian van Hooydonk, Director of BMW Group Design

The Director of BMW Group Design since 2009, Adrian van Hooydonk is responsible for design
development for the BMW, Rolls-Royce and MINI brands.  For nearly 17 years prior to his current position, van Hooydonk was the Head of BMW Automobile Design, working under previous BMW Group Design Director, Chris Bangle.  Mr. van Hooydonk is available to discuss the specific design elements of BMW vehicles, including the inspiration for the newly redesigned BMW 3 Series Sedan and the changes that have been made.

• Laurenz Schaffer, BMW Group DesignworksUSA

Since December 2009, Laurenz Schaffer has served as President of BMW Group DesignworksUSA  and led the global design consultancy’s strategy and operations, which includes studios in Los Angeles, Munich, and Singapore.  With global resources and clients across a spectrum of forward-thinking industries, DesignworksUSA has an unparalleled understanding of consumers and the world of design that surrounds them, both today and many years into the future. 

• Paul Ferraiolo, Manager, Product Planning & Strategy, BMW of North America

Paul Ferraiolo is available to discuss BMW product planning and strategy for BMW in North America and what is new for BMW in 2012.  

• Oliver Ganser, BMW 3 Series Product Manager, BMW of North America

Oliver Ganser is available to discuss the technical specifics of both the BMW 335i and the BMW 328i, changes that have been made to the newly-redesigned 2012 models, vehicle options and the genesis of the project. 

• Herbert Negele, Head of BMW Hybrid Projects, BMW AG

Herbert Negele is available to discuss both the BMW ActiveHybrid 3, the world’s first-ever full hybrid among the compact sports sedans of the premium segment, and the BMW ActiveHybrid 5.

• Bernardo Lopez Alvaredo, Powertrain, Head of Function Operation Evaluation, BMW AG

The 2012 BMW 3-Series Sedan will be available with either a 6-cylinder engine or BMW’s new TwinPower Turbo 4-Cylinder variant which offers both a dynamic driving experience and reduced fuel consumption.  Bernardo Lopez Alvaredo is available to discuss the technical specifications of the TwinPower Turbo 4-Cylinder engine and the company’s plans for its further integration into the increasingly efficient world of BMW.

• Matt Russell, M Brand Manager, BMW of North America

The all-new BMW M5 combines an exceptionally dynamic high-performance sports car with a luxurious business sedan, offering significantly improved efficiency, supreme long-distance comfort and innovative driver assistance systems and infotainment functions.  Matt Russell, BMW’s M Brand Manager, will be available to discuss details of the new BMW M5.

• Oliver Walter, Project Manager BMW i, BMW AG

The first two vehicles from BMW’s new visionary and sustainable brand, BMW i – the fully electric BMW i3 Concept and the hybrid-electric BMW i8 Concept – will represent the first purpose-built electric and electric-hybrid vehicles to be made primarily of carbon fiber when they become available in 2013 and 2014, respectively.  Oliver Walter is available to discuss the individual details of these vehicles as well as the overall brand vision and strategy for BMW i.

                                                         ###