A document on BMW's website contains a statement published by Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, and sheds light on some short yet interesting details about the company's near future.
First and foremost, BMW is planning to launch a vehicle in 2008 called the X6. It will be built in Spartanburg, USA. BMW's American plant currently assembles the X5 SUV and Z4 roadster.
Also, production of the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe will start soon, but production for 2007 is already and completely spoken for. Reithofer also announced a lower-priced Roller that would appear in the next few years.
By the way, BMW also builds motorcycles, and five new models are currently being introduced, with more to come this year.
The Chairman was also proud of some of the company's achievements. He mentions that BMW's fleet fuel consumption in Germany has decreased by 30 percent between 1990 and 2005.
As an example, he cited that the new 118i uses 5.9 L/100 km while the 2004 model used 7.3 liters, a decrease of 20 percent. The 118d diesel requires only 4.7 liters for every 100 km.
The new-generation MINI Cooper D (for diesel) consumes only 4.4 L/100 km. And as previously mentioned on Auto123.com, the MINI Clubman is also on its way.
The 1-Series, which will gain a three-door model in a couple of months, is said to be the only rear-wheel drive offering in the premium compact segment. In Germany, seven out of ten 1-Series customers didn't previously own a BMW before, and today, the 1-Series is the third most important product in their lineup. In case you didn't know, the 1 is soon coming to Canada, which should attract new clients into their showrooms.
New engines are on the way, according to Reithofer. Gasoline units with direct injection and lean-burn mode and high-end diesel units are in the plans, and will first make their way in the 1- and 5-Series. These engines are supposed to lower fuel consumption by up to 20 percent.
Diesel-equipped vehicles play a major role in BMW's product lineup. In 2006, 40 percent of all BMWs sold around the world had a diesel engine under the hood. In some European markets, the proportion soars to 90 percent. It would be nice to get some in OUR market, don't you think?
Other developments are under way. Regeneration of brake energy, lightweight construction and an automatic start/stop function are mentioned. Hybrid powertrains are also under consideration, and collaboration with DaimlerChrysler has been established to create "add-ons" for BMW's combustion engines. Of course, the Hydrogen 7 was a cited example of how the company considers hydrogen to be the best solution.
First and foremost, BMW is planning to launch a vehicle in 2008 called the X6. It will be built in Spartanburg, USA. BMW's American plant currently assembles the X5 SUV and Z4 roadster.
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| What happens when you glue an X5 body to a 6-Series front end? (Illustration: auto123.com) |
Also, production of the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe will start soon, but production for 2007 is already and completely spoken for. Reithofer also announced a lower-priced Roller that would appear in the next few years.
By the way, BMW also builds motorcycles, and five new models are currently being introduced, with more to come this year.
The Chairman was also proud of some of the company's achievements. He mentions that BMW's fleet fuel consumption in Germany has decreased by 30 percent between 1990 and 2005.
As an example, he cited that the new 118i uses 5.9 L/100 km while the 2004 model used 7.3 liters, a decrease of 20 percent. The 118d diesel requires only 4.7 liters for every 100 km.
The new-generation MINI Cooper D (for diesel) consumes only 4.4 L/100 km. And as previously mentioned on Auto123.com, the MINI Clubman is also on its way.
The 1-Series, which will gain a three-door model in a couple of months, is said to be the only rear-wheel drive offering in the premium compact segment. In Germany, seven out of ten 1-Series customers didn't previously own a BMW before, and today, the 1-Series is the third most important product in their lineup. In case you didn't know, the 1 is soon coming to Canada, which should attract new clients into their showrooms.
New engines are on the way, according to Reithofer. Gasoline units with direct injection and lean-burn mode and high-end diesel units are in the plans, and will first make their way in the 1- and 5-Series. These engines are supposed to lower fuel consumption by up to 20 percent.
Diesel-equipped vehicles play a major role in BMW's product lineup. In 2006, 40 percent of all BMWs sold around the world had a diesel engine under the hood. In some European markets, the proportion soars to 90 percent. It would be nice to get some in OUR market, don't you think?
Other developments are under way. Regeneration of brake energy, lightweight construction and an automatic start/stop function are mentioned. Hybrid powertrains are also under consideration, and collaboration with DaimlerChrysler has been established to create "add-ons" for BMW's combustion engines. Of course, the Hydrogen 7 was a cited example of how the company considers hydrogen to be the best solution.