BMW and Audi show off DTM challengers

The German Touring Car Championship is known as the most advanced tin-top series in the world and BMW decided to rejoin the fray after an absence of nearly 20 years.
The Munich carmaker took the wraps off their M3 DTM concept car last week and it was met almost immediately by Audi and their concept A5 DTM.
Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus was announced as the drivers for BMW’s first assault on the DTM in the 2012 season.

VIDEO: Launch of the new 6-series convertible

One variant available, 640i priced at RM868,800



Press Release and full details after the jump




PRESS RELEASE

Group Malaysia introduces the all new BMW 6 Series Convertible

The new generation of the BMW 6 Series Convertible sets new standards with flowing lines, sporting proportions and a stylish design language. 

Kuala Lumpur, 12^th April 2011 – BMW Group Malaysia today introduced the all new BMW 6 Series Convertible, the premium convertible that seamlessly blends refined sporting performance with unsurpassed luxury refinement.

First introduced in 1976, the beautiful and elegant BMW 6 Series was a car that captured the imagination of drivers everywhere with its on-road power and agility, coupled with its elegant and flowing lines. Over three decades and two model generations later, the new BMW 6 Series Convertible represents a reimagining of that iconic BMW model, with its elongated lines and expressive sculpted surfaces exuding dynamism and exclusivity.

“There is arguably nothing more evocative in the world of automobile design than a long and lean convertible, which strongly implies a powerful sports car with an optional roof capable of delivering long distance travel in luxury and style. The all new BMW 6 Series Convertible truly delivers on that promise in every way, setting segment-defining standards in terms of aesthetics, driving dynamics, efficiency and comfort” said Geoff Briscoe, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia.

The long bonnet, short front overhang, long wheelbase, low waistline and overall strong orientation of the silhouette towards the rear axle of the vehicle are the core design characteristics of this superlative yet elegant BMW convertible. In fact, the BMW 6 Series Convertible only recently received one of the world’s leading honours for product design, the Red Dot award for outstanding design, underlining car model’s timeless and appealing aesthetic.

Since the introduction of the second generation of the BMW 6 Series in 2003, the BMW Group has sold a total of over 50,000 units of this coveted car worldwide, a testament to its enduring appeal and sporting luxury pedigree.

“Based on the total sales for the first quarter of the year, BMW Group Malaysia sold a total of 1182 BMW, 65 MINI and 58 Motorrad vehicles, resulting in a record-breaking total of 1305 units for the first three months of 2011, up from 1021 units for the same period in 2010. This represents an impressive 27.8% growth, and we are confident that the all-new BMW 6 Series Convertible will contribute to continued strength of the BMW marque in Malaysia,” added Briscoe

The new BMW 6 Series Convertible was launched with one engine variant, the BMW 640i Convertible which features an impressive 3.0-litre six-cylinder in-line engine that produces an outstanding 235kW/320 hp. The powerplant comes with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, direct petrol injection and VALVETRONIC, and is mated to an 8-speed sports automatic transmission, resulting in a near-effortless 0-100km/h time of 5.7 seconds.

The new BMW 640i Convertible, like all current BMW models, also features BMW EfficientDynamics measures as standard, including amongst others, an Auto Start/Stop function which switches off the engine whenever the vehicle comes to a stop at a junction or in a traffic jam. This results in a fuel consumption level of only 7.9 litre/100 km and ensures that the new BMW 6 Series Convertible once again takes the lead in terms of fuel efficiency and low emissions.

From an exterior standpoint, the new BMW 6 Series Convertible at 4.89 metres in length represents a seven centimetre increase over its predecessor, which is almost matched by the increase in wheelbase dimensions. Not that this increase in size translates to a bulkier look though, as this premium convertible comes replete with the trademark BMW kidney grille, distinctively contoured hood and muscular curves which evoke the natural grace of a wave, underlining its athletic stance.

Like its predecessor, it is an unmistakably classic, multi-layered canvas roof sports the trademark fin roof design that the BMW 6 Series Convertible is known for. Opening at the mere touch of a button, this elegant roof folds into the boot of the new BMW 6 Series Convertible in under 19 seconds, allowing passengers to enjoy uninhibited open-top cruising. On the other hand, the operation of closing the roof takes 24 seconds, once again giving the car its sleek, coupe-like profile. The soundproofing and stiffness of the fin roof have been further optimised in this latest model, allowing operation at speeds of up to 40 km/h and ensuring that thermal insulation and noise levels are optimised, allowing for all-year, all-round use.

Look under its surface and you will find that the new BMW 6 Series Convertible is more than ably equipped to match up to its sporty exterior.  With an all-new chassis that features a double-wishbone front suspension, integral rear axle, a wider track, and the BMW’s trademark 50:50 front-rear weight distribution for a wide spectrum of ability, the new BMW 6 Series Convertible is the definitive long-distance cruiser.

Showcasing the premium marque’s commitment to matching beauty with technological superiority, the new BMW 6 Series Convertible is also fitted with a host of class-leading features to provide the complete premium driving experience, including Driving Dynamics Control, Integral Active Steering and electromechanical power steering. Driving Dynamics Control enables discerning drivers to pick between sporting agility or exceptional ride comfort, just by pushing a button to individually adjust vehicle characteristics, including engine and steering response, gearshift dynamics, DSC Stability Control, as well as the electronic dampers and body roll stabilisation.

Additionally, the BMW 6 Series Convertible is the first vehicle in its segment to feature Integral Active Steering and electromechanical power steering to deliver hallmark BMW steering precision and greater manoeuvrability at all speeds, whether you are tackling a twisty mountain road, sprawling major highways or even when cruising downtown. The Integral Active Steering does this by complementing the front wheel active steering movements by getting the rear wheels to steer in either the same or opposite direction to make the new BMW 6 Series Convertible feel flexible and more agile in any driving condition.

Interior wise, the new BMW 6 Series Convertible features spacious 2+2 seating with ample space even for rear passengers, and very importantly for this segment, the luggage compartment contains sufficient space for two large golf bags even with the roof down, with a maximum capacity of 350 litres. The new lightweight seats also come with an integrated seatbelt system, which is equipped with electric adjustment and a memory function as standard. Besides that, SunReflective Technology ensures that the leather upholstery heat up significantly less in direct sunshine when driving with the top down, further enhancing the comfort features of this premium convertible.

As with every BMW, the cockpit features an asymmetric design that ensures relevant controls are clearly angled towards the driver, with 2-zone air-conditioning with a special convertible mode and xenon headlights with LED daytime driving light rings coming as standard as well.

Possibly the most distinctive feature in the new 6 Series Convertible is the Control Display of the iDrive, which comes standard and for the first time sports a fixed, free-standing flatscreen design. In conjunction with the Navigation System Professional the display measures 10.2 inches and is framed by an elegant metal surround. With this equipment, the new BMW 6 Series Convertible features the largest on-board monitor in the segment, making it possible for the intuitive iDrive system to be operated without having to take one’s eyes off the road.

BMW ConnectedDrive driver assistance systems and mobility services also bring a wide number of additional features to the new BMW 6 SeriesConvertible, including complete USB connectivity and Bluetooth hands free functions, as well as considerably expanded functionality for mobile phones and portable music players, on-board mobile office applications and on-board Internet. The highlight of the BMW ConnectedDrive range however is the inclusion of the BMW Head-up Display and BMW Night Vision with pedestrian recognition, which supports full-colour images and is available on the new BMW 6 Series Convertible for the very first time.

As the only vehicle in its segment to include this feature, the BMW Head-Up Display and BMW Night Vision projects virtual images from the road ahead as well as detailing vital information onto the windscreen in full spectrum of colour, significantly increasing road safety and allowing one’s eyes to focus on distance viewing, cutting down stress and ensuring a much more comfortable drive.

The new BMW 6 Series Convertible is also covered by BMW’s extensive service program, BMW Service + Repair Inclusive (BS+RI) which covers the normal wear and tear repairs or replacements as well as maintenance, service and repair of factory components of the vehicle. The service program offers peace of mind BMW ownership and provides cover from three years from its original registration date or 60,000KM, which ever comes first.   

The retail price (on the road, without insurance, with BMW Service Inclusive + Repair) for the new BMW 640i Convertible is from RM 868,800.00

VIDEO: First glimpse of F10 BMW M5

Bold business car, at touch of button becomes sports car, says the dude in this official BMW video

Test Drive: BMW Z4 3.0 iS: It made us sad

The Z4 is gorgeous and technically competent, but it broke down after a bit of hard driving

A BMW Roadster is a joy, especially if it is a Z4 with a three litre straight-six under the bonnet and sports suspension taking care of the handling.

On the face of it, the Z4 is one of the most attractive open top roadster in the market right now, the designers in Munich has learnt to love flame surfacing and evolved it into a coherent and elegant vehicle that is the second generation Z4.

The long bonnet is accentuated by feature creases and subtle power bulge while the shoulder line marches towards the rear with great confidence in a slight downward trajectory before bending upwards to meet the rear wheel arch.

The kidney grille has grown in prominence and now frames turbine-blade sections that guide airflow into the engine bay.

BMW’s play with concave and convex surface is visible everywhere and on the Z4 they really come together to create a muscular and athletic appearance.

If there is anything that deserves a second look, it’s the wheels, which are too tame for the rest of the vehicle. 

If it had slimmer and more spokes that also twist like turbine blades, the Z4 would be the perfect interpretation of flame surfacing.

The cabin is typical BMW, each passenger gets a cocoon of leather and quality polymers with most of the controls angled ever so slightly towards the driver.

The steering is perfectly sized and with reach and rake adjustability works together with the electrically adjustable seats to create the perfect driving environment.

All the instruments are clearly marked and easily visible with no major problems with the top of the steering wheel obstructing the dials.

The foldable hardtop roof stows away neatly and tucks itself away in just 20 seconds to transform the Z4 into an attractive topless model.

We took the car on the usual Empangan Batu-Ulu Yam –Goh Tong Jaya route and on the first half it behaved impeccably.

The engine barked in perfect pitch to the accompaniment of wind in our hair and greenery zooming past.

All the while the steering chatted happily about road surface, tyre grip levels, weight transfer and torque transmission with the verbosity and fluency, if not always the elegance of a cunning linguist.

Stab the throttle and the engine would summon an immediate wash of torque to sling the car past any slow moving traffic or empty, snaking corner.

Dab on the brakes and you will be impressed with its linearity and sensitivity, allowing the driver to adjust his entry speed with finesse.

Just before the turn in, flick the paddle shifter twice and hear in a blink two lower ratios are engaged and the engine has blipped itself to perfectly match crank speed to transmission revolution.

Judge the apex, turn in and adjust the car’s attitude with the throttle and feel every component work as one.

Even at the firmest setting the suspension has enough give to absorb severe road imperfections and prevent your spine from snapping.

This went on for a good half hour and as the air chilled to match the greenery and topography, the drive became even more intoxicating.

Towards the end, the road becomes a series of tightening radius corners which really allowed us to test the limits of the chassis at reasonably safe speeds and the Z4 proves its willingness to stick to the intended line as long as the driver is gentle but firm.

In fact the Z4 is quite willing to be wrestled into corners with quick steering input, a slight rear slip and balance the whole thing on the throttle. In Sport+ Mode the car will allow you to peer over the edge of danger, pulling you back at the very last minute.

Sport + is not for the hesitant, hamfisted or weak hearted.

Then it all went south.

The instrument panel lit up the engine-fault warning and suddenly the car had no power.

We limped the last few kilometers up to our photo shoot location, hoping that it was too much excitement that agitated the warning light.

After half an hour, we continued and things looked good, the warning light had switched itself off.

We drove gently to allow the engine to warm up slowly but after a few minutes it came on again.

A few stop-start session later, the light insisted on keeping us company for the rest of the drive.

This annoyed us no end and a call to BMW did not help us source the problem and in the end we enjoyed the super twisty and narrow old Genting-Gombak road at half-speed.

With the warning light spoiling the drive, we simply cannot recommend the Z4 whole heartedly. We don’t know what went wrong and that was a huge cloud of uncertainty that simply could not be puffed away.

VIDEO FAIL: Why you should never park your BMW next to a construction site

VIDEO: BMW i* spotted filming in Dubai

It looks like BMW is working overtime to promote the i*, expect to see this video at a motorshow in the near future....

BMW locally assembles X1 in Kulim

CKD BMW X1 Price:

• BMW X1 xDrive20d – RM298,800
• BMW X1 sDrive18i – RM238,800 

BMW Malaysia began local assembly for the X1 Sports Activity Vehicle in Kulim, where local partner Sime Darby has equity in an automotive assembly facility under Inokom Corporation.


BMW Malaysia Managing Director, Geoffrey Briscoe: “The locally assembled BMW X1 will continue to match the capabilities of the previous fully imported CBU models, and marks an important technological transfer in Green Technology to the Malaysian automotive industry”.

Identical in all respects to the fully imported version of the BMW X1 previously available, the BMW Assembly Plant will produce both the diesel powered BMW X1 xDrive20d and the petrol driven BMW X1 sDrive18i.

For the rest of the story and hi-res photo gallery of the roll-out ceremony please follow the jump

 Dato’ Mukhriz Mahathir,

 Deputy Minister of 

International Trade 

and Industry.

The locally assembled X1  gets added kit including front and rear Park Distance Control (PDC), interior and exterior mirrors with automatic anti-dazzle function and a new sports leather steering wheel and all new interior trim finishers.

Locally assembled X1 xDrive20d gets even more extra features in the form of new double-spoke style 18” Light alloy wheels, an all new ‘Fineline wave’ interior fine-wood trim and BMW Navigation Professional, Bluetooth connectivity and a HiFi loudspeaker system as standard.


The retail prices for the BMW X1 xDrive20d and the BMW X1 sDrive18i (on the road price including personal road tax and registration and inclusive of 3-year BMW Service + Repair Inclusive package) are as follows:

• BMW X1 xDrive20d – RM298,800
• BMW X1 sDrive18i – RM238,800 

Short brief on Inokom Corporation

Inokom is principally involved in the manufacture and assembly of light commercial vehicles as well as contract assembly. Its manufacturing facility is located in Padang Meha, Kulim.

The Company is owned by a consortium of corporate shareholders, which constitute of Sime Darby Berhad (51%), Pesumal (M) Sdn Bhd (14%), Hyumal Motor Sdn Bhd (“Hyumal”) (5%), Hyundai Motor Company of South Korea (“Hyundai”) (15%) and Berjaya Group Berhad (15%).








BMW X1 ROLL-OUT GALLERY

PRESS RELEASE

BMW Group Malaysia Increases Investment in Malaysia with Local Assembly of the BMW X1 Sports Activity Vehicle.

Kulim, 14^th December 2010 – BMW Group Malaysia today announced the introduction of the new locally assembled BMW X1, a move which increases BMW Group Malaysia’s investment in the country and further boost the automotive industry through the injection of fresh assembly techniques and technology.

The BMW Group has had a long history of local assembly features in Malaysia, with the first Malaysian assembled BMW rolling out in 1983 at the BMW Assembly Facility in Kuching, Sarawak. The introduction of the new BMW X1 marks the first introduction of an entirely new production series by BMW in 27 years and like the BMW 3 Series and BMW 5 Series that came before is expected to become a key contributor to our continued business success and profitability” said Mr. Geoffrey Briscoe, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia.

Designed to meet the needs of the increasingly dynamic modern lifestyle, the BMW X1 is a youthful Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) with a highly contemporary sport-centric design, featuring great versatility and agility and highlighting a premium interior with superior engine performance and amazing fuel efficiency – characteristics that are typically BMW.

“The BMW X1 has been the car of choice in terms of successfully blending in all the traits which a BMW is known for with the newest innovations by BMW to take into account very important real world concerns.  It is a testament to the capabilities of BMW EfficientDynamics technology which significantly improves the sustainability of the car from an economical as well as environmental perspective, without any compromise to driving dynamics” said Mr. Briscoe.

Mr. Briscoe further added that the introduction of the new BMW X in April this year set the benchmark for emission standards in Malaysia and was the first vehicle of its kind with CO₂ emissions below 170g per kilometre, making it comparable even to hybrid vehicles in terms of carbon reductions and fulfilling BMW Group Malaysia’s promise of providing the Malaysian market with sustainable and clean vehicle technologies.

“The locally assembled BMW X1 will continue to match the capabilities of the previous fully imported CBU models, and marks an important technological transfer in Green Technology to the Malaysian automotive industry” said Mr. Briscoe.

Efficient Dynamics has been at the core of the BMW Group’s overall strategy for the past two decades and plays an integral role in its long term ambition towards corporate sustenance. This industry leading strategy is a commitment by the carmaker towards producing fuel-saving and alternative vehicle concepts through clean production processes and is a concept that has been built into all of BMW’s product lines as standard. Today, approximately 1.4 million BMW vehicles worldwide are benefiting from BMW EfficientDynamics technology which directly contributes to a cleaner and healthier planet.

Officiating the introduction of the locally assembled BMW X1 in Kulim, Kedah, Dato’ Mukhriz Mahathir, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry further reiterated the Malaysian government’s commitment towards introducing, and encouraging the adoption of additional Green Technology in Malaysia.

“The Malaysian government is committed towards reducing carbon emission levels in Malaysia by the year 2020 to year 2005 levels, both as a strategic initiative to introduce more advanced technology to Malaysia’s infrastructure and industry and to ensure the long term wellbeing and health of our citizens.” said Dato’ Mukhriz.

Dato’ Mukhriz further added, “I am very pleased to see companies like BMW taking strategic steps to introduce the local assembly of products like the BMW X1 in Malaysia. This not only encourages the adoption of advanced assembly techniques and technology to the country, but is an affirmation of the growing strength of the automotive industry in Malaysia, which will have significant benefits to Malaysians in general and the people of Kulim in particular.

Identical in all respects to the fully imported version of the BMW X1 previously available, the BMW Assembly Plant will produce both the diesel powered BMW X1 xDrive20d and the petrol driven BMW X1 sDrive18i.

The new BMW X1 xDrive20d features the latest BMW Advanced Diesel Technology and possesses a 2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine capable of producing 130kw/ 177 hp, 350Nm of torque and completes the 0-100kmh sprint in a respectable 8.6 seconds.  Meanwhile, the rear wheel drive BMW X1 sDrive18i features a 2.0 litre four-cylinder petrol engine which generates 110kW/150hp and 200Nm of torque. Both variants of the BMW X1 also features best in its class fuel efficiency as its six-speed automatic transmission provides a unique ratio between driving dynamics and fuel consumption.

With a fuel consumption rate of 6.5 litres per 100km and  CO₂ emissions levels of a mere 170 grams per kilometre in the xDrive20d diesel variant and 8.4 litres and 195 grams per kilometre m in the sDrive18i petrol version, the BMW X1 is the first vehicle of its type in Malaysia to have an emission level below 195 g/km, and owes its outstanding emission standards to the latest BMW EfficientDynamics features such as optimised aerodynamics, intelligent lightweight construction, demand-based control of ancillary components and functions and the latest generation Common Rail Injection technology.

In addition, the locally produced BMW X1 comes fitted with additional upgrades including front and rear Park Distance Control (PDC), interior and exterior mirrors with automatic anti-dazzle function and a new sports leather steering wheel and all new interior trim finishers. The new BMW X1 xDrive20d is further fitted with new double-spoke style 18” Light alloy wheels, an all new ‘Fineline wave’ interior fine-wood trim and is now fitted with BMW Navigation Professional, Bluetooth connectivity and a HiFi loudspeaker system as standard.

So successful is the design of the BMW X1 in incorporating driving dynamics, comfort, versatility and safety that the SAV achieved the highest score of 5 stars, the maximum score possible on the most important crash test procedure in Europe – The Euro NCAP crash test.

Aside from an engineering and safety perspective, the BMW X1 has also earned significant acknowledgement for its contemporary design and is one of six models developed by the BMW Group to receive the coveted Red Dot award in 2010. The Red Dot award is one of the most important awards in the world of product design and recognises outstanding design work in a wide range of categories from automobiles to architecture, household and home electronics, fashion, life science and even, medicine. Judged along 17 criteria ranging from the degree of innovation to functionality and ecological sustainability, the 2010 awards were decided by a jury of international design experts who rated 4,252 products from 57 nations, of which only 24 awards were presented in the category of Automobile, Transport and Caravans.

According to Mr. Briscoe, the Malaysian government has taken significant steps towards introducing efficient green technologies to the country, a goal that parallels the BMW Group’s direction with BMW EfficientDynamics, and the government’s introduction of import and excise duty exemptions at the tabling of the 2011 Malaysian Budget is an example which has galvanised industry players to escalate their green technology programmes in Malaysia.

“Moving forward we hope that the government will continue to expand on incentives to introduce and manufacture clean and sustainable vehicles in Malaysia to also incorporate additional green technologies such as diesel, which we at BMW have sought to introduce to the market as an immediate and actionable solution to current world concerns since 2009” said Mr. Briscoe.

The retail prices for the BMW X1 xDrive20d and the BMW X1 sDrive18i (on the road price including personal road tax and registration and inclusive of 3-year BMW Service + Repair Inclusive package) are as follows:

BMW X1 xDrive20d – RM298,800

BMW X1 sDrive18i – RM238,800 

MOTORSPORT: BMW pulls out of WTCC

The Bavarian carmaker is scaling back their motorsport involvement even further with the decision to pull out of the World Touring Car Championship, apparently they want to focus on the highly competitive DTM championship.

DTM is ultra competitive and is very expensive as the state-of the art silhouette series is where Mercedes-Benz and Audi pour millions to win the home crowd and no expense is spared to win on Sunday.

Thankfully they will still make available the 320TC that is now raced in WTCC to privateers.

Next year privateers will come up against Volvo and Chevrolet factory teams.