BMW
PRESS | Norton set to drive the BMW Hydrogen 7
Norton Joins Will Ferrell, Jay Leno and Others To Be Among the First Americans to Hit the Roads In BMW’s Hydrogen-Powered Vehicle
Woodcliff, NJ - February 27, 2008… BMW today announced that highly respected film actor and renewable energy advocate Edward Norton is the latest person to receive keys to a BMW Hydrogen 7 - the first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan. The Golden Globe winner and two-time Academy Award nominee becomes the most recent member of the BMW Hydrogen 7 Pioneer Program, which gives industry leaders and prominent figures in entertainment, politics, business and more a BMW Hydrogen 7 for their daily use.
“The excitement of this car to me is that it demonstrates what we’re capable of, and it inspires me to keep advocating for a more sustainable way of life,” said Norton.
While Norton is widely known for his prolific and acclaimed acting career – which includes memorable roles in films such as Primal Fear (1996), for which he won a Golden Globe and received his first Oscar nomination; The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996); American History X (1998), for which he earned his second Oscar nod; and the critically acclaimed Fight Club (1999); among many others – Norton has also become a leading voice in the area of solar energy.
In 2003, Norton teamed up with oil giant and leading solar-panel producer BP to develop the Solar Neighbors Program, which aims to get photovoltaic (PV) panels onto low-income homes in Los Angeles. Norton brought star power to the cause with support from fellow celebrities – like Brad Pitt, who has also opted for the BMW Hydrogen 7 as his green ride of choice. Within its first year the program succeeded in getting resources for dozens of solar installations for inner-city families.
While the BMW Hydrogen 7 is not for sale, it is considered to be a milestone in bringing forward hydrogen as the sustainable fuel for individual transportation. Running in hydrogen mode, the BMW Hydrogen 7 essentially emits nothing but water vapor, representing a major step in reducing harmful CO2 emissions. It is not a concept car, but a production model vehicle that has successfully completed the entire Product Development Process.
BMW believes that hydrogen will replace petroleum as the long-term alternative to fossil fuel, and hopes the Hydrogen 7 will play a pioneering role in driving forward the hydrogen technologies that will ensure our mobility in the future. By harnessing the power and influence of individuals who, like Norton, are at the forefront of their respective disciplines, BMW hopes to continue to generate support of hydrogen-drive vehicles in the short term and stimulate demand for a viable hydrogen infrastructure in the long-term.
A number of entertainers, politicians, business leaders and more have already opted for a BMW Hydrogen 7 as their energy-efficient ride of choice in order to evaluate the technology. Those who have recently chosen the vehicle include previously announced members of the BMW Hydrogen 7 Pioneer Program: Will Ferrell, Jay Leno, opera star Placid Domingo and famed director Steve Gaghan, among others. Other notable figures who have opted for rides in a BMW Hydrogen 7 include Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at the “Ocean’s 13″ premiere in Hollywood; Fox Entertainment Chairman Peter Liguori at the FOX All-Star Party in Santa Monica; Richard Gere and Sharon Stone at the Cinema for Peace Gala in Berlin; and “An Inconvenient Truth” producer Davis Guggenheim (Oscar® for the best Documentary Feature) and Best Foreign Language Film Oscar® winner, director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck at the 2007 Academy Awards. The vehicle has also made an impact oversees, with luminaries such as Michael Glos, German Federal Minister for Economy and Technology, and Günter Verheugen, Vice President of the European Commission, world renowned soprano Anna Netrebko and many others.
PRESS RELEASE (Source: BMW via AutoblogGreen)
PRESS | BMW 5 Series Special Editions
Refined luxury: BMW 5 Series Edition Exclusive.
The BMW 5 Series Edition Exclusive focuses on most sophisticated style and elegance with supreme quality all round. Indeed, this claim is borne out clearly at very first sight by the exclusive paintwork in Platinum Bronze Metallic and with a further choice of five additional metallic colours.
Both the Saloon and the Touring gain additional style through Chrome Line on the side window surrounds, the window shaft covers and the screenwasher nozzles, as well as high-gloss Satin Chrome on the B-pillars and the window trim on the rear doors.
A further sign of distinction is the 17-inch light-alloy wheels in V-spoke design, while electrically adjustable comfort seats, high-quality cowhide in Black or Tobacco with appropriate contrast seams and wood inlays in bamboo grain Anthracite likewise serve to provide a luxurious ambience.
Modern class: BMW 5 Series Edition Lifestyle.
The BMW 5 Series Edition Lifestyle offers a most sophisticated combination of elegance and extravagance. This special model comes with a choice of six metallic paintwork colours, among them exclusive Neptune Blue. Apart from Satin Chrome on the B-pillars, the window shaft covers and the side window surrounds, 17-inch light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design round off the sophisticated look of the car. Discreet, grey wooden inlays in poplar grain and the roof lining in anthracite create a particularly aesthetic ambience within the interior, the upholstery coming either in Reflex, a special combination of cloth and leather or, as an option, in Dakota leather.
Pure driving pleasure: BMW 5 Series Edition Sport.
The BMW 5 Series Edition Sport is unusually dynamic and muscular in its looks and style. In this case the athletic lines of the body are accentuated by powerful colours, for the first time offering the customer the choice of Imola Red and Le Mans Blue inspired by motorsport over and above the other colour options.
Further features are the M Sports Suspension, 18-inch M light-alloy wheels in dual-spoke design, an M Streamlining Package, and high-gloss Shadow Line on the side window surrounds and window shaft covers on the Edition Sport 5 Series.
The interior comes with appropriately matched colours and interior trim in aluminium. The sports seats, in turn, are finished as standard in Flashlight, a unique combination of cloth and leather or, as an option, in Dakota leather. Comfort seats are also available as an option, and the roof lining in Anthracite, an M footrest, an M leather steering wheel and – on manual gearbox models – an M gearshift lever knob round off the sporting impression.
Clever choice: BMW 5 Series Comfort Package.
Parallel to the introduction of the new Edition Models, the BMW 5 Series is also available with the new Comfort Package. This very practical equipment package comprises the most popular options such as bi-xenon headlights with a headlight washing system, Comfort Access, automatic Soft Close on the doors, as well as through-loading for the BMW 5 Series Saloon and, respectively, automatic operation of the rear lid on the Touring.
PRESS RELEASE (Source: BMW via CarScoop)
PRESS | BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept
Offering an insight into the future of BMW’s innovative EfficientDynamics technologies.
The Geneva Motor Show (4 – 16 March) will mark the world premiere of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics, a concept car designed to showcase the future direction of BMW’s performance enhancing and emissions lowering innovations. Mild ActiveHybrid technology is combined with a twin-turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine, a new eight-speed automatic gearbox and even roof-mounted solar panels, and all shrouded in a BMW X5 body.
All of these technologies combine to deliver the best fuel economy and lowest emissions of any large 4×4 currently on sale. The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics delivers 43.5mpg on the combined cycle and just 172g/km of CO2 emissions. However, these frugal figures do not translate into low performance figures. With its twin-turbocharged two-litre diesel engine delivering more than 100hp per litre, the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept completes the sprint from zero to 62mph in just 8.9 seconds, a time faster than most current production competitors.
The 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine in the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics uses BMW’s Variable Twin Turbo concept, third-generation common-rail injection and an all aluminium crankcase to deliver 204hp and 400Nm of torque between 2,000 and 2,250rpm. The engine is supplemented by a mild hybrid concept that delivers a further 20hp and 210Nm of torque under acceleration. As a consequence, even though the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics features a relatively small capacity engine, it delivers nearly the same levels of horsepower as the conventional X5, but offers improvements in its already class-leading consumption and emissions figures.
The mild hybrid solution in the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics uses a compact generator that, for the first time, is flange mounted directly onto the gearbox. This motor produces up to 20hp of on-demand power. In addition, BMW’s now familiar Brake Energy Regeneration is used to efficiently capture energy that would previously have been lost when the engine is on overrun. Innovatively, the alternator is also integrated into the crankcase rather than conventionally driven from the front of the engine.
BMW’s concept uses highly efficient lithium-ion batteries in the boot area to store the power generated. These high-storage-capacity batteries enable optimum use of Brake Energy Regeneration. In addition, they create possibilities to power the air conditioning, electric coolant pump and the electric power steering system. For these functions, a 120 volt vehicle power system was designed and runs in parallel with the conventional 12 volt system.
The power harnessed by the batteries is also supplemented by roof mounted photovoltaic solar panels, measuring 1.0 metre square. The energy generated can either be used immediately or stored for later use. Importantly, the power created in this zero- CO2 way can be used to pre-heat the diesel fuel. The less efficient warm-up phase is thus shortened considerably.
This innovative and technologically advanced engine is directly mated to a new eight- speed automatic transmission. Developed jointly between BMW and ZF, the new gearbox delivers fast and efficient gear changes. With such a spread of gears, the car will always be in exactly the right ratio for the prevailing driving conditions. It also improves fuel consumption and minimises emissions.
The chassis and ride-height of the X5 have been adapted for the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics. This includes aerodynamically-efficient 19-inch light alloy wheels with reduced ventilation. The design of the spokes reduces wind resistance to the extent that, at 100mph, the car has to produce one horsepower less than a conventionally-wheeled car. This benefit has not been included in the fuel consumption calculations but, on the road, the impact is noticeable.
PRESS RELEASE (Source: BMW)
