The BMW Group is off to a record setting pace to start the year. Between BMW, MINI and Rolls Royce sales are up 6.6% from a year ago with BMW selling more cars in the month of January than ever before (112,163). That last part may not seem like a big deal but considering the brand’s bread & butter model, the 3 Series sedan, has been pending the launch of the new generation since the fall it is impressive.
BMW will also offer new to market models in 2012 such as the ///M5 and 6 Series Gran Coupe (shown above) as well as refreshed products (X6, 7 Series) which should do nothing but increase sales further.
MINI continues to benefit from the the year old Countryman small SAV, and new offerings in the form of two seater coupe with sales up 11.6%.
Official release and chart after the jump for all you number crunchers.
Official Release: BMW Group, Official Automotive Partner to the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games, today revealed the winning design for its pavilion at the Olympic Park.
Following a competition involving six architecture firms, BMW selected the British firm Serie based on its cutting-edge design that will represent a significant architectural addition to the Olympic Park, whilst also reflecting the company’s deep commitment to sustainability.
Official Release: The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported January sales of 19,739 vehicles, an increase of 5.8 percent from the 18,656 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago.
“The January results are the springboard for a year that will be full of new model launches beginning with the arrival of the sixth generation 3 Series in mid-February” said BMW of North America President and CEO Ludwig Willisch. “Nationwide, inventories are low after the extraordinary sales in December and we’re replenishing our dealers as fast as we can to meet the strong demand for our vehicles.”
Today BMW Motorsport showed off the first of the six liveries the new BMW M3 DTM will be wearing. BMW will relaunch in DTM with three teams and 6 driver’s, each sporting an individual livery. Castrol/Aral and BMW Motorsport have created a fine looking car and we can’t wait to see it out on the track this season.
We’re just off the plane from having driven the new AH5 and will have our full review ready soon. But in the meantime you can get a first look at the car via BMWNA’s first official release.
Official release: BMW takes the development of intelligent hybrid drive systems to the next level with the introduction of the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 – another series-produced model in which a combustion engine and electric motor join forces to enhance both efficiency and the brand’s hallmark driving pleasure. The BMW ActiveHybrid 5 brings together a BMW TwinPower Turbo in-line 6-cylinder engine, an electric drive system and an 8-speed automatic gearbox for the first time. The latest generation of BMW ActiveHybrid technology also adds precisely controlled – and therefore extremely effective – intelligent energy management. All of which gives the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 an exceptional balance of performance and fuel efficiency for the benchmark performance sedan in the premium executive car class.
Maximilian Ahme will answer the questions of MPW members. He is responsible for the technology of the entire vehicle with the exception of the electronics.
When did work begin on the development of the BMW M5 and how many kilometres were covered during testing?
Two to three years must be allowed for testing the development of a BMW M. In some cases predecessor vehicles are used in the first phase, enabling initial engine tests to be carried out, for example. However, this is just a short phase. The fine tuning then involves the latest models. The development departments for engine, electronics, chassis, etc. each have their own test vehicles to enable them to put the latest technology to the test. Approximately 2 million kilometres were covered throughout the world by the new BMW M5 in this way.
How does the engine of the BMW M5 differ from that of the BMW X5 M/X6 M?
BMW continues to research “highly automated” driving. This video shows how far they’ve come and what the future holds. How do you feel about the car’s electronics taking over under certain conditions? We’d love to hear in the comments section!
Official Release: BMW today revealed the first images and information about the newly updated 2013 BMW X6 Sports Activity Coupe which arrives in US BMW Centers this spring. The world’s first ever Sports Activity Coupe stills offers a unique combination of sporty dynamics, versatility and unmatched character. Select design updates and innovative features further hone the profile of the new BMW X6 as a distinctive model within the premium segment of all-wheel-drive vehicles. Its ongoing popularity is due to both its highly expressive design, which combines the athletic and elegant lines of a coupe with the unique character of a BMW X model, and the outstanding driving experience provided by two powerful engines featuring BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and xDrive, the intelligent all-wheel-drive system. The BMW X6 continues to offer Dynamic Performance Control which gives the Sports Activity Coupe unparalleled agility for a vehicle in this segment.
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We believe in the old school BMW ownership experience. We believe in garage nights with a six pack and some friends. We believe in 2002s, in E30 M3s and E34 540s with the 6 speed. We believe in progress in both design and engineering but we haven't lost sight of what made the brand and its products great all those years ago. And yes, we believe in the manual transmission.
We long for the days of the wave and for the days of roll-up windows. Yet we love the gadgets on the inside and the xenons on the outside.
In short, we can't get enough of BMWs. This is BimmerFile.
Sections: Official News, Sales/Marketing Feb 8th, 2012 No Comments 
