The BMW Group and Local Motors announce the winners of their first collaborative design and development project – the Urban Driving Experience Challenge. The challenge asked the Local Motors community of nearly 30,000 designers, engineers, fabricators and enthusiasts to define the future premium vehicle features and functions that will define the urban driving experience in the year 2025. The three-week competition was held on the Forge at LocalMotors.com from September 25 thru October 16, 2012. By the end of the challenge period, nearly 3,500 individual design boards had been submitted in support of just over 400 innovative feature concepts.

After an extensive review and validation process, 286 entries were qualified as having met all specified criteria. A council of 14 BMW Group executives reviewed these entries, and BMW Management selected the top ten concepts. “Our experience with the Local Motors community far exceeded our expectations,” says Dr. Christoph Grote, Managing Director of BMW Group Research and Technology. “It was very important for us that the entries showed a clear customer need behind the functionality, and that they applied specifically to an urban environment. We were impressed, not just with the number of entries, but by the real innovation and quality of each presentation. Working with such an inspired group of designers and engineers has been exciting and has given us a broader perspective for future mobility solutions.”

The entries represent a wide range of concepts including interior design, connectivity, the future of car sharing and the application of new technologies, among others. The final ranking of the top ten BMW-selected concepts was determined based on how the Local Motors community rated each concept on each of three criteria: How do you rate the expected customer benefit? How do you rate the completeness of the submission? How do you rate the impact on urban mobility in 2025?

First place was awarded to Anthony Franze (aka Franze) from Adelaide, Australia for his winning design, the premium vehicle sharing club BMW Reward Me. Anthony Franze will receive a $7,500 cash prize and a trip to Munich, Germany to meet with Managing Director of BMW Group Research and Technology Dr. Christoph Grote. Second and third place prizes of $2,500 and $1,500, respectively, were awarded to Kevin Lo (aka ReLoad) of Washington, USA for his concept BMW Vision BreatheFree, and to Guillaume Coolen (aka Orbitlane), from Tokyo, Japan, for his BMW Eye-3.

The complete list of Finalists, including countries of origin, can is as follows:

1st place: BMW Reward Me, by Anthony Franze – Australia
2nd place: BMW Vision BreatheFree, by Kevin Lo –
United States
3rd place: BMW Eye-3, by Guillaume Coolen – Japan
4th place: BMW FlipFold, Xavier Gordillo – Spain
5th place: BMW Intelligence Link – Autonomous Car Functioning, by Devon Palmer – United States
6th place: Em_Power, by Joe Siegler – USA
7th place: My DRIVE Style, by Santiago Pena – Columbia
8th place: BMW Lamina, by Sebastian Kunz – Germany
9th place: BMW BodyGuard, by VRP – United States
10th place: BMW Adaptive Flow, Andy_Lee_Tomorrow – Australia

“This was a very different kind of challenge for our global community,” said Jay Rogers, co-founder and CEO of Local Motors. “Focused not on physical vehicle design but on the human driving experience, we asked them to define feature and function concepts that would really push the envelope of specialty automotive design and they did not disappoint. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who participated.”

Challenge Schedule: Phase two
Phase two of the BMW Urban Driving Experience Challenge will begin the week of November 12, 2012 and conclude by November 30, 2012. Complete details about Phase 2 of the Urban Driving Experience Challenge – including a written Design Brief that explains context, scope, and explicit details about the guidelines, requirements and deliverables for all entries will be available at www.localmotors.com/bmw.

The ActiveE lease program has officially kicked off and one of these has already been delivered to a site member – MITE46. This member has been driving a MiniE and is able to offer his comparison between the ActiveE and MiniE.

Full review and photo set can be found inside.

The second trailer has been released for Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, which hits theaters December 2011. As this film’s main automotive partner, BMW will participate heavily in the next installment of the Mission Impossible franchise.

One of the feature vehicles will be Tom Cruise’s BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car, which will spawn the production BMW i8 in 2014. The F12/F13 BMW 6 series will also see some action in the film.

“We are thrilled to be involved again in another Hollywood Blockbuster,” said Ian Robertson, BMW AG Board Member for Sales and Marketing. “The BMW Group leads the way in developing future mobility with a focus on sustainability. One great example is the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car which will be presented in the film. With its futuristic design and large glass surfaces, the car offers a fascinating perspective on the future of sheer driving pleasure – in combination with maximum efficiency. Also with BMW ConnectedDrive technology, it is the perfect car for Ethan Hunt to outsmart his pursuers through narrow streets and busy city traffic.”

Individual mobility is increasingly defined in terms of sustainability. The BMW Group has taken on the challenges of a rapidly changing world and is now developing serial production solutions to meet the mobility needs of the future. As an integrated part of the BMW Group, BMW Motorrad is also addressing issues of individual single-track mobility and future customer needs. In this connection, BMW Motorrad is expanding its business activities to include a new facet: that of “Urban Mobility”.
Building on almost 90 years of experienced in the field of motorised two-wheel vehicles, BMW Motorrad is drawing on the conceptual benefits of single-track vehicles to develop innovative solutions, adding a new dimension to the area of urban commuting.
Before the end of this year, BMW Motorrad will establish its new
“Urban Mobility” area with two premium vehicles in the maxi scooter segment. The BMW maxi scooters combine the functionality of a scooter with the riding pleasure of a motorcycle. Both vehicles are powered by high-performance and efficient 2-cylinder combustion engines.
Based on the BMW Group’s sustainability strategy, BMW Motorrad aims to put a premium offer on the market in the area of electromobility in the foreseeable future. At the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA), BMW will be presenting its design concept in this area for the first time: “BMW Concept e”.

Visionary design for a new drive concept.
The design study BMW Concept e embodies the vision of an electrically powered scooter made by BMW Motorrad. Increasing limitations in traffic space, growing traffic density as well as both ecological and economical challenges give rise to new demands in the area of private transport in the major conurbation areas in particular. An e-scooter with sustainable technological solutions and the aesthetic design of the Concept e provides a response to these changing urban mobility needs.
At the IAA in Frankfurt, BMW i presents visionary vehicles which are individually tailored to their respective purpose – the BMW i3 Concept and the
BMW i8 Concept. They have a completely new “LifeDrive Architecture” specially developed for electrical drive and radically different from conventional vehicle construction. With its fascinating overall concept, the BMW i8 Concept with plug-in hybrid drive is the vision of a sustainable sports car come true. The BMW i3 Concept is the automobile with consistently sustainable design, conceived specifically for an urban setting.
With its Concept e, BMW Motorrad shows how attractive and fascinating the interpretation of the theme of electrical drive on two wheels can be in terms of design, while at the same time attracting attention to its new business area “Urban Mobility”.

Concept e – a vision with a future.
The Concept e is a vision: BMW Motorrad designers have developed the style and shaping of the e-scooter of the future – electric, digital, dynamic. The designers deliberately allowed themselves plenty of freedom so as to be able to strike out new, creative paths in the design of components and surfaces.
The shaping and precision achieved reflect the core values of BMW Motorrad: emotion, dynamic performance and innovation. At the same time, the purist, clear design, colouring and choice of materials instantly suggest a clean, efficient yet agile single-track vehicle which allows one to move effortlessly through city traffic.
So the design concept study Concept e is more than just an idea for a new vehicle. In addition to technical functionality and quality, the BMW Motorrad designers attach importance to an emotional dialogue between rider and vehicle. Their basic premise is that a vehicle has to do more than just function – it has to arouse the rider’s emotions, too. It has to inspire the rider again and again, as well as reflect its specific technological features.
So in the case of the Concept e, the main aim was to translate the special character of electric drive technology to the vehicle’s outward appearance.
The Concept e is the conceptual blueprint of a scooter able to set new standards with innovative premium electrical drive and provide a sound alternative form of mobility suitable for everyday use in the dense traffic of the constantly expanding conurbation areas and cities of the world today.

Hallmark BMW Motorrad design elements.
The BMW Concept e is clearly identifiable as a member of the
BMW Motorrad family. As in other BMW motorcycles, the so-called split face runs from the upper trim section to above the front wheel cover, giving the Concept e an unmistakable, dynamic front view.
The successful BMW Motorrad design style is also reflected in the styling of the twin-tipped spoiler in the floating panel of the front trim, a boomerang-shaped, aerodynamically formed floating panel. The short, sporty rear highlights the active riding character of the electrically powered scooter, giving it a visual sense of dynamic performance which is underscored by the low cut windshield.

Colour and material concept blends in with overall concept.
The dynamic performance, fascination and especially the environmental compatibility of electrical mobility is reflected in the colour and material concept. The front and rear side trim sections finished in “Light white” generate a fascinating contrast with components such as the upper trim section in “Black chrome light” and side sills coated in “Black chrome dark”, thereby emphasising the scooter’s technological features. The vehicle’s overall impression of high quality is borne out by finely cut details in “Natural aluminium”, the asymmetrically designed, solid-milled holder for the front trim section and the central tunnel in “Textured steel”. The design of the light alloy wheels is derived from the styling of the BMW i automobiles.
Made from acrylic glass and featuring a rear-set metal grid and “Concept e” lettering, the two side covers of the battery and drive unit in “Electric yellow” symbolise the technical character of an electrically powered scooter. In combination with other accentuations in “Electric yellow” such as the front trim section, the rear section and the hollow-bore wheel axle, these stand for the vehicle’s specific properties of maximum environmental compatibility, supreme dynamic performance and easy handling. To match this, the charging socket is positioned in the front section of the central tunnel and features a transparent plastic cover.
The Concept e highlights its visionary character by dispensing with conventional rear mirrors. Instead there are two video cameras integrated in the glass of the rear light cluster which clearly displays the situation on the road behind the rider on two LCD monitors installed in the cockpit. Speed and other relevant data is shown on a digital display in the cockpit which is reduced to the essentials.

Innovative technology in a future serial production vehicle.
The later serial production vehicle will fully meet customer expectations of a single-track vehicle offering sustainable mobility. The special arrangement of all drive components and the design of the vehicle’s geometry will allow agile handling typical of a scooter as well as a high degree of functionality.
For the power electronics and battery technology, BMW Motorrad draws on the innovative e-technology and extensive expertise of the BMW Group.
BMW i high voltage technology (> 60 volts) with the very highest safety standards enables electrically powered vehicles to equal the acceleration rates of a maxi scooter with combustion engine. The generous storage capacity of the battery, an intelligent battery management system and efficient brake energy recuperation ensure a realistic range of 100 kilometres for everyday use. What is more, BMW Motorrad developers are aiming to achieve a continuous output and maximum speed which will enable safe overtaking on urban motorways when carrying a passenger.
The battery is charged at regular household power sockets as found in Europe, the USA, Canada and Japan, There is no need for a special charging station. When the battery is completely flat, the charging period is less than three hours. Practical experience with concept vehicles has already shown that the battery rarely runs out completely, so charging times are generally shorter.
In this way, the future serial production vehicle will provide a long-term,
zero-emissions city travel option which is suitable for everyday use.

Interesting op-ed piece and discussions on the end to the horsepower wars and the anticipated upcoming weight wars. As we transition from the age of horsepower to the age of light weight material, will a new number begin to dominate the discussion – Pounds per horsepower?

With BMW investing in lightweight carbon fiber production/construction techniques, BMW may be taking a critical leap forward in future performance. See the full discussions inside.

Munich/Los Angeles. Back in Hollywood. BMW is pleased to announce their participation in the upcoming Paramount Pictures release “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” as the film’s main automotive partner.

High performance with fewer emissions is the name of the game: One of the BMW vehicles provided for Tom Cruise´s next film is the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car. It has been recognized as having the most sophisticated technology and the most striking design among the current concept electric supercars. In a few years the BMW i8, which was inspired by the BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics concept vehicle, will enter series production.

“We are thrilled to be involved again in another Hollywood Blockbuster,” said Ian Robertson, BMW AG Board Member for Sales and Marketing. “The BMW Group leads the way in developing future mobility with a focus on sustainability. One great example is the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car which will be presented in the film. With its futuristic design and large glass surfaces, the car offers a fascinating perspective on the future of sheer driving pleasure – in combination with maximum efficiency. Also with BMW ConnectedDrive technology, it is the perfect car for Ethan Hunt to outsmart his pursuers through narrow streets and busy city traffic.”

Having provided vehicles for outstanding film projects, TV productions, etc. for more than 75 years, entertainment marketing is firmly established as an important building block for the BMW Group’s long-term image and product communications.

“Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol”, directed by Brad Bird, is scheduled for release mid of December 2011.

For more information please see www.bmw.com/mission

The new trailer is out and the movie looks good! Whats so special is that the BMW i8 will have a starring role in the movie, but the film is full of BMW product placement. The BMW 6 series, 5 series, Concept CS, and various Rolls Royce’s will also be in the movie. If you love BMW, you’ll probably want to see the movie.

The Vision Efficient Dynamics Concept stars in a video promoting BMW innovations. Watch the VED Concept in its best driving footage yet, and boasting its 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds with a consumption of only 3.8l/100km.

BMW’s current focus on reducing its overall fleet CO2 emissions is clear to anyone following the company’s newest models and technologies. As with all of the world’s auto manufacturers, the company is preparing to meet more stringent emissions standards in the next few years. How well is BMW doing with regard to this goal? Compared to Daimler AG, extremely well.

As cited by Autonews, the current estimate of BMW’s green lead over rival Daimler is valued at approximately 2 billion euros. The estimate comes by way of Morgan Stanley auto analyst Stuart Pearson and the current gap between the two company’s average fleet CO2 emissions. Specifically, BMW’s current average fleet CO2 emissions is 147.9 g/km compared to Daimler’s 163.3 g/km.

BMW only needs reduce its fleet CO2 emissions by an additional 7.1% (to 138.1 g/km), compared to Daimler’s 19.8% (to 136.4 g/km) in order to satisfy increased EU required CO2 targets in 2015. Failure to do so results in stiff fines.

See many Bimmerpost members’ ActiveE questions answered in this replay of BMW Conversations: BMW ActiveE, that aired at the NY Auto Show on April 20th, where questions were answered by ActiveE experts submitted through Facebook.