Everything you need to see from the 2019 BMW live reveal at the LA autoshow in just 13 minutes.
Transcript[ROCK MUSIC]
- Please welcome president and CEO BMW of North America, Bernhard Kuhnt.
BERNHARD KUHNT: Well, good morning. Wow. Thank you, thank you, thank you, and I thank you also for coming that early to join us early today. But let's talk a little bit more about this X5. When we introduced the X5 almost 20 years ago, it launched not only the X models, but also the entire sports activity segment.
Here in the US, the BMW X5 has been one of our best sellers ever since 2001. As we call the X5 internally, the boss is back. Of course, our X vehicles aren't just important to the US. They have a huge impact on our global scale. I therefore like to ask Pieter Nota, head of Sales and Brand BMW, to join me here on stage to talk more about this. Pieter.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Great to have you.
PIETER NOTA: Yeah, to be here and the X models are so important to our global business. So I'm proud today to have here a world premiere of the all new BMW X7. It's a sign of commitment to the market here in the US, but also to our customers here. And we know it will be very popular, because already today, I believe we have over 1,500 preorders with a credit card downpayment. Ladies and gentlemen, the first ever BMW X7.
[APPLAUSE]
This vehicle-- many of you have been waiting for to see for a long time, and we are very proud to present it here in its home market, the United States of America. It is a further important step in our expansion in the upper segment as well as growing our BMW X family. As the pinnacle of the X family, it offers a new level of luxury. It's big, it's bold, and has incredible on-road presence. You've probably noticed it has the largest kidney grille of any BMW.
Not only is the BMW X7 an exclusive and luxurious vehicle, we truly believe it also offers the very best driving capabilities in its class. What else would you expect from a BMW? Inside, it has an unbelievable amount of space with three rows and seven seats are standard. And the panorama roof with its sky lounge enhances the feeling of well-being and sophistication. All in all, a truly impressive vehicle. And, ladies and gentlemen, built exclusively here right in the USA.
Next week, we will begin series production at our Spartanburg plant in South Carolina. Launching in March, we expect many of these great vehicles to go straight to customers here in the United States, but of course, we also want to export many of them from here to the rest of the world. Let's stay with luxury and move to a number even higher than seven-- the eight.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
With the 8 Series, we did something we've never done before-- we built it for the racetrack and then put it on the road. For me, this is the perfect sports coupe. It really demonstrates BMW's passion for the ultimate driving machine. We've learned from the I8 that however stunning our sports coupes are, many of our customers also want to enjoy an open air experience. So I'm delighted that we have another world premiere for you here today-- the BMW 8 Series Convertible.
I'm very pleased that now we can offer customers the 8 Series Convertible just a few months after the launch of the coupe. It combines ultra sporty driving with design elegance and, of course, that thrilling open-air experience. The elegant soft top roof opens and closes in just 15 seconds. Customers can look forward to taking it for a spin as of March next year. As you can see, the 8 Series family is growing.
Next year, we'll be adding the Gran Coupe to these two, and there is great news for BMW M fans, because all of these will be offered as M models. Ladies and gentlemen, all of this underlines that we are moving ahead with our expansion in the luxury class, where of course, beautiful design plays a key role.
Both the BMW X7 and the BMW 8 Series showcase our new design language. As thus, our next highlight. And now our CTO, Klaus Frolich, is going to tell you more about that. Thank you very well.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
KLAUS FROLICH: This car is stunning. The BMW Z4 showcases BMW's this new design language from all perspectives-- from the dynamic-looking front, to the striking flanks, to the clean tail end. It feels at home at the Sunset Boulevard as well as at Laguna Seca. It's a true, lean sportscar, and it offers, in its class, a straight inline-six engine.
The aerodynamics and the perfectly balanced all-new Z4 packs up to 382 horsepower. The adaptive M sport chassis and steering and the M active limited slip differential keeps you on track. I can tell you, I really loved testing it at the [INAUDIBLE]. A pure, open, raw driving experience. Sheer driving pleasure in its truest form-- this is what BMW is all about, like our next car.
Here it is, the new BMW M340i, the ultimate sports sedan. The 3 series established, and has led a segment of sport sedans, and will continue to do so now in it's already seventh generation. Over the past 40 years, we have delivered more than 15 million 3 series cars-- almost 3 million in America alone. This makes it the most successful model of the BMW brand and the world's best selling premium vehicle. It represents the BMW brand like no other car, and it's truly the heart and soul of BMW.
All our cars contain a sporty and dynamic genes of the 3. This extraordinary car is a true pioneer of its segment. And to all the BMW fans and also my US journalist friends, I promise you-- this new car, especially, the M340i, will be the ultimate driving machine again.
To achieve this, we have combined our top technologies-- best-in-class aerodynamics with a drag coefficient of 0.23, a significant weight reduction of more than 120 pounds compared to its predecessor, and most importantly, new power trains with 382 horsepower with limited slip differential, less fuel consumption, and better driving performance. To sum it up, maximum driving pleasure with maximum efficiency.
Like no other brand, BMW stands for forward-looking technology paired with clear, emotional design, and this model also represents our new design language. Talking about cutting-edge technologies and world class innovations brings me to the hero of today. And now, ladies and gentlemen, stay tuned for the world premiere of the BMW Vision iNEXT.
[APPLAUSE]
Ladies and gentlemen, here it is-- our vision of future mobility, the BMW of Vision iNEXT. This Vision car is surely something you have never seen from BMW before. It's our trailblazer for a variety of future technologies. The BMW i vision next accelerates emotions, being fully autonomous and easy mode, and emission-free with our next generation electro mobility technology.
It simplifies driving and redefines the way you perceive your surroundings with an interior of the future. It enhances experiences through artificial intelligence and improves networking through increased 5G connectivity. The traditional automobile has definitely been turned into a smart car. And to top it all off, the BMW iNEXT will be a true BMW when it comes to driving dynamics. You will feel in boost mode the power of the ultimate driving machine.
To underline, we talk about best-in-class capabilities regarding acceleration, power-to-weight ratio, and low center of gravity. But for us, iNEXT is more than just a car. By 2025, we will be offering at least 25 electrified vehicles. 12 of them, like this car, will be all electric. And we are developing already the fifth generation of BMW electrified drive trains. So for us, electric mobility is already the new normal.
So we needed another challenge, and we gave ourselves one-- to offer safe autonomous driving by 2021, and our ambition is clear. We want to be leading in this field, too. We have been researching autonomous driving solutions for over 10 years now, and we have learned the challenges to overcome, and they are enormous. We are planning to take our technology, which enabled safe autonomous driving, to serious maturity by 2021.
Let's talk about interior. Driver orientation is still important. We invented it. But digitalisation and autonomous driving open up an opportunity to totally rethink the use of the interior of a car. So that's exactly what we did with the BMW Vision iNEXT. Our ambition was to create a place which enhances people's quality of life. We call it a favorite space. Using it will be intuitive, comfortable, and smart.
Ultimately, the BMW vision iNEXT will add a new dimension to a sheer driving pleasure. Just to sum up, equipped with automated autonomous driving technologies, comprehensive connectivity features, an interior of the future. The powerful, fully electric BMW Vision iNEXT will serve as an accelerator, demonstrating our company's strengths on innovation. It will ensure the BMW group has all technologies at its disposal to be successful in the market when competing with both old and more and more new players today and tomorrow.
The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander adds another three-row SUV to its line-up that fits between the smaller Highlander and the larger truck-based Sequoia. It features styling closely related to the RAV4, with a wide stance and crisp lines. Three powertrains are available including a non-hybrid turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder, a hybrid …
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 is a big, lovable luxury beast. Under the hood, it’s packing a biturbocharged 4.0-liter V8 making 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, propelling this three-row SUV from 0-60 miles per hour in a swift 4.1 seconds. But it’s not all about speed. With an …
The winner of Autoblog’s 2023 Technology of the Year competition is Mercedes-Benz’s Dolby Atmos audio system. It defeated a number of impressive other new technologies like BMW’s Theater Screen, Ford’s Remote Rev and more. Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio has been present in theaters and home theater setups for quite some …
The 2023 Lotus Emira is finally here! Arriving now in limited quantities after multiple supply-chain delays, this V6-powered First Edition gets 400 horsepower out of its supercharged Toyota engine, which is mated to an old-fashioned, six-speed manual transmission. The engine's mounted in the middle -- right where you want it …
The 2024 Honda Ridgeline is getting the TrailSport treatment along with a number of key interior updates for the entire lineup. The big news is obviously the new Ridgeline Trailsport, which adapts many of the same elements of the all-new Pilot TrailSport and the recently revealed updated Passport TrailSport. That …
The Maserati MC20 represents a rebirth of the Maserati brand. It’s the Italian marque’s supercar and represents a true flagship product that will get folks excited about every other new Maserati on its way. Everything about the two-door coupe, from how it looks, to how it drives, passes the supercar …
For 2024, the Honda Passport picks up some improvements for the off-road focused TrailSport trim, as well as a style-focused Black Edition. The TrailSport's upgrades include all-terrain tires on 18-inch wheels as well as retuned shocks, springs and anti-roll bars for better off-pavement performance. The Black Edition is the new …
The 2024 Honda Prologue will be Honda's first widely-available electric car available in the U.S. While it is based on the Chevy Blazer EV, it has a number of unique qualities, starting with its unique exterior and interior styling that are much cleaner and more reserved than the Chevy. Honda …
The 2024 Acura Integra Type S is the Acura branded variant of the Honda Civic Type R. It gets the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and six-speed manual transmission with 320 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It does have a number of differences, though. The design is different with a …
The F150 is a significant refresh for 2024 and features a new tailgate, bed dividers and an updated design. The tailgate can now swing out -- Ford joins the tailgate wars with Ram and GM -- and the headlights give the F150 a fresh look. The Tremor and Raptor are …
Ford brought three trims of its refreshed 2024 F-150 to the Detroit Auto Show, including the Tremor, Raptor R and Platinum. The Tremor shows off Ford’s fancy, new Pro Access Tailgate and a new modular bumper with a Ford Performance winch kit on it. Meanwhile, the Raptor R showcases Ford’s …
The 2025 Ford Mustang GTD is the most extreme Mustang and also one of the most extreme road cars ever made. Its body is largely made out of carbon fiber, and it's rocking a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 under its hood that is promised to make over 800 horsepower. Ford created …
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4Matic SUV is a very pleasant luxury EV to pop around in, and while it isn’t particularly sporty to drive, it sure is a relaxing space to spend time in. The EQE SUV is a similar size and class as the gas-powered GLE, though its …
