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From kidney to kink: How to design a BMW

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“As Adrian van Hooydonk, BMW’s design chief, once said to me: ‘BMW is happy to rekindle the past but does not worship the flames.’”

BMW roundel

“For BMW folks, the badge and its deployment could be a dialog that lasts for hours.

“It’s all the time utilized to the centre of the bonnet however, on three fashions – the unique CSL, final 12 months’s limited-run 3.0 CSL and the X2, simply out of manufacturing – to the rear pillar as effectively.

“Designers are all the time attempting to place the roundels on and so they’re all the time being advised to take them off, the argument being that one ought to have the ability to recognise a BMW with out badges.

“One designer got very close to putting one on his concept car last year but, very late in the day, was told: ‘No!’”

L-shaped back lights

“This basic machine emerged within the mid-Eighties when Wolfgang Reitzle, then an upcoming engineer, noticed the ‘E32’ 7 Series in growth and, horrified by its slender physique, insisted it have to be widened.

“Rather than simply add a bit within the center, the designers emphasised the elevated width with no fewer than six quad headlights (they have been modified to 4 spherical ones for manufacturing) whereas, on the rear, they added an built-in boot spoiler and L-shaped lights that turned up on the ends to emphasize it.

“The style of BMW rear lights continues to evolve. On last year’s Vision Neue Klasse saloon, they form the rear spoiler as a different way of acknowledging the E32 7 Series’ then novel integrated boot spoiler.”

Legacy color

“The vibrant orange that BMW sometimes makes use of first appeared on the E25 Turbo gullwing present automotive of 1972. It was the concept of Paul Bracq, BMW’s chief designer within the Seventies.

“Bob Lutz, then BMW’s govt vice-president of gross sales, needed a present automotive that will put the corporate on the map for type. He steered it’s styled as a security automotive, in brilliant security colors.

BMW

New battery testing centre: BMW Group investing over 100 million euros in Wackersdorf site by 2026

+++ Site Manager Christoph Peters: “BMW Group’s Wackersdorf location to become a major facilitator for the shift to electromobility” +++ Building as symbol of Wackersdorf site’s electric future +++ 

Wackersdorf. To demonstrate its strong commitment to the Wackersdorf location in Upper Palatinate and as part of its ongoing e-mobility expansion, BMW Group is investing approximately 100 million euros by 2026 in a new battery testing centre at the existing site. By mid-2024, the first high-voltage batteries for BMW Group models will begin regular operation at the centre for early-stage development testing, before production even starts.

“The BMW Group’s Wackersdorf location will be a major facilitator for the shift towards electromobility,” said Site Manager Christoph Peters, who also mentioned that the new battery testing centre will further strengthen the foundation of the BMW Group site in Wackersdorf. He added, “In addition to supplying our overseas plants, cockpit production, and door production for Rolls-Royce models starting in 2024, this will be Wackersdorf’s fourth main area of activity. This enhances the future sustainability of our site.”

The investment will primarily focus on advanced test bench technology and necessary upgrades to the building infrastructure. Hall 80, currently under renovation, will house the testing centre. Originally built in the 1980s for a reprocessing facility, the building will now signify the plant’s electric future.

The construction work is already in progress, including the installation of a new floor slab. The first section of the centre, featuring “battery testers” that resemble large refrigerators externally but are equipped with cutting-edge technology inside, will be operational by mid-2024. These testers will evaluate battery cells’ electrical performance during charging and discharging under various conditions. This enables simulation of usage scenarios before the vehicles are even on the road. Initially, parallel testing of several hundred battery cells will be possible, with the testing capacity eventually reaching several thousand.

Starting from 2025, the testing centre will also be responsible for validating BMW Group’s battery-electric vehicles prior to their official launch and ensuring premium quality. This includes subjecting batteries to vibration and shock tests using specialized equipment known as “shakers.” Additionally, endurance tests can simulate complex driving patterns and charging/discharging cycles. Such tests are crucial for electric vehicle type approvals, and the BMW Group is establishing its own capacity with the new battery testing centre in Wackersdorf due to limited availability in the market.

If you have any questions, please contact:

BMW Group Corporate Communications
Dominik Hämmerl, Communications Wackersdorf
Cell phone: +49 151 6060 3889, Email: Dominik.Haemmerl@bmw.de 

Saskia Graser, acting head of Communications Regensburg and Wackersdorf
Cell phone: +49 151 6040 3232, Email: Saskia.Graser@bmw.de

Media website: www.press.bmwgroup.com

Email: presse@bmw.de

 

BMW Group Plants Regensburg and Wackersdorf
For decades, the BMW Group has been considered a leader in production technology and operational excellence in vehicle manufacturing, including at its Regensburg and Wackersdorf locations.
The BMW Group vehicle plant in Regensburg has been operational since 1986 and is one of over 30 BMW Group production facilities worldwide. Each workday, up to 1,000 BMW 1 Series, BMW X1, and BMW X2 models are produced at the Regensburg plant and delivered to customers globally. The facility can flexibly manufacture different types of drive trains on a single production line, including internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids, and fully electric models.
In the vicinity of the vehicle plant, high-voltage batteries for electric models are produced at the electric component production facility, which opened at Leibnizstrasse in 2021.
Regensburg’s BMW Innovation Park also includes Wackersdorf. Originally built as a nuclear reprocessing facility, the 55-hectare campus now houses cockpit production and parts supply for overseas plants. In addition to being the largest employer, Innovation Park Wackersdorf accommodates several other companies, employing approximately 2,500 people.
The Regensburg and Wackersdorf locations in eastern Bavaria collectively employ approximately 9,000 people, including more than 300 apprentices.

www.bmwgroup-werke.com/regensburg/de.html

BMW

BMW Announces Polish Premiere of EVOLVER VR Experience at Polish National Opera

Munich/Warsaw. This year, the “BMW Art Club. The Future is Art” will showcase the VR experience EVOLVER, created by London-based art collective Marshmallow Laser Feast, for the first time in Poland. EVOLVER combines art, science, and technology to take viewers on an immersive journey inside the human body, exploring the flow of oxygen and the interconnectedness of all life. The premiere of EVOLVER will take place at the Opera Gallery of the Polish National Opera on October 12, 2023, and will be open until December 10.

Science and art share the same goal of understanding and describing the world. EVOLVER aims to bridge the gap between scientific precision and emotional art experiences by placing audiences at the center of these ecosystems. The VR experience allows viewers to explore the hidden structures of the body and visualize the essence of life as air travels through the respiratory and circulatory systems.

Several prominent figures from the cultural world contributed to EVOLVER, including directorTerrence Malick as the executive producer, actress Cate Blanchett as the narrator, poet Daisy Lafarge, and Radiohead’s guitarist Jonny Greenwood. The project also received support and expertise from scientific institutions such as the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS, The Allen Institute for Cell Science, and Buck Institute for Research on Ageing.

The “BMW Art Club. The Future is Art” aims to explore the combination of art and technology and how it shapes our understanding of the contemporary world. EVOLVER, presented at the Opera Gallery, offers a technologically advanced and visionary experience for the senses. Spectators are guided through an audio meditation followed by a VR journey inside the human body, and the exhibition concludes with a gallery presenting digital pieces and a film expanding on the exhibition’s narrative.

The Polish premiere of EVOLVER is made possible with the support of Morele GeForce RTX Studio PCs, certified by NVIDIA. These high-performance PCs are designed for professionals in graphics, video, and virtual reality, offering optimal performance for demanding applications.

The world premiere of EVOLVER took place at Tribeca Film Festival 2022 in New York, and now it will be available for the general audience at the Opera Gallery of the Polish National Opera from October 12 to December 10, 2023. Attendees can register for free tickets online or at the ticket office of the National Opera, Teatr Wielki, starting from September 12.

For more information about the “BMW Art Club. The Future is Art,” visit www.bmw.pl/artclub.

BMW

BMW creates a luxurious brand experience in Tokyo with FREUDE by BMW – THE GARDEN

Munich. BMW Group has launched a pop-up gallery in Tokyo called FREUDE by BMW – THE GARDEN. This innovative project aims to provide a luxurious brand experience in the heart of the city. Located in Omotesando, a district known for its exclusive cultural and shopping experiences, the gallery features a private cinema, a pop-up shop, and a café. It also serves as the stage for the first public unveiling of the new BMW i5 M60 xDrive in Japan.

During the nine-week-long event, visitors can also test drive the fully electric BMW i7 luxury sedan, as well as the BMW XM and BMW iX. This initiative demonstrates BMW’s commitment to pushing boundaries and creating new luxury experiences that blend art, technology, and sustainability.

The pop-up gallery, designed under the direction of David Fischer, founder of Highsnobiety, offers a unique experience that combines cars, fashion, and culture. It also features the premiere of the new BMW Films production “The Calm,” a spy thriller set inside the BMW i7.

The pop-up shop at FREUDE by BMW – THE GARDEN offers a curated selection from the BMW Lifestyle collection, allowing visitors to experience the diverse character of the BMW brand from a lifestyle perspective. Collaborations with local brand partners, such as the Tsutaya Bookstore, further enhance the range of products available.

FREUDE by BMW – THE GARDEN is part of a series of luxury brand experiences planned by BMW in Tokyo. The gallery is open from July 14th to September 17th in Omotesando Crossing Park.

BMW i5 M60 xDrive:

Electric power consumption, combined: 20.6 – 18.2 kWh/100 km, Electric range in WLTP cycle: 455 – 516 km

BMW i7 M70 xDrive:

Electric power consumption combined: 23.8 – 20.8 kWh/100 km in the WLTP cycle; data according to NEDC: –

BMW XM:

Petrol consumption, combined: 1.9 – 1.5 litres/100 km [148.7 – 188.3 mpg imp]; electric power consumption, combined: 33.6 – 32.5 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions, combined: 43 – 35 g/km in the WLTP cycle; figures for the NEDC cycle: –

BMW

Embracing sustainability with artistic innovation. BMW Brilliance “New Plant Art Project” was officially completed.

  • BMW Brilliance “New Plant Art Project” drives sustainability with the power of art
  • BMW upholds corporate sustainability and contributes to sustainable development with culture and arts
  • Sharing and empowerment are the driving force for BMW and its partners to co-create sustainable social value

Shenyang. Art is an indispensable part of culture and a major driving force for sustainable development. Upholding its long-term commitment to corporate sustainability and its enduring support and passion for art, the BMW Group and BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. (BBA) have partnered with Luxun Academy of Fine Arts (LAFA) in Shenyang to launch the “New Plant Art Project”. After two years of preparation, the project was officially completed recently. With the theme of “sustainability” that is in line with the BMW iFACTORY production strategy implemented in the BMW Shenyang production base, the project has carefully selected 10 remarkable artworks created by 10 young artists, as a unique gift for the 20th anniversary of BMW Brilliance. The 10 artworks, including oil paintings, sculptures, and installations, etc., are exhibited at the expanded area of BBA Plant Dadong and Plant Tiexi Lydia Site.

The BBA New Plant Art Project aims to enhance the awareness of sustainable development among employees and the public through cultural and artistic activities, improve the public’s sensitivity towards sustainable development through the planning and presentation of exhibitions and performances, and foster their environmentally-friendly habits in daily life. Meanwhile, by facilitating the intercultural communication between China and Germany and the fusion of industrial intelligence and contemporary art, the project provides abundant sources of inspiration for young artists and diverse interpretations of sustainability through the unique artistic experiences and innovative narratives.

Upholding corporate sustainability and actively engaging in social undertakings.
BMW believes that companies with true corporate sustainability are ones that deliver value to customers and actively engage in social undertakings, as well as emphasize long-term sustainable development and create long-term value for shareholders and society. BMW has always embraced three pillars of sustainability: economic, environmental, and social sustainability. These three pillars are one organic unity, with economic sustainability as the foundation, environmental sustainability as the prerequisite, and social sustainability as the goal. They enable a company to transform from individual to collective consciousness, maximize its social value, and share its value.

“A good partnership is never solely defined by economic benefits. Today, the sustainable business philosophy and the value created for society have become the key elements to measuring the success of a company,” said Ms. Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Human Resources, Labour Relations Director. For BMW, No Premium Without Sustainability. It regards sustainability as its core competitiveness and essential premium, which outweighs profitability and is designed to create multi-values for society.

Creating sustainable social value through sharing and empowerment.
In the process of creating sustainable value, BMW places equal importance on the approaches. It adopts a “future-oriented social insight” and joins hands with more partners with the help of “empowerment,” “crossover,” and “social collaboration” to co-create social value. Teaming up with art is one of the effective ways to create sustainability and share the concept.

As an influential corporate citizen, the BMW Group has been involved in supporting hundreds of global cultural projects for more than 50 years to promote the development of art. In China, as early as 2011, the BMW Group initiated its first collaboration with Luxun Academy of Fine Arts and Academy of Fine Arts Munich in terms of Plant Tiexi Art Project. With these projects, including the BMW Brilliance “New Plant Art Project,” BMW offers people an emotional experience to understand sustainability, broadens the horizons of young artists, enriches their professional experience, and inspires their passion for exploration, as well as promotes local cultural cooperation and innovative development.

Dr. Franz Decker, President & CEO of BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd., also shared his thoughts on the New Plant Art Project, “For the past 20 years, we have been committed to establishing mutually beneficial partnerships with the local community, empowering talents, and contributing to the local development. The New Plant Art Project perfectly exemplifies our harmonious connection with the community outside of the factory.”

BMW Brilliance’s persistence in sustainability has been recognized by young artists and recorded in their artworks. The work Time Machine symbolizes the cohesion of people in an enterprise. The diverse substances embedded in the linear cubes embody the change of matters on the same stretch of land as time goes by, which expand the spatial and temporal dimensions of the plant, signifying the transformation of this land from agricultural cultivation to commercial manufacturing while emphasizing the natural connection between the factory and the land.

In the work Silent, the artist depicts its most memorable impression of BBA Plants – minimalistic in color yet orderly in production. During the factory visit, the artist profoundly realized that BBA not only focuses on its own development but also takes the environment into consideration. The environment gets improved along with BBA’s progress so that they both achieve sustainable development.

Meanwhile, Backbone portrays the plant built during the development of heavy industry in Northeast China. The painting of the old plant displayed in the new plant not only builds a bridge of communication between the two eras but represents continuity. The appearance of factories may change, technologies may be iterated, and workers shuttle here and there, but the glory and responsibility they bear will endure, further contributing to the development of the local community.

Working together to create a bright and sustainable future.
Sustainability is about the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. As Earth is a shared community of life and people are facing common challenges such as global climate changes, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution, it should be the common goal for members from different fields to pursue: to make more progress in human civilization and balance the relationships among the economy, environment, and society.

As a company deeply rooted in China, BBA will continue to contribute to the local economy and society, defend the culture, communicate sustainable innovation, and protect our beautiful home. It will also implement the shared value of sustainability with more like-minded partners and transform from individual to collective consciousness. While leading the automotive industry towards sustainability, BMW looks forward to sharing its ideas of intercultural communication with more partners, so as to propel China’s sustainable development, foster a harmonious coexistence with nature, and create a driving force for sustainable social value.

BMW

BMW Group France, a Strong Supporter of Les Rencontres d’Arles, Prese

In 2010, BMW Group France became a major partner of Les Rencontres d’Arles, a renowned photography festival. As a patron for the 14th consecutive year, BMW Group France is providing the festival with a fleet of electrified BMW cars for transportation purposes. This partnership reflects BMW’s commitment to supporting the arts.

A Special Exhibition: INSOLARE by Eva Nielsen and Marianne Derrien

INSOLARE is a unique exhibition created by artist Eva Nielsen and curator Marianne Derrien. The project was developed as part of the BMW ART MAKERS program, which aims to promote innovation in the visual arts. INSOLARE will be showcased for the first time at Les Rencontres d’Arles and later exhibited at Paris Photo in November 2023.

The BMW ART MAKERS Program

The BMW ART MAKERS program, initiated by BMW Group France, supports a duo of artists and curators each year in creating a joint project. The program provides a grant of 10,000 euros to the artist and 8,000 euros to the curator. Additionally, a budget of 15,000 euros is allocated for research, production, and exhibitions of the works. This program highlights BMW’s dedication to fostering creativity and innovation in the field of visual arts.

Promoting Female Talent

BMW is actively involved in promoting female talent in the arts. They have been supporting the Prix de la Photo Madame Figaro Arles, which celebrates the achievements of female photographers, since its inception.

About the INSOLARE Exhibition

The INSOLARE project is an experiment that exemplifies the spirit of the BMW ART MAKERS program. Created by Eva Nielsen and Marianne Derrien, the exhibition explores the concept of time and the transformation of urban and Camargue landscapes. By combining poetic and scientific elements, the artists address the environmental changes that are causing the disappearance of various landscapes where human impact is constantly questioned.

Exploring Geographical and Geological Changes

Artist Eva Nielsen has focused on examining geographical and geological changes, a subject that is often overlooked by female artists. Nielsen has extensively explored the Camargue region, capturing numerous photographs. Through her artwork, which incorporates photography, silk-screening, painting, and printing, she presents a unique perspective and transfiguration of the landscapes. Nielsen’s work reflects her deep understanding of the territory’s architecture and environment.

The Vision of the Curator Marianne Derrien

Curator Marianne Derrien explains that INSOLARE combines optical and hydro-geological phenomena with the technical process of exposure, primarily used in screen-printing. This project captures the essence of both rural and industrial realities, intertwining the experiences of the artists and the diverse territories at the gateway to Arles.

Innovative Scenography for Ecological Conservation

The exhibition’s scenography has been designed with environmental conservation in mind. The use of materials has been minimized, and suspended metal structures have replaced traditional picture rails. These structures will be repurposed for the Paris Photo exhibition in November 2023.

BMW’s Commitment to Climate Neutrality

Maryse Bataillard, Head of Corporate Communications and CSR at BMW Group France, explains that Eva Nielsen and Marianne Derrien’s project aligns perfectly with the BMW ART MAKERS program. BMW Group is proud to present this groundbreaking exhibition in Arles, as it reflects the company’s commitment to working towards carbon neutrality. BMW has also unveiled a concept for a 100% recyclable and recycled car set to be realized by 2040.

The 54th Rencontres d’Arles Exhibition

The INSOLARE exhibition is part of the “Geographies of the Gaze” section of the 54th Rencontres d’Arles. The exhibition explores the reality of climate and ecological challenges, together with other artists who approach these topics from various angles. Eva Nielsen takes the viewers on a sensory journey through the Camargue region, where the past and present intertwine in a unique artistic approach.

BMW Group’s Cultural Engagements

BMW Group has been actively engaged in cultural partnerships worldwide for over 50 years. In addition to supporting Les Rencontres d’Arles, BMW Group has become an official partner of other esteemed events, such as the Cannes Film Festival and Paris + by Art Basel since 2022.

The BMW ART MAKERS 2023 Jury

The BMW ART MAKERS 2023 Jury consisted of influential individuals in the art world. This includes Florence Bourgeois, the Director of Paris Photo; Fabrice Bousteau, Editorial Director of Beaux-Arts Magazine; Hervé Digne, Chairman of Manifesto; Fannie Escoulen, Delegate for Photography at the French Ministry of Culture; Chantal Nedjib, Founder of l’Image par l’image; Christophe Ono-dit-Biot, writer and Deputy Editorial Director of Le Point; Christoph Wiesner, Director of Rencontres d’Arles; and Maryse Bataillard, Head of Corporate Communications and CSR at BMW Group France.