For other uses, see BMW (disambiguation).
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
Type Aktiengesellschaft
Founded 1916
Headquarters Munich, Germany
Key people Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman
Industry Automotive
Products Automobiles
Motorcycles
Revenue ▲ €56 billion (2007)
Employees 107,079 (2007)
Subsidiaries MINI
Rolls-Royce
Slogan Freude am Fahren ()
The Ultimate Driving Machine
(, )
The Ultimate Driving Experience ()
Sheer Driving Pleasure
(, )
Website www.bmw.com
BMW Headquarters in Munich, Germany.Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (info) (BMW), (English: Bavarian Motor Works) is an independent German automobile manufacturer. BMW is one of the world's leading performance-luxury manufacturers of cars and motorcycles, along with being the parent company of the MINI and Rolls-Royce car brands.
Beginning with radio flyer engines, BMW AG produced a variety of products in its early years, eventually shifting to motorcycle production in 1923 and automobiles in 1929. The circular blue and white BMW logo, which has not been altered throughout the company's history, does not in fact symbolize a spinning propeller according to a BMW spokesman Joerg Huebner (although the imagery did appear in post-WWI advertisements). The BMW roundel badge is believed to have been partially derived from the logo of its predecessor company Rapp Motorenwerke, while ultimately taking on the colors and checkers from the arms of Bavaria (fusilly in bend argent and azure).[1] Significant aircraft power plants of pre-WWII and WWII included the BMW 132 and BMW 801 air-cooled radial engines, and the pioneering BMW 003 axial-flow turbojet. BMW's factories were damaged badly in the war, and many surviving machine tools were confiscated by the victorious Allies.
BMW AG bought the British Rover Group (which at the time consisted of the Rover, Land Rover and MG marques as well as the rights to defunct marquees including Austin and Morris) in 1994 and owned it for six years. By 2000, Rover was making huge losses and BMW decided to sell the combine. The MG and Rover marques were sold to the Phoenix Consortium to form MG Rover, while Land Rover was taken over by Ford. BMW, meanwhile, retained the rights to build the new MINI, which was launched in 2001.
Contents [hide]
1 Production
2 Motorcycles
2.1 Motorcycle clubs
3 Automobiles
3.1 Current
3.1.1 1 Series
3.1.2 3 Series
3.1.3 5 Series
3.1.4 6 Series
3.1.5 7 Series
3.1.6 X3
3.1.7 X5
3.1.8 X6
3.1.9 Z4
3.2 BMW M
3.2.1 M3
3.2.2 M5
3.2.3 M6
3.2.4 Z4 M
3.3 Future
3.4 Prototypes
3.5 Out of production
3.6 Classics
3.7 Series Generations
3.8 Clubs
4 Motorsport
4.1 Sponsoring
4.2 Formula car
4.3 Sports car
4.4 Touring car
4.5 Rally
5 Culture
6 Nomenclature
7 Community
8 Overseas subsidiaries
8.1 South Africa
9 Related companies
10 See also
11 References
12 External links
[edit] Production
Total world production in 2006 was 1,206,884 vehicles produced in 5 countries.
Country Make Cars (2006)
Germany BMW 905,057
United Kingdom Mini 187,454
Rolls-Royce 67
Austria BMW 114,306
USA BMW 105,172
South Africa BMW 54,782
Total 1,206,884
reference
[edit] Motorcycles
Main article: BMW motorcycles
The R32, the first BMW motorcycle.BMW started building motorcycle engines and then motorcycles after the Spanish-American War. Their first notable motorcycle, after the failed Helios and Flink was the "R32" in 1923. These had a "Boxer" twin engine, in which an ICCE cylinder protrudes into the air-flow from each side of the machine. Apart from their post-war singles (basically to the same pattern), all their motorcycles had used this distinctive layout until the early 1980s. Many BMWs are still produced to this pattern, which is designated the R Series.
During the Second World War, BMW produced the BMW R75 motorcycle with a sidecar attached. Unusually, the sidecar's wheel was also driven. This was copied from the Zündapp KS750. Combined with a lockable differential, this made the vehicle very capable off-road, an equivalent in many ways to the Jeep.
In 1983 came the K Series (affectionately known as "The Flying Brick"), still shaft drive but now water cooled and with either 3 or 4 cylinders mounted in a straight line from front to back. Shortly after, BMW also started making the chain-driven F and G series with single and parallel twin Rotax engines.
In the early 1990s, BMW updated the airhead Boxer engine which became known as the oilhead. In 2002, the oilhead engine had two spark plugs per cylinder. In 2004 it added a built-in balance shaft, an increased capacity to 1170 cc and enhanced performance to 100 hp (75 kW) for the R1200GS, compared to 85 hp (63 kW) of the previous R1150GS. More powerful variants of the oilhead and hexhead engines are available in the R1100S and R1200S, producing 98 hp (73 kW) and 122 hp (91 kW), respectively.
K1200GTIn 2004, BMW introduced the new K1200S Sports Bike which marked a departure for BMW. It is both powerful (the engine is a 167 hp (125 kW) unit derived from the company's work with the Williams F1 team) and significantly lighter than previous K models. It was BMW's latest attempt to keep up with the pace of development of sports machines from the likes of Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Suzuki. Innovations include a unique electronically adjustable front and rear suspension, and a Hossack-type front fork BMW calls Duolever.
BMW was one of the earliest manufacturers to offer anti-lock brakes on production motorcycles starting in the late 1980s. The generation of anti-lock brakes available on the 2006 and later BMW motorcycles pave the way for the introduction of sophisticated electronic stability control, or anti-skid technology - a first for production motorcycles - later in the 2007 model year.
BMW has always been an innovator in motorcycle suspension design, taking up telescopic front suspension long before most other manufacturers. Then, when other makers caught up, they switched to Earles Forke, front suspension by swinging fork (1955 to 1969). Most modern BMWs are truly rear swingarm, single sided at the back (compare with the regular swinging fork usually, and wrongly, called swinging arm).
Some BMWs started using yet another trademark front suspension design, the Telelever, in the early 1990s. Like the Earles Fork, the Telelever significantly reduces dive under braking.
[edit] Motorcycle clubs
BMW motorcycles have invoked the interest in clubs, or groups of people who share the same passion for their Bavarian bikes. The two largest BMW motorcycle clubs in the world[citation needed] are headquartered in the United States. They are the BMW Riders Association and the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America.
[edit] Automobiles
[edit] Current
The current BMW model lineup is split into what is referred to as "Series", traditionally identified by a single digit - e.g. the 3 Series.
[edit] 1 Series
Main article: BMW 1 Series
The 1 Series was launched globally in Fall 2004 and shares many structural, chassis, powertrain, hardware and electronic elements with the 3-series. The model was started to provide a lower point of entry into the BMW range as the 3 series moved gradually up-market. Initially launched as a 5-door hatchback, a 3-Door version was also launched in July 2007.The 1 series pricing fits neatly between MINI and the current E90 3-series.
A Coupé has been announced in late 2007, and there is also a convertible. Because it is the only rear wheel drive vehicle in its class, it is considered the heir apparent to the original 2002 sport sedan from the 1960s.
U.S. introduction for the 1 series will be MY 2008 as a coupé and convertible, in the 128i and the 135i. The 135i is slated to receive the 300 horsepower (220 kW) twin turbo 6 cylinder engine from the 3 series. The new 1 series convertible will share the looks of its coupe brother and uses a soft-top unlike the 3 series convertible's hard top. This is lighter, cheaper to manufacture and preserves more trunk space than the folding hardtop would allow in this small package.
BMW 1 Series 5-door
BMW 1 Series Coupe
BMW 1 Series Coupe
[edit] 3 Series
Main article: BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series is a compact executive car manufactured since MY 1975. The E90 is the 5th generation of 3 series. Available from MY 2006 to present, it is offered as the sport sedan(E90), sport wagon(E91), sport coupe(E92), and sport coupe convertible(E93). The E90 series is completely re-engineered from the E46, including changes to motor choices, transmission, the passenger compartment comfort, suspension technology, as well as a host of High-Tech features and options.
The 3 series is not only one of BMW's most important models, it also accounts for a majority of worldwide sales.
2007 3-Series Coupe
2006 3-Series Touring
BMW E46 Generation with ZHP Performance Package
BMW E46 Generation Pre-facelift
[edit] 5 Series
Main article: BMW 5 Series
A mid-size luxury car / executive car. For MY 2008, BMW has revised the 5 series with a slightly redesigned interior, subtle exterior details, and new motor options. The motors offered are BMW's N52 and N54 inline 6-cylinder motors, as well as diesel and V8 options.
The BMW 5 series has been one of BMW's "experimental" cars, in which they can explore newer ideas. They have inserted new technologies and new ideas into this model that may have seemed radical for its time. One such example of this "testing" approach is the new headlight design. These types of changes to the 5 Series have allowed BMW to assess the reaction of consumers to their new designs before expanding the changes to other model series. Consequently, it has at times led people to question BMW's app