BMW at the 15th Auto China Beijing 2018.

The latest new models, pioneering concept vehicles and innovative technological developments are the headline-makers as BMW takes to the stage at the Auto China 2018 show in Beijing. The selection of new products on display at the international vehicle fair taking place from 25 April – 4 May 2018 underlines the company’s commitment to the next steps in its electrification strategy, heralds its upcoming model offensive in the luxury segment and celebrates the continued success of the BMW X models. Added to which, the array of world and Asian premieres from BMW shines the spotlight on the huge significance of China as both the world’s largest car market and the production location for a growing number of models from the Bavarian premium brand.

The company’s stand at Auto China 2018 also draws attention to the comprehensive levels of technological expertise with the BMW Group has assumed a leading role in the transformation to sustainable and digitalised mobility. Its corporate strategy NUMBER ONE > NEXT sets out the elements of this technological metamorphosis considered to be of central importance in the future and focuses on them as a basis to push ahead with innovations in Automated driving, Connectivity, Electrification and Services (ACES). BMW is using both the progress made in these areas and its innovative vehicle concepts to strengthen its position as a manufacturer of premium cars whose emotional impact stems from inspirational design, the driving pleasure for which the brand is renowned, trailblazing technology and a premium character without compromise.

The dawn of a new era in electric mobility: the BMW Concept iX3.

The world premiere for the BMW Concept iX3 will turn the heads of visitors to Auto China 2018 in the direction of a new and extremely attractive form of sustainable mobility – and mark the beginning of the next chapter in the BMW Group’s electrification strategy. The company is using the concept study based on the BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) to send out the message that pure-electric mobility using drive system technology developed at BMW i will soon be making its debut in the BMW core brand’s model range.

In so doing, the SAV with all-electric drivetrain will blaze a trail for both the fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology and a flexible vehicle architecture which in future will allow every model in the line-up to be fitted with a combustion engine, a plug-in hybrid system or a battery-electric drive unit, as desired. The electric motor developed for the BMW Concept iX3 generates maximum output in excess of 200 kW/270 hp and its high-voltage battery enables an electric range in the WLTP test cycle of over 400 kilometres (249 miles). The BMW brand’s first model to be driven exclusively by electric power will be produced by the BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture in Shenyang.

Compact high-performance sports car: the new BMW M2 Competition.

The BMW M2 Competition (fuel consumption combined: 10.0 – 9.9 l/100 km [28.3 –  28.5 mpg imp]; CO₂ emissions combined: 228 – 225 g/km*) celebrates its world premiere at Auto China 2018. Developed on the basis of the BMW M2 Coupe with a brief to deliver an emotionally powerful driving experience, this new model from BMW M GmbH sets the pace in the  compact high-performance sports car segment courtesy of its 302 kW/410 hp engine, bespoke suspension tuning and array of distinctive design signatures. The BMW M2 Competition requires just 4.4 seconds for the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph), dropping to 4.2 seconds if the optional M Double Clutch Transmission with Drivelogic is specified.

The hallmark handling characteristics of BMW M models – headlined by dynamic excellence, agility and precision – are enjoying ever greater popularity in the Chinese market. Which is just one reason why the BMW M2 Competition ranks as one of the highlights of Auto China 2018.

Another SAV from Shenyang: the new BMW X3, made in China.
The Shenyang production facility is committed to building on its status as a birthplace for BMW models for the Chinese market. And Auto China 2018 will host the presentation of the BMW X3, which will be produced at the Dadong plant by the joint venture BMW Brilliance Automotive. The third generation of the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) impresses with its enhanced sporting ability, high-quality appointments and state-of-the-art connectivity technology.  

Sporty individualist: the new BMW X4.
Auto China 2018 will host the Asian premiere of the new BMW X4. The second generation of the premium mid-size Sports Activity Coupe captures the imagination with a significantly more individual design and also makes undeniable gains in terms of sporting prowess and premium ambience. Cutting-edge driver assistance systems and the latest functions from BMW ConnectedDrive further increase the levels of driving pleasure.

Compact Sports Activity Coupe: the new BMW X2.
The successful Sports Activity Coupe concept is now coming to the premium compact segment. Auto China 2018 will be the venue for the Asian premiere of the new BMW X2. This model takes the robust versatility of a BMW X model and the sporting elegance of a coupe and wraps them up in a highly distinctive design. And like its styling, the driving pleasure on offer behind the wheel of the new BMW X2 is also without peer in its segment.

Eye-catching on the outside, generously sized on the inside: the BMW Concept X7 iPerformance.
Auto China 2018 will introduce visitors to another new member of BMW’s successful X model line-up in the form of an innovative vehicle concept for the luxury class. Making its debut in Asia, the BMW Concept X7 iPerformance combines imposing dimensions and a fascinating sense of outward presence with generous levels of space inside and an interior ambience exuding class and luxury. The powerful and efficient plug-in hybrid drive system and intelligently connected infotainment system underscore the technological progress encapsulated by the BMW Concept X7 iPerformance.

Alluring luxury sports car: the BMW Concept 8 Series.
The BMW Group’s burgeoning presence in the luxury segment is further reinforced by another concept study unveiled in Asia for the first time. The BMW Concept 8 Series embodies a blend of dynamic excellence, luxury and exclusivity characteristic of the brand’s modern-day coupes. The study car’s precise and alluring design is emblematic of a new BMW design language and provides a clear look ahead to the exceptional dynamic potential of the upcoming BMW 8 Series Coupe, which is set to go into series production later in 2018.

A new benchmark for electric mobility: the BMW i Vision Dynamics.
The Asian premiere of the BMW i Vision Dynamics offers a window into the near future of electric mobility, as envisaged by the BMW Group. The proportions of an elegantly sporty four-door Gran Coupe, signature features of the design language developed for BMW i cars, unwavering premium quality and the latest BMW eDrive technology come together to create an exceptionally appealing take on sustainable mobility – soon to become reality in the form of the BMW i4. The car’s rigorously further developed drive system technology enables acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.0 seconds and an electric range of around 600 kilometres (373 miles).

A new generation of sports cars: the new BMW i8 Roadster.
Another intoxicating chapter is about to be written in the success story of the BMW i8 with the arrival of the new BMW i8 Roadster (fuel consumption combined: 2.0 l/100 km [134.5 mpg imp]; power consumption combined: 14.5 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 46 g/km), which will now make it possible to enjoy all of the dynamism and groundbreaking powertrain technology of the world’s top-selling plug-in hybrid sports car in open-top format, too. With the soft-top down, driving on electric power alone is transformed into an unprecedented sensation of pure freedom and sustainable driving pleasure. The open-top two-seater is made even more thrilling by its individual take on the design that was specially developed for the BMW i8. The newly designed frameless gullwing doors are made from CFRP, as are the windscreen frame and the side skirts. This ultra-strong high-tech material makes the body more rigid, thereby further enhancing occupant protection in the BMW i8 Roadster.

Electric charging gets more user-friendly than ever: BMW Wireless Charging.
BMW has moved quickly to offer customers an extremely innovative and user-friendly solution for charging the high-voltage batteries of their electrified vehicles. BMW Wireless Charging provides a cable-free supply of energy from the electricity grid to the car’s battery. The system consists of an inductive charging station (the GroundPad) – which can be installed either in the user’s garage or outside in the ground – and a component built into the car’s underfloor section (the CarPad). The energy is transferred contact-free via an electromagnetic field and the process can be initiated as soon as the car has pulled up into position over the GroundPad. BMW is the first carmaker worldwide to offer a system for inductive charging of a high-voltage battery. BMW Wireless Charging is available now as an option for the BMW 530e iPerformance (petrol consumption combined: 2.1 – 1.9 l/100 km [134.5 – 148.7 mpg imp]; electric power consumption combined: 14.1 – 13.1 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 49 – 44 g/km) and the BMW 530Le iPerformance produced and sold in China.

Relentless progress on the road to automated driving.
The BMW Group is committed to expanding its development expertise in the field of automated/autonomous driving. Here, the company can call on its many years of experience and well-founded pool of knowledge, as well as the know-how of strong partners. A development centre is currently taking shape at the new Unterschleißheim campus near Munich, where some 1,800 employees will help determine how the next round of progress will look – from software right through to road testing. Among the areas they are working on is the development and testing of 80 trial vehicles focusing on highly and fully automated driving. These prototypes, based on the BMW 7 Series, will help to ensure the timely roll out of the BMW iNext. The BMW Group’s first highly-automated production vehicle will be presented in 2021 and have the technical ingredients required for fully automated and autonomous driving.

* Fuel consumption figures are provisional (in some cases), based on the EU test cycle and may vary depending on the tyre format specified.