Munich. The BMW i3 represents a milestone in personal
mobility. The world’s first premium model designed from the outset to
be powered by an all-electric drive system can be assured of a place
in the automotive history books. And it seems the readers of German
motoring magazine Auto Bild Klassik agree, having anointed the BMW i3
a “Classic of the Future”. Another groundbreaking BMW model also came
out on top in the voting for the 2013 “Goldenes Klassik-Lenkrad”
(Golden Classic Steering Wheel) awards after Auto Bild Klassik readers
named a flawlessly maintained BMW 323i first registered in 1979 as
their “Find of the Year”. The winners of the Golden Classic Steering
Wheel awards – which span five categories – will be presented with
their accolades on 24 October 2013. This BMW Museum in Munich provides
the backdrop for this year’s prize-giving ceremony.
Racing driver of many years and current BMW brand ambassador Prince
Leopold of Bavaria will be the recipient of a special Golden Classic
Steering Wheel award. The motor sport enthusiast made his name with
more than 120 victories in touring car, sports car and vintage car
racing. But as well as his success on the track, the award also
recognises his many years of service on the jury for Auto Bild’s
Golden Steering Wheel awards. Indeed, his expert contribution played a
key role in establishing this award in the motor industry. Prince
Leopold of Bavaria will receive his Golden Classic Steering Wheel from
another legend of the motor racing world – ex-Formula One driver
Hans-Joachim Stuck.
The annual Golden Classic Steering Wheel awards see Auto Bild Klassik
honouring vehicles and personalities judged to have made a distinctive
mark on automotive culture and history. Singled out alongside the
“Classic Car of the Year” and “Classic of the Future” will be the
“Find of the Year”, “Restoration of the Year” and “Personality of the
Year”. This year marked the fourth occasion that this public vote has
been held, with almost 27,000 readers of the German vintage and
classic car magazine taking part in the 2013 poll.
With 7,493 votes, the BMW i3 rose head and shoulders above its nine
rivals in the “Classic of the Future” category. The result represented
a vote of confidence from Auto Bild Klassik readers in the
considerable potential of the BMW Group’s first volume-produced
all-electric model – not only as a zero-emission purveyor of BMW’s
hallmark driving pleasure but also as a future collector’s item for
automotive aficionados. The BMW i3 is built around a passenger cell
made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and an aluminium
chassis, which means that rust – the bane of so many vintage and
classic car fans – is destined not to be an issue.
The voting for the “Find of the Year” award was even clearer, a BMW
323i proposed by Auto Bild Klassik garnering 9,984 votes. 34 years
after its initial registration and with under 60,000 kilometres
(approx. 37,000 miles) on the clock, this example of the
first-generation BMW 3 Series could barely have been in better
condition when it rolled off the assembly line. The Golden Classic
Steering Wheel award therefore also represents special recognition for
its owner, who has cared for the two-door model so attentively over
the decades and has it regularly serviced at a specialist workshop.
One of the reasons her BMW 323i is deemed by connoisseurs to be
particularly worthy of preservation is because this was the model
variant which saw BMW first introduce a six-cylinder in-line engine
with fuel injection into its “small” model series. From the moment it
was launched, the 105 kW/143 hp BMW 323i was seen as the
standard-bearer for driving pleasure in its class and was not only the
fastest but also the most economical member of the BMW 3 Series at the
time. The motoring press lavished enthusiastic praise on “the small
BMW with the greatest sprinting ability”. “Six of the best” was one of
the headlines at the time, while another publication led with “Six
cylinders and not a drop thirstier”. In keeping with its elevated
engine output, the BMW 323i was also the first member of its model
series to gain disc brakes on all four wheels and a new five-speed
gearbox. The strapline accompanying the presentation of the flagship 3
Series model captured the mood: “Better one gear more than two
cylinders less.”
An example of the BMW 3 Series’ ability to consistently set new
benchmarks for driving pleasure and economy over the years that
followed is provided by another model under the spotlight at the 2013
Golden Classic Steering Wheel awards. All participants in the Auto
Bild Klassik readers’ survey were entered into a prize draw, with the
winner once again taking delivery of a very special – and rare – piece
of automotive history. This year’s main prize is a BMW 325e from the
BMW Group Classic collection. The BMW 325e is a member of the
second-generation BMW 3 Series, which was presented for the first time
30 years ago and has therefore reached the minimum age to qualify for
classic car registration in Germany.
The BMW 325e provides evidence that the minimisation of fuel
consumption and emissions in BMW engine development played a pivotal
role well before the introduction of BMW EfficientDynamics. The “e” in
the model designation represents the Greek letter eta, used in physics
as the symbol of efficiency. The 2.7-litre straight-six engine with
90 kW delivered its performance – headlined by impressive torque at
low revs – while burning remarkably little fuel. The BMW 325e was also
the brand’s first model of which every example was fitted with a
three-way catalytic converter with electronically controlled oxygen sensor.