BMW Group announced it will be the Official Mobility Partner of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) from now through 2016. BMW Group will also be the Official Mobility Partner of four National Governing Bodies (NGBs): USA Bobsled & Skeleton, US Speedskating, USA Swimming and USA Track & Field.

Jack Pitney, Vice President of Marketing for BMW of North America, USOC Chief Marketing Officer Lisa Baird and short track speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno, the most decorated U.S. winter Olympian of all time, were all in New York City to make the partnership announcement.

This multi-million dollar agreement goes beyond financial support to also provide the USOC with fundraising opportunities and the four individual NGBs with BMW Group technical expertise. BMW Group will use its experts, deep technology base and facilities to help the Olympic and Paralympic Teams improve their training and performance. An example of this has been the company’s work with BMW ORACLE Racing to improve its performance. BMW Group’s expertise in light weight construction and aerodynamics helped the BMW Oracle Racing Team design a technically advanced yacht that won the America’s Cup sailing competition this year.

“As a company dedicated to joy, performance and efficiency, BMW Group is a fitting partner for the USOC, whose mission of achieving sustained competitive excellence and inspiring Americans dovetails perfectly with our own values,” said Pitney. “It is important to us to add substantive value to a partnership that is more than just a financial sponsorship. We are excited to share our resources, which include some of the world’s leading engineers and technology experts and an enthusiastic owner and dealer community, with U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes over the next six years.”

Pitney revealed that BMW Group will also raise awareness for the Olympic Movement by supporting cause-related efforts to generate additional funds to support the training of Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls.

“BMW is a premier, powerful brand that is recognized for competitive excellence and dynamic performance, just like our U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams,” said USOC Chief Executive Officer Scott Blackmun. “Joining together these two performance-driven organizations will provide a tremendous asset to America’s top athletes while providing the unique value of investing in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams. We thank BMW Group for providing this tremendous funding for our athletes and, through future activation, keeping the Olympic spirit burning bright.”

BMW Group (including BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad) will be the Official Mobility Partner of the USOC, as well as the 2012, 2014 and 2016 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, and the 2011 and 2015 U.S. Pan American and Parapan American Teams. BMW Group will develop exclusive programs to support Team USA and will have a presence at the three Olympic Training Centers. These facilities welcome America’s top athletes to live and train among the nation’s best, including bobsled and skeleton sliders, speedskaters, swimmers, and track & field standouts.

BMW Group will also have a presence at the major events of the four NGBs, beginning with the USA Swimming National Championships August 3-7, 2010, in Irvine, California. BMW Group’s sponsorship of USA Bobsled & Skeleton, US Speedskating, USA Swimming and USA Track & Field will include support for coaching and training programs, as well as increasing awareness of the NGBs and their athletes.

“Sponsors are critical to the success of Team USA,” said Ohno. “What's truly unique about BMW is their willingness to go beyond financial assistance and make available their engineers and technology experts to work with Team USA athletes and try to enhance their training programs."

BMW has a long standing commitment – globally and in the U.S. – to performance-driven sports. Within Motorsports, BMW of North America is currently campaigning the M3 GT2 in the American Le Mans Series. BMW of North America is also the title sponsor of the BMW Championship, the third tournament in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the Fed Ex Cup. The BMW ORACLE Racing Team recently won the America’s Cup, bringing the trophy back to American soil for the first time in more than a decade.

BMW Group also has a long standing commitment to the Olympic Movement. BMW played an active role in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, the home of BMW Group. In 1996, BMW Group was a sponsor of the Atlanta Olympic Games and U.S. Olympic Team. Now with two years to go until the London Olympic Games, BMW UK is proud to be the Automotive Partner and a Sustainability Partner of London 2012.

BMW Group’s partnership with the USOC is one more example of the company’s commitment to America. BMW Group entered the U.S. market in 1968 and since then has been a solid contributor to America’s economic, social, and sustainable advancement. Today, the U.S. is BMW Group’s second home with a growing footprint. BMW Group has manufacturing, engineering, design and technology centers which employ 7,000 people and has built more than 1.5 million vehicles in the U.S. to date. Direct and indirect employment accounts for 50,000 jobs in the U.S. Its Spartanburg, South Carolina manufacturing facility is the largest new vehicle exporter to non-NAFTA countries, contributing to America’s positive trade balance.

The BMW 3 Series and 5 Series Sedans were ranked highest by J.D. Power & Associates in their respective categories in the 2010Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) study. This prestigious award is given to models with high sales, high customer satisfaction rates, and little or no need for cash incentives. The BMW 3 Series was ranked highest in the Entry Premium Car segment, and the BMW 5 Series was ranked highest in the Midsize Premium Car segment. The BMW 1 Series was first runner-up in the Entry Premium Car segment behind the 3 Series Sedan.

Additionally, the BMW nameplate was ranked very high among automakers. The stated industry average nameplate ranking by J.D. Power & Associates was 778 out of 1000 points, while BMW came in at 846 points, a score which places BMW above its primary competitors and third among all automakers in the study.

The APEAL Study examines how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive, based on owner evaluations of more than 80 vehicle attributes. The 2010 APEAL Study is based on responses gathered between February and May 2010 from more than 76,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2010 model-year cars and trucks who were surveyed after the first 90 days of ownership.

The anticipation began in August 1985. That summer Germany’s automobile magazines built up their readers’ expectations for the fastest 3 Series BMW of all times. The key data revealed a sports car that would punch way above its class: 200 hp, top speed in excess of 230 km/h, sprint from a standing start to 100 km/h inside 6.7 seconds. However, the story was that “the most dynamic BMW 3 Series drivers” would have to wait until mid-1986. The pundits were right on that count. But one prediction missed the mark by a mile: anyone who “wants to be in the A Team needs to be turbocharged under the bonnet”. Not true.

The BMW M3 became the most successful touring car in motor-sport history. The M3 project was launched just a few months earlier. Production of the M1 mid-engine sports car had already been discontinued for some time and BMW CEO Eberhard Kuenheim commissioned a design for a successor, almost as an aside, according to legend. After one of his regular visits to Motorsport GmbH in Munich’s Preußenstraße he said, almost as he was leaving: “Mr. Rosche, we need a sporty engine for the 3 Series.” His aspiration was in good hands. Motorsport GmbH with its managing director of technical development Paul Rosche had demonstrated its expertise with the legendary 5 Series saloons driven by M engines as well as developing the Formula 1 turbo engine that powered Brazilian Nelson Piquet to win the World Championship in the Brabham BMW in 1983.

The new 3 Series engine had something in common with this: the crankcase. It originated from volume production and actually formed the basis for the two-litre engine with four cylinders. Four cylinders meant less weight and high torque, an ideal platform for a sports engine in the projected displacement class. Naturally enough, the series four-cylinder engine was much too tame for a sports engine. A comprehensive power boost was called for in order to turn the plucky daily workhorse into an athletic and sporty power unit. The BMW design engineers increased the displacement to 2.3 litres and applied a formulation that had already achieved significant successes over a period of many years: four-valve engineering. There was also another reason for the decision to opt for a four-cylinder engine and not adopt the six-cylinder engine introduced in the BMW 3 Series. The longer crankshaft in the big engine started to vibrate much earlier than the shorter four-cylinder shaft. The design engineers therefore designed the crankshaft drive of the BMW M3 with sufficient torsional stability to achieve 10,000 revolutions a minute and more. By comparison with the four-cylinder engine installed in the series vehicles, this represented an increase of more than 60 percent. The rated speed for the road version of the BMW M3 was still significantly below the critical range at 6,750/min and therefore offered sufficient scope for further developments.

Paul Rosche recalls: “We started work immediately. One advantage was that the big six-cylinder engine originally had the same cylinder gap as the four-cylinder engine. We therefore cut two combustion chambers off the four-cylinder head of the M88 and bolted a panel over the hole on the rear side.” This meant that the new four-cylinder engine had a second forebear. The six-cylinder engine that had initially created a sensation in the M1 and had meanwhile transformed the M635CSi into one of the fastest coupés in the world. Paul Rosche: “Whether you believe it or not – we had created an outstanding four-cylinder engine for the 3 Series within the space of two weeks. Under the development name S14, this engine was to generate headlines in sport and in volume production over the years to come. One Sunday, I drove to von Kuenheim’s flat and gave him the car for a test drive. When he came back he said: ‘Good, I like it.’ And that’s how the M3 came into being."

BMW Group today announces its support for the new iPod Out feature released in iOS 4, the latest version of Apple's mobile operating system. The launch of a newly developed BMW Group interface technology will provide BMW and MINI drivers with an easy-to-operate, intuitive way of using their iPhone and iPod touch in future BMW Group vehicles.

iPod Out enables BMW and MINI entertainment systems to display and control the music playback feature of the iPhone and iPod touch directly within the vehicle’s main display. The LCD display in BMW and MINI provides users with the simplicity and familiarity they have come to trust in their iPhone and iPod touch. The intuitive and integrated iPod navigation menu can be safely operated through the vehicle’s controls. Additionally, state-of-the-art iPod features such as custom playlists and Genius, which creates a compatible playlist of songs from a user's own library, is made available to BMW and MINI drivers through the vehicle’s main display. iPod Out requires iOS 4 with iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPod touch (second and third generation).

The new interface technology developed for this purpose by the BMW Group enables continued upgrades of iPod Out features for the iPhone and iPod touch in vehicles and represents a new milestone in consumer electronic device vehicle integration. Future vehicles equipped with this technology will be able to adapt more quickly to the software lifecycles of iPod touch and iPhone. The new interface technology was developed by an international cooperation of the BMW Research and Development Center in Munich, Germany and the BMW Group Technology Office Palo Alto in Silicon Valley in California.

Once again, the BMW Group has taken a leading role in the entertainment integration of iPhone and iPod touch with vehicles. In 2004, BMW was the first manufacturer to integrate the iPod into its audio system. The following year, a corresponding solution was presented for MINI. Simultaneously with the market launch of the iPhone in 2007, the BMW Group offered an exclusive solution for integrating iPhone in the entertainment and communications system of its vehicles via USB and Bluetooth technology.

The new iPod Out support by BMW Group mirrors the innovative strategy of BMW ConnectedDrive for the BMW brand and will be part of the new offer called MINI Connected for the MINI brand. Both brands aim at connecting the driver and passengers to their personal entertainment world in an intuitive and non-distracting way. The optimized use of consumer devices within the vehicle plays a central role in this connection.

June sales of BMW and MINI vehicles in the U.S. increased 11.9 percent to 23,331 units, delivering the best sales month for the company this year. During the first half of the year, the BMW Group reported a total sales volume of 121,585 vehicles, up 6.2 percent from the same period last year.

“We’ve been anticipating this month as it welcomed the all-new 5 Series into a market of waiting customers, and provides another vital link to our aggressive model introduction cycle,” said Jim O’Donnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC. “While economic improvement has been, and looks to continue to be slow this year, nevertheless new core products such as the 5 Series, major upgrades to the perennial best selling X5 and 3 Series, and the new six cylinder 740i and 535i Gran Turismo are now giving us the vehicles to once again play offense in the market.”

The BMW 5 Series – the traditional leader of the midsize sports-sedan segment in the U.S. – kicks off a model offensive replacing more than 60 percent of BMW’s current model line-up with all-new products until 2012. Today, the BMW brand has leadership in the compact segment with the 3 Series, the small coupe/roadster segment with the Z4 and the large luxury sedan segment with the 7 Series. On the MINI side, starting in 2011, the product range will double from three to six models creating additional growth perspectives for the premium small car brand.

BMW Brand Sales
BMW brand showed an overall performance increase of 14.6 percent to 19,182 vehicles in June. Key drivers of June’s sales results were high volume models – 5 Series, up 40.2 percent to 3,865 units; X5, up 44.4 percent to 3,273 units; and 7 Series, up 112.6 percent to 1,716 units. Year-to-date, overall BMW brand sales increased 7.6 percent to 100,632 units.

BMW Pre-Owned Vehicles
In June, sales of BMW’s used vehicles (including certified pre-owned vehicles) sold through the BMW dealership network increased 1.4 percent to 13,445 vehicles. Year-to-date, used vehicle sales were up 4.9 percent to 83,723 vehicles.

MINI Brand Sales
MINI USA reported sales of 4,149 cars in June, an increase of 1.1 percent compared to last year. MINI Convertible performed best and sales were up 35 percent compared to last year. After the first six months, MINI continued to show a stable volume development with sales slightly up 0.3 percent to 20,953 cars while at the same time increasing its share of the small car premium segment that has lagged the general market trend.

BMW of North America has announced three BMW Performance aerodynamic accessories for the M3 Coupe, Sedan, and Convertible. The new rear deck lid spoiler, mirror caps, and front splitters are constructed of ultra-rigid carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) composite material, matching the standard CFRP roof panel of the M3 Coupe. Each component is shaped based on advanced research conducted in one of BMW’s Munich-based wind tunnels. This ensures compatibility with the overall aerodynamic “signature” of the M3, serving to reduce lift and minimize drag. Such characteristics are appropriate to enhance the vehicle’s high-speed stability while maintaining fuel efficiency.

Like the CFRP roof panels on the M3 Coupe and M6 Coupe, BMW Performance components made of carbon fiber have been climate and durability tested during development to ensure long-term quality. Each component is finished in a special clear coat laminate to reflect ultraviolet radiation. BMW Performance accessories feature a 2-year / unlimited mileage warranty. If installed before a customer takes delivery of a new M3, the BMW Performance accessories will share coverage of the 4-year / 50,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty. The new BMW Performance aerodynamic accessories are going on sale this month at Authorized BMW Centers.

BMW of North America announced a partnership with Foxxhole Radio Sirius 106/XM 149. As the Official Automotive Partner, BMW will be integrated into show content by presenting a Joy of Comedy showcase, live interviews with BMW experts and other on-air mentions.

Through this commitment to Foxxhole Radio Sirius 106/XM 149 radio, the company will be working with the program to interact with listeners where they live, work, and play. This robust partnership allows BMW to execute not only an on-air presence but also various actions in key markets as the Radio Show goes on an 18 city live broadcast tour.

“We are pleased to partner with Foxxhole Radio Sirius 106/XM 149 radio to spread the joy that comedy brings,” said Jack Pitney, Vice President, Marketing and Product Strategy, BMW of North America. “Foxxhole radio has an influential multi-cultural audience and we look forward to building a relationship with them while sharing our mutual appreciation for great cars.”

"We are pleased to welcome BMW to our family of sponsors," said Marcus King, Executive Producer of The Foxxhole. "We look forward to working with the company and helping the BMW brand resonate with multi-cultural consumers through both our media platform and numerous key events.

Through Matlock Advertising and PR, BMW of North America’s African American Agency of Record, the luxury car maker saw a perfect opportunity to pair with this dynamic broadcast platform. The Foxxhole is a Channel on Sirius (106) and XM (149) Satellite Radio that features Comedy, music and entertainment presented by FoxxKing Entertainment.

With 99 days until the first ball is struck at The 2010 Ryder Cup, BMW and Ryder Cup Ltd. today announced an extension to their Ryder Cup partnership until 2014.

BMW will now be an Official Partner to this year’s Ryder Cup at The Celtic Manor Resort and the 2014 match at Gleneagles, as well as a European Team Partner in 2012 at Medinah.

“BMW are already The European Tour's strongest and most committed commercial partner, and their extension of our Ryder Cup partnership until 2014 further enhances the special relationship that we have shared for over 20 years”, said Richard Hills, Director of Ryder Cup Limited. “BMW have long been associated with quality, high performance and efficiency and we are delighted that they will continue bring these valuable attributes to The Ryder Cup.”

By extending the partnership with Ryder Cup Ltd., BMW further strengthens its commitment to European golf. "BMW's Ryder Cup contract extension follows the recent announcements that they will continue their support of both the BMW PGA Championship and the BMW International Open until 2014 at the earliest”, explained George O’Grady, Chief Executive of the European Tour. “The combined impact of these announcements gives The European Tour a huge amount of confidence moving forward.”

BMW is also Official Car of the European Tour and title partner of the BMW Italian Open. In addition, BMW supports the BMW Championship on the US PGA Tour, being the only company engaged on all major golf tours.

“We see golf as an ideal environment through which to communicate with our customers and promote BMW’s key values such as precision, dynamic and sportsmanship”, said Ian Robertson, Member of the Board BMW Group Sales & Marketing. “We are very proud to be such an important partner of the European Tour and the Ryder Cup. Having been involved in golf for more than 20 years our commitment is long-term and provides us a unique leading position being a true Global Golf Player.”

“I speak not only on behalf of The Ryder Cup players but every Member of The European Tour and we thank BMW for their complete commitment and confidence that it gives us over the next, four years. In these economic times, to have this confidence for us is vital,” said Colin Montgomerie, Europe’s 2010 Ryder Cup Captain.

Less than fifteen minutes after the hotline opened to reserve one of only thirty 2011 BMW Frozen Gray M3 Coupes, each has been reserved for sale. Customers will be able to take delivery of the 2011 Frozen Gray M3 Coupe through an Authorized BMW Center starting later this month.

“We leapt at the chance to bring this truly special vehicle to the United States,” said Larry Koch, M Brand Manager for BMW of North America. “The Frozen Gray M3 is a striking work of sculpture, speed, and style, and perfectly marks the 25th birthday of the M3 model. I’m personally thrilled to see that our customers are as excited about it as we are. We filled the thirty reservation slots within twelve minutes and took the names of at least fifty alternates in the first hour. The 2011 Frozen Gray M3 Coupe will be one of the most unique BMW vehicles ever imported to the US.”

The 2011 Frozen Gray M3 Coupe continues the tradition of innovation and passion for driving by incorporating key changes to the M3’s dynamic qualities. The Competition Package reduces vehicle ride height by 10mm and includes unique 19” wheels with wider offset for enhanced stability, standard Electronic Damping Control with enhanced programming, and higher-threshold programming for the M Dynamic Mode. The 2011 Frozen Gray M3 Coupe is also equipped with the M Double Clutch Transmission (M DCT) which lowers the 0-60mph acceleration time of the M3 to 4.5 seconds from 4.7 (6-speed manual). As a result, the 2011 Frozen Gray M3 Coupe will be the most dynamic and exclusive M3 ever to come to the United States.

The fourth and current generation M3 was introduced for the 2008 model year as a Coupe, Sedan, and Convertible, featuring an all-new 4.0-liter, 414-horsepower V8 engine with eight individual throttle bodies and an 8,400-rpm redline. Showcasing its remarkable performance envelope, the newest M3 Coupe serves as the basis for the M3 GT2 race car, which successfully competes in endurance races against the most exotic cars from around the world in the American Le Mans Series.

Introducing Frozen Gray Metallic Paint.

The special BMW Individual matte paintwork on the Frozen Gray M3 adds a rare metallic luster to the vehicle. Compared to conventional exterior colors with gloss finish, the sculpture-like character of Frozen Gray paint highlights the athletic contours of the M3. To achieve this luster, a special BMW ColorSystem silk matte clear coat is applied over the Space Gray Metallic base coat.

Equipment List: 2011 BMW Frozen Gray M3 Coupe.

• BMW Individual Frozen Gray Metallic exterior paint.
• BMW Individual bi-color (black with red) Novillo Leather interior.
• M DCT Transmission
• Competition Package
  • Electronic Damping Control, 19” light-alloy wheels, lowered suspension, sport mapping for EDC and DSC.
  • Premium Package
    • Power folding mirrors, universal garage door opener, digital compass mirror, BMW Assist with Bluetooth, Novillo Leather, Carbon Leather trim.
    • Technology Package
      • M Drive system, Comfort Access system, Navigation system, Voice Command system, Real Time Traffic Information system.
      • Heated Front Seats
      • Rear Park Distance Control
      • Enhanced Premium Sound System
      • Satellite Radio with 1-year subscription
      • iPod and USB Adaptor

The Internal Revenue Service today certified that the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 qualifies for up to a $900 tax credit under the Alternative Motor Vehicle provision. This serves as yet another endorsement for the BMW EfficientDynamics strategy.

The ActiveHybrid 7 combines an electric motor with BMW’s much-praised 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 and new 8-speed automatic transmission to accelerate from 0 – 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds while delivering impressive EPA fuel economy estimates of 17 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, a near 18 percent improvement over the non-hybrid 750i/Li. The ActiveHybrid 7 features Engine Start/Stop to avoid wasteful engine idling in stop-and-go driving and at traffic lights. The powerful lithium-ion battery enables systems like the radio, Bluetooth phone connection and air-conditioning to continue running when the engine is off. Its compact size minimizes the impact on luggage capacity.

The standard and long-wheelbase versions of the ActiveHybrid 7 become the fourth and fifth BMW models to qualify for the Alternative Motor Vehicle Tax Credit, joining the ActiveHybrid X6 and BMW’s Advanced Diesel 335d Sedan and X5 xDrive35d.