BMW at the 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show

BMW’s showcase for the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show includes plug-in hybrid variants of some of their cars. Some of these should make their way to India soon enough. Here’s what you can expect to see.

2016 BMW 7 Series

The 2016 7 Series will host an array of new features. It will get BMW’s latest engines, and also a plug-in hybrid system in the BMW 740e variant. BMW’s Executive Drive Pro active chassis system, the Driving Experience Control switch with an adaptive mode, and BMW Laserlight are also featured in the updated 7 Series. The Executive Lounge feature will provide the passengers with a massage function, a panorama glass roof and a smartphone holder with wireless charging station.

Apart from that, the new 7 Series’ iDrive system will feature a touch display and gesture control while the rear end of the cabin gets a touch command system to adjust comfort and infotainment settings. As for the driving aids, the car gets a heads-up display, crossing traffic warning, steering and lane control assist, active side collision protection and a surround view system with 3D view and panorama View. (Read our review of the 2016 BMW 7 Series for more).

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2016 BMW X1

The second generation X1 has been redesigned both inside and out. BMW claims a more spacious cabin for the passengers and more room for luggage. The X1 will run new power plants in both petrol and diesel guises. It will also feature an optimised version of BMW’s all-wheel-drive xDrive system. The features list on the new X1 includes full-LED headlights, Dynamic Damper Control, a heads-up and a Driving Assistant Plus system. Click here for more details on the 2016 X1.

2016 BMW 3 Series

The new 3 Series gets a slight facelift along with a new engine line-up to keep up with the times. The new power plants include four petrol and seven diesel variants. Depending on the engine, the car will be offered in a rear-wheel drive version or with the all-wheel-drive xDrive system. The line-up will also feature a plug-in hybrid in the 330e guise. This plug-in hybrid 3 Series will produce 252PS from its power units, while returning a claimed fuel economy of 47.6-52.6kmpl.

BMW 225xe

The plug-in hybrid version of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer features BMW’s eDrive technology in its turbo-charged 1.5-litre three cylinder engine. According to BMW, the car can be driven on full-electric mode for up to 41km. The hybrid system powers the rear wheels using an electric motor while the front wheels are powered by the engine which, in a way, makes it an all-wheel-drive vehicle. The 225xe makes 224PS and has a claimed efficiency of 47.6-50kmpl.

BMW M6 GT3

The BMW M6 GT3 that was recently spotted under camouflage, will finally debut at Frankfurt. Built for endurance racing, the GT3 will line-up at the grid in 2016. The car will use a V8 engine with BMW’s M TwinPower turbo enclosed in a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) outer skin. Besides the M6 GT3, BMW’s M division will also showcase the M6 Competition Edition which features special exterior paint schemes, CFRP components, new leather upholstery and other touches to help distinguish it. The 4.4-litre V8 petrol with the M TwinPower Turbo technology will make 600PS and 700Nm and when ordered with the optional Driver’s Package, it will hit a claimed top speed of 305kmph.

BMW’s technological developments

BMW will also showcase its latest technology featured in the latest models. These would include BMW’s Laserlight and ConnectedDrive. The Laserlight technology, which first debuted on the BMW i8, is now being made available on the new 7 Series.

BMW’s ConnectedDrive system allows the owner to sync his car with gadgets like smartphones and smartwatches. This technology which will debut on the new 7 Series, includes a new ConnectedDrive App, a BMW Remote Cockpit, a Wifi hotspot, automatic navigation map updates, smart home integration and remote control parking, among other features.

BMW i will showcase their innovations for everyday charging at home and in public locations. The latest one being the BMW i Light and Charge, a street light that can be used to charge the high-voltage battery of an electric car. The eDrive technology which was first developed for the BMW i8 and i3 are now available in the other cars mentioned earlier and also in the BMW X5 xDrive40e that will be on display at the show.

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