BMW boosts PHEV range with a host of new and improved models.

• BMW to offer five PHEV vehicles in the range
• BMW 7 Series line-up strengthened by six additional models
• M Sport arrives on the new BMW X1
• The BMW i3 offered with a sportier edge
• BMW scoops more awards

BMW to offer five PHEV vehicles in the range  

Launched earlier this year, the new BMW X5 xDrive40e Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) was the first such production car from the BMW core brand. Within the next 12 months BMW will offer an additional four PHEVs to broaden the opportunity to drive ultra low emission vehicles with all electric drive capability.

The four new PHEV models indebted to the BMW i brand for technology come in the shape of the BMW 225xe Active Tourer, BMW 330e Saloon, and the BMW 740e and 740Le xDrive from the marque’s flagship model. This means BMW will soon offer innovative PHEV technology in everything from compact models through to luxury-class cars.

Model	Power Hp	Torque Nm	0 – 62mph Seconds	Top Speed Mph	Combined Mpg	CO2 Emissions g/km	OTR Price
X5 xDrive40e	Petrol: 245 Electric: 113 Total system output: 313	Petrol: 350 Electric: 250 Combined:450	6.8	130mph (Electric only:75)	85.6	77	£51,845
225xe	Petrol: 136 Electric: 88 Total output: 224	Petrol: 220 Electric: 165 Combined: 385	6.7	126mph (Electric only: 78)	141.2	46	£35,005
330e	Petrol: 184 Electric: 88 Total system output: 252	Petrol: 290 Electric: 250 Combined: 252	6.1	140 (Electric only: 74.6)	148.7	44	£33,935
740e*	Petrol: TBC Electric: TBC Total system output: 326	Petrol: TBC Electric: TBC Combined: 500	5.6	149 (Electric only:75)	134.5	49	TBC
740Le xDrive*	Petrol: TBC Electric: TBC Total system output: 326	Petrol: TBC Electric: TBC Combined: 500	5.5	149 (Electric only: 75)	122.8	53	TBC

*Subject to confirmation.

Combining the versatility and luxury of the X5, along with the superb traction provided by the BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system, with BMW EfficientDynamics eDrive technology allows for outstanding efficiency too. With a total system output of 313hp generated by a four-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and a synchronous electric motor, the BMW X5 xDrive40e achieves a combined fuel consumption 85.6mpg and CO₂ emissions of 78g/km.

With a standard equipment list that includes 18-inch alloy wheels, two-zone air conditioning, front and rear PDC, Dakota leather upholstery, Xenon headlights, heated front seats, BMW Professional Navigation, 40:20:40 split folding seats, Real Time Traffic information, pre-conditioning, BMW Emergency Call and eDrive services.

The BMW X5 XDrive40e went on sale this month with prices starting from £51,845 OTR for the X5 XDrive40e and £56,545 OTR for the X5 xDrive40e M Sport.

Joining this BMW X5 derivative from March 2016 will be the new 225xe Active Tourer PHEV. Offered in two trim levels, the Sport model will cost £35,005 OTR and the 225xe Luxury will be sold for £35,755 OTR. However, a government grant is currently available which will reduce the price for customers by £5,000 respectively.

The BMW 225xe – a BMW 2 Series Active Tourer variant with eDrive offers a combination of sporting ability, economy and everyday practicality unique in its segment. 

The PHEV model fuses BMW eDrive technology with a front mounted transverse three-cylinder petrol engine and a front-wheel-drive configuration for the first time; the electric motor powering the rear wheels makes for an electrified all-wheel-drive system that is unique in this segment.

Producing a total output of 224hp (a combination of the three-cylinder combustion engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, 136hp and an electric motor developing 88hp) and a peak torque of 385Nm. Its combined fuel consumption of 141.2mpg makes the 225xe PHEV one of the best in its class.

The BMW 3 Series Saloon is BMW’s biggest selling vehicle and has always been at the forefront of the EfficientDynamics programme of improving fuel consumption and lower emissions. So it is only right that the new PHEV BMW 330e Saloon is offered.

The 330e Saloon will offer a startling combined fuel consumption of 148.7mpg and CO₂ emissions from 44g/km when it joins the range in 2016. It can be specified in SE, Sport, Luxury or M Sport and all wheel sizes to still stay under the vital 49g/km CO₂ threshold.

The car’s state-of-the-art plug-in hybrid technology marries a 184hp 2.0-litre petrol engine with an 80kW electric motor. The combined output of 252hp and maximum torque of 420Nm gives the BMW 330e a zero to 62mph acceleration time of just 6.1 seconds and a top speed of 140mph. Yet the model is also capable of travelling up to approximately 25 miles in all-electric mode, and therefore emits zero local emissions when used in this manner.

The BMW 330e Saloon is eligible for congestion charge exemption and is expected to also be eligible for the Government’s Plug in Car Grant (PiCG) representing a significant saving on the purchase price. It is on sale now priced from £33,935 OTR with the first customers getting their cars in April 2016.

The final PHEVs to join the fold within the next year will be  for the luxury saloon segment: the BMW 740e and the BMW 740Le xDrive. 

The intelligently controlled interaction between a 2.0-litre petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and an electric drive unit integrated into the eight-speed Steptronic transmission endows the BMW 740e with dynamic acceleration yet very low consumption and emissions figures in everyday driving. 

While producing a total system output of 326hp, both cars return a combined fuel consumption of 134.5mpg and CO₂ emissions of just 49g/km.*

The BMW 740e and the BMW 740Le xDrive will go on sale Summer 2016. Prices to be announced at a later date.

BMW 7 Series line-up strengthened by six additional models

November 2015 sees the introduction of six new models to the BMW 7 Series range to underscore the sporting and luxurious nature of this multi-faceted vehicle.  

The new BMW 750i is powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 443bhp. The 740d xDrive and 740Ld xDrive both use a 3.0-litre straight six, producing 315hp. With acceleration from zero to 62mph in 5.2 and 5.3 seconds respectively, the 650Nm torque ensures a smooth delivery of power. 

Emitting just 134g/m and 137g/m CO2and returning 55.4mpg for the 740d xDrive and 55.3mpg for the 740Ld xDrive. These impressive economy figures stem from BMW EfficientDynamics technology and the BMW EfficientLightweight concept. 

The BMW EfficientLightweight concept means that the models in the new BMW 7 Series line-up are up to 130kg lighter than their predecessors, despite boasting a significantly greater number of comfort and safety features.

These six new models are on sale from December. Prices start from £72,060 OTR.

Model	Power Hp	Torque Nm	0 – 62mph Seconds	Top Speed Mph	Combined Mpg	CO2 Emissions g/km	OTR Price
750i	449	650	4.7	155*	34.9	186	£76,320
750i M Sport	449	650	4.7	155*	34.9	186	£79,970
740d xDrive	320	680	5.2	155*	55.4	134	£72,060
740d xDrive M Sport	320	680	5.2	155*	55.4	134	£75,525
740Ld xDrive	320	680	5.3	155*	54.3	137	£75,825
740Ld xDrive M Sport	320	680	5.3	155*	54.3	137	£79,675

*Electronically limited.

M Sport arrives on the new BMW X1

The smallest member of the BMW X family, the X1, is the latest model to be enhanced with the addition of the popular M Sport specification. In addition to SE models, the M Sport offers 18-inch light alloy wheels (M Double-spoke style), LED headlights, M Sport Aerodynamic bodystyling, M Sports suspension, M Sport steering wheel finished in Nappa leather, Sports seats in Cloth/Alcantara, heated front seats and LED ambient lighting in door trim amongst other features.

Also arriving in November is the X1 xDrive18d model, this will be available in SE, Sport, xLine and M Sport trims with both manual and automatic transmission. The addition of xDrive doesn’t hamper the cars economy with it returning 60.1mpg and emitting 124g/m CO₂ on the combined cycle.

Prices for the new BMW X1 xDrive18d start from £28,280 OTR for a BMW X1 xDrive 18d SE derivative. M Sport specification costs £3,000 more than a standard car.

The BMW i3 offered with a sportier edge

A new Sport package is now available for the BMW i3 enabling further customisation of the car.  For those customers seeking a more unique look, a choice of 19-inch alloy wheels, sun protection glass, LED headlights and the Harman/Kardon Loudspeaker system can be specified– all for a total of £1,700. This represents a 26 per cent saving to the customer worth £610 compared to buying each option separately.

Customers also now have a choice of three new colours for the BMW i3; Fluid Black, Mineral Grey and Platinum Silver which all come with the BMW i Blue highlight. Fluid Black allows the i3 exterior to be specified in all black for the first timewith BMW i Blue highlight.

BMW scoops more awards

Research into more than 650,00 cars operated by the country’s biggest 50 leasing companies has found that once again, the BMW 3 Series range is the most reliable model in the 2015 FN50 survey, whilst BMW has also retained the title of the most reliable manufacturer.

The FN50 reliability survey, undertaken by Fleet News, asks contract hire companies to assess reliability according to warranty claims and the number of breakdowns per model on their fleet.  The majority of the vehicles surveyed are used for business and are subjected to higher than average mileage and are constantly used in all conditions.  This testing environment means that winning the FN50 is a true testament to the reliability of the BMW range and specifically the BMW 3 Series.

Richard Hudson, Sales Director at BMW UK, said: “BMW is renowned for producing award-winning cars, but when the sample size is a car parc of 650,000 vehicles and we come out on top it is especially satisfying.

“To be honoured as the most reliable car among contract hire companies and the most reliable brand in the overall survey is a fantastic result and underscores the expertise

of our renowned engineers in developing class-leading products.”

BMW Group has also been awarded the overall winner at the Engine of the Year Awards 2015 scooping up a total of four wins in the latest International Engine of the Year Awards. The drive unit in the BMW i8 earned two class wins as well as being declared overall winner, with a further class win being garnered by the engine of the BMW M3 and BMW M4. The International Engine of the Year Awards were launched in 1999 and consist of a panel of 65 motoring journalists from 31 countries.

The title of ‘Fleet Car Manufacturer of the Year’ has been presented by Green Fleet magazine in recognition of the success of EfficientDynamics technologies in reducing emissions across the BMW range. The new 3 Series ED Plus Saloon was singled out for praise for its impressive fuel consumption of 74mpg. The category was said to be the most competitive category from the awards with manufactures such as Jaguar, Mercedes, Audi, Citroen and Ford also shortlisted.

Elsewhere, the all-electric BMW i3 scooped the award for Green Car of the Year, for the second consecutive year at the Auto Express New Car Awards 2015.  Praised for its cutting edge technology, value for money and affordable running costs, the BMW i3 remains the car of choice in the small electric car market. The Auto Express judges said “The i3 is easily one of the most user-friendly electric cars on sale today”.

Auto Express has also celebrated Britain’s best used cars and have awarded the new BMW 3 Series for the Best Compact Executive Car for 2015. It has been commended for its high quality interior and for its reputation in creating driving enjoyment.

Jaguar Land Rover has launched a project to cut costs of 4.5 billion pounds and build 1,000,000 cars a year.

Jaguar Land Rover has launched a project to cut costs of 4.5 billion pounds ($6.8 billion) and build 1 million cars per year by the end of the decade, the Sunday Times reported.

The project, called Leap 4.5, will entail building more models on similar core skeletons, overhauling the carmaker's supply chains and slowing down or halting the recruitment process, the paper reported, citing people familiar with the matter. There are no plans for lay offs, the paper said.

The Leap 4.5 project is envisaged to offset the effects of slowing sales in China and the costs of meeting emissions standards. The plan will spare the 3 billion pound-a-year capital spending budget on research and development and building new plants, the Sunday Times said.

Sales in China, JLR's fastest growing market last year, fell 32 percent in the July to September quarter due to an economic slowdown, stock market slump and currency devaluation, which have hit demand in the world's biggest car market.

JLR and the automaker's parent Tata Motors could not be reached for comment.

REPORT HERE.

Jaguar Land Rover and Parent company both take a turn for the worse in income making an unexpected Loss.

A slump in China sales at Jaguar Land Rover amid a market slowdown and a one-time expense contributed to its parent Tata Motors posting an unexpected quarterly loss.

Tata's net loss was 4.3 billion rupees ($65 million) in the quarter through September, compared with a 32.9 billion rupees profit a year earlier, the Indian company said on Friday. Jaguar Land Rover suffered a 92 million pound ($139 million) loss.

Tata took a one-time charge of 24.93 billion rupees ($377 million at today's exchange rate) on damages to JLR vehicles for China from a blast at Tianjin port where they were stored. Automakers from Toyota to Volkswagen were also hit by the blasts at a warehouse at the northeast Chinese port that killed more than 100 people and destroyed rows of brand new cars waiting to be transported to dealerships.

Jaguar Land Rover retail sales plunged 32 percent in China and Tata took an exceptional charge for about 5,800 vehicles involved in the explosion in August. The luxury unit is counting on the introduction in China of models such as the new Jaguar XF, and local production of the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport, to spur demand.

"Overall the stark compression in margins at JLR spooked us as well as the street,” Nitesh Sharma, an analyst at PhillipCapital (India) Pvt., wrote in a note. “We await clarity from the management about any one-time costs and new launch expenses during the quarter. Outlook on margins to be very critical for us to form a concrete view on the stock.”

New introductions

Tata sees a higher impact on margins with “many” new JLR introductions over the next two years, Group Chief Financial Officer C. Ramakrishnan said. The company said it will start selling a new version of the Jaguar XJ sedan in the current quarter.

Jaguar, long synonymous with sleek race cars and sedans, is joining the fastest-growing passenger car segment with its first crossover F-Pace next year and will compete with Audi’s Q5 and BMW’s X models. F-Pace is part of a Jaguar strategy to broaden out the brand that began with the mid-range XE sedan, its cheapest model and a competitor for the BMW 3 series.

The luxury unit’s retail sales in Europe and North America rose 34 percent and 23 percent respectively on demand for new models such as Discovery Sport. Tata is counting on introductions of refreshed Jaguar XF sedans and F-Pace crossovers to spur demand.

U.S. demand

Tata’s luxury unit is benefiting from demand in the U.S. where the auto industry registered its best two-month stretch of sales in 15 years. Land Rover sales in the U.S. almost doubled to 7,199 units last month, while Jaguar deliveries were broadly flat at about 1,000 vehicles.

For the year through October, Jaguar Land Rover's combined U.S. sales rose 24 percent to 67,806 vehicles. 

By contrast, demand in China for luxury vehicles has prompted some carmakers to temper expectations. Mercedes-Benz, which posted a 31 percent jump in China deliveries in the year through September, has said it now expects demand there to rise only slightly. BMW Group, the world’s biggest maker of luxury cars, posted a 2 percent gain in sales in China and Volkswagen’s Audi reported nearly level sales.

“The China market is growing again and given that we’re selling less vehicles in China than in the UK, I think we have plenty of room to grow,” Jaguar Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth said in Mumbai Friday. “The Discovery Sport began local production today. So I’m optimistic that China’s economy will begin growing again and car manufacturers will see growth.”

Industrywide passenger-vehicle sales in China increased at the fastest pace in seven months in October after the government cut a tax on some car purchases to boost sagging demand in the world’s largest auto market.

“Looking ahead we expect Chinese Range Rover/Range Rover Sport volumes to decline, and expect further moderation in pricing. But we do not expect a collapse,” Robin Zhu, Max Warburton and Yang Liu, analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein, wrote in a note to clients dated Nov. 3. “We are convinced that JLR is beginning to move past its problems of the past year” in China, they said.

REPORT HERE

After ten years under Renault and three years in the UK, the 3,500,000th Dacia has been sold in the UK.

• In just over ten years, Dacia has won over more than 3,500,000 customers in Europe and the Mediterranean basin
• The 3,500,000th Dacia sold was a Sandero Stepway purchased by Jody Panov, a customer of SMC Dacia, Aldershot
• Denis Le Vot, Sales & Marketing Senior Vice President for Europe G9, handed over the car’s keys at the dealership on Friday 6^th November 

Almost three years after its launch in the UK, the 3,500,000^th global Dacia customer was handed the keys to her Sandero Stepway by Denis Le Vot, Groupe Renault’s Sales & Marketing Senior Vice President for Europe G9, at SMC Dacia in Aldershot, Hampshire on Friday.

Jody Panov, a married mother of two, is now the happy owner of a Dacia Sandero Stepway – the first new car she has ever purchased – the 3,500,000^th Dacia sold since the brand’s revival in 2004.

Jody took an interest in the Sandero Stepway after her parents returned from a trip to Turkey. During their trip, Jody’s parents saw many Dacias on the road and suggested that their daughter find out more, because they 'seemed like good cars’. Above all, it was the Dacia supermini’s design that won Jody over when she visited the SMC Dacia dealership to investigate, and, as a result, ordered the Sandero Stepway!

“Today we are handing over the key to the 3.5 millionth Dacia and I am very pleased to be doing so in the UK, where the brand was launched in 2013,” said Le Vot. “In reaching this milestone of 3.5 million customers, Dacia confirms its success thanks to a clear and simple promise that perfectly meets the expectations of customers seeking safe, reliable cars with modern features and services at affordable prices.”

Also in attendance at the handover was Managing Director of Group Renault UK, Ken Ramirez: “Dacia has enjoyed fantastic success in the short period since it launched in the UK and is now the country’s first choice ‘smart buy’ car brand. Dacia is young and fresh, but above all, it offers the consumer ‘shockingly affordable’ value for money with a no-nonsense approach to purchasing a safe and reliable new car. Mrs Panov is now one of 3.5 million customers who agree with the Dacia way of motoring, and I hope she and her family enjoy their brand-new Dacia Sandero Stepway.”

Jody said: “The Sandero Stepway is the ideal family car for us and I love the looks and how it’s got a good level of standard equipment with sat nav and parking sensors. I couldn’t believe how affordable it was and when I was at the dealership to place the order, I kept thinking there must be some hidden cost somewhere! Then finding out that I was the 3.5 millionth person to buy a new Dacia was even more of a surprise.”

SMC Dacia in Aldershot has represented Dacia ever since the brand was launched in the UK, and the family-owned dealer group also operates a further Dacia dealership in Weybridge.

Mike Jeffs, General Manager, SMC Dacia, Aldershot, commented: ‘We’re extremely pleased to present Mrs Panov with the 3.5 millionth Dacia and she joins the ever-increasing amount of customers who we have introduced to the brand, our sales growing year-on-year as more and more drivers recognise the brand’s unrivalled blend of value and quality.”

In the UK, Dacia regularly outperforms much larger and well-established brands in its segment thanks to strong Sandero, Duster and Logan sales, with over 62,000 Dacias sold in the UK since its launch in April 2013. Mrs Panov certainly isn’t alone in her purchase of the Sandero, as the most popular vehicle in the line-up has sold more than 37,000 examples in under three years. October year-to-date, Dacia sales represented 21,804 vehicles, increasing by 5.7 per cent compared to last year.

It’s a similar situation of growth in Europe for Dacia, with sales increasing by 5.5 per cent during the first half of the year to 205,436 units. In France, Dacia steadfastly remains in fifth place on the passenger vehicle market, with 5.3 per cent of market share, and in fourth place overall for retail customer sales.