New and exclusive edition of BMW’s flagship model to mark the company’s centenary year.

• New and exclusive edition of BMW’s flagship model to mark the company’s centenary year.
• Redefining comfort and elegance with many high specification features.
• Technology packed, featuring the 13 world first innovations.
• Partnership with Montblanc.
• Limited to only 100 vehicles globally.

The sixth generation of the BMW 7 Series launched in 2015 sets benchmarks when it comes to operating comfort, intelligent networking and feel-good atmosphere inside the car. 

With technology and design highlights such as the Carbon Core body structure, BMW eDrive technology, anti-dazzle BMW Laserlights, chassis control system Executive Drive Pro, BMW Gesture Control, Remote Controlled Parking, Executive Lounge and Sky Lounge panoramic glass sunroof, the BMW 7 Series underscores the company’s claim to leadership in the luxury segment more than ever before. 

The all-new flagship follows in the footsteps of BMW Individual models and features a variety of special additions unique to this model, adding to the luxurious ambience of the new BMW 7 Series. Produced at BMW’s Dingolfing plant the manufacturing process is defined by uncompromising quality standards, traditional style consciousness, and handcrafted precision.

The anniversary model’s prominent status is recognisable at first glance by the BMW Individual exterior colour Centennial Blue metallic and the handcrafted signet. The colour variant available exclusively for the 100 centennial models is attained by a particularly elaborate painting process that accentuates the model’s expressive design.

An exclusive, handcrafted signet bearing the lettering “THE NEXT 100 YEARS” adorns the B pillars, the interior strips above the glove compartment on the passenger side as well as the front and rear seat headrests. The cover of the cup holder located in the front area of the centre console boasts the inscription “1 of 100”.

With a focus on interior comfort, the BMW Individual M760Li xDrive V12 THE NEXT 100 YEARS features BMW Individual Full Merino leather in Smoke White and thanks to its soft, fine-grain surfaces the leather remains breathable and provides supreme comfort. Quilted seat surfaces in a woven look, hand-woven piping and contrasting seam applications bear witness to a production process that is defined by precision and attention to detail. 

Floor covering and floor mats, safety belts and the BMW Individual headliner also come in the colour Smoke White and the stylish interior ambience of the centennial model is capped by BMW Individual interior strips in Piano Black Finish. There BMW Individual leather steering wheel with fine-wood applications is in the same finish.

The “Montblanc for BMW” Centennial Fountain Pen.

Montblanc and BMW have teamed up to create a fountain pen that underscores the uniqueness of the BMW Individual M760Li V12 THE NEXT 100 YEARS.

The “Montblanc for BMW” Centennial Fountain Pen follows the principles of the Maison Montblanc in terms of quality, styling and constant innovation. For more than 110 years now, the name Montblanc has been synonymous with writing culture and top-class workmanship. 

In collaboration with BMW’s design department, Montblanc has now developed this unique fountain pen, which is limited to 100 pieces and handed to every owner of the new BMW Individual 7 Series THE NEXT 100 YEARS model.

The unmistakable Montblanc icon, the Montblanc Meisterstück, comes with BMW design elements of the new Individual series: The surface structure of the Meisterstück Skeleton Fountain Pen is reminiscent of the quilted seat surfaces in a woven look featured by the BMW 7 Series centennial model. 

The transparent elements of the fountain pen come in the BMW Individual colour Centennial Blue metallic also chosen as the automobile’s exterior colour. The rhodium-plated, Au750 gold Montblanc nib bears an engraving of the unique backstitching also found on the BMW Individual Merino leather seats.

In addition to the above, the BMW Individual Design Composition includes the BMW Head-Up Display, Surround-view, the Sky Lounge Panoramic glass sunroof, front and rear Active seat ventilation, the Heat Comfort package and the Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound system. 

Other standard features include Ambient Lighting, Welcome Light Carpet, the Executive Lounge, that provides the highest degree of individual well-being at the rear with a two-seat configuration for maximum comfort and Rear-seat entertainment Experience with BMW Touch Command features as standard on this model. 

The removable 7 inch tablet computer facilitates control of the infotainment and comfort functions available in the rear compartment of new BMW 7 Series and can also be used to play back external audio and video files, as a games console or to surf the Internet.

With a wealth of interior comfort and driving features, from new ConnectedDrive technology to the sumptuous Executive Lounge feature, the Individual BMW M760Li xDrive V12 THE NEXT 100 YEARS redefines luxury on the move.

Powertrain: The powerful and authoritative V12 with intelligent all-wheel drive.

This limited edition model is based on the M760Li xDrive V12 engine providing stunning performance with exemplary refinement. With TwinPower Turbo technology incorporated from the M760Li xDrive V12 model, this M Performance engine produces 610hp and 800Nm of torque. It’s harnessed by a highly sophisticated chassis specifically tailored to the model, with Integral Active Steering as standard, and deployed to the road via BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system with a rear-bias for more dynamic handling.

The 6,592cc M Performance TwinPower Turbo 12-cylinder engine develops an output of 610hp at 5,500rpm and generates its peak torque of 800Nm from as low down as 1,500rpm. 

This enables the car to accelerate from zero to 62mph in just 3.7 seconds and on to a governed top speed of 155mph. It now also links up with the Auto Start-Stop function, which is just one measure that contributes to an impressive official combined fuel consumption figure of 22.4mpg and CO₂ emissions of 294g/km. The 12-cylinder engine layout traditionally enjoys an exclusive status above all others, providing a superb blend of performance and driving dynamics that BMW is renowned for.

Model	Power Hp	Torque Nm	0 – 62mph Seconds	Top Speed Mph	Combined Mpg	CO2 Emissions g/km
760Li xDrive V12	610	800	3.7	155*	22.4	294

*All versions electronically-limited

BMW Individual M760Li xDrive V12 THE NEXT 100 Years is available to order now. Customers can register their interest at their local BMW Retailer.

Mercedes-AMG C 43 Saloon and Estate join recently announced C 43 Coupé.

• Mercedes-AMG C 43 Saloon and Estate join recently announced C 43 Coupé
• For the first time in the UK, the C-Class range is available with 4MATIC all-wheel-drive technology
• C 200, C 220 d and C 250 d all now available with 4MATIC
• On sale now, first orders due by September

The Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC is now available to order in Saloon and Estate guise, adding to the recently introduced Coupé model. Prices begin at £44,460 for the Saloon.For the first time in the UK, 4MATIC all-wheel drive is also now available across the range in the C 200 (Coupé only), C 220 d and C 250 d (Sport and AMG Line trims only). 

The Mercedes-AMG C 43 comes with a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine producing 367 hp. The C 43 Saloon and Coupé can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 4.7 seconds, while the Estate takes 4.9 seconds. All C 43 models come with a 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission – with shortened shift times – as standard.

Standard equipment on the C 43 includes: ARTICO leather and DINAMICA microfibre upholstery with red contrast stitching; 18-inch alloy wheels in black; black exterior mirror housings; and silver-painted brake calipers with ‘AMG’ lettering.

Specific options for the C43 include AMG Performance Seats (£1,405) and the AMG Performance Exhaust System (£1,000).

Mercedes-Benz’s 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system is now also available in other C-Class models. The new drivetrain offers even better traction and driving stability. The new 4MATIC models are priced at £1,500 over their rear-wheel-drive equivalents, meaning the C 220 d Sport 4MATIC Saloon starts at £36,025 and the C 220 d Sport 4MATIC Estate at £37,225.

Mercedes-Benz has also introduced a new model line to the C-Class family – the SE Executive Edition. Available on both the Saloon and Estate, it is priced at £1,295 more than the SE and includes 17-inch alloy wheels; Active Parking Assist including PARKTRONIC; chrome roof rails (Estate only); Garmin Map Pilot navigation system; heated front seats; and split folding rear seats in 40:20:40 formation.

Groupe Renault celebrates the 50,000th ZOE Zero Emissions car being produced at it's Flins Facility near Paris.

• Renault has produced its 50,000th all-electric ZOE
• Europe’s best-selling electric vehicle just three years after the launch
• Every three minutes, somewhere in the world, somebody purchases an electric vehicle

The 50,000^th Renault ZOE has rolled off the production line at its specialist plant at Flins. The milestone vehicle was sold to Sylvie, a French citizen from Saint Cloud, Paris. Guillaume Berthier, Electric Car Sales and Marketing Director, presented Sylvie  with the keys to her ZOE at the Flins plant near Paris, the only ZOE site for global distribution. 

It was Sylvie’s children who encouraged her to choose a ZOE and she intends to use it every day. With 50,000 people now proud owners of the ZOE, Renault has found that 98% of customers are satisfied with their 100% electric-in-use vehicle.

Since 2013, Renault has been the only carmaker to have a complete all-electric vehicle range with Twizy, ZOE and Kangoo Z.E. Since then, the EV market has grown rapidly, expanding by 48% worldwide in 2015. A total of 18,500 ZOE vehicles were sold last year for a market share of 20% in Europe and over 55% in France. In the UK, 4,058 ZOEs have been sold since launch, with sales up in 2015 by 102% compared to 2014.

Most recently, the ZOE was voted second best vehicle overall in the Auto Express Driver Power survey – one of the largest motoring consumer surveys in the UK, and has also been crowned What Car?’s ‘Best Electric Car under £20,000’ for three consecutive years.

Charging a ZOE couldn’t be easier thanks to the continuing rollout of new infrastructure. Today, more than 60,000 charge points are available to the public in Europe.

Groupe Renault see's increases in turnover, profits, sales and income, and there is so much more to come.

• Groupe Renault revenues came to €10,489 million in first quarter 2016. This 11.7% increase is mainly due to the recovery of the European market and the success of the vehicle range.
• In the first quarter of 2016, Groupe Renault reported a 7.3% increase in global registrations to 692,453 vehicles in a worldwide market which expanded by 1.5%.
• In Europe, the Group’s registrations rose by 8.9% in a market up 8.2%, mainly thanks to the success ofnew models (Espace, Kadjar and Talisman) and continuing strong sales of Clio IV and Captur.
• Outside Europe, despite downturns in the Russian, Brazilian and Algerian markets, the Group increased its registrations by 4.7%, largely thanks to a 36.1% increase in the Africa, Middle East and India Region.
• In view of the European market’s buoyant growth in the first quarter, the Group has raised its full-year forecast for this market to at least +5%, compared to +2% previously. However, the Brazilian market is now expected between - 15% and - 20%, compared to - 6% previously.
• The Group confirms its guidance for full-year 2016.

SALES RESULTS: FIRST-QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

In a global automotive market up 1.5%, Groupe Renault’s registrations rose by 7.3% to 692,453 units. The Group’s market share increased by 0.2 points to 3.1%.

The Group continued to benefit from the buoyant market in Europe. Registrations rose by 8.9% in a market up 8.2% while market share came to 9.8%. Sales under the Renault brand grew by 9.9% thanks to Clio IV (the second best-selling car in Europe) as well as Captur, Kadjar, Espace and Talisman. 

The full impact of the new Megane, which was released in the first quarter, is yet to be felt. Sales under the Dacia brand increased by 5.7%, mainly due to Sandero.

In France, the Group reported an 8.6% rise in registrations to 163,104 vehicles in the first quarter. Its market share held steady at 26.5%. The Group placed four vehicles in the Top 10 best-selling passenger cars, with the Clio IV coming in at number one. For the first time in five years, the Renault brand registered more than 100,000 passenger cars in the first three months. The Dacia brand saw its passenger car sales grow by 16.8%.

Outside Europe, the Group reported a 4.7% increase in sales, despite the ongoing slowdowns in Russia and Brazil. This was largely due to strong sales in the Africa, Middle East and India Region.

In the Africa, Middle East and India Region, the Group’s registrations grew by 36.1% with market share gaining 1.5 points to 4.6%.

In Iran, the market started to gradually re-open with Group sales up by nearly 600%. This was largely attributable to the success of Logan and Sandero. The Group’s market share increased by 3.6 points to 4.2%.

In India, the market grew 3.3% while Renault registrations rose almost 200% thanks to the success of Kwid. Since the launch of this car, the group booked 120,000 orders and registered nearly 23,000 sales since the beginning of the year.

In North Africa, sales fell by 25.5% on account of a 54.4% drop in the Algerian market, despite a gain in Renault’s market share. With the new regulations introduced in Algeria to restrict imports, the Renault brand posted a market share of 31.9%, up 16.1 points, due to the popular Symbol model produced locally.

In the Americas Region, the Group’s sales in Brazil declined in line with the market (-28.3%). In Argentina, the market rose by 1.6% while the Group reported a 3.3% increase in sales.

In Eurasia, the Group’s market share improved by 1.3 points to 11.9%. Growth in most countries in the region almost offset the downturn in the Russian market. In Russia, Renault increased its market share by 0.2 points to 7.3%. Renault continued with its product offensive, unveiling the Kaptur in March 2016. 

In Asia-Pacific, the first quarter saw the start of production of Renault Kadjar at the Wuhan plant in China. InSouth Korea, the Group’s leading market in the region, Renault Samsung Motors took 20,000 orders for the new SM6 sedan launched mid-March.

FIRST-QUARTER REVENUES BY OPERATING SECTOR

In the first quarter of 2016, the Group’s revenues came to €10,489 million, an 11.7% increase compared to the previous year (+16.3% increase at constant exchange rates).

Automotive revenues came to €9,942 million, up 12.6% thanks to an increase in invoices (+10.2 points) and sales to partners (+2.7 points). Product and geographic mix impacted positively by 2.8 points. Pricing had a positive impact of 2.7 points due mainly to price increases in emerging countries to offset currency declines, especially in Russia and South America. The euro’s gain against a number of currencies, including the Argentinean and Colombian peso, the Brazilian real and the Russian rouble, resulted in an unfavourable impact of 4.5 points.

Sales Financing (RCI Banque) reported revenues of €547 million, down 2.1% compared with the first quarter of 2015. However, the number of new financing contracts rose by 10.2%. Average performing assets increased by 12.8% to €31.1 billion.

OUTLOOK FOR 2016

The global automotive market is expected to continue to grow by +2% in 2016. The European market performed better than expected in the first quarter and is expected to increase by at least +5%, up from +2% forecast previously. However, the Brazilian market, is expected to decline further than anticipated   (-15% to -20%, instead of -6% previously).

Within this context, the Renault Group (at constant scope of consolidation) is aiming to:

• Increase Group revenues (at constant exchange rates).
• Improve Group operating margin.
• Generate positive Automotive operational free cash flow.

Groupe Renault consolidated revenues

(in € million)	2016	2015	Change 2016/2015
1st Quarter
Automotive	9,942	8,829	+12.6 %
Sales Financing	547	559	-2.1 %
Total	10,489	9,388	+11.7 %