BMW adds 15 new models

Prestige German car maker BMW has a bold new plan to improve the efficiency of its volume sellers.

Starting in November, BMW Australia will begin selling a range of ultra-efficient 1 Series models, spanning hatch, coupe and convertible body styles, while in January 2010 it will deliver new 3 Series models, all of which will take advantage of its EfficientDynamics technologies.

With more than a dozen new models coming to Australia over the next six months, BMW will reinforce its position as one of the greenest prestige brands.

The new 1 Series models -- 10 models in total -- will begin arriving from November and will include the 118d Sports Hatch for $42,170, which uses a claimed average of just 4.5L/100km, while delivering a low CO2 rating 119g/km.

Meanwhile the 3 Series will also get the EfficientDynamics treatment as five new models arrive early in the new year, including the 320d Executive Touring. This wagon is priced at $61,500 and uses a claimed fuel average of 5.6L/100km while expelling CO2 of 146g/km.

For the full line-up and pricing of the new 1 Series and 3 Series ranges, see below. Once the new range of low emission vehicles have been introduced to Australia, BMW will have some 23 vehicles that have a fuel consumption figure of under 7.0L/100km which, importantly, means they avoid a large chunk of the luxury car tax, or LCT.

But as BMW Australia's managing director Stavros Yallouridis explained, it's not just about coming in under the LCT threshold.

"In reality, it's not about how many vehicles we can offer below the 7-litre mark, but giving customers the opportunity to enjoy efficient motoring without sacrificing performance in whatever segment they are interested in."

The German marque has gone to great lengths to demonstrate that just because its fleet is greener than the rest, it hasn't lost its edge and still delivers on its three-decade old catchcry of 'The Ultimate Driving Machine'.

To prove this point, we embarked upon an efficiency test but instead of going to the dragstrip to see how fast BMW's most efficient car is, BMW set up an eco challenge. Stay tuned for the full report on the BMW EfficientDynamics Challenge 2009.

At the time of writing, BMW has one of the most efficient fleets in the world, claiming to be the greenest mainstream prestige car maker.

With an average CO2 output of 160 grams of CO2 per kilometre across it range, BMWs closest rival is Audi with 176g/km. Mercedes and Lexus have an average of 188g/km and 207g/km respectively across their fleets.

Building on its fuel reducing EfficientDynamics push, which revolves around the adoption of numerous fuel saving technologies like low friction tyres, stop-start technology and brake energy regeneration, BMW's entire Frankfurt motor show exhibit will be based around the EfficientDynamics brand, with the centrepiece being  a new hybrid concept car.

1 Series models (arriving November '09)
- 118d Sports Hatch $42,170*
- 118d Sports Hatch $44,370* (auto)
- 123d Sports Hatch $50,790*
- 123d Sports Hatch $53,070* (auto)
- 123d Coupe $57,900*
- 123d Coupe $60,180* (auto)
- 118d Convertible $52,900*
- 118d Convertible $55,019* (auto)
- 123d Convertible $67,200*
- 123d Convertible $69,480* (auto)

3 Series models (arriving January '10)
- 320d Executive Touring $61,500*
- 320d Coupe $67,500*
- 320d Convertible $80,400*
- 330d Coupe $91,900*
- 330d Convertible $104,850*

* Manufacturer List Price (MLP) excludes dealer and statutory charges.

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