January News in Brief 22-01-2010
BMW X5 named luxury used car of the
decade
The BMW X5 has been named by CAP as the luxury used car
of the decade. The residual value and whole life costs experts
praised the X5 for setting a new benchmark and taking the 4x4 from the
field and putting it on the motorway, but most of all making it feel
like it has always belonged there. It was the effortless
usability, faultless build quality and strong influence on the
marketplace that wooed the judges.
Mike Hind, CAP Communications Manager, said: “For the used car
buyer who does need a workhorse, with towing power and room for the
whole family’s holiday load, the 2000 – 2006 BMW X5
provides it. But it also offers the opportunity to leave the
green wellingtons and the horse box at home and enjoy driving as a
pleasure in itself.”
Since its inception in 2000 the BMW X5 has been a popular choice with
British car buyers, selling 64,063 since its launch. The first
model to feature BMW’s acclaimed xDrive four-wheel-drive system,
the X5 has inspired other BMWs as well as created a new class of
vehicle that has since been emulated by many other manufacturers.
New Service Inclusive prices on all BMWs
BMW’s Service Inclusive package now makes even more financial
sense following a revision to the pricing. Now starting from
just £250 the BMW Service Inclusive package lasts for five
years/60,000 miles and covers the cost of all labour and parts for
routine servicing* for added peace of mind. Should the vehicle be
sold, the subsequent time left is fully transferable to the next
owner, enhancing the resale value of the car.
The new prices for BMW’s Service Inclusive packages are as follows:
BMW model
Service Inclusive prices
1 Series, X1
£250
3 Series, X3, Z4
£300
5 Series, 5 Series GT, X5, X6
£350
6 Series, 7 Series
Standard
M cars
£1000
*Cover includes: brake fluid, air filters, micro filters, fuel
filters (diesel models only), spark plugs, oil filters and engine oil.
BMW X1 gets five-star star Euro NCAP rating
The new BMW X1 has been awarded the maximum 5-star safety rating in
the latest Euro NCAP crash test results. The X1’s safety
ratings – with scores of 87 per cent for adult occupant
protection, 86 per cent for child protection, 71 per cent for safety
assist equipment and 63 per cent for pedestrian protection –
place it as one of the safest cars in its class. It obtained by far
the highest pedestrian safety rating, of the 12 cars recently tested.
All BMW X1s come as standard with a comprehensive safety package
developed specifically for X models. It comprises many different
elements including front, side and curtain airbags, front and rear
anti-roll bars, deformation zones with door reinforcements and Dynamic
Stability Control as well ISOFIX points for installing
children’s seats at the rear. The restraints are
controlled centrally and are triggered electronically to provide the
most effective protection, taking into account the type and intensity
of the impact.
The entire safety package impressed the Euro NCAP testers and led
them to conclude that the X1 has an extremely stable passenger cell,
offering excellent protection for adults and children alike. The
exterior design and material quality significantly reduce the risk of
head injury to passengers and cyclists, leading to the appointment of
the five-star Euro NCAP rating.
The BMW and MINI Business Partnership programme
A new programme developed specifically for businesses running 50
company cars or less has been launched by BMW Group UK. The BMW and
MINI Business Partnerships is a scheme aimed at taking the hassle away
from company car ownership while offering tangible benefits to be part
of the partnership.
Members benefit from preferential BMW and MINI Contract Hire
rates, free specification upgrades and the support of a dedicated
Business Manager to offer guidance on the latest motoring and tax
regulations. For example, the Business Manager can manage vehicle
servicing, organise extended test drives and help with issues such as
capital allowances, driver benefit in kind taxes and Duty of Care legislation.
Membership also brings the added benefit of invitations to
exclusive previews of new BMW models ahead of the public launch and
access to the Business Partnership website where valuable information
on fleet management is held along with the latest product offers.
Small to medium businesses wishing to sign up for the scheme should
contact their local dealer for further information. Participation in
this scheme is free. Further information on BMW’s
EfficientDynamics technologies and why this makes the marque
class-leading can be gleaned from http://www.bmw.co.uk/efficientdynamics - www.bmw.co.uk/efficientdynamics
BMW Group scoops Greenest Manufacturer of the Year
award The BMW Group has been named Greenest Manufacturer
of the Year 2009 by one of the UK’s leading eco-motoring
websites. The highly respected Green-Car-Guide.com recognises the
manufacturer who has made the biggest impact in bringing lower
emission cars to British car buyers each year. For 2009 BMW Group was
awarded the coveted title for the second time in three years.
The judges were impressed by BMW Group’s fuel-saving and
emissions-reducing EfficientDynamics technologies which have been
applied to its entire range as standard compared to rivals who only
offer ad hoc ‘green’ models. BMW and MINI products were
also praised for not compromising styling or driving enjoyment to
achieve their outstanding fuel efficiency and emissions figures
– something rivals can’t equal.
Paul Clarke, Founder and Managing Editor of Green-Car-Guide.com,
said: “The focus of our award is on best-in-class low emission
cars that should also be great to drive and the BMW Group offers an
ideal range of vehicles to meet the criteria. It is a worthy winner as
it has also achieved all of this without demanding a surcharge of its
customers for the measures.”
Stephen Chater, Corporate Sales Manager, said: “85 per cent of
the energy used in a car’s lifetime is in the fuel it consumes
so BMW Group’s class-leading advances in overall engine
performance are of huge benefit to owners. We won a plethora of green
awards in 2009 and hope to continue this trend with the launch this
year of innovative products such as the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics
Saloon with its 109g/km CO2 emissions and 68.9mpg combined consumption figures.”
The BMW Group has a strong company-wide ethos of sustainability. The
Dow Jones Sustainability Index has named BMW Group the “most
sustainable car company in the world” in 2009 for the fifth year
in a row. BMW and MINI have also been involved in other initiatives
such as partnering with the Energy Saving Trust to provide a fleet of
cars to support its Smarter Driving programme.
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