BMW i3 Electrifies UK

Having only gone on sale in November, the BMW i3 is attracting even more attention as its awards haul continues to grow.

BMW UK was awarded the gong for Innovation in Car and Van Manufacturing at the 2013 Energy Saving Trust Fleet Hero Awards 2013 for the design and productions of the BMW i3. Commended for achieving a step-change in electric vehicle design, as well as the innovative production methods that have helped reduce emissions from the manufacturing process, the BMW i3 has revolutionised the electric car market.

The Fleet Hero Awards identify public and private sector organisations that are successfully reducing fuel bills and cutting carbon emissions through better transport policies and improved fleet efficiency. The Energy Saving Trust also recognises businesses that supply cost and fuel saving products or services to fleets.

Following its success at the Fleet Hero Awards, the BMW i3 was named winner of the Supermini category at the Next Green Car awards 2013.  It was noted that the BMW i3 has changed what is expected from urban electric cars with its impressive driving performance and quality, while maximising its connectivity to enhance the ownership experience.

BMW 3 Series takes the triple
BMW produces the most reliable company car in the UK, the BMW 3 Series, according to a survey of the 50 largest contract hire and leasing companies. BMW dominated the top 10 most reliable cars with the 5 Series and 1 Series joining the 3 Series being named sixth and seventh most reliable cars respectively.

Companies in the FN50 are surveyed each year and ranked according to fleet size and asked to name their most reliable vehicles. Those responding to the car reliability survey have combined fleet sizes numbering more than 585,000, while those providing information for the car manufacturer element have a total car park of more than 484,000.

Proving its reliability, the BMW 3 Series was also lauded with the title Used Car of the Year at the Car Dealer Used Car Awards 2013 and Executive and Luxury Used Car of the Year at the What Car? Used Car awards 2013.

Chas Hallett, What Car? editor in chief, commented: “The BMW 320d SE wins the Executive and Luxury used car category as it outshines many more expensive cars in virtually every element with its remarkable blend of refinement, cabin quality, comfort and running costs.  It really does set a benchmark for how a compact executive car should handle.”

BMW M Laptimer app
The BMW M Laptimer is now available to download from the Apple app store.  Developed by BMW M GmbH for performance-minded drivers, the BMW M Laptimer offers easy access to new dimensions in race-track telemetry analysis.

By connecting an iPhone to a BMW using the USB port or snap-in adapter data can be shared directly from the car’s sensors with the iPhone.  As well as logging acceleration, braking points, lap times and G-force, it also allows customers to compare their data with other drivers and share these personal accomplishments via social media.

Focus on technology: rara online entertainment
Music streaming service rara and BMW will bring Europe’s first in-car on-demand music streaming service to virtually all new BMW models. Available through BMW ConnectedDrive’s Online Entertainment service, rara is now available across the BMW range.

As the latest addition to the BMW ConnectedDrive portfolio, rara lets users play all their favourite music from a rapidly expanding library of more than 22 million songs or sit back and enjoy hundreds of music channels curated by rara’s music experts.  Music streams directly through an embedded SIM card, in the head unit, and is automatically saved onto the in-car hard drive making it the first in-car music streaming service in Europe that isn’t powered by a smartphone or dongle.

Drivers streaming music to their car with rara can also access their music on any connected device; on their smartphone, computer and tablet through rara’s apps for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android and Windows 8 devices as well as on the rara.com web streaming service.

As BMW’s first music service partner for Online Entertainment, rara was initially introduced in the BMW 5 Series earlier this summer. It is available as a £325* option and provides unlimited access to millions of songs, even when you drive into another country – with unlimited data roaming for music across UK, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Spain.

*Valid for a one-year period, with optional renewal thereafter, rara with BMW Online Entertainment is currently available to purchase at BMW dealerships in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands.