Η BMW επιβεβαίωσε και επίσημα, ότι θα βγάλει στη παραγωγή της X4 η οποία θα κατασκευάζεται στο εργοστάσιο της στη πόλη Spartanburg της Νότιας Καρολίνας. Η BMW θα επενδύσει 705 εκατ. ευρώ για να αναβαθμίσει το εργοστάσιο, ώστε αυτό να μπορεί να κατασκευάζει το νέο μοντέλο το οποίο θα βγει στην αγορά το 2014.
Το αυτοκίνητο θα βασίζεται πάνω στην πλατφόρμα της X3 με στιλιστικές επιρροές από την Χ6 και θα τεθεί αντιμέτωπο με τα Porsche Cajun και Range Rover Evoque. Θα έχει μήκος 4.65 μέτρα και μηχανικά θα διαθέτει μια γκάμα 6 τετρακύλινδρων και εξακύλινδρων κινητήρων βενζίνης και πετρελαίου, παρόμοιων με αυτούς της νέας X3, με την κίνηση να μεταφέρεται σε όλους τους τροχούς μέσω 3 κιβωτίων (6τάχυτο μηχανικό, 7τάχυτο αυτόματο διπλού συμπλέκτη αλλά και με το νέο 8-τάχυτο Steptronic). Φυσικά θα υπάρξει και Μ έκδοση η οποία θα διαθέτει twin turbo κινητήρα.
Επίσης η BMW ανακοίνωσε και τις ειδικές εκδόσεις Exclusive & Sport για την BMW 1-Series Coupe και Cabrio. H έκδοση Sport είναι για την coupe Σειρά 1 και φορά το bodykit του τμήματος M, μαύρη γυαλιστερή γρίλια και είναι βαμμένη σε “Carbon Μεταλλικό Μαύρο” χρώμα. Φορά σπορ αναρτήση, σκουρόχρωμα πίσω φωτιστικά σώματα και 17″ ή 18″ ζάντες αλουμινίου. Στο εσωτερικό τοποθετήθηκε το τιμόνι της Μ, ανοξείδωτα πεντάλ, νέα πατάκια, μπλε ραφές και αλουμινένια διακοσμητικά.
Η έκδοση Exclusive είναι για την Cabrio Σειρά 1, είναι βαμμένη σε γκρι μεταλλικό χρώμα (υπάρχουν διαθέσιμα επίσης 5 χρώματα), χρωμιομένη γρίλια, ασημένιους καθρέπτες ενώ στο εσωτερικό έχουνε τοποθετηθεί “Boston” δερμάτινα καθίσματα, σπορ τιμόνι, μαρσπιέ και διακοσμητικά από βουρτσισμένο αλουμίνιο, ενώ υπάρχουν και ξύλινα “Fineline Anthracite” διακοσμητικά.
[Πηγή: BMW]
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BMW Announces Nearly $900 Million Investment, Adding 300 jobs at its South Carolina Plant in 2012
Celebrates 2,000,000 vehicles produced in U.S.
Spartanburg, S.C. – January 12, 2012… BMW announced today that the company will invest nearly $900 Million USD and add 300 new jobs in 2012 in its South Carolina plant. This announcement was made during a ceremony to commemorate a major production milestone – 2,000,000 vehicles have rolled off the assembly line since the company began U.S. production in 1994.
Frank-Peter Arndt, BMW Group Board Member responsible for Production, revealed the company’s intention to expand its X-model family. He revealed that production of the new BMW X4 will occur at the Spartanburg plant, spurring significant investment and job creation necessary to prepare the facility for the new model.
“I am delighted to announce today, over the next three years, we plan to invest nearly $900 Million U.S. dollars. With this investment, we will be able to produce 350,000 units here in the mid-term,” said Arndt. “This is one reaction to the rising global demand for our BMW X Models.”
Governor Nikki Haley spoke at the ceremony saying, “BMW has once again provided tremendous evidence that South Carolina is a blueprint for significant economic development success. The partnership between this company and our State is an enduring example of how to attract, retain and grow business to stimulate perpetual job creation.”
“Two million vehicles have prepared our team well to meet the new opportunities that lie ahead for our plant. We look forward to a new model with great anticipation. For nearly 20 years, this team has always proven their steadfast commitment to producing quality vehicles for our customers around the world,” remarked Josef Kerscher, President of BMW Manufacturing.
“I am thrilled to celebrate the two millionth BMW today,” said Bobby Hitt, Secretary of Commerce for South Carolina. “BMW’s impact on South Carolina’s economy and overall competitiveness is always worth celebrating. This new economic investment and commitment of jobs is a testament to South Carolina’s strong automotive manufacturing industry.”
With the addition of 300 new jobs this year the plant will raise production capacities up to 300,000 units. By the end of the year, the plant will employ nearly 7,500 people at its more than 4.0 million square foot facility. Since the original 1992 decision to build BMW’s only U.S. plant in South Carolina, today’s announcement brings BMW Group’s total investment in the state to nearly $6 Billion U.S. dollars and represents its largest, single investment to date in its South Carolina plant.
In 2011, the plant produced 276,065 vehicles for over 130 markets around the world representing a 73% increase versus 2010. Seventy percent of the vehicles produced (192,813) were exported making BMW the largest automotive exporter to the non-NAFTA countries. Sales of the vehicles produced at the plant have met with continued high demand. According to Arndt, throughout the world, more that 117,000 X3’s were sold in 2011 representing a 156% growth of this vehicle versus its predecessor.
The 2 millionth vehicle to roll off the line in Spartanburg was a Vermillion Red Metallic X3 xDrive35i driven by BMW Associate Terry Gardner, a 16-year BMW veteran. The vehicle featured Oyster Nevada interior and an M Sport Package. Accompanying the driver, were associates: Renita Williams, Trung Phan and Olga Yurchenko. These associates represent teams from each of the plant’s manufacturing technologies: Body, Paint and Assembly.
While all vehicles are custom ordered prior to production, this symbolic vehicle will remain on display at the Spartanburg Plant to commemorate the milestone.
Also making remarks at the milestone event were German Ambassador to the United States Peter Ammon, United States Congressman Trey Gowdy and Spartanburg County Council Chairman Jeffrey Horton.
Since 1994, the plant has undergone four major expansions and produced 6 different BMW models and their variants (318i, Z3, Z4, X5, X6, X3). Employment has grown from 500 in 1994 to more than 7,000 today.
BMW Group expands U.S. plant in South Carolina<
- Company to invest a further USD 900 million
- Around 300 new jobs for Spartanburg
- Two-millionth vehicle rolls off the assembly line
- Arndt announces X-model family expansion with BMW X4
Spartanburg/Munich. The BMW Group is expanding capacity at its U.S. plant in Spartanburg. “We plan to invest over the next three years nearly USD 900 million in the Spartanburg plant by 2014. This will create 300 new jobs by the end of this year. This will allow us to produce 350,000 units in Spartanburg in the mid term,” says Frank-Peter Arndt, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Production, in Spartanburg on Thursday. The BMW Group already invested USD 750 million in the expansion of the plant for production of the new BMW X3 between 2008 and 2010.
“This is in response to rising global demand for our BMW X models and the expansion of the BMW X family to include the BMW X4,” Arndt explains at a ceremony to celebrate production of the two-millionth vehicle at the BMW plant in South Carolina since 1994. The move will bring the BMW Group’s total investment in South Carolina to nearly USD six billion.
The Governor of the State of South Carolina, Nikki Haley, speaks at the ceremony, saying: “BMW has once again provided tremendous evidence that South Carolina is a blueprint for significant economic development success. The partnership between this company and our State is an enduring example of how to attract, retain and grow business to stimulate perpetual job creation.”
Production in Spartanburg reached new high in 2011
Last year, the BMW plant in Spartanburg produced 276,065 vehicles for more than 130 markets around the world, representing an increase of 73% over the previous year. The BMW X3 also played a major role in this positive development. Global sales of this highly-successful model rose 156% in 2011 to reach a total of 117,944 vehicles.
More than 70% of the vehicles produced in Spartanburg (192,813) were exported, making the BMW Group the largest automotive exporter to the non-NAFTA countries.
Four expansions already at U.S. plant
Since it opened in 1994, the BMW plant in Spartanburg has already undergone four expansions and produced six different BMW models (318i, Z3, Z4, X5, X6, X3) and their variants. Employment has grown from 500 initially to more than 7,000 today.
Clean production
BMW’s Spartanburg plant is state-of-the-art in terms of environmental protection. Advanced production processes have made vehicle production even more environmentally-compatible: Over the past five years, it was possible to lower energy consumption by 48%, halve water consumption, reduce CO2 emissions by 44% and waste by 65% by car. In 2010, for example, the Spartanburg plant generated almost 62 million kilowatt hours of electricity from a methane gas energy centre located on the grounds of the facility and supplied by a local landfill. This accounts for over 37% of the entire plant’s total electrical demand.
USA largest market for BMW Group in 2011
The BMW Group is the leading manufacturer of premium automobiles in the U.S., the world’s largest market for premium automobiles. Last year, the BMW Group increased sales of its BMW and MINI brand vehicles in the U.S. by almost 15% to reach a total of 305,418 vehicles. The American market was therefore the largest market for the BMW Group in 2011.
BMW model year update measures for March 2012
New edition models for the BMW 1 Series Coupé and BMW 1 Series Convertible, as well as new engines and an M Sports package for the new BMW 1 Series five-door model.
Agile handling properties, exclusive fittings and a powerful, distinctive design have made the BMW 1 Series the epitome of driving pleasure in the premium compact segment. These qualities are now spotlighted even more with new special editions of the sporty, elegant two-door BMW 1 Series Coupé and BMW 1 Series Convertible. The high-quality options have been carefully harmonised, with appealing touches added to both body design and the interior. In addition to exclusive exterior paint finishes and light alloy wheels, there are also special upholstery covers with matching interior strips which give the edition models a flair that is both exclusive and individual. The BMW M Sports package for the new BMW 1 Series further enhances the dynamic driving properties of this compact five-door model as well as translating them into a striking look.
Edition Exclusive for BMW 1 Series Coupé and BMW 1 Series Convertible.
The Edition Exclusive is an especially stylish version of the BMW 1 Series Coupé and the BMW 1 Series Convertible. Here the vehicle’s appearance is enhanced by means of window cavity covers and side frame strips in Chrome Line or the optional BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line. Another eye-catching feature is the range of light alloy wheels available in 16, 17 and 18-inch format (depending on engine type). The customer can opt for the exclusive body finish in Mineral Grey metallic or else one of five finishes drawn from the standard portfolio. A further dash of colour is provided by the exterior mirrors in Oxide Silver matt finish. Exhaust covers and longitudinal kidney grille bars in chrome (for all engine types) complete the package of body features.
Boston leather trim characterises the interior of the Edition Exclusive. The seats are finished either in Pearl Grey with grey contrast stitching or in black with white contrast stitching. The refined ambience is supplemented with door sill cover strips featuring BMW Edition lettering, interior strips in aluminium accentuation polish or in the optional fine wood finish Fineline Anthracite, an anthracite-coloured BMW Individual roof liner for the 1 Series Coupé and floor mats with welt in matching colour. The Edition Exclusive is rounded off with a new sports steering wheel featuring attractive chrome trim including multifunction and a handbrake handle with decor trim element in chrome.
BMW 1 Series Coupé and BMW 1 Series Convertible in the Edition Sport.
The Edition Sport further boosts the athletic potential of the BMW 1 Series Coupé and the BMW 1 Series Convertible. In addition to the M Sports chassis, the equipment features for both interior and exterior help further intensify the dynamic driving experience. The athletic ambitions of vehicles featuring the M aerodynamic package are also given visual emphasis with the exclusive paint finish Carbon Black metallic as well as 17 and 18-inch M light alloy wheels in double spoke design. The exclusive appearance is also supported by window cavity covers in BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line (or alternatively Chrome Line Exterior) and exterior mirrors finished in black. A dash of sporty flair is also added by the longitudinal kidney grille bars in high-gloss black, rear lights in Blackline Design and chrome exhaust covers.
On the inside, sports seats, the M leather steering wheel (including multifunction), stainless steel pedals and the M footrest in aluminium reflect the exclusivity of the edition model. The M gearshift lever and handbrake handle including gaiter are finished in embossed soft nappa leather. The equipment features of the Edition Sport are rounded off with seat covers and door trim in the fabric/Sensatec combination Flashpoint Black (alternative: optional Boston leather trim in black) with contrast stitching in blue, interior strips in aluminium glacier silver and matching floor mats with blue welt.
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