BMW 2010 Annual Report Download - page 39

37 GROUP MANAGEMENT REPORT
Research for the future continued
In 2010 we presented a fuel-cell-powered hybrid vehicle
to the public for the first time. Based on the BMW1 Se-
ries, this research vehicle is fitted with an innovative form
of hybrid technology which uses hydrogen as a source
ofenergy. In addition to a four-cylinder petrol engine, the
prototype is also equipped with an electric drive system
for city use. The vehicle is highly effective in city traffic
due to the use of a comparatively small fuel cell that gen-
erates electricity from hydrogen. The combustion engine
is only used for driving at higher speeds. This combina-
tion could in future provide an emissions-free range of
several hundred kilometres in city traffic and recharging
within a few minutes.
The Emergency Stop Assistant developed as part of our
research projects considerably raises the level of road
safety. If the system detects an emergency situation re-
lated to the driver’s health, it switches to an autonomous
driving mode and then proceeds to carry out a safe emer-
gency stop manoeuvre. The basis for the precise, safe
execution of the manoeuvre is not only the localisation
of the vehicle within its own driving lane but also the re-
liable and complete recognition of all vehicles in the im-
mediate vicinity.
The prototype of a multifunctional car key has been
de-
veloped as a way of networking mobility with the driver’s
environment. The so-called BMW Key is fitted with a
security chip capable of providing such amenities as
cashless shopping or the booking of a hotel room. Fur-
thermore, the BMW key with its integrated credit card
function will enable the driver to purchase electronic
tickets for buses and trains as well as book flight tickets
straight from the car and store them on the key.
Numerous awards for the BMW Group
The Rolls-Royce Ghost, BMW 5 Series Sedan, BMWX1,
BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, BMW F 800 R and BMW
S1000RR as well as five innovative developments by
BMW Group DesignworksUSA received red dot awards
for outstanding product design. The new Rolls-Royce
Ghost received the special prize “red dot: best of the best”
for the highest quality design. The new BMW 5 Series
Sedan was additionally awarded the silver design prize of
the Federal Republic of Germany by the German Design
Council.
The BMW Group was also highly successful at the “Inter-
national Engine of the Year Award” in 2010: the Group
dominated the competition by winning first prize in four
out of a total of eight cubic capacity classes. The successful
engines were the V8 engine of the BMW M3, the in-line
six-cylinder petrol engine featuring BMW TwinPower
Turbo direct fuel injection and VALVETRONIC used in
the BMW 1 Series, 3 Series and 5 Series, the four-cylinder
diesel featuring the BMW TwinPower Turbo that powers
the BMW X1 xDrive23d and the BMW 123d and the four-
cylinder twin-scroll turbo engine of the MINI Cooper S.
In the ADAC EcoTest the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics
Edition achieved the highest possible evaluation of five
stars and thus the best ever recorded result achieved by a
conventionally powered vehicle. With 92 out of a possi-
ble 100 points, the four-door sedan has proven to be the
most economical diesel-powered vehicle in the medium
class. In the same test, the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics
Edition achieved fuel economy of 4.4 litres per 100 kilo-
metres driven and CO2 emissions of a mere 116 grams
per kilometre.
The safety testing institute Euro NCAP (European New
Car Assessment Programme) presented the BMW Group
with a special award for the BMW Assist Advanced eCall
extended emergency call that features automatic location
pinpointing and an injury risk forecast. The Euro NCAP
Advanced Award, which was presented for the first time,
honours groundbreaking technologies in the fields of
vehicle safety and passenger protection over and above
the requirements of crash tests recognised throughout
Europe.