Forty new BMW models in the next two years
In my 30-year history with the BMW Group, I have never been part of a product offensive more exciting than the one about to be rolled out in Canada over the next two years.
Without question, our industry is innovating faster than ever. No matter where I travel around the world, the conversation undoubtedly lands on the future of mobility and electric cars. It’s fantastic to know customers are willing to invest in and wait for an electric future to arrive. At the BMW Group, however, customers need not wait for a plug-in vehicle.
With seven plug-in models available for sale today in Canada, the BMW Group has the largest and most-diverse premium electric vehicle fleet on the road today. From the flagship BMW 740Le plug-in luxury sedan to the brand-new and first-ever Mini Countryman S E All4 plug-in hybrid, BMW Group customers have a significant level of choice today. As others bring their first plug-in products to market, we continue to expand on our experience and bring more plug-in cars to Canada each year. A fullyelectric Mini and a fully-electric BMW X3 are on their way. One of my personal favourites is the BMW i8 Roadster coming to Canada next year.
Customers with more conventional interests will have more emotionally charged products to choose from than ever before. Our product strategy is specifically well suited for Canadians with the introduction of three brand-new sport activity vehicles.
At the top of the luxury sport activity lineup is the highly-touted BMW Concept X7. With three full rows of seating, the BMW X7 will be our first no-compromise sevenseater. In addition to what Canadians have come to expect from our SAVs, such as the most advanced all-wheel-drive system available on the market, the X7 will boast an ultra-premium level of trim rivalling the most luxurious vehicles on the market.
For those interested in a more dynamic package to conquer the urban jungle, the aggressively styled BMW X2 Sports Activity Coupe is the perfect choice. When you experience the vehicle firsthand, it delivers an immediate impression of extravagant, contemporary design and sporty flair. The BMW X2 will be a perfect fit for young, extroverted and active individuals heading to Tremblant or Squamish for the weekend.
The completely redesigned BMW X3 will arrive at retailers in November. Building on two generations of success in Canada, the all-new BMW X3 will elevate the bold and dynamic design language of its predecessor. As you would expect, the new X3 will deliver even more performance with a best-in-segment acceleration of zero to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds. When it comes to technology, the new X3 — as with all cars discussed here — will come with Level 2 autonomous driving features. This allows the driver to engage an autonomous driving system while remaining present and ready to take over control of the vehicle if required for obvious safety reasons.
A new design language revealed
— Last month, our designers gave us a closer look at the design of things to come — and it is simply striking. Unadulterated dynamics and modern luxury — the essence of a BMW coupe.
The BMW 8 Series Coupe will bring together razor-sharp dynamics, modern luxury, and set new benchmarks in the luxury coupe segment. And I can confirm an M8 is also planned. This will be the icing on the cake of the sporty BMW 8 Series lineup.
Freedom on four wheels: the
BMW Concept Z4 — This attention-grabbing design study offers a look ahead to the series-production version of the car set to be unveiled over the course of next year. Adrian van Hooydonk, our senior vice-president of BMW Group Design, commented: “Stripping the car back to the bare essentials allows the driver to experience all the ingredients of motoring pleasure with supreme directness. This is total freedom on four wheels.”
The Z4 Concept is a worthy next step in our long tradition of producing world-class roadsters.
And lastly, a big something for the traditional BMW enthusiast: the new BMW M5.
The next generation BMW M5 takes BMW M GmbH into new territory, with the first-ever M xDrive all-wheel-drive system. This sees the M5 exploring new dynamic dimensions and offering greater everyday practicality in all driving conditions, which is perfect for us in Canada.
The engineering achievement lies in the M xDrive central intelligence unit and central transfer case. This ingenious system only brings the front wheels into play when the rear wheels aren’t able to transmit any more power to the road.
What does it mean for you? The revolutionary M xDrive system allows the driver to select 2WD or 4WD modes for supreme traction in all weather conditions. And yes, we can expect the new M5 to be the fastest BMW of all time.
With such a diverse and expanding portfolio of products, I’m thankful our retail network has invested across the country to expand their showrooms, increase their service capacity and hire the best staff to deliver the ultimate customer experience.
On behalf of the BMW Canada associates and our retailer network, I wish you a successful finish to 2017. We look forward to sharing more exciting product news with you in 2018.