Frankfurt 2009: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is intended to redress the awkwardness – and low volumes – of the McLaren Mercedes SLR. Based on a first look at it, the supercoupe's chances are very good. That door handle is down by one's shins, but overcome that low hurdle and the reward is a cozy trip to the Sixties with millennial ergonomics.

For all that bonnet, the 6.3-liter 571 horsepower engine is shoved way, way back, good for a 47/53 weight distribution. It'll do the business to 62 mph in 3.8 seconds, and has a good chance of making you feel like quite the champ while doing it. Speaking of looking good, the carbon rotors and yellow calipers promise to look awesome at a standstill and on the trot. And with the updated interior, you won't have to drive with the doors up to stay cool in this gullwing, unlike the Sixties original.

PRESS RELEASE:

The new gull-wing model from Mercedes-Benz

Automotive fascination and high tech of the highest order - these are the characteristics embodied by the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. The super sports car boasts a purist design, consistent lightweight design, superior driving dynamics and exemplary safety.

The new super sports car from Mercedes-Benz and AMG dazzles with its unparalleled technology package: an aluminium space-frame bodyshell with gull-wing doors; an AMG 6.3-litre, front-mid V8 engine with 420 kW/571 hp peak output, 650 Nm of torque, and dry sump lubrication; seven-speed dual-clutch transmission in a transaxle configuration; and sports suspension with aluminium double-wishbones. It's a unique combination that guarantees supreme driving dynamics. The car's ideal weight distribution between the front and rear axles (47 to 53 percent respectively), its low centre of gravity and DIN kerb weight of 1,620 kilograms emphasize the outstanding sports car concept. The gull-wing model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and has a top speed of 317 km/h (electronically limited). The fuel consumption of 13.2 litres per 100 kilometres (combined) is best-in-class (all values provisional).

Design: Purist, distinctive, and passionate
The purist design of the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG dazzles with its passionate sportiness and reinterprets the breathtaking design of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. The stylistic highlight is without a doubt the gull-wing doors, which impart the SLS AMG with incomparable charisma. The long bonnet, the low greenhouse positioned far back, and the short rear with the extendable rear spoiler symbolise dynamics, as do the long wheelbase, the wide track, and the large wheels. It is not just the gull-wing doors that awaken reminiscences of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. The wide radiator grille with the large Mercedes star, the wing-like cross fin on the bonnet and the vehicle flanks are also reminiscent of the legendary sports car.

Aviation engineering provided the inspiration to the Mercedes-Benz designers for the interior. The characteristic styling feature is the dashboard, whose powerful and dramatic wing-shape makes for an impression of width. The four prominent dashboard air vents with their adjustable, cruciform nozzles are reminiscent of a jet's engines. The elongated centre console made of solid matt metal also takes up the plane cockpit theme. Among other things, the centre console incorporates the AMG DRIVE UNIT, which enables SLS owners to customise their vehicle set-up. The AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission is operated by means of the E-SELECT lever, which resembles a jet's thrust control. Despite the low seating position typical of a sports car, the wide opening gull-wing doors ensure easy entry and exit. The gull-wing doors require less room to open than do conventional coupe doors and can be completely opened in standard sized garages.

Aluminium space frame for light weight and highest strength
The SLS is taking a new approach in its body concept. For the first time ever, Mercedes-Benz and AMG are presenting an automobile, whose chassis and body are made of aluminium. This leads to significant weight savings compared to the traditional steel construction, as shown by the car's DIN kerb weight of only 1,620 kilograms. The newly developed aluminium space-frame bodyshell combines intelligent, lightweight design with high strength - and thus benefits the excellent handling dynamics. The aluminium space frame is 45 per cent aluminium profiles, 31 per cent aluminium panelling, 20 per cent cast aluminium and four per cent steel. The use of ultra high-tensile, hot-rolled steel in the
A-pillars provides a further increase in occupant safety. The shell weighs 241 kilograms - an absolute peak value in the super sports car segment. The highest possible degree of passive safety is guaranteed for the occupants by the vehicle's standard equipment, which includes three-point seatbelts, seat-belt tensioners, belt force limiters, and eight airbags.

Further-developed AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine with an output of 420 kW/571 hp
The heart of the SLS is a powerful eight-cylinder engine with dry sump lubrication. The AMG 6.3-litre V8 produces 420 kW/571 hp at 6,800 rpm and develops a maximum torque of 650 Nm at 4,750 rpm. The SLS accelerates from
0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of
317 km/h (all figures are preliminary). The SLS AMG consumes 13.2 litres per 100 kilometres (combined, preliminary figure). Efficiency-enhancement measures include not only the LDS cylinder bore linings but also a need-based fuel delivery and the recovery of braking energy.

The AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine delivers its power to the rear axle via a dual-clutch transmission permanently connected to the engine housing via a torque tube. A carbon shaft rotates at engine speed inside the torque tube. Power transfer is via the new AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT seven-speed sports transmission. This dual-clutch transmission boasts fast gear changes with no interruption of tractive force and offers four driving modes. The mechanical differential lock guarantees optimum traction.

Sophisticated chassis layout with double-wishbone suspension
All four wheels are guided on dual A-arms with track rod. The A-arms, the steering knuckles and hub carriers at the front and rear axles are made of aluminium. The gull-wing model comes with a 3-stage ESP® as standard. The AMG high-performance brake system with composite brake discs on the front axle ensures short braking distances. Even better braking performance is offered by the optional ceramic-composite brake system. Weight-optimised AMG light alloy wheels in accordance with the new, innovative flow-forming principle, 9.5 x 19 inches at the front, and 11.0 x 20 inch at the rear, are fitted with 265/35 R 19 tyres up front and 295/30 R 20 tyres at the rear.

The reinterpretation of the gull-wing model will celebrate its market launch in spring 2010. The price will be 177,310 euros (incl. 19% VAT).

New gull-wing model with purely electric high-tech drive system

The electric Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG concept car - the exciting future of the super sports car

Affalterbach - Mercedes AMG is paving the way ahead. In the form of the new SLS AMG with electric drive, the performance brand within Mercedes-Benz Cars is developing an exciting super sports car with a zero-emission high-tech drive system. With this model, Mercedes-Benz and AMG are displaying their expertise in the development of alternative drive solutions for high-performance super sports cars, delivering further proof of their pioneering status in this market segment.

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG with electric drive transforms the vision of powerful and locally emission-free super sports cars into reality thanks to an innovative drive system. Powerful forward thrust is provided by four electric motors with a combined peak output of 392 kW and a maximum torque of 880 Nm. The four electric motors are positioned near the wheels, substantially reducing the unsprung masses compared to wheel-hub motors. One transmission per axle transmits the power. This intelligent all-wheel drive system allows dynamically optimised power transmission without any losses by means of torque vectoring - in other words the specific, targeted acceleration of individual wheels. In its first, pilot phase, the SLS AMG with electric drive incorporates a liquid-cooled, high-voltage lithium-ion battery of modular design with an energy content of 48 kWh and a capacity of 40 Ah. The 400-volt battery is charged by means of targeted regeneration during braking whilst the car is being driven.

Acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in around 4 seconds
When it comes to dynamics, the electrically driven SLS AMG delivers an unequivocal statement: The gull-wing model accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in around 4 seconds, putting it on the same high level as the SLS AMG with a 6.3-litre V8 engine developing 420 kW/571 hp.

"With the SLS AMG with electric drive, we wanted to redefine the super sports car. For us, it is not just an issue of responsibility. We attach just as much importance to fascination and classic AMG performance," says Volker Mornhinweg, Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

Optimal weight distribution and low centre of gravity
The purely electric drive system was factored into the equation as early as the concept phase when the new gull-wing model was being developed by Mercedes-Benz and AMG. It is ideally packaged for the integration of high-performance, zero-emission technology. By way of example, the four electric motors and the two transmissions can be positioned near the wheels and very low down in the vehicle. The same applies to the modular high-current battery, whose modules are located in front of the bulkhead, in the centre tunnel and behind the seats. Advantages of this solution include the vehicle's low centre of gravity and the balanced weight distribution - ideal conditions for optimum handling, which the electrically powered SLS AMG shares with its petrol-driven sister model.

Key data at a glance: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG with electric drive
Peak output 392 kW
Torque 880 Nm
0-100 km/h Approx. 4 sec.
Rated capacity 40 Ah (at 400 V)
Energy content 3x 16 kWh = 48 kWh

The installation of the drive components required no changes whatsoever to the gull-wing model's aluminium space-frame bodyshell. And there were just as few constraints when it came to maintaining the excellent level of passive safety and high degree of long-distance comfort that are hallmarks of Mercedes cars.

Strategic alliance for fast electrification of the car
With the electrically powered SLS AMG, Mercedes-Benz and AMG are continuing to pursue their aim of minimizing the amount of time it will take to bring about the electrification of the car. The strategic involvement in Deutsche Accumotive GmbH & Co. KG, a joint venture between Daimler AG and Evonik Industries AG, will provide the battery technology required in future. Daimler has the leading role in this joint venture, whose mission is to develop and produce batteries and battery systems for automotive applications

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Frankfurt 2009: Aston Martin Rapide

Aston Martin doesn't have a great track record with four-doors. After acquiring Lagonda in 1948, the legendary David Brown took the DB4 – which bore his initials – and turned it into the Lagonda Rapide. Only 55 examples were ever made. A decade and a half later, the first name came back as the oddball Aston Martin Lagonda, of which just 645 examples were produced over its fifteen-year production run. The Lagonda SUV concept which debuted at the last Geneva show was lambasted so widely that it was pulled after the first press day and hasn't been seen since.

Aston chairman David Richards, for one, is keen to leave that unfortunate record in the past. The Lagonda initiative has reportedly been shelved indefinitely, but if the Rapide sells as good as it looks, they just might succeed in reversing that particular fortune.

The production version of the concept unveiled at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show certainly has the looks department locked down. A few concessions have been made in the three-year run to production readiness, including bigger side-view mirrors and a less tapered roofline to offer more interior space – especially for the rear passengers. But those few details – which promise to make the car more usable and, dare we say, practical – hardly detract from the car's beauty. But don't take our word for it.

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Frankfurt 2009: Ferrari 458 Italia

Here in the velvet-roped-off Autoblog section of the Frankfurt Motor Show press room, opinions are split over the styling of the new Ferrari 458 Italia. While some of us are enamored of the supercar's svelte shape, others....well let's just say they're more fond of Ferraris of yore. But whatever your take on the design, there's no doubting that this is a seminal debut for the Maranello marque, for whom the new 458 is the first completely new production mid-engine car in a decade.

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Frankfurt 2009: Audi e-tron concept

Those with a passion for torque were disappointed when it became clear that Audi was unlikely to ever build a production version of the R8 V12 TDI that was shown at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. Now the automaker has come back with a new R8-based concept that puts the diesel to shame. The new e-tron packs four electric motors and a lithium-ion battery pack with a fairly tame-sounding 313 hp but an insane 3,319 lb-ft of torque. The run to 62 mph takes 4.8 seconds, but rolling acceleration from 37-75 mph takes just 4.1 seconds thanks to the e-tron's massive amount of twist.

While acknowledging that electric vehicles are still far from economically viable volume production vehicles, Audi is nonetheless working on electric technology, both for hybrids and pure EVs. The pack sports a 53kWh capacity of which 42.4 kWh is usable. The pack weighs in at 1,036 pounds out of a total vehicle weight of 3,527 pounds and is mounted ahead of the rear axle and liquid cooled. Each of the axles sports two electric motors allowing the e-tron to retain Audi's signature quattro all-wheel drive.

[Source: Audi]


PRESS RELEASE

International Motor Show 2009, Frankfurt am Main
The Audi e-tron


Frankfurt – Audi presents the highlight of the IAA 2009: the e-tron, a high-performance sports car with a purely electric drive system. Four motors – two each at the front and rear axles – drive the wheels, making the concept car a true quattro. Producing 230 kW (313 hp) and 4,500 Nm (3,319.03 lb-ft) of torque, the two-seater accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (0 – 62.14 mph) in 4.8 seconds, and from 60 to 120 km/h (37.28 – 74.56 mph) in 4.1 seconds. The lithium-ion battery provides a truly useable energy content of 42.4 kilowatt hours to enable a range of approximately 248 kilometers.

The performance figures are by no means the only evidence of the consistent and holistic strategy. The design makes it clear that the e-tron belongs in the major leagues of sports cars, and the package takes into account the specific realities of an electric vehicle. The battery is directly behind the passenger cabin for an optimal center of gravity and axle load distribution.

The e-tron is able to freely distribute the powerful torque of its four electric motors to the wheels as required. This so-called torque vectoring allows for dazzling dynamics and an undreamed-of level of agility and precision when cornering.

Audi has taken a new and in some cases revolutionary approach to many of the technical modules. A heat pump is used to efficiently warm up and heat the interior. The drive system, the power electronics and the battery are controlled by an innovative thermal management system that is a crucial component for achieving the car's range without compromising its high level of interior comfort. Networking the vehicle electronics with the surroundings, which is referred to as car-to-x communication, opens new dimensions for the optimization of efficiency, safety and convenience.

The Concept

Electric drive systems are still very much outsiders. The first vehicles of this type took to the roads around 1900, yet in 2009 no volume car manufacturer has a car powered exclusively by batteries in its lineup. Fewer than 1,500 electric vehicles are currently registered in Germany, corresponding to only 0.035 percent of all registered vehicles.

Yet electric driving potentially offers numerous advantages. Electric cars reduce the dependence of transportation and the economy on the raw material petroleum. They produce no direct exhaust emissions and thus ease the local burden on the environment. Electric drive systems are also significantly more efficient than combustion engines, consequently making them easier on the customers' wallets. Other strengths include sportiness and the fun they bring to driving. All of the torque is essentially available the moment the driver steps on the accelerator, allowing for breathtaking acceleration.

There is still a lot of work to do before electric cars are ready for volume production, however. The greatest challenge is the integration of the energy storage system. Acceptable range and performance requires a traction battery that is heavy and takes up a lot of space. Audi is taking a new approach to offset these disadvantages – a holistic approach with a specific vehicle package, a systematic lightweight construction concept and an optimal configuration of all components for the electric drive.

Audi e-tron – The Holistic Approach

The most important development related to batteries for electric drives are lithium-ion cells. Numerous experts throughout the world are working on their further development for use in cars, with the primary objectives being to reduce weight and increase capacity and performance. Audi has also opted for this technology, both for use in a hybrid production vehicle, such as the upcoming Q5 hybrid, and in the e-tron test platform.

The requirement specification for the concept vehicle goes far beyond battery technology and the replacement of the combustion engine with an electric drive system, however. The Audi development engineers decided back in the concept phase to design practically every component and technology based on the new requirements of electric mobility. The interaction of all elements has a decisive influence on the factors efficiency, range and practicality.

The Audi team therefore focused its attention on the total vehicle, which is reflected in the comprehensive requirement specification.

• The reduction of road resistances and the resulting increase in range plays a major role with electric vehicles. Lightweight construction was therefore a top priority for the e-tron concept car. The body, in particular, combines low weight with supreme strength and rigidity. An intelligent aerodynamics concept with active elements helps to reduce consumption.
• The package ensures the safe integration of the electric drive system and the battery. Placing the battery in front of the rear axle ensures an optimal axle load distribution without compromising the compact overall design and the generous amount of interior space.
• Advanced battery technology enables a practical range. The battery system is water-cooled for optimal performance and service life.
• A needs-based energy management system controls all functions for the chassis, convenience equipment and other auxiliary consumers.
• The innovative thermal management system with optimally matched cooling and heating components considers the cooling requirements of the battery and the drive system in addition to the interior temperature.
• Driving dynamics and road comfort are what Audi customers have come to expect in the sports car segment.
• Vehicle safety is on par with the best of today's production vehicles.
• The driver is provided with clear and comprehensive information.
• The e-tron concept car uses car-to-x communication technology developed by Audi to improve the efficiency of conventionally powered vehicles. For example, information about traffic light cycle times and the flow of traffic – provided by the infrastructure and other vehicles – is used to compute an optimal driving strategy. Audi has already modeled such a solution in Ingolstadt as part of its "travolution" project.

Design and Package

The caliber of the car is apparent to the observer at first glance. The Audi e-tron has a wide, powerful stance on the road. The car body seems almost monolithic; the closed rear end appears powerful and muscular. The trapeze of the single-frame grille dominates the front end and is flanked by two large air intakes. The top of the grille merges into the flat strips of the adaptive matrix beam headlamp modules with their clear glass covers. High-efficiency LED technology is used for all lighting units – a matter of honor for Audi as the worldwide pioneer in this field.

The headlamps are the core of a fully automatic light assistance system that reacts flexibly to any situation. The new technology recognizes weather conditions and adapts the illumination to rain or fog. The technology at the heart of the light assistance system is a camera that works together with a fast computer to detect oncoming traffic, recognize lanes and measure visibilities, such as in the event of fog.

If there is oncoming traffic, for example, the high beams are turned off in the corresponding section of the illumination field. The cornering light system analyzes data from the navigation system and illuminates corners before the driver steers into them. The Audi e-tron does not have conventional fog lamps that consume additional power. It instead intelligently varies the low beams to widen the illumination field, thus significantly reducing the glare from the car's own lights.

The variability of the headlamps is also reflected in their design. The LED elements change appearance and thus the character of the front end of the vehicle depending on the speed driven and the ambient conditions. The innovative lighting technology offers the Audi designers almost as much design freedom as the shape of the body does.

A new design element unique to the e-tron are the air intakes in the single-frame grille and in front of the rear wheel wells. They are closed flush under normal circumstances and opened by means of flaps when additional cooling air is required. Maximum efficiency is also the reason behind this measure. The concept car has a remarkably low drag coefficient, which gets even better when the flaps are closed.

The vehicle body is compact. The sweeping line of the front end and the flat curved roof immediately identify the two-seater as an Audi. The contours of the flanks are familiar. The tapering of the dynamic line above the sill and the shoulder line tie together the front end, the side and the rear, lend a plastic quality to the doors and the transition to the side air intake and sharply emphasize the Audi-typical round wheel wells with the large, 19-inch tires.

1.90 meters (74.80 in) wide, just 4.26 meters (167.72 in) long and 1.23 meters (48.43 in) tall – those are the proportions of a supercar. The wheelbase of 2.60 meters (102.36 in) leaves plenty of room between the axles for people and technology. Like with a mid-engined sports car, the cabin of the e-tron is shifted far forward toward the front axle, leaving room in front of the rear axle for the roughly 470 kilogram (1036.17 lb) battery unit, the inverter and the power electronics.

The two electric motors, which have their own cooling system, are mounted behind the rear axle. The front electric motors are mounted on the front axle, with their cooling system arranged in front of them. This special package, which features a 42:58 weight distribution, ensures perfect balance, which contributes to the driving dynamics of the e-tron.

Systematic lightweight construction is an even more important prerequisite for efficiency and range with electric vehicles than for conventionally powered automobiles. The Audi development engineers drew on the core competence of the company for the e-tron. The body structure is based on Audi Space Frame (ASF) technology and was realized as a hybrid construction. All add-on parts – doors, covers, sidewalls and roof – are made of a fiber-reinforced plastic.

The combination of aluminum and carbon fiber-reinforced composite material guarantees supreme rigidity coupled with low weight. Audi will soon use this technology in a similar form for production vehicles. Despite the complex drive system layout with four electric motors and a high-capacity battery system, the total weight of the Audi e-tron is only around 1,600 kilograms (3527.40 lb).

Interior and Control Concept

Optical and functional references to the new drive concept characterize the interior design. They establish an advanced connection between proven Audi genes and new formal hallmarks. Typical for the Audi design language is the reduction of the architecture, controls and flow of information to the essential in favor of visible lightweight construction and a tidy overall impression.

The dash appears to float and has a curve that extends laterally into the door panels. With no need to allow for a transmission, shifter and cardan tunnel, the designers took advantage of the opportunity to create a particularly slim and lightweight center tunnel and center console. The flush gear selector, with which the driver chooses between the modes forward, reverse and neutral, emerges from the tunnel when the vehicle is started.

The cockpit of the e-tron is also oriented toward the driver – a further characteristic Audi trait. Instead of the classic instrument cluster, the concept car is the first Audi to be equipped with a large, fold-out central display with integrated MMI functions. It is flanked by two round dials.

The MMI is controlled via a scroll pad with a touch-sensitive surface on the steering wheel ("MMI touch") – an element inspired by modern smartphones.

While an analog speedometer on the right provides speed information, the instrument on the left tells the driver how much power is being drawn. The central display shows the range in the status bar and presents all key information from the infotainment and navigation systems. It also provides the driver with relevant data from the vehicle's communication with its surroundings. The instruments combine the analog and the digital worlds into a single unit.

Characteristic for the concept of the Audi e-tron is the near total elimination of switches and small components such as the ignition. The climate control unit is located to the right above the steering wheel. The display provides temperature and ventilation information. Again drawing inspiration from a smartphone, the system is controlled by means of a touch-sensitive sliding control.

The racing-inspired lightweight bucket seats combine excellent lateral support with comfort. To contrasting colors – snow white and cognac – delineate the various zones of the interior. The colors and the high-quality materials combine elegance and sportiness.

Drive System and Energy Supply

Four asynchronous motors with a total output of 230 kilowatts (313 hp) give the Audi e-tron the performance of a high-output sports car. The concept car can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0 – 62.14 mph) in 4.8 seconds if necessary, and goes from 60 to 120 km/h (37.28 – 74.56 mph) in 4.1 seconds. The torque flows selectively to the wheels based on the driving situation and the condition of the road surface, resulting in outstanding traction and handling.

The top speed is limited to 200 km/h (124.27 mph), as the amount of energy required by the electric motors increases disproportionately to speed. The range in the NECD combined cycle is approximately 248 kilometers (154 miles). This good value is made possible by the integrated concept: technology specially configured for the electric drive system combined with state-of-the-art battery technology. The battery block has a total energy content of roughly 53 kilowatt hours, with the usable portion thereof restricted to 42.4 kWh in the interest of service life. Audi uses liquid cooling for the batteries.

The energy storage unit is charged with household current (230 volts, 16 amperes) via a cable and a plug. The socket is behind a cover at the back of the car. With the battery fully discharged, the charging time is between 6 and 8 hours. A high voltage (400 volts, 63 amperes) reduces this to just around 2.5 hours. The Audi engineers are working on a wireless solution to make charging more convenient. The inductive charging station, which can be placed in the garage at home or also in special parking garages, is activated automatically when the vehicle is docked. Such technology is already used today in a similar form to charge electric toothbrushes.

The battery is charged not only when the car is stationary, but also when it is in motion. The keyword here is recuperation. This form of energy recovery and return to the battery is already available today in a number of Audi production models. During braking, the alternator converts the kinetic energy into electrical energy, which it then feeds into the onboard electrical system.

The Audi e-tron, which is slowed by four lightweight ceramic brake discs, takes the next large step into the future. An electronic brake system makes it possible to tap into the recuperation potential of the electric motors. A hydraulic fixed-caliper brake is mounted on the front axle, with two novel electrically-actuated floating-caliper brakes mounted on the rear axle. These floating calipers are actuated not by any mechanical or hydraulic transfer elements, but rather by wire ("brake by wire"). In addition, this eliminates frictional losses due to residual slip when the brakes are not being applied.

This decoupling of the brake pedal enables the e-tron's electric motors to convert all of the braking energy into electricity and recover it. The electromechanical brake system is only activated if greater deceleration is required. These control actions are unnoticeable to the driver, who feels only a predictable and constant pedal feel as with a hydraulic brake system.

Making its Automotive Debut: The Heat Pump

The heat pump – used here for the first time ever in an automobile – also serves to increase efficiency and range. Unlike a combustion engine, the electric drive system may not produce enough waste heat under all operating conditions to effectively heat the interior. Other electric vehicles are equipped with electric supplemental heaters, which consume a relatively large amount of energy. The heat pump used by Audi – and commonly used in buildings – is a highly efficient machine that uses mechanical work to provide heat with a minimum input of energy.

A high-efficiency climate control system is used to cool the interior. It works together with the thermal management system to also control the temperature of the high-voltage battery. The battery, the power electronics and the electric motors must be kept at their respective ideal operating temperatures to achieve optimal performance and range.

As soon as the vehicle is connected to a charging station the vehicle is preconditioned as appropriate by the thermal management and other associated systems.

The drive system is heated if temperatures are cool, and cooled if hot. This preconditioning can also be extended to the interior, if necessary, so that the passengers can step into a cabin that has been heated or cooled as appropriate for their comfort.

Driving Dynamics

The normal distribution of the tractive power is clearly biased toward the rear axle in accordance with the weight distribution of the e-tron. Similarly to a mid-engined sports car, roughly 70 percent of the power goes the rear and 30 percent to the front. If an axle slips, this balance can be varied by means of the four centrally controlled electric motors. The electric vehicle from Audi thus enjoys all of the advantages of quattro technology.

The four individual motors, which in the interest of greater traction are installed behind the wheels as wheel drives, also enable the e-tron's lateral dynamics to be intelligently controlled. Similar to what the sport differential does in conventional quattro vehicles, torque vectoring – the targeted acceleration of individual wheels – makes the e-tron even more dynamic while simultaneously enhancing driving safety. Understeer and oversteer can be corrected by not only targeted activation of the brakes, but also by precise increases in power lasting just a few milliseconds. The concept car remains extremely neutral even under great lateral acceleration and hustles through corners as if on the proverbial rails.

The chassis has triangular double wishbones at the front axle and trapezoidal wishbones made of forged aluminum components at the rear axle – a geometry that has proven in motorsports to be the optimal prerequisite for high agility, uncompromising precision and precisely defined self-steering behavior. A taut setup was chosen for the springs and shock absorbers, but it is still very comfortable.

The direct rack-and-pinion steering gives finely differentiated feedback. Its electromechanical steering boost varies with speed, so that the e-tron only has to provide energy while steering, and not while driving straight ahead.

As befitting its status, the Audi concept car rolls on 19-inch tires with a new blade design. 235/35 tires up front and 295/30 tires in the rear provide the necessary grip.

Car-to-x Communication

The electronics development engineers at Audi not only aimed to make the e-tron as efficient and fun to drive as possible, they were also very concerned with safety and traffic management. The technical concept car includes a prototype of an information processing system. Future generations of these systems will usher in a new era in the networking of road traffic, particularly in regions and countries with a high volume of traffic. This progress is made possible by the rapid advancements in computing power, software and communication technology.

The buzzword "car-to-x communication" refers to the direct exchange of information in flowing traffic and to the traffic environment. The letter "x" is a free variable that can refer just as easily to other vehicles as to fixed infrastructure such as traffic lights. In contrast to today's telematic systems, car-to-x communication no longer requires a central service provider to quickly and effectively pool and process information. The participants themselves perform these tasks by spontaneously networking with one another.

The future car-to-x network still needs some time before it becomes reality on the roads. This obstacle is one that can be overcome, however, as nearly every carmaker in Europe, the U.S.A. and Japan has decided to develop a common standard for hardware and software. Once all new cars are equipped with this technology, a functional network of automotive transmitters will soon be available, at least in large population centers.

These transmitters can be used to open up many new practical applications. Below are just four examples showing the possibilities offered by car-to-x communication.

Example 1 – Efficiency and range: Numerous external factors influence energy consumption and thus the range of any vehicle. An intelligent vehicle equipped with car-to-x technology is aware of necessary braking or acceleration maneuvers in advance because it combines navigational data with information about the flow of traffic, for example. The central computer can prevent driver actions that would use energy unnecessarily or use targeted braking for recuperation of the battery.

Example 2 – Safety: A vehicle has spun out on a slippery road in a blind curve and is unable to free itself under its own power. At the same time, other vehicles are approaching quickly. The stuck vehicle uses car-to-x to send out a warning signal reporting the precise location of the hazardous location. A corresponding warning then appears on the navigation system display of the approaching cars.

Example 3 – Traffic flow: Many cars are traveling between traffic lights on an arterial road. Over and over again, they accelerate only to have to brake again when the traffic light changes to red. Car-to-x technology enables them to establish a network between themselves and receive information from the traffic light controller. The drivers can then make more judicious use of the gas pedal because they know what to expect. The same applies for imminent traffic jams: cars ahead provide information that results in adjustments to the posted speed limits, noticeably spreading out the traffic.

Example 4 – Convenience: The driver has entered a shopping center with a chronic shortage of parking spaces into his navigation system as the destination. With car-to-x, the mobile system networks with the parking space registration system at the destination. When the system in the parking garage reports that a convenient parking spot is available, the navigation system can register its location and also reserve the spot.

Electromobility as an Integrated Concept – the Audi e-performance Support Project

• Audi developing a holistic approach for electric driving
• New project house unites creativity and expertise
• The e-performance support project to be launched in October

Audi is working hard on the future of mobility. The company has established a project house for the development of an integrated concept for electric drives in automobiles. As part of this effort, a support project entitled e-performance and funded in part by the German Ministry for Education and Research will be launched on October 1. Institutes and companies from industry and science will be participating in the project.

Audi invests roughly two billion euros in development projects each year. Although the primary focus is on the further advancement of the combustion engine and related technologies, a second priority is electromobility. The e-tron showcar is making a powerful statement in this field at the IAA, and Audi is also in the process of strategically bundling its electromobility activities. Audi has established a project house dedicated to electric driving; it will shortly begin work on a project sponsored by the German federal government. The working group and the project bear the same name: e-performance.

"We are trying to find a concept that requires no compromises," says Michael Dick, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, Technical Development. "Electromobility means more to us than just electrifying conventional cars. Instead, we are dedicated to a holistic approach to all aspects of the topic."

The e-performance project house was established on the premises of Audi Electronics Venture GmbH (AEV). This Audi subsidiary cooperates closely with colleges and universities, research institutes and young startup companies to implement new technologies in the field of electronics. The AEV is located close to the plant grounds, and the project house is staffed by young experts.

"We have a mixture of engineering expertise, creativity and a dose of lateral thinking," says Dr. Michael Korte, Head of the e-performance project house. "The project house brings free thinkers together with technical development experts – with designers, engine and chassis engineers, and software specialists."

Electric drive technology in automobiles still poses many questions at the moment. Audi is striving to provide holistic answers to these questions, thus creating an architecture comprising all sub-areas of the vehicle. Only when new systems and components are made to work together perfectly can the full potential of electromobility be exploited.

Audi is certain that the vehicle concepts will include new, intelligent solutions. "Our holistic concept is complex," says Dr. Christian Allmann, Head of the e-performance support project, "but it is the only way to optimize the primary target parameters of range, performance, reliability, practicality, service life, and cost."

One focal point: the battery

By its very nature as the heart of the electric car, the battery is the focal point of the studies, which cover such topics as thermal management, capacity, package, weight, safety, service life and integration into the vehicle's heat and energy flows. "We are not working on cell chemistry – we are relying on our strategic partners for that," says Dr. Korte, "but the battery management software will be our know-how."

In an electric car, the entire on-board electrical system needs to be completely restructured. Many components that today use the energy and waste heat of the combustion engine - from the power steering to the heater - need a new source of power. The electric motor, the power electronics with their high-voltage components, inverters and transformers as well as the durability of the chips under the demanding conditions in the car are other important fields of work.

In addition - and this is what distinguishes the integrated approach - Audi is also studying all other areas of the vehicle. Topics include the flow of forces in the drivetrain, the climate control system, the controls and displays in the cockpit, the vehicle acoustics and the chassis. In this last field, electrically actuated brakes and suspension struts offer great potential.

The materials used in the car - which should be as lightweight as possible - and the entire package are another focal point. Electric motors are very compact and can also be placed at the wheels or the axles, but the batteries need their own space.

The young team keeps one important aspect in mind every step of the way: even an electric car has to be a true Audi with the strong character that all Audi models have in common. "We will draw on the bundled expertise of the entire company for the design and the lightweight body," says Dr. Korte, "and we are also committed to meeting the high Audi standard in terms of driving dynamics."

The bar is high - the three-year e-performance project scheduled to start on October 1 represents a major challenge. It is broken down into nine work packets, from energy storage to driving dynamics. In the initial phases, the participants will work in their various areas primarily using state-of-the-art simulation tools. The project will progress through the construction of sub-modules and test platforms to produce a drivable car.

Capable partners from science and industry

The German Ministry for Education and Research is providing eight-figure funding for the project. Audi has also recruited renowned partners from the scientific community – the RWTH Aachen, the technical universities of Munich, Dresden and Ilmenau, Leibniz University of Hanover and the Fraunhofer Society. Dr. Allmann reports that besides AEV, Robert Bosch GmbH and Bosch Engineering GmbH have also come on board.

The project should benefit all of the partners. Competitiveness in high-tech is a primary objective of the German government, thus the Audi partnership is good for Germany as a site for higher education and industry. The e-performance support project will enable the participants to gain an important know-how advantage.

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Frankfurt 2009: 2010 BMW 5 Series GT

The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo took a whirl on the plinth and we have to admit it doesn't look the least bit absurd standing in person. We completely forgot to be offended at the fact we're being handed this instead of the perfectly fantastic 5 Series Sport Wagon. At least, until we played around with the dual-action lift gate -- then the word "gimmick" did flit through our cranial region for a moment.

Still, it's not bad, and on the road it looks like it has the potential to get a whole lot better. As the Hesse-novel-length press release after the jump explains, the car will combine the legroom of the 7 Series, head room of the X5, 59.5 cubic feet of storage space, and a base diesel with 245 hp and 43 mpg. Go for gold, and there's a V8 twin turbo with 407 hp and a 5.5-second run to 60.

PRESS RELEASE

A New Class: The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo.

Establishing an unprecedented, absolutely innovative car concept, BMW is setting fascinating new highlights in the upper midrange segment. As the world's first model in a brand-new segment, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo combines essential features of a prestige saloon, a modern Sports Activity Vehicle, and a classic Gran Turismo.

Stylish and elegant in design, this unique four-seater comes with a coupé-like, stretched and sleek roofl ine and a two-piece tailgate. The extra-large interior offers luxurious comfort, a slightly elevated seating position for comfortable and convenient access as well as superior all-round visibility covering all traffic conditions, and truly impressive variability.

As its name alone indicates, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is ideally suited for a truly wonderful travel experience. The luxurious ambience immediately makes the driver and passengers feel at home, legroom at the rear is the same as in the BMW 7 Series, headroom is equal to that of the BMW X5. The tilt angle of the rear-seat backrests, in turn, adjusts individually to the respective, personal requirements of the passengers. And with the rear seats moving fore-and-aft up to 100 millimetres or almost 4", together with the backrests tilting forward completely if required, luggage capacity may be enlarged up to 1,700 litres or 59.5 cu ft.

Engines both powerful and efficient, Dynamic Drive Control featured as standard, the most advanced suspension technology, and innovative driver assistance systems, help to ensure a truly unique driving experience.

BMW EfficientDynamics entering a new segment.
The drivetrain technology featured on the new BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo likewise comes with a wide range of innovations, the benefits provided by BMW EfficentDynamics now introduced in yet another car segment providing a uniquely good balance of superior performance and supreme fuel economy.

A further highly significant point is the introduction of a new straight-six power unit in the BMW 535i Gran Turismo, for the fi rst time combining turbocharger technology, High Precision Injection, and BMW's fully variable VALVETRONIC valve management. Displacing 3.0 litres, the BMW TwinPower Turbo delivers 225 kW/306 hp at an engine speed of 5,800 rpm, with an equally outstanding, spontaneous and direct response as well as peak torque kept consistently at 400 Newton-metres/295 lb-ft from 1,200–5,000 rpm. The top-of-the-range power unit is the V8 TwinPower Turbo with High Precision Injection in the BMW 550i Gran Turismo, developing maximum output of 300 kW/407 hp between 5,500 and 6,400 rpm.

The BMW 530d Gran Turismo, to round off the range, offers particular highlights in terms of all-round economy. Its latest-generation 3.0-litre straight-six diesel comes with an all-aluminium crankcase as well as common-rail direct fuel injection with piezo-injectors, delivers 180 kW/245 hp at 4,000 rpm, and gives the car average fuel consumption in the combined EU cycle of just 6.5 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 43.5 mpg imp), as well as a CO2 emission rating of just 173 grams per kilometre, both figures absolutely unique for a vehicle of this size and calibre.

All engines naturally fulfill the EU5 emission standard. In addition, all variants of the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo come with an innovative eight-speed automatic transmission combining an extremely quick gearshift with maximum efficiency.

Through its wide range of qualities, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo meets all the demands of a modern target group looking for a vehicle providing perfect harmony in meeting all kinds of requirements and demands in life – both as a prestigious and elegant company car and as an active leisure-time vehicle.

Introducing this kind of concept, BMW is therefore once again proving the Company's ability to defi ne brand-new vehicle segments in the market, with the new BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo making a powerful entry into the world of motoring as a completely new dimension. This new, unprecedented and unparalleled car adds a further facet to the world of Sheer Driving Pleasure, arousing new enthusiasm for the BMW brand also with additional target groups.

Design: versatile sportiness, stylish elegance.
In its exterior design, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo offers a unique combination of versatile sportiness and stylish elegance. Proportions typical of BMW, four doors with frameless windows and a coupé-like stretched roofl ine all come together in perfect harmony authentically refl ecting the many qualities of the car.

The front view is characterised fi rst and foremost by the strong presence of the low-slung BMW kidney grille, the large air intakes and the characteristic dual round headlights. The BMW kidney grille itself is slanted slightly to the front, its upper edge forming the foremost point on the body. The dual round headlights likewise slanted at an angle and extending far into the side panels merge at the top into a matt trim cover, thus generating the clearly focused look so typical of the BMW brand.

Characteristic: daytime driving lights and rear light clusters in LED technology.
Apart from the direction indicators, the corona rings on the headlights come for the first time with LED light units. In standard trim the light rings serve as the car's positioning lights, while in combination with optional xenon headlights their LED units may be operated in two stages: Dimmed to approximately 10 per cent of their full power, the LED light units serve as positioning lights. Operated at full power, on the other hand, they act as daytime driving lights in a particularly brilliant white again in that typical BMW look.

Boasting a roofl ine dropping slowly but consistently towards the rear of the car and merging into a spoiler at the back, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo successfully and very attractively conveys a feature typical of a coupé to a four-door car. The doors both front and rear come with frameless side windows.

A further feature immediately recognisable from the side is the waistline at the level of the door openers characteristic of BMW, extending from the outer edge of the headlights, rising slightly along the entire length of the car, and continuing all the way to the contours of the rear light clusters.

The two outer roofl ines as well as the shoulder lines come together in the airflow spoiler on the tailgate, giving the fastback-like rear end an almost compact look. Otherwise, horizontal lines dominate the rear view of the car, with the look of power and muscle being further underlined by the wheel arches flared far to the outside.

The rear light clusters merge far into the side panels, ensuring that the full width of the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo also comes out clearly in the car's night design. Rows of lights fed by LED light units provide a homogenous light pattern, again giving the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo a distinctive look on the road and making sure that the car is always clearly recognisable.

The interior: generous space and comfort, individual luxury.
The unique feeling of space within the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is enhanced by the shape and design of the interior features, the interior colour scheme, and the choice of materials. The dashboard is subdivided horizontally and comes with a cockpit featuring Black Panel technology and a Control Display for BMW iDrive measuring up to 10.2" in size.

Apart from the electronic gear selector lever, the switches for Dynamic Drive Control as well as the iDrive Controller are arranged conveniently on the centre console.

Both the driver and front passenger benefit from their slightly elevated seating position, this so-called semi-command position allowing very comfortable and ergonomically ideal entry to the car and providing an optimised overview of traffic conditions in the area.

The impression of a self-contained space surrounding – or, even more appropriately, cocooning – the car's occupants is further enhanced by the harmonious shapes and colours of the panels on the front and rear doors. The interplay of ascending and descending lines and contours throughout the entire length of the interior creates a homogenous picture forming an optimum link connecting the front and rear seats.

As an alternative to the rear-seat bench for three passengers featured as standard, with individual adjustment of seat four-and-aft position as well as the backrest angle on all seats, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is available as an option with two single seats at the rear, in which case fore-and-aft adjustment of the seat position as well as the backrest angle, the upper section of the backrest and the height of the headrest is all-electric. And as yet a further highlight, ambience illumination of the interior of the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo featured as standard may be supplemented by additional light sources.

Even greater comfort when loading: two-piece tailgate and partition between the passenger and the luggage compartments.
The two-piece tailgate featured for the first time on a BMW ensures maximum comfort and variability when loading. The two sections offer the choice of a small opening beneath the rear window and a large lid like on BMW's X models.

Both sections may be opened and closed individually, with the large tailgate featuring Soft Close Automatic.

The unique partition between the passenger compartment and the luggage compartment ensures unrestricted comfort also while loading. Whenever, with the partition closed, the driver and passengers open only the lower section of the tailgate, the passenger compartment will not be affected in any way while loading by draughts or other effects of weather, or by any noise or acoustic annoyance.

As long as the rear seats and the partition are in their standard position, luggage compartment capacity is 440 litres or 15.4 cu ft. Moving the seats forward and unfastening the partition increases luggage capacity to 590 litres or 20.7 cu ft. And when folding down the rear-seat backrests as well as the partition, the driver and passengers benefi t from no less than 1,700 litres or 59.5 cu ft.

New straight-six power unit: first-ever combination of turbocharging and VALVETRONIC.
The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is entering the market with a choice of two gasoline engines and one diesel power unit. A particular highlight in this context is the newly developed straight-six gasoline engine now making its debut and for the first time combining turbocharger technology, High Precision Injection, and variable VALVETRONIC valve management all in one.

This unique combination gives the new BMW TwinPower Turbo an extremely spontaneous and direct response to the gas pedal, exceeding even the excellent response already offered by BMW's existing straight-six turbocharged engine. This truly impressive response is the result of VALVETRONIC technology optimised once again as well as the turbocharger system applying the twin scroll principle to separate the ducts of three cylinders at a time both in the exhaust manifold and the turbocharger.

BMW's High Precision Injection has also been enhanced to an even higher standard of direct fuel injection technology. Now HPI features new injection nozzles precisely dosing the supply of fuel and operating at a pressure of up to 200 bar in the combustion chambers.

Displacing 3.0 litres, the new six-cylinder develops maximum output of 225 kW/306 hp at 5,800 rpm, with peak torque of 400 Newton-metres/295 lb-ft available all the way from 1,200–5,000 rpm.

Benefi tting from this kind of power, the BMW 535i Gran Turismo accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds. The car's top speed, in turn, is limited electronically to 250 km/h or 155 mph.

The exceptionally good balance of performance and fuel economy is clearly confirmed by average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of just 8.9 litres/100 kilometres, equal to 31.7 mpg imp. And at the same time the CO2 rating of the BMW 535i Gran Turismo is just 209 grams per kilometre.

Eight-cylinder with BMW TwinPower Turbo and High Precision Injection.
The top engine in the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is a unique V8 combining TwinPower Turbo technology with High Precision Injection. Displacing 4.4 litres, this outstanding power unit develops maximum output of 300 kW/407 hp in a speed range from 5,500–6,400 rpm. Peak torque, in turn, is 600 Newtonmetres/ 442 lb-ft generated all the way from 1,750 to 4,500 rpm.

This unparalleled V8 is the most efficient engine of its type and, at the same time, the world's only gasoline engine with the turbocharger and catalytic converters arranged within the V-section between the two rows of cylinders.

The BMW 550i Gran Turismo accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 5.5 seconds, with top speed limited electronically to 250 km/h or 155 mph. Average fuel consumption of the BMW 550i Gran Turismo in the EU test cycle, in turn, is 11.2 litres/100 kilometres, equal to 25.2 mpg imp, while CO2 emissions are 263 grams per kilometre.

Efficiency and pulling power: latest generation of diesel technology.
The straight-six diesel in the BMW 530d Gran Turismo clearly presents the latest state of the art in BMW engine development. Displacing 3.0 litres, this ultra-modern power unit comes with an all-aluminium crankcase, its turbocharger system with variable intake geometry providing a highly dynamic but smooth fl ow of power tailored harmoniously to current driving conditions.

Fuel is supplied by the latest generation of common-rail fuel injection using piezo-injectors operating at a maximum pressure of 1,800 bar. In practice, this means engine output of 180 kW/245 hp at 4,000 rpm, with peak torque of 540 Newton-metres/398 lb ft from just 1,750 rpm.

The BMW 530d Gran Turismo accelerates to 100 km/h in just 6.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 240 km/h or 149 mph. This sporting performance comes together with average fuel consumption of just 6.5 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 43.5 mpg imp) in the EU test cycle. And the CO2 rating of the BMW 530d Gran Turismo, finally, is just 173 grams per kilometre.

Innovative, dynamic, effi cient: eight-speed automatic transmission featured as standard.
All model variants come as standard with the eight-speed automatic transmission so far available only in the twelve-cylinder BMW 760i luxury performance saloon. This new transmission combines gearshift comfort, sportiness and efficiency of a standard never seen before, serving to an even greater extent to reduce fuel consumption and emissions to a level even lower than with BMW's six-speed automatic transmissions used so far.

The new eight-speed automatic transmission excels through its innovative gearset confi guration providing additional gears and an even wider range of gear increments without any negative effect on the size, weight, and inner efficiency of the system.

All variants of the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo come as standard with BMW EfficientDynamics, the various technologies offered varying from one model to the other according to its particular character. Among other features, Brake Energy Regeneration, on-demand control of the car's ancillary units such as the electrical coolant pump, the electrical steering assistance pump, the map-controlled oil pump and the detachable a/c compressor, as well as consistent lightweight technology, optimised aerodynamics including active management and control of the air fl aps and, finally, tyres with minimum roll resistance ensure optimum fuel economy and emission management.

Cutting-edge suspension technology for even greater comfort, dynamism, and precision.
The modern suspension technology of the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo serves to ensure a wonderful motoring experience, driving supremacy and outstanding safety at all times and under all conditions. One of the features that makes this possible is the combination of a double track control arm front axle and an Integral-V rear axle. In addition, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo comes as standard with air suspension on the rear axle, 18- and, respectively, 19-inch light-alloy wheels (the latter on the BMW 550i Gran Turismo), and a high performance brake system.

DSC Dynamic Stability Control, fi nally, also comprises an electromechanical parking brake with its own Auto-Hold function.
As an alternative to hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering with Servotronic featured as standard, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is available as an option with Integral Active Steering featured for the first time on the new BMW 7 Series.

As function of road speed, this unique steering infl uences steering forces by way of Servotronic and the steering angle by means of the Active Steering Transmission on the front axle. Integral Active Steering also controls the steering angle on the rear wheels, thus giving the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo even greater agility in city traffic and ensuring extremely smooth and superior lane change and handling in bends also at high speeds.

Optional for even greater dynamics and additional comfort: Adaptive Drive.
The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is available as an option with Adaptive Drive combining electronically controlled dampers and active anti-roll stabilisation. These highly innovative dampers adjust individually both to road conditions and the driver's style of motoring in order to prevent any undesired movement of the car.

BMW is the world's fi rst car maker to use a damper system with the adjustment of the inbound and rebound strokes in a continuous, independent process. At the same time active anti-roll bars on the front and rear axle reduce body sway in bends to an absolute minimum, thus providing an even higher standard of comfort and agility.

Featured as standard: Dynamic Drive Control for individual set-up of the car according to current requirements.
The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo comes as standard with Dynamic Drive Control for an individual set-up of the car in all its main features. This high-tech system infl uences the progressive curve on the gas pedal, engine response, the map control line for steering assistance, the gearshift dynamics on the eight-speed automatic transmission, and the response thresholds of DSC Dynamic Stability Control.

Dynamic Drive Control is activated by a button on the centre console directly next to the gear selector lever. Using this toggle function, the driver is able to choose among the NORMAL, SPORT, and SPORT+ modes. In combination with Adaptive Drive, the system also serves to control the damper curves by way of Dynamic Drive Control, in this case providing the additional COMFORT mode as a further option.

Innovative in design and construction: aluminium doors and panorama glass roof.
Apart from the engine compartment lid and the front spring struts on the body, the doors on the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo are also made of aluminium. Serving as an outstanding design and construction feature, they reduce the overall weight of the car by 28 kg or 62 lb. And as a further highlight the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is the first large-scale production car from BMW to feature frameless windows in aluminium shell structure.

The panorama glass roof available as an option on the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo provides an even brighter and, at the same time, more spacious ambience throughout the interior. Measuring 116 centimetres or 45.6" in length and 94.2 centimetres or 37.1" in width, the panorama glass roof provides an opening of up to 44 centimetres or 17.3". With the rear glass section bolted firmly to the body of the car, body stiffness is enhanced accordingly for even
smoother driving conditions.

Optimum occupant safety on all seats.
Extra-strong load-bearing structures, generously dimensioned and exactly defined deformation zones, as well as highly efficient restraint systems masterminded by high-performance control electronics set the standard for the high level of passive safety the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo has to offer. To optimize passive pedestrian safety, in turn, both the engine compartment lid and the side panels give way individually in the event of a collision.

Over and above frontal and hip/thorax airbags, the car's standard safety features include curtain head airbags at the side, three-point inertia-reel airbags with belt force limiters, ISOFIX child seat fastenings at the rear and, on the front seats, belt latch tensioners as well as crash-activated headrests.

The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is available as an option with bi-xenon headlights. The Adaptive Headlights likewise available as an option ensure appropriate illumination of the road ahead, following bends and winding roads in a flexible line.

The Bending Light function is integrated in the headlights, while a further feature of the Adaptive Headlights is variable light distribution for optimum illumination of the road ahead also when driving straight ahead.

BMW ConnectedDrive and the most advanced driver assistance systems.
A number of features coming either as standard or as an option on the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo are exclusive developments offered only by BMW. The leadership in technology BMW has to offer comes out, inter alia, in the cockpit and climate control featuring Black Panel technology, the iDrive control system complete with direct selection buttons, the unique range of optional navigation and audio systems with a hard disc memory, the Head-Up Display as well as the exceptional choice of innovative driver assistance systems.

The options for exchanging information among the driver, his car and the surroundings provided by BMW ConnectedDrive are equally unique. And last but certainly not least, the range of mobility services providing traffi c information, an emergency call function, vehicle, enquiry and offi ce services, travel and leisure time planning facilities as well as internet connections is again unparalleled the world over.

The driver assistance systems provided by BMW ConnectedDrive ensure maximum supremacy and safety on the road. These include the High-Beam Assistant, Lane Change Warning, Lane Departure Warning and Speed Limit Info. The new generation of BMW Night Vision able to detect individual persons in the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, in turn, sets new standards in avoiding accidents while driving at night.

The wide range of features offered as standard, regular equipment include cruise control complete with a brake function, while Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go comes as an option, maintaining a consistent distance from the vehicle ahead by intervening in drive management and building up brake pressure whenever required.

Keeping a close eye on everything: PDC Park Distance Control, Back-Up Camera, Side View and Top View.
The new BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo comes as standard with PDC Park Distance Control at the rear, with PDC available at the front as an optional extra. This is supplemented by a Back-Up Camera, with Side View and Top View also available as an option. Side View uses two cameras integrated in the front wheel arches enabling the driver to check out traffi c coming from the side at an early point. Top View provides an even more detailed overview of road conditions with the help of two additional cameras integrated in the rear-view mirrors.

Data provided by the Side View cameras, by the Back-Up Camera and the PDC sensors on the vehicle and its surroundings is processed by a central computer generating an overall image presented in the Control Display and showing both the car and its surroundings from a bird's eye perspective.

Automatic air conditioning and personal entertainment for your individual well-being.
Featured as standard, automatic air conditioning in the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is controlled in all its settings by an array of buttons on the centre console. This allows the driver and front passenger to set the temperature, the amount and the distribution of air via the control unit on the climate control panel, individually for the right- and left-hand side of the car.

Four-zone automatic air conditioning standard in the BMW 550i Gran Turismo and coming as an option on the other model variants also allows individual adjustment of temperature, air volume and distribution at the rear left and right and comes complete with a separate control unit on the rear centre console.

Likewise featured as standard on the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, the audio system boasts both a CD player and an AUX-In port. A hard disc memory, in turn, makes the optional navigation system Professional particularly easy and convenient to use. With its capacity of 80 GB, the memory allows particularly fast access to the digital navigation maps and offers no less than 12 GB additional capacity for a large collection of music fi les.

Optional features include a six-DVD changer, a TV module, and a Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) receiver.
The entertainment systems available on the rear seats of the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo with their 8 and, respectively, 9.2-inch screens integrated in the backrests of the front seats ensure particularly comfortable and pleasant motoring. Hands-free communication thanks to full integration of mobile phones and Smartphones.

The optional mobile phone preparation kit complete with a Bluetooth interface allows additional safety and superior comfort in making telephone calls while driving. A snap-in adapter including a USB port comes as yet a further option for the full integration of Smartphones with an MP3 function. Using this option, the driver and passenger are able to use both the communication and entertainment functions of their mobile phone and mastermind all functions via iDrive.

To provide even greater transport capacity, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is available with a towbar moving in and out fully automatically by means of a switch in the luggage compartment. So operating the towbar manually, with the risk of getting dirty in the process, is now a thing of the past. Maximum trailer load is 2,100 kg or 4,630 lb.

With its unique body concept, a truly luxurious interior ambience, superior drivetrain and suspension technology, and innovative equipment features, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo offers exactly the right standard of modern mobility in our modern times. It fulfils the demands and expectations of motorists looking for a generous driving experience, appreciating an exclusive ambience, and enjoying the benefits of a variable interior. In a nutshell, therefore, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo presents the status and elegant style of an upper midrange model in an individual rendition oriented to the user's personal requirements.

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Frankfurt 2009: Mini Coupe & Roadster Concepts

Some automakers celebrate their birthdays with special editions. Some celebrate with big parties. Mini has celebrated its 50th anniversary at the Frankfurt Motor Show with not one, but two new performance-oriented models. Now that's more like it.

Okay, so they also unveiled a couple of special editions, called Camden and Mayfair. And they're throwing a little shindig at their show stand later on. But forget those for a minute and feast your eyes on the Coupe Concept and Roadster Concept. We've already brought you details on both, but the jubilant BMW division took the wraps – or rather, the cake – off the pair at a press conference here at the show. And while they were at it, they confirmed that both are headed for production, expanding the Mini line-up to no less than six models: hatch, cabrio, Clubman, the upcoming crossover and the Roadster and Coupe in question.

Whether the hounds-tooth interior on the Roadster makes it to production, however, remains to be seen. It'll take them a little while to gear up the Oxford factory, but given that both are essentially the same as the existing models below the belt-line, it shouldn't take all that long.

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Frankfurt 2009: 2010 BMW X1 shows up

While us Americans will probably never get the three- and/or five-door 1 Series, we will be getting the new BMW X1. Here's your pudding proof. For some this is a maddening reality. For others it's like music you dislike. Still, we were a bit surprised by how much we liked the looks of the X1, especially in brown. With a grill lifted right off the 7-Series and a sinister set of angel eyes, the X1 is easily twice as handsome as big brother X3. Which might very prove to be the X1's major selling point. Just like the 3 Series and the 1 Series, the X3 and X1 are very closely related, not only in terms of powertrains, but mechanicals and chassis, too.

Engine choices are the usual BMW fare, ranging from the 258 hp double-VANOS straight-six in the xDrive28i to the 295 lb-ft of torque twin-turbo and common-rail diesel xDrive23d to less powerful diesel models like the 258 lb-ft xDrive20d/sDrive20d. There's also the sDrive18d which can get up to a BMW claimed 54.3 imperial miles per gallon. If you've somehow forgotten, the "x" in BMW-speak stands for AWD and the "s" stands for RWD. BMW claims the latter is the "most efficient rendition of spontaneous driving pleasure." If you can figure out what that means, let us know.

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