BMW 1 Series

The new BMW 1-series has just been voted the “2012 Business Car of the Year”, after the readers of BusinessCar magazine and www.businesscar.co.uk chose it as the best product that meets the needs of a company and their drivers alike. 

BMW had a successful awards ceremony, with the German brand also collecting the Manufacturer of the Year prize, plus the Green Model of the Year for the ultra-efficient 320d ED model. There there were also sector wins for the BMW 3-series, BMW 7-series and BMW X5, as well as the BMW-owned Mini hatchback.

“BMW’s impressive and class-leading combination of desirability, efficiency and driving pleasure has again shown itself with this haul of awards, decided by the readers of BusinessCar, proving that the brand is at the forefront of the company car market,” said BusinessCar Editor Paul Barker. “Across the range there is a model for every level of employee, each one offering low tax bills, good running costs and the premium BMW badge. The people running these vehicles and giving them to their staff obviously appreciate the job BMW is doing.”

The BusinessCar Awards are awarded with votes entirely by the readers of the publication and their website, so therefore the BMW range was recognised by the very people that are likely to use the cars on a daily basis. We have the full range of BMW 1 Series models on BMW contract hire on the site now.

For the full list of winners see http://www.businesscar.co.uk/awards

BMW X5

The BMW Group, which combines both BMW and MINI, has reported increased sales in January of 10,340 cars, an increase of 40.6 per cent when compared to the 7,353 vehicles sold in January last year. This is a remarkable performance when compared to a total market that fell by 11%.

Sales were strong in X Series, including the X3 and X5 and of course the super fuel efficient BMW 320d ED and the new 5 Series also sold well. MINI sales fell however, due to many customers wanting delivery of their cars in December, before the VAT rise.

Tim Abbott, Managing Director of BMW Group said,”Despite challenging market conditions, we have seen the best ever start to a year for BMW brand sales”.  BMW business contract hire and MINI business contract hire prices are available on the site now.

BMW 330d Saloon Interceptor

BMW’s class-leading products will now be available to the UK’s 52 police forces around the UK following their appointment as a key supplier to the Police Framework agreement. The National Policing Improvement Agency announcement means that BMW cars such as the BMW 330d Saloon and Touring, BMW 530d Saloon and Touring, all variants of the X1, X3 xDrive20d, X5, xDrive30d and xDrive40d may soon be visible on UK roads. The R1200 RF-P Police bike also makes the list and these vehicles will either perform in marked or unmarked policing roles.

BMW 530d Saloon

The BMW 330d Saloon Interceptor model is bound to be of interest as a High Performance Pursuit Vehicle, with its powerful performance and frugal fuel economy meeting the needs of all forces. Tim Abbott, Managing Director of BMW UK, said,”This is excellent news for BMW and shows the breadth of appeal of the products we sell. We have a very strong commitment to the “Authorities market” throughout the world and have a very close relationship with the UK’s police forces”.

BMW is unique in also offering a production line installed Emergency Warning equipment package which is supported by BMW Service Centres across the UK, with a three-year warranty, when usually systems such as this are retro-fitted. BMW also operates a dedicated department responsible for all BMW Authorities specification vehicles including cars, motorcycles, MINI and ballistically protected BMW Security and High Security cars. The BMW range of cars is a popular model for small businesses as well and BMW business car leasing is on the site now.

BMW 5 Series Saloon

BMW has had seven awards given to them by BusinessCar, on the of the UK’s fleet news publications, mainly due to its EfficientDynamics programme. They picked up “Manufacturer of the Year”,”Environmental Award of the Year” plus five other product specific awards as follows.

1. MINI was awarded “Supermini of the Year”.
2. The three and five door BMW 1 Series models won “Lower Medium Car of the Year”.
3. The BMW 3 Series Saloon and Touring models took the “Medium Car of the Year”.
4. The BMW 5 Series Saloon and Touring was jointly honoured with “Executive Car of the Year”.
5. Finally the BMW X5 picked up “Large 4×4 of the Year”.

Sean Green, Sales Director of BMW UK, said:”The corporate customer is an extremely important one for BMW which is why it’s fantastic to be honoured by BusinessCar in so many categories. But with 166 BMW and MINI models emitting 160g/km of CO2 or less it is hard not to see why our products are so popular”.

BMW availability

The following list will provide you an update on BMW car availability, courtesy of Inchcape Retail, one of the UK’s largest dealership groups. If you are looking for a new BMW then you may find you have to wait quite a few weeks before your new car arrives, unless you are flexible on your vehicle specification, so it is always best to order early and specify your future delivery date.

BMW stock availability and factory order lead times

BMW 1 Series Convertible and Coupe – low stock with 10 weeks factory order.

BMW 1 Series Hatchback, 3 Series Saloon, 3  Series Coupe, 3 Series Convertible , 3 Series Touring and all 5 Series – low stock availability with an 8 week factory order lead time.

BMW 6 Series- average stock and 8 weeks factory order.

BMW 7 Series- high stock and 10 weeks factory order.

BMW X1 – low stock and 12 weeks factory order.

BMW X3 - high stock and 8 weeks factory order.

BMW X5 – high stock and 12 weeks factory order.

BMW X6 and BMW Z4 – high stock and 10 weeks factory order.

BMW X5

BMW is offering a special edition of the popular X5 to mark the 10-year anniversary of the range.

The BMW xDrive35d 10-Year edition comes standard in Sophisto Grey metallic paint with unique 20-inch Y spoke light alloy wheels, Matt Aluminium exterior trim, Matt Aluminium roof rails, Panoramic glass sunroof and Comfort Access.

Inside the vehicle you get Comfort seats, Anthracite headlining, Carrara Shades Nappa leather upholstery, “10-Year plaques” and BMW individual Piano Black trim.

The X5 has been a popular model for BMW with nearly 63,000 vehicles sold since launch with diesel models now accounting for 95 per cent of sales. The M Sport is also the most popular specification with circa 80 per cent of sales compared to the SE. BMW Car leasing prices will be on the site shortly.

BMW X5 M

Customers and prospective buyers of BMW are being offered the chance to try some of the marque’s most popular BMW cars, as part of a BMW Ultimate Drive Weekend. All you have to do is visit any of the BMW 147 showrooms across the UK, between the 11th and 13th September. You can then enter the competition for a space on the trip of a lifetime.

The winning customers will get to either go on a 10-day Namibian driver training holiday in BMW X5s or get professional instruction in BMW M3 Coupes, on the Northern Loop at the Nurburgring racing circuit in Germany. Full details are available at www.bmw.co.uk.