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BMW CEO faints on stage at Frankfurt press conference

Newly minted BMW AG CEO Harald Kruger has had a rough start to his first Frankfurt Motor Show in that position. Kruger fainted about five minutes into the BMW press conference. A pair of assistants helped the executive to his feet and off-stage, and, understandably, the presser was cancelled. A report in Financial Times indicates that Kruger was not feeling well leading up to his appearance at the show, and that the fainting spell was a result of "a moment of dizziness." Kruger was taken to an area hospital where he is said to be recovering from the incident, and in stable condition. The life of the top dog at a major automaker has got to be stress-filled, sleep-deprived, and hard to handle under normal circumstances, let alone before a major exhibition like Frankfurt. We wish Kruger a speedy recovery getting back to it. And we're certain that he'll face a busy schedule, once again, when he's back on his feet. The CEO replaced Norbert Reithhofer in May of this year, and now oversees a BMW with as big a model lineup as the brand has known, including the recently launched new 7 Series. Here in Frankfurt, BMW is also featuring the new-for-2016 X1 small crossover, while the Mini brand has unwrapped the revised Clubman. News Source: Financial TimesImage Credit: AP Frankfurt Motor Show BMW Frankfurt 2015

BMW Group announces an armada of EVs that includes the full Mini range

BMW plans to significantly increase the number of electric cars in its range during the 2020s. It outlined plans to launch several battery-powered models, including M cars, and transform Mini into an EV-only brand by 2030. In the medium-term future, the firm's lineup will include electric variants of the 5 Series, the 7 Series, and the X1, though they will likely be based on the next-generation cars, not on the models currently found in showrooms. They'll join the i4 — a 3 Series-sized sedan with a fastback-like design — and the iX crossover in the lineup. BMW hopes to have at least one electric model representing it in about 90% of its current market segments by 2023, and it realistically expects that EVs will account for approximately 50% of its global sales by 2030. Beyond 2025, the Munich-based firm will align its range with a new strategy it calls Neue Klasse, a name borrowed from a series of enthusiast-friendly sedans and coupes sold during the 1960s and the 1970s; the 2002 is arguably the best-known Neue Klasse model. Fast-forward to the 2020s, and the designation will denote cars built with a new IT and software architecture, powered by new-generation electric technology, and designed to be sustainable. EVs shaped by the Neue Klasse approach to design will be positioned in many market segments, ranging from mass-produced cars (like the 1 Series hatchback sold in Europe) to high-performance M models. Most will be powered exclusively by batteries, but some will be available with a hydrogen-electric powertrain. Highly automated driving technology will be available, too, though BMW stressed its EVs will be enjoyable to drive. Crucially, the firm plans to increase its annual revenue by offering configurable and bookable features available during a car's entire life cycle; think of this system as an a la carte menu for cars. If you buy a used 2027 5 Series in 2031, for example, you'll theoretically have the ability to configure it with many of the options and features you want even if it wasn't ordered new with them. Some might even be enabled for a pre-determined amount of time. You might not need heated seats if you live in Tucson, but you might want them for a weekend if you're going skiing. What about Mini? Confirming a wave of recent rumors, BMW-owned Mini will exclusively sell electric cars in less than a decade.

BMW reveals Concept Compact Sedan in Guangzhou

While our eyes were fixed on Los Angeles, BMW turned its attention to Guangzhou, China, where the German automaker unveiled the Concept Compact Sedan. The show car envisions a Bavarian rival to the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class and Audi A3 sedan. Munich released little in the way of technical details. Instead, the Concept Compact Sedan is all about the design. Relative to its form, the show car rides on a long wheelbase, with the wheels pushed to the corners, and a greenhouse set back behind a long hood. The details are distinctly Bimmer, from the signature double-kidney grille to the Hofmeister kink in the C-pillar. The horizontal lines of the front and rear fascias are designed to maximize the vehicle's visual width, and the muscular design integrates touch-sensitive door handles below the swage line for a cleaner look. All that is rendered in liquid metal bronze paint, offset by polished aluminum brightwork and 20-inch split-spoke alloys. Geared towards the "life of a generation of youth in China," the interior is designed around the driver, but also seeks to maximize rear-seat space despite the vehicle's compact footprint. The horizontal treatment continues inside to give the impression of space, with upscale materials like three-tone Nappa leather, open-pore wood, and brushed aluminum trim with orange accents and ambient lighting. All the auxiliary surfaces are controlled by touch panels on the steering wheel, center stack, center console, and door handles. There's a panoramic roof, a head-up display for the driver, and an 8.8-inch screen in the dashboard. The sum total is a compelling preview of what a four-door addition to the 1 Series and 2 Series could look like. And to our eyes, it looks like it would be just as home on American roads as it would be in China, Europe, or anywhere else for that matter. Check it out in the high-res image gallery above and the details in the press release below. BMW Concept Compact Sedan. Sporty, elegant, exclusive – the perfect statement-maker. 20.11.2015 Munich/Guangzhou. The BMW Group has chosen Auto Guangzhou 2015, one of the largest international motor shows in China, to present a very special new development to the global public: the company's vision of a four-door sedan for the compact segment. "The BMW Concept Compact Sedan reveals the potential we see in a compact sedan," says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design.