February 18, 2016 – Three awards go to BMW in the “auto motor und sport” readers’ vote “BEST CARS 2016”: the new BMW 7 Series and the second generation of the BMW X1 launched 2015 were the readers’ first choice in “Luxury Performance Segment” and “Compact SUV” respectively just a short time after their market debuts. And for the sixth time in succession, readers chose the BMW 5 Series in the “Upper Mid- Range” category.
Having seen its public debut in autumn 2015 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the new BMW 7 Series attracted 22 per cent of readers’ votes in the category “Luxury Performance Segment”. Its numerous innovations include a body structure with Carbon Core, making the new BMW 7 Series up to 130 kilograms lighter than the previous generation. Non-dazzle BMW laserlight, partially automated driver assistance systems and the “Executive Drive Pro” suspension system take driving pleasure, safety and travel comfort to the very highest level. In terms of operating comfort, the BMW 7 Series offers unique innovations such as gesture control, remote-controlled parking and Touch Command at the rear. All model variants of the BMW 7 Series are available with extended wheelbase and BMW xDrive. The power units currently on offer a V8 and an in-line 6-cylinder petrol engine.
The BMW 5 Series has been at the top of the best-seller lists for premium business models for half a decade. Last year more than 347,000 of the model were purchased worldwide – and this popularity is reflected in the “auto motor und sport” “BEST CARS 2016” awards: here the BMW 5 Series made it to the top of the winner’s rostrum for the sixth time in succession, this year attracting 23.7 per cent of the votes in the “Upper Mid-Range” category. Three body variants contribute to the car’s popularity, as do a wide range of engines with four, six and eight cylinders. With its “combination of comfort, dynamic performance and modern infotainment, the 5 Series is just what customers are looking for”, according to “auto motor und sport” in its explanation of the model’s success.
The second model generation of the Sports Activity Vehicle BMW X1 went on the market in 2015 with a body design that is characteristic of the new generation of the BMW X model family. It combines robust proportions with dynamic lines, giving the BMW X1 a supreme presence. Certain new features are now available for the BMW X1 for the first time, for example the BMWHead-Up Display which projects the most important driving-related information onto the windscreen into the driver’s field of vision, full LED headlamps and Dynamic Damper Control. Readers were suitably impressed with this overall package and gave the BMW X1 22.6 per cent of votes to put it first in the “Compact SUV” category.
115,239 participants chose their favourites from among 364 vehicles in eleven categories this year. In addition to its three class victories, the excellent overall showing by BMW also included five more top three placements for the models BMW i3, BMW 2 Series Coupé, BMW 3 Series, BMW 6 Series Convertible and BMW 2 Series Active Tourer/Gran Tourer.