Experience BMW i

Welcome to a new world of visionary mobility.

European premiere of "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol" at BMW Welt in Munich on December 9th 2011 welcomes Tom Cruise and co-stars to the red carpet. The BMW i8 Concept is successor to the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Car which appears alongside many other BMW models in the recently released film.

With its ultra-modern architecture, BMW Welt played perfect host to the blockbuster event, which brought the film's star together with actress Paula Patton, producer Bryan Burk and Academy Award-winning producer Brad Bird.

In the film, Cruise can be seen driving the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics — whose successor, the BMW i8, will be ready for series production by 2014. Thanks to the fascinating sports car's wide range of technical features, Cruise's character Ethan Hunt is able to steer smartly, safely — and of course swiftly — through the city of Mumbai's notorious traffic.

"Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol" opened in cinemas worldwide December 15th.

On December 2nd, BMW i and Dwell took the stage together at the 11th annual Art Basel Miami Beach, one of the most prestigious art events in the world. To celebrate the launch of the BMW i3 Concept and BMW i8 Concept, the 2 vehicles were presented to almost 1.000 attendees in an exciting event space designed by inimitable Miami architect Chad Oppenheim, within the walls of a parking structure by Swiss architecture team Herzog & de Meuron.

It seemed to be the consensus among the guests at the Sustaethics Event on December 2nd, that the ongoing partnership between Dwell and BMW i is a most fruitful one. The event – as was immediately apparent from the 500 trees dotting the event space (a donation from BMW i to the Million Trees Miami initiative) – set the stage for the future of the brand: a holistic approach to rethinking the way we live and move.

Watch the video below to see DJ Chelsea Leyland play against the backdrop of the BMW i3 and BMW i8 concept cars, as well as hear from Benoit Jacob, Head Designer of BMW i and Michela O'Connor Abrams, President of Dwell Media.

foursquare, the world's leading location-based social network, is now host to hundreds of tips for sustainable design, curated by BMW i.

At the IAA 2011 in Frankfurt, BMW i was a central element of the BMW presentation. The unique BMW i section, placed in the middle on the hall and elevated above the other exhibits, was built from re-used and sustainable materials, with a strong focus on energy-balance.

Watch the video from the construction of the stand below:

As part of the market rollout of BMW i – the sustainable and visionary sub-brand from BMW – the exclusive Austrian natural cosmetics brand Susanne Kaufmann is developing the innovative product concept “Purif-i“. 

Purif-i will be presented to the press and selected customers in October and November of this year in New York, Berlin and Hong Kong. In New York the BMW Guggenheim Lab is being made available specially for the purpose. A panel discussion chaired by Jane Larkworthy (Beauty Editor of W) will focus on the topic of „New Paths“ in sustainability marketing. In Berlin, „New Paths“ will be examined from the artistic aspect. Tiefschwarz will be enveloping the product in a „Sound Cloud“. And Hong Kong will be focusing on the topic of retail. How? We’re not letting on just yet.

Price: 14 Euro (75ml), now on sale in stores – or order online at:

SUSANNE KAUFMANN organic treats

Uncompromisingly natural, and consistently results-oriented, Susanne Kaufmann organic treats combine modern science with active ingredients from the world of Alpine flora to create one highly efficient skincare system. The purely natural, innovative products are created according to the strictest ecological principles in a small manufactory in the Bregenz Forest in Austria, and now have fans all over the world.

See pictures from the launch of Purif-i in New York at the BMW Guggenheim Lab below: 

The music for the new BMW i brand trailer was especially created by renowned Hollywood composer, Abel Korzeniowski. He became known for his music in Tom Ford's directing debut, "A Single Man", which earned him a Golden Globe nomination. Already in the first BMW i brand trailer, the piece "Swimming" from that film can be heard.

Korzeniowski's compositions have their own unique style. He creates a sophisticated blend of classical orchestral elements with electronic sounds and modern ambient music.

"The whole concept BMW i really inspired me ... you get the impression of a new but familiar technology, not a classic invention concerns, but a very human technology. Just like the message 'Born Electric'." explains the composer Abel Korzeniowski.

The exclusive BMW i composition for the new brand film was recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London with a full orchestra.

BMW i was one of the strategic partners of PICNIC festival, which took place in Amsterdam on September 14-16, 2011.

PICNIC prides itself on drawing attention towards some of the world's most innovative ideas for business, people and society. As the theme of this year's festival was "Urban Futures," lectures, discussions and workshops revolved around the challenges and opportunities that stem from the rapid development of megacities and, consequently, their impact on their inhabitants. The festival program focused on various urban scenarios and perspectives on mobility, infrastructure, sustainability and design.

During PICNIC, BMW i participated in two events:

1. A lecture by Benoit Jacob, Head of design BMW i, titled "Mobility Scenarios: Let's Design the Future" panel

2. Urban Mobility – Challenges, Ideas, Startups. A hands-on workshop session moderated by Tony Douglas, Marketing BMW i Mobility Services

Click here to find out more

What is your vision of future mobility? BMW i recently asked people all over the world – in London, Berlin, Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo – and got expectedly diverse answers. But one thing became very clear: significant change is seen as inevitable. The time for this change is nearly upon us. Find out yourself in the video below...

Global Innovation Series

BMW i has teamed up with Mashable, the top source for news in social and digital media, technology and web culture, to bring you a new weekly feature focusing on innovation in the world of urban mobility and beyond.

From June 9th onwards – initially in Munich and later in Berlin - the two companies will join forces to offer a modern mobility concept under the brand-name DriveNow; this new product will combine vehicles and service of the highest quality with simple, flexible usage. DriveNow is the first car sharing concept to place an emphasis on efficient premium vehicles and comprehensive service. Vehicles may be hired and dropped off wherever the customer needs them, thereby clearly differentiating DriveNow from products offered by other competitors.

Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of the BMW AG for Sales and Marketing stated: “As a mobility provider, the BMW Group is not simply an automobile manufacturer. There is a growing demand for flexible mobility products in urban areas. DriveNow’s premium car sharing services are aimed precisely at this gap in the market. We are aiming to launch a profitable new line of business while at the same time introducing potential new customers to our brands.”

DriveNow will be offered under the new BMW sub-brand BMW i and will, during the initial phase, offer various BMW 1 Series and MINI models. All cars involved in the project are premium vehicles with at least four seats, luxury fittings (e.g. parking assistance, air conditioning, heated seats, etc.) and fitted with extremely efficient engines. The plan is also to use electric vehicles in the future.

Customers can find available vehicles via the internet under www.drive-now.com, via a smartphone app or simply at the roadside. Vehicles can be used immediately without advance reservation or they may be booked in advance via internet or smartphone app. The system is “keyless”: a conventional car key is not necessary. DriveNow vehicles can be opened and closed with a chip on the driving license and activated by pressing the start button.

DriveNow was launched during an event in Munich. Watch scenes and interviews from the launch in the clip below:

After the initial launch in Munich and Berlin, DriveNow will be launched in other European cities during the coming years.

BMW i and Dwell explored the future of transportation during a special New York City design week event. Experts and opinionators came together to debate the changing transportation landscape in US cities. How can greener solutions be able to reverse generations of environmental abuse, ensuring our urban environments survive and thrive for generations to come?

Get an impression of the event at La Venue, New York and hear opinions of presenters like Sam Grawe, Editor-in-Chief of Dwell Magazine; Benoit Jacob, head of design for BMW i; or Michael Joachim, co-founder of Planetary ONE and Terreform ONE.

“Both cars have been designed specifically for their respective alternative drive systems. We used the innovative architecture and CFRP (Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic) to cancel out practically all of the extra weight added by the batteries. For our customers this means superior driving dynamics combined with significantly increased range using electric power,” explained Klaus Draeger. It was announced that, like the BMW i3, the BMW i8 will also be manufactured at the BMW plant in Leipzig.

BMW i encompasses a raft of developments. “Mobility requirements are changing in rapidly expanding megacities” Ian Robertson stated. “Our commitment to car-enabled mobility services, like BMW ConnectedDrive, will be significantly expanded under BMW i. We’ll also grow our car-related premium mobility services. What’s truly groundbreaking is that we’ll begin offering car-independent premium mobility services. BMW i aims to provide customized mobility solutions across a seamless network of premium products and premium services.”

To achieve this, a Venture Capital company was founded in New York City, BMW i Ventures. BMW i Ventures aims to invest in, and build long-term partnerships with projects which have high potential in the field of mobility services. Ian Robertson announced MyCityWay as the first strategic partnership: “As a mobile app, MyCityWay provides users with information on public transportation, parking availability, and local entertainment for over 40 cities in the US. Another 40 cities will be part of the global rollout, including Munich, of course.”