For a company with a rich and lengthy history, BMW still saw plenty of exciting developments to take place in 2011. There were the expected upgrades to the newest models, of course, but there's also much more to look back on in the last 12 months. Nalley BMW has assembled some of the highlights from BMW's stellar 2011.
New Models
2011 saw the debut of the third-generation BMW 6 Series Coupe and Convertible, since the second generation was discontinued after the 2010 year. The newest models feature an aluminum-intensive structure and larger size, but retain the sense of luxury that BMW is known for. The popular M3 Coupe and Convertible gained a USB/iPod interface, Bluetooth®, and BMW Assist as standard features.
New Division
In 2011, BMW debuted its new vehicle division, BMW i. With the tagline "Born Electric," this division is focused on creating new luxury cars that are both thrilling and sustainable. So far, the BMW i3 and BMW i8 Concepts have been revealed. The i3 is the world's first premium electric vehicle, while the i8 uses a plug-in hybrid design to combine a combustion engine and electric-drive system.
New Plants
BMW opened one new plant in 2011, while another saw a significant increase in operations. The Spartanburg, SC manufacturing plant was re-opened in January after an extended construction closure, and built 276,065 vehicles—an increase of 73% over 2010. Meanwhile, the BMW/SBL Group opened a new carbon-fiber manufacturing plant in Washington for use in the upcoming i3 and i8.
2011 was a great year for BMW, and for Nalley BMW as well. We look forward to seeing what new developments 2012 brings!