BMW EfficientDynamics: Fuel Saving Features

Motoring Channel Staff - 5/May/2009

Melbourne, Australia – BMW has launched an 'eco' offensive in Australia, upgrading around half its vehicles with a range of fuel saving functions.

Under the EfficientDynamics banner, the various new technologies 'will reduce the fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions of twenty six BMW models without sacrificing performance' says the German marque.

"For Australian customers, the rollout of updated and new BMW models means improved fuel consumption, lower emissions, and importantly, no change to the performance they expect from The Ultimate Driving Machine," says BMW Australia's managing director Stavros Yallouridis.

Australia will be the first market outside of the European Union to offer a comprehensive array of BMW EfficientDynamics technologies.

Some of the advances, which reduce fuel consumption by up to 12%, include an Auto Start Stop function, Brake Energy Regeneration, gearshift point indicators and active aerodynamics/air vent control.

"Whilst some manufacturers are reducing performance to achieve fuel savings, this is not consistent with BMW's philosophy of offering the Ultimate Driving Machine," says Yallouridis.

BMW Australia says that deliveries of the 26 new vehicles (almost half of BMW's fleet) equipped with the latest BMW EfficientDynamics technologies will begin this month (May, 2009). The rest of the range will be updated with EfficientDynamics in 2010.

There will be an average increase in price of around $550 across the updated models in Australia but this isn't expected to affect sales. 

BMW is realigning its image with the new low carbon push and the latest Dow Jones Sustainability Index has named the BMW Group as the "most sustainable car maker worldwide".

The German company claims that in 2008 the enhancement of efficiency on BMW models saved 150 million litres of fuel Europe-wide (compared to 2006). The following models will benefit from EfficientDynamics upgrades:

1 Series Hatch

The BMW 120d manual, offered in Australia for the first time, features the Auto Start Stop function, Brake Energy Regeneration and gearshift point indicator. The new model is BMW’s most efficient vehicle in Australia with a combined fuel consumption figure of 4.8 litres per 100 kilometres and CO2 emissions of just 128 grams per kilometre. Armed with 130 kW of power and a muscular 350Nm of torque, the BMW 120d manual will race to 100 km/h in just 7.6 seconds. Brake Energy Regeneration is also added to the BMW 130i Sport helping reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 10 per cent.

1 Series Coupé & Convertible

The gearshift point indicator (manual transmission) and Brake Energy Regeneration are now fitted to the BMW 125i Coupé, BMW 135i Coupé, BMW 125i Convertible and BMW 135i Convertible. In addition, active aerodynamics (air vent control) features on BMW 125i Coupé and Convertible models.

3 Series

The BMW 320d Sedan further improves its efficiency credentials with the addition of Brake Energy Regeneration. As a result, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are reduced by 10 per cent. The combined fuel consumption is now rated at 5.4 litres per 100 kilometres and emissions at 144 grams per kilometre.

Brake Energy Regeneration also contributes to the five per cent reduction in both CO2 emissions and fuel consumption for the BMW 335i Touring. Combined fuel consumption for this model falls by 0.5 litres to 9.3 litres per 100 kilometres.

The BMW 335i Coupé and BMW 335i Convertible are now also equipped with the gearshift point indicator (manual transmission models) and Brake Energy Regeneration. The BMW 335i Coupé records a fuel consumption reduction of four per cent or 0.7 litres per 100 kilometres. CO2 emissions fall by four per cent. The combined fuel consumption for the BMW 335i Convertible falls by 0.8 litres per 100 kilometres or four percent. CO2 emissions are reduced by five percent.

The new BMW 330d is a further example of the benefits of EfficientDynamics. The 180 kW 3.0-litre straight-six engine accelerates the 330d from 0-100 km/h in just 6.2 seconds, whilst combined fuel consumption is a miserly 6.8 litres per 100 kilometres.

5 Series

Active aerodynamics (air vent control) and Brake Energy Regeneration are now standard on the BMW 520d. The BMW 530d and BMW 550i add Brake Energy Regeneration to their list of standard equipment. The BMW 530d records a 0.9 litre reduction in combined fuel consumption to 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres. CO2 emissions fall from 200 to 176 grams per kilometre.

The BMW 520d improves fuel consumption and emissions both by 8 per cent for a combined fuel consumption rating of just 5.6 litres per 100 kilometres and CO2 emissions of only 149 grams per kilometre. The BMW 520d boasts best-in-class fuel consumption and CO2 emissions and accelerates to 100 km/h in just 8.4 seconds.

The BMW 550i records an improvement in combined fuel consumption of 0.5 litres per 100 kilometres (five per cent). Emissions are reduced by five per cent.

X3 Sports Activity Vehicle

The entire X3 Sports Activity Vehicle range now benefits from the introduction of active aerodynamics (air vent control). The X3 xDrive20d now has a combined fuel consumption rating of 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres, representing an improvement of four per cent. CO2 emissions have also fallen by four per cent. The BMW X3 xDrive20d boasts best-in-class fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and acceleration.

The combined fuel consumption for the X3 xDrive25i drops six per cent from 10.1 to 9.5 litres per 100 kilometres. Likewise, the X3 xDrive30i also benefits from a six per cent reduction in emissions and fuel consumption, now 9.7 litres per 100 kilometres. Combined fuel consumption for the X3 xDrive30d falls from 8.1 to 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres, a four per cent reduction. CO2 emissions are reduced by five per cent.

7 Series

The new BMW 730d is testament to the beneficial effects of BMW EfficientDynamics. Despite impressive accelerative performance, the BMW 730d returns the lowest fuel consumption yet in a BMW luxury class vehicle of this type; using just 7.2 litres of diesel per 100 km. Standout BMW EfficientDynamics technologies on the BMW 730d include active aerodynamics (air vent control) and Brake Energy Regeneration.

The BMW 730d boasts best-in-class fuel consumption and CO2 emissions and takes only 7.2 seconds to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h.

The new BMW 740i and 740Li both feature active aerodynamics (air vent control) and Brake Energy Regeneration, for significantly reduced fuel consumption and emissions over their predecessor models. The BMW 740i, for example, is 12 per cent more efficient than its predecessor in terms of fuel consumption and 13 per cent better in terms of emissions.

The new BMW 750i and 750Li both come equipped with Brake Energy Regeneration helping these models achieve reductions in emissions, whilst improving acceleration compared to their predecessor models.

Z4 Roadster

The new Z4 Roadster range has just been launched in Australia (see breakout box on right) and now features the latest BMW EfficientDynamics technologies, such as the gearshift point indicator, electric power steering, smooth running rear axle, lightweight engineering and High Precision Injection (sDrive35i). 

Despite a change in vehicle concept which now favours a folding metal hard top roof, these technologies have helped the Z4 Roadster maintain comparable figures for both fuel consumption and emissions with the predecessor model. For example, the Z4 sDrive23i (automatic) has a combined fuel consumption rating of 8.9 litres per 100 kilometres, which is 0.1 litres better than its predecessor, despite the added weight attributed to the new roof concept.

Efficient Dynamic Technologies

Auto Start Stop function and gearshift point indicator: Switching off the engine automatically when stopping at the traffic lights reduces fuel consumption on average by three per cent, with an even more significant reduction of fuel consumption in city traffic under individual driving conditions.

The gearshift point indicator, in turn, showing the driver the ideal point for shifting gears in order to reduce fuel consumption, offers a further potential for even greater efficiency. And, perhaps most importantly, these improvements come to bear not only in the official test cycle, but also under everyday driving conditions typical of the “regular” customer.

Active aerodynamics: Active control of the air flaps in the radiator grille and the brake air shafts enhances the car’s overall efficiency to an even higher level. The air flaps are opened only when the engine really requires additional cooling air, while remaining closed when not required in order to optimise the car’s aerodynamics.

Brake Energy Regeneration: Intelligent energy management serves to efficiently generate electric power for the car’s on-board network. To provide this effect, the alternator is activated only when the engine is in overrun and when applying the brakes, thus relieving the engine of the usual loads and power uptake. Instead, Brake Energy Regeneration generates electric power from energy otherwise wasted as lost heat in the brake system of a conventional car, enhancing fuel economy by approximately three per cent in the official test cycle.

Related Links:
- BMW X6 M (2009)
- BMW 5 Series Preview (2011)
- BMW 7 Series V12 Twin-Turbo (2010)
- BMW 130i M Sport (Road Test)
- BMW Z4 (2010)
- BMW 335i Coupe (Road Test)
- BMW Concept 5 Series GT (2009)
- BMW Concept X1 (2009)
- BMW Concept CS (Concept)
- BMW M3 Coupe (2008)
- BMW 120i (Road Test)