BMW ConnectedDrive wins four prizes at “Plus X Award”

The BMW Group has walked away with no less than four prizes for BMW Connected Drive in the annual, internationally renowned “Plus X Award”. Apart from the top awards in the categories Innovation, Design and Operating Comfort, the jury also honoured BMW ConnectedDrive as the “Best Technology of the Year 2011” with an additional “Plus X Award” seal of quality.

Only the most efficient, the most innovative and the most sustainable products are considered for the honours in the world’s biggest technology, sports and lifestyle competition. They must have at least one or more additional features, i.e. that certain “Plus X” factor, which accentuates the added value of a product through appropriate innovations, distinguishing it from all its competitors.

To select these products, an international, industry-neutral jury of 134 specialised journalists and market experts from 32 countries evaluates extraordinary design, innovative technologies as well as intelligent and straightforward operating concepts. Ergonomic and ecological product attributes, the use of high-quality materials and their processing are other equally important factors that go into the decision of a “Plus X Award” honour.

In the ‘Automotive’ evaluation category, the jurors were highly impressed by BMW ConnectedDrive. The quadruple honour with the prestigious “Plus X Award” once again underscores the peak position BMW has taken over the competition with regard to intelligent networking of the driver, the vehicle and the environment. The portfolio of mobility services and driver assistance systems from BMW ConnectedDrive now comprises numerous innovative functions that increase travelling comfort, take the infotainment experience to a completely new dimension and further optimise the safety of BMW vehicles in the most varied driving situations. BMW ConnectedDrive assumes the role of a personal driving assistant and – by networking intelligently with the environment – gives the driver access to vehicle-specific information according to the situation and whenever it is required.

BMW ConnectedDrive: Networking with a long history.

The origin of BMW ConnectedDrive can be traced back to the early seventies when BMW engineers implemented the first networking between the outside world and the vehicle systems on a prototype. This was followed by additional innovations, which proved to be path-breaking for the entire automobile industry. In 1999, the BMW ConnectedDrive concept celebrated its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The functions of Information Service, Emergency Call (new in Europe) and traffic information from BMW Assist, which were all new then, were presented at the fair. Today, the philosophy of BMW ConnectedDrive – perfect networking for more comfort, Infotainment and safety – comprises a continuously growing number of mobility services and driver assistance systems. This includes innovations like the full-colour head-up display, camera-based traffic sign recognition, BMW Night Vision with pedestrian recognition and Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function. BMW further underscored its leadership in the Infotainment sector with a new interface technology for the integration of the iPhone and the iPod in the vehicle. Its own apps such as “BMW Connected” and “My BMW Remote” additionally provide increased convenience. “Real-Time Traffic Information”, which provides information on the current traffic situation in real time and offers alternative routes with less traffic if required, will be a part of the portfolio from the autumn of 2011, as will Panoramio and Street View supported by BMW Online, as well as GoogleTM local search.

The options offered by BMW ConnectedDrive are available on a model-specific basis for all BMW series as a special feature. With new products from the original BMW accessories programme, the driver of a BMW now also gets offers and solutions for networked driving, which he can even retrofit in an existing vehicle.

BMW is already demonstrating to what extent a vehicle can become an integral part of a networked world in the future on the concept vehicle BMW Vision ConnectedDrive. The two-seater roadster communicates with the driver and the passenger as well as with the environment and the Internet and integrates numerous future-oriented functions and thinking approaches. BMW engineers are already working on turning the range of functions demonstrated in the framework of BMW ConnectedDrive into reality.

Source: BMW