FOR the world's largest motor show, the world's most successful supplier of premium cars came up with no less than a dozen global and show premieres.
The new BMW X6 made its global debut at the IAA in Frankfurt, marking the arrival of the third generation of the BMW model that first spawned this breed of vehicle.
The new X6 combines the agility and versatility of a BMW X model with the attention-grabbing looks of one of the brand's coupes in more compelling fashion than ever. Crisply drawn lines, powerfully sculpted surfaces and proportions that have been stretched to even more dynamic effect help to give the car's exterior an athletic, commanding and imposing appearance.
The interior creates an exclusive ambience while also radiating sporting flair. Standard specification includes the BMW Live Cockpit Professional featuring a fully digital instrument cluster and a Control Display that each have a screen diagonal of 12.3 inches. One of the operating concept's key elements is the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant with voice control.
The new BMW X6 will be launched in November with a choice of four engines. Heading the line-up will be two M models boasting extremely powerful V8 petrol and straight-six diesel units.
Joining the standard version at Frankfurt is spectacular one-off show-car version in Vantablack - the ‘world's blackest black' - the fruits of a collaboration between BMW and Surrey NanoSystems.
Exclusive special editions of the BMW i3s and BMW i8 - the i3s Edition Roadstyle and i8 Ultimate Sophisto Edition - also had world premieres.
The interior and exterior design of the BMW i3s Edition RoadStyle includes a Fluid Black exterior paint finish with accents in the exclusive colour shade E-Copper, 20-inch twin-spoke BMW i light-alloy wheels in Jet Black, sun protection glass, natural leather appointments in Stellaric/Dalbergia Brown and an instrument panel in Dark Oak matt fine wood.
The special edition, whose 184hp puts even greater power at the driver's disposal, will be launched in November in a limited run of 1,000 units.
Just 200 examples of the BMW i8 Coupe and BMW i8 Roadster will be offered worldwide in Ultimate Sophisto Edition form. Its exterior paintwork in Sophisto Grey Brilliant Effect is complemented by accents in E-Copper - the first time this colour shade has been deployed in such a way - and similarly exclusive, 20-inch BMW i light-alloy wheels in radial-spoke design and a bi-colour Black/E-Copper finish. Another special feature making its debut appearance are clear-glass rear lights.
More unusually, the bomb and bulletproof BMW X5 Protection VR6 also made its global bow in Frankfurt.
Based on the BMW's successful SUV, the fourth-generation security vehicle offers protection against violent attacks using various types of firearms, blunt objects or explosive devices. It's equipped with model-specific armouring and security windows and comes with the brand's 530hp V8 engine.
The IAA is also the venue for the world premiere of the BMW Concept 4, a future-focused interpretation of a modern BMW coupe. Commanding the attention at the heart of the front-end design is a vertically oriented BMW kidney grille which references legendary brand classics such as the 328 and 3.0 CSi and therefore shine the spotlight on BMW's long and successful history as a maker of fine coupes.
Frankfurt is also hosting the world debut of the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT, a development vehicle that looks ahead to a small series of next-generation fuel cell vehicles based on the new BMW X5 and planned for 2022.
The BMW Group has been pushing ahead with its activities in the field of hydrogen fuel cell drive systems as part of a development collaboration with the Toyota Motor Corporation launched in 2013. BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo-based prototypes with a fuel cell drive system have been involved in testing since summer 2015. The BMW i Hydrogen NEXT is the next step in a strategy aimed at applying this drive technology in series-produced BMW Group models.
There's plenty of other new models to admire too. The third generation of the compact BMW 1 Series is celebrating its show premiere, as are the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe four-door luxury sports car, BMW M8 Coupe; and BMW M8 Convertible high-performance models, the new BMW 3 Series Touring and the new edition of the BMW X1.
The new 1 Series employs BMW's sophisticated front-wheel-drive platform for the first time, which helps to substantially increase the amount of space on offer inside the new model. BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive will also be available as soon as the model is launched later this month - in the 306hp range-topping BMW M135i xDrive and the 190hp BMW 120d xDrive.
A plug-in hybrid version of the BMW 3 Series Touring is going to be offered for the first time from summer 2020.