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BMW Group delays EV production in Oxford

The BMW Group had previously announced that all production of the Mini Cooper Electric and Mini Aceman would be moved from China to Oxford. However, the latest information suggests that Mini cars will continue to be imported from China, despite the fact that the EU has imposed additional tariffs on EVs imported from this Asian country. The reason is that the start of production in Oxford has been postponed indefinitely due to the slowdown in sales of electric cars.

BMW has invested more than 600 million pounds in the reconstruction of the factory, as well as the body pressing plant in nearby Swindon. The investment included the expansion of the body shop, the construction of a new area for the installation of batteries and new logistics facilities. A BMW Group spokesman said that they were currently considering restarting production of electric Mini models in Oxford, but did not say when this would happen. He also added that a previously announced government subsidy, which was supposed to be part of the investment in the factory in addition to BMW Group funds, would no longer be used.

The Oxford plant has about 4,000 employees and is expected to produce electric vehicles in the future. The production target of 200,000 units over the next five years seems unrealistic and will definitely be revised.

Source: BMW Group

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BMW Group delays EV production in Oxford
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BMW M4 CS Edition VR46

Valentino Rossi (The Doctor) is a nine-time Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champion and a legend of motorcycling. He is currently competing in the World Endurance Championship as a driver of the BMW M division, and in his honor the Bavarian manufacturer has presented two limited-edition versions of the road model BMW M4 CS, Edition VR46 Sport and Edition VR46 Style.

The BMW M4 CS Edition VR46 Sport is finished in Marina Bay Metallic, with the number 46 in Tanzanite Metallic on the sides. The Edition VR46 Style is finished in Matte Frozen Tanzanite Metallic with the number 46 in Frozen Marina Bay Metallic on the sides. They are equipped with adjusted shock absorbers, springs, stabilizers, and modified adaptive M suspension.

Both versions feature yellow details on the edges of the radiator grille, boot lid, brake calipers and rims, while the VR46 Sport has yellow details on both sides of the roof. There is also a VR/46 logo with Rossi’s signature on the roof.

Inside, the M Carbon bucket seats are covered in black/blue Merino leather with San Paolo yellow Alcantara on the sides and yellow VR46 logos on the headrests. Yellow accents can be seen on the Alcantara-wrapped M steering wheel, while the center console features a 1/46 badge. The VR/46 sign is located in several places in the cabin such as door sills, armrests, etc.

When it comes to the powertrain, both versions are powered by the same turbocharged 3.0-L 6-cylinder engine with 550 hp, which is enough for an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds.

Each version will be produced in 46 units, and BMW has not released a price.

Source: BMW

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BMW M4 CS Edition VR46
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BMW revealed the new generation of eDrive technology

At the Tech Days in Landshut, BMW revealed details about its new high-voltage batteries and electric motors. This is the sixth generation of eDrive technology, which will be used in every electric car in the Neue Klasse series, and the first model with this technology will go into production this year at a plant in Hungary.

The new batteries have cylindrical cells with an increased energy capacity of 20 percent compared to the previous Gen5 prismatic cells. BMW will use 4,695 cells (46 mm diameter, 95 mm height) for the sedans and sports models, and 46,120 cells (120 mm height) for the crossovers. This will enable 30 percent faster charging and a 30 percent longer range, with some models having a range of up to 900 kilometers on a single charge, thanks to the switch to an 800-volt architecture.

The new batteries will also support bidirectional charging, which will allow the cars to be used as a source of energy for the home or even to feed energy back into the power grid. This will be done using the new Energy Master central control unit, which monitors the high-voltage and low-voltage power supply, processes battery data and is responsible for the safe operation of the entire electrical system.

BMW has already patented a number of new solutions for the electrical system, and the first car built on the new platform will be the next-generation BMW iX3, which will debut in September this year.

Source: BMW