BMW allows drivers to have their cake and eat it too

Performance doesn't have to suffer when you're helping save the planet, argues BMW. Photo / Supplied

Here's an irony. In the image-aware world of prestige car brands, BMW is rolling out a range of 25 new models next month but most people you'd want to impress won't have a clue that you've bought one. Even owners may have a hard time appreciating the difference, until they find they're not visiting the pumps as often.

The stealthy improvements are real enough, but they lurk under the vehicle's skin, delivering better fuel economy and lower emissions without affecting the good performance for which BMWs are known.

Mark Gilbert, BMW Group's New Zealand managing director, likens it to "having your cake and eating it, too".

The vehicles, which include models across the range from the small 1-Series to the big X5 SUV and Z4 sports car, have been fitted with a package of corporate EfficientDynamics technologies. New Zealand is one of the first countries outside the EU to launch the improvements that deliver an average fuel saving of 7 per cent. Some cars, including the 118d diesel, save up to 16 per cent but others are only in the 5 per cent area.

BMWs have already appeared with some items from the EfficientDynamics basket, but the newcomers raid the corporate technology larder. There's automatic start-stop that shuts down the motor on manual-transmission models, while waiting for, say, traffic lights. Air vent control provides faster warming or cooling of the motor. Brake energy regeneration charges the battery, taking work away from the power-sapping alternator.

Some other EfficientDynamics measures include power steering that uses an electric motor; the widespread adoption of lighter materials - even the cores of steering wheels are being made lighter; an indicator on manual vehicles to tell the driver the best time to shift gear; and efficient high-pressure fuel injection.

The gear is available in various combinations across the range.

BMW's EfficientDynamics programme has examined every element of construction, design and drivetrain technology to cut fuel consumption and emissions. It gave BMW fleet-wide CO2 emission figures of 160g/100km. Among rivals, Gilbert said Audi was next at 176g/km, followed by Mercedes at 189g/km and Lexus on 207g/km.

Gilbert said the company had "a clear strategy for delivering zero-emissions mobility in the future", but right now could demonstrate what he called a substantial and continued reduction in fuel consumption and emissions. These would help achieve short-term emissions reduction targets required by governments around the world.

New Zealand has committed to an emissions reduction target range of 10 per cent to 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, but the country's gross emissions are already 24 per cent above 1990 levels, Gilbert noted.

Nick Smith, the Minister for Climate Change issues, has warned that achieving emissions reductions will mean higher costs for consumers and businesses for petrol and electricity.

Gilbert said CO2-based taxation will inevitably increase the cost of driving an inefficient vehicle. He criticised New Zealand's efforts to date, saying targets for fuel economy emissions reduction have been rejected; Road User charges have been increased for small, fuel-efficient diesel cars; and standards have been relaxed for ex-Singapore imports to the old Euro 2 criteria - the current European standard is Euro 5.

He favours the introduction of penalties for inefficient vehicles; basing registration and licensing fees on fuel consumption; introducing average fleet emissions reduction targets; and restricting used imports.