The BMW Group has walked away with no less than four prizes for BMW ConnectedDrive in the almanac, internationally renowned "Plus Ten Laurels". 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 10 Laurels" seal of quality.

But the most efficient, the nearly 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 10" factor, which accentuates the added value of a product through appropriate innovations, distinguishing it from all its competitors.

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To select these products, an international, industry-neutral jury of 134 specialised journalists and marketplace experts from 32 countries evaluates extraordinary pattern, innovative technologies besides as intelligent and straightforward operating concepts. Ergonomic and ecological product attributes, the utilise of high-quality materials and their processing are other equally important factors that become into the decision of a "Plus Ten Award" honour.

In the 'Automotive' evaluation category, the jurors were highly impressed past BMW ConnectedDrive. The quadruple laurels with the prestigious "Plus 10 Accolade" once again underscores the peak position BMW has taken over the contest with regard to intelligent networking of the driver, the vehicle and the environment. The portfolio of mobility services and commuter assistance systems from BMW ConnectedDrive at present 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 part of a personal driving assistant and – by networking intelligently with the environment – gives the driver access to vehicle-specific data co-ordinate to the state of affairs and whenever information technology is required.

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BMW ConnectedDrive: Networking with a long history.

The origin of BMW ConnectedDrive can exist traced back to the early seventies when BMW engineers implemented the outset networking between the exterior world and the vehicle systems on a paradigm. This was followed by additional innovations, which proved to be path-breaking for the entire motorcar industry. In 1999, the BMW ConnectedDrive concept celebrated its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Testify. The functions of Data Service, Emergency Telephone 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 than comfort, Infotainment and prophylactic – comprises a continuously growing number of mobility services and driver assist systems. This includes innovations like the total-colour head-up brandish, camera-based traffic sign recognition, BMW Night Vision with pedestrian recognition and Active Prowl Control with Stop & Get role. 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. "Existent-Fourth dimension Traffic Information", which provides information on the electric current traffic situation in real time and offers alternative routes with less traffic if required, will be a function of the portfolio from the autumn of 2011, as will Panoramio and Street View supported by BMW Online, likewise 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 too 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 function 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 Cyberspace 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 ]