Gelber Engel award for the BMW 520d

ADAC “Gelber Engel” award for the BMW 520d EfficientDynamics Edition BluePerformance in the category “Car of the Future”.

Munich.The “Gelber Engel” award, presented this year by the Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (ADAC) for the ninth time, is one of the most significant prizes in the automotive sector and highly esteemed by manufacturers. Dr. Norbert Reithofer, CEO of the BMW AG, was overjoyed at receiving the “Gelber Engel” award for the BMW 520d EfficientDynamics Edition BluePerformance in the category “Car of the Future“.

In a vote to determine Germany’s most popular car among the readers of Motorwelt and the users of the ADAC Internet platform, the BMW 3 Series came third. In keeping with tradition, the award ceremony was this year again held in the Allerheiligen-Hofkirche at the Münchner Residenz in the presence of high-calibre representatives from industry, the media and politics. Europe’s largest automobile club presents the award in a total of five categories: “Car”, “Innovation and Environment”, “Future”, “Quality” and “Personality”.

The current winner of the “Gelber Engel”, the BMW 520d EfficientDynamics Edition BluePerformance, fulfils the principle of sustainability to the highest degree: Avoidance of losses, maximum utilisation of energy. As a complement to the comprehensive package of BMW EfficientDynamics measures aero wheels, tyres with reduced roll resistance, a modified engine design, an adapted final drive ratio and an optimised gear shift indicator ensure a remarkably low consumption level of just 4.5 litres per 100 kilometres in the EU test cycle and a CO2 value of 119 grams per kilometre. In addition, the innovative BMW BluePerformance system featuring an additional catalytic converter helps to further reduce harmful substances in the exhaust gas, the so called nitrogen oxides. And all this without compromising driving pleasure. On the contrary, with an output of 135 kW (184 hp), the BMW 520d EfficientDynamics Edition BluePerformance excels through sporting driving characteristics.

The “Gelber Engel” is awarded to those who continue to make progress in the promotion of mobility. In the category “Innovation and Environment” in particular, the ADAC honours each year ideas that contribute towards safe, consumer-friendly and eco-friendly mobility. This year, BMW has been nominated for this category for its effective measures implemented against speedometer manipulation. It is assumed that each year in Germany alone, the actual mileage of around two million used vehicles is lowered by targeted manipulation in order to obtain a higher price. The total damage induced to the used car sector is estimated to be at around six million Euros each year. Thanks to the development of appropriate security measures, current BMW Group vehicles cannot be manipulated solely by connecting to the on-board diagnostic socket. It requires much more effort, significantly increasing the risk for potential fraudsters. Moreover, any attempts at manipulation inevitably leave clear traces that can later be forensically substantiated. The whole idea is the result of continuous and systematic measures by the BMW Group to combat increasing speedometer trickery.

ADAC “Gelber Engel” awards are among the most important trophies in the German automotive industry. The accolades handed out by juries of experts are seen as a significant seal of quality in each category. The result in the category “Car” is decided upon by the around 19 million ADAC members.