BMW to showcase fleet at Olympics
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LONDON -- BMW has completed an 800-square-meter pavilion within the Olympic Park that will showcase its cars during the Olympics in London.
BMW, which is the official automotive sponsor of the Summer Games, provided 4,000 hybrid, diesel and electric-powered vehicles to transport officials, media, volunteers and athletes during the Games, which start Friday.
The double-deck pavilion features current vehicles, as well concept cars such as the i8 plug-in hybrid supercar and the Mini Rocketman city car.
The pavilion sits over the river that runs through the park and directs some of the water to flow down the sides of the building.
In a statement BMW said it expected the pavilion to "draw thousands of visitors each day."
Included in the low-emission themed display are the company's E-Scooter and i Pedelec electric bike concept, as well as the i3 full-electric subcompact concept.
Low emissions are a big theme of the London Olympics and BMW won the right to supply vehicles after promising its fleet would average less than 120 gram per kilometer of CO2.
The bulk of the vehicles supplied are the 320d ED and the 520d, both are powered by a diesel engine. Of the 4,000, 200 will be electric, split between the 1-series based BMW ActiveE and Mini E.
Nissan was also in the running to supply cars to the London Olympics and had promised to deliver 2,000 battery-powered Leafs.
Tim Abbott, head of BMW Group in the UK said in a statement that the pavilion provided "a powerful visual symbol of our commitment to the highest standards of innovation in design and sustainability."
You can reach Nick Gibbs at nick.gibbs@btinternet.com.
