BMW received a slew of awards in 2015—not that we're counting. Let's face it: Most people like winners, and most drivers like driving the cars that other people think are winners. It's not just about which car-maker can round up the most awards, it's about what those awards represent; for BMW, they mostly represent innovation, design, performance, and sustainability.
If we went into detail on each award, this would be a very long article. So let’s just list them, and you can draw your own conclusions on how important they were:
The United Nations:
"Momentum Change Award" for establishing the world's largest fast-charging network for electric cars.
World Car Awards:
World Green Car for the BMW i8
Engine of the Year for the Turbo three-cylinder gasoline engine in the BMW i8
Engine of the Year for the drivetrain of the BMW i8
Engine of the Year overall award for the BMW i8
Engine of the Year for the BMW three-liter, inline six-cylinder gasoline engine
GreenTec Awards:
GreenTec Award 2015: BMW i for multimodal route planner in the Automobility category
EuroCarBody:
"EuroCarBodyAward 2015": BMW 7 Series for innovative body construction
"auto motor und sport":
"Best Cars": BMW 5 Series in the Upper Mid-Range category
"Paul Pietsch Prize": BMW i8 as the most innovative technology concept
"autonis":
BMW 1 Series as the best design innovation in the compact class
"auto motor und sport" and "CHIP":
"Connected Car 2015": BMW i8 for the best vehicle connectivity
"Auto Zeitung":
"Auto Trophy": BMW 5 Series in the Upper Mid-Range category
"Design Trophy": BMW 2 Series Convertible in the Compact Class category\
BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé in the Sedans/Coupés/Vans category
"Bild am Sonntag" / "Auto Bild":
"Golden Steering Wheel": BMW X1 in the Mid-Range SUV category
BMW 7 Series in the Luxury Performance category
BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer in the Vans category
"Auto Bild" / "Computer Bild":
"Connected Car Award": BMW 7 Series as the "Connected Car of the Year"
BMW in the "Assistance Systems - Safety" category
BMW in the "Assistance Systems - Comfort" category
"Auto Bild Allrad":
"All-Wheel Car of the Year": BMW i8 in the All-Wheel Hybrid category
"Auto Bild Sportscars":
"Sports Cars of the Year": BMW M4 GTS in the Serial Production Coupés category
BMW 3.0 CSL Homage in the Concept Cars category
"Auto Bild" /Schwacke:
"Value Master 2015": BMW i3 in the Electric Vehicles category
BMW 325d Touring in the Mid-Range category
BMW X3 xDrive35d in the Compact SUVs category
"sport auto":
"sport auto Award 2015": BMW M135i in the Compact Cars category
BMW M235i in the category Coupés up to €50,000
BMW 335i in the category Sedans/Estate Cars up to €50,000
BMW M3 in the category Sedans/Estate Cars up to €100,000
"Motor Klassik":
"Motor Klassik Awards 2015": BMW 4 Series Coupé in the Classic of the Future (Mid-Range) category
International Forum Design:
"iF Design Awards" 2015: BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé, BMW M4 Coupé, BMW X6 and BMW i8—all in the category "Product – Automobiles, Vehicles, Bikes"
"Firmenauto" / DEKRA:
"Company Car of the Year": BMW i3 REX in the Small Cars category
BMW 118d in the Compact Class category
DEKRA:
"Used Car Report 2015": BMW Z4 in the category Convertibles/Sports Cars (Reliability)
J.D. Power and Associates:
"Initial Quality Award 2015": BMW 2 Series in the Small Premium Cars category
BMW 4 Series in the Compact Premium Cars category
BMW 5 Series in the Premium Cars category
"APEAL Study 2015": BMW 4 Series in the Compact Premium Cars category
BMW 6 Series in the Mid-Size Premium Cars category
BMW 2 Series in the Small Premium Cars category
"Platinum Plant Quality Award 2015": BMW Plant Rosslyn, South Africa
"Silver Plant Quality Award 2015": BMW Plant Dingolfing
"UK Car of the Year":
"UK Car of the Year": BMW i8 as the best car of the year
"Best Performance Car of the Year": BMW i8—best sports cars of the year
"Popular Science":
"Best of What's New" 2015: BMW 7 Series in the automobile category
"Blogger Auto Awards":
"Blogger Auto Awards 2015": BMW i3 in the Small Cars category
BMW i8 in the Sports Cars category
"Schweizer Illustrierte":
"Swiss Car of the Year": BMW 7 Series in the "Most stylish car in Switzerland"
"Freie Fahrt":
"Big Austrian Automobile Prize" 2015: BMW 7 Series in the "Premium" category
"Car Styling Magazine":
"the golden marker trophy": BMW i3 for best automobile design
"The Washington Auto Show":
"Luxury Green Car of the Year": BMW i8—Most Environment-Friendly Luxury Car
"COTY Australia":
"Car of the Year 2015": BMW i3 as the best car of the year
"L ʼárgus":
"Trophée Argus": BMW 218d Active Tourer in the Compact/Family Car category
“J-COTY“:
“Car of the Year Japan”: BMW 2 Series Active/Gran Tourer—Import Car of the Year
"China Business Journal":
"Technology Innovation Award": BMW 7 Series in the Innovative Technology category
"The Beijing News":
"Luxury Car of the Year": BMW 7 Series in the Luxury Performance category
"auto, motor und sport China":
"Best Cars 2015": BMW i3 in the category Best Compact Car
"West China City Daily":
"The Most Anticipated": BMW 7 Series in the D Class category
"163.com":
"Luxury Car of the Year": BMW 7 Series in the Luxury Performance category
"yiche.com":
"5 Best Imported Cars of the Year": BMW 7 Series in the Import Vehicles category
"National Business Daily":
"2015 Luxury Car": BMW 7 Series in the Luxury Car of the Year category
"emao.com":
"2016 Large Luxury Car Recommendation": BMW 7 Series in the Luxury Performance category
"youcheyihou":
"China Mobile Internet Annual Model Series Award": BMW 7 Series in the Mobile Internet category
"Auto Headline":
"Annual Top New Media Communications Case": BMW 7 Series
"Auto World":
"Car of the Year": BMW 7 Series
"Tencent":
"Imported Car of the Year": BMW 7 Series in the Import Cars category
"ifeng.com":
"Global Luxury Car of the Year": BMW 7 Series in the Luxury Performance category
"Nanfang Metropolis Daily":
"Imported Luxury Car of the Year": BMW 7 Series in the Luxury Performance category
"China Business News":
"Elite Car of the Year": BMW 7 Series
"12gang.com":
"Luxury Car of the Year": BMW 7 Series in the Luxury Performance category
"Zaker":
"New Car Appreciation": BMW 7 Series
"21th Century Media":
"Car of the Year": BMW 7 Series
"Motor Trend":
"Imported Car of the Year": BMW 7 Series in the Import Cars category
"chexun.com":
"The Most Popular Luxury Car": BMW 7 Series in the Luxury Performance category
The winners in the various categories were selected by panels comprising automotive journalists, editors, or experts, market researchers, and in some cases, by a magazine’s readers.
Drawing the most recognition in 2015 were the new 7 Series, the BMW i8, and the BMW i3, while some of BMW’s M cars also received accolades, like the M4 GTS and the M3.
Gathering this many awards is a tough act to follow, and we’re anxious to see which BMWs will impress the judges and readers in 2016.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of BMW AG.]
