BMW

BMW - Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (Bavarian Motor Works) - is an independent German motor car manufacturer. BMW is one of the world's leading performance-luxury manufacturers of cars and motorcycles, along with being the parent company of the MINI and Rolls-Royce car brands.

BMWs follow a certain nomenclature in the naming many of their vehicles; a 3 digit number is followed by 1 or 2 letters. The first number is the series number. The next two numbers traditionally represent the engine displacement in cubic centimeters divided by 100.

The system of letters is as follows:

• d = diesel
• i = fuel-injected
• x = all wheel drive (xDrive)
• L = long wheel base
• C = coupe (no longer used)
• T = touring (wagon/estate)
• t = hatchback
• g = biogas
• s = sport package (Sports seats in the front, spoiler on the rear, improved gearbox, custom rims)
• si= sports injection (the new range of x5, x3 and z4 engines)
• e = eta (essentially 'economy' in English)
• es = eta sport

For example, a BMW 760Li is a fuel-injected 7 Series with a long wheel base and 6.0 litres of displacement.

However, there are exceptions. The 2007 BMW 328i is a 3 Series that has a 3.0 litre engine. The 2007 BMW 335i has that same 3.0 litre engine, however it is twin-turbocharged and not identified in the nomenclature.

The 'M' - for Motorsport - Series has a very simple nomenclature: M3, M5, M6, etc. It identifies the high-performance 'M' version of a particular series. For example, the M6 is the highest performing vehicle in the 6 Series lineup. Although 'M' cars should be separated into their respective series platforms, it is very common to see 'M' cars grouped together as its own series.

The 'Z' identifies a BMW two seater roadster. For example the Z1, Z3 and Z4. M variants of Z models have the M as a suffix, depending on country of sale. (e.g. 'Z4 M')

When the 'X' supersedes the series number (e.g. X3 and X5), this nomenclature refers to the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) lineup.

Also, Station-wagons/Estates are traditionally given the 'Touring' or 'Sport Wagon' tagline, depending on country of sale.