BMW, renowned for its performance and luxury vehicles, hosted the BMW Joy City event from Friday to Sunday, 15 to 17 November 2024. This event took place at the historic Pasir Panjang Power Station ‘B’ along Labrador Villa Road. It offers ample space for enthusiasts to experience the thrill of driving with activities like Joy Fun and rubber burning.
BMW Joy City touts to engage both fans and potential owners by providing first-hand experiences of BMW’s engineering prowess and luxury offerings. Organized by BMW Asia in collaboration with Performance Motors Limited (PML), the authorized distributor of BMW vehicles in Singapore. The event promised a blend of driving excellence and industrial charm set against the backdrop of a decommissioned Industrial Power Station. This venue not only showcased historical significance but also highlighted BMW’s commitment to modernity and heritage.
What to Expect at BMW Joy City 2024
This year’s 2024 edition of BMW Joy Fest continued the brand’s tradition of displaying cutting-edge vehicles while emphasizing sustainability, innovation, and driving pleasure. You expect a variety of hands-on activities, curated showcases of BMW’s latest innovations, and immersive experiences for both car enthusiasts and families.
Also, I found the choice of Power Station ‘B’ at 25 Pasir Panjang Road as the venue added a unique touch. The decommissioned power station, with its towering industrial architecture, served as a striking backdrop for the festival. Also, the event’s heart, lay in its three key driving experiences- the Safety Circuit driving a highlight, followed by the xDrive Challenge and lastly Taxi rides.
These are all included in the paid $58 entrance fee, which admits one driver and one non-driving guest. You also get some goodies like a tote bag with a cap and some vouchers within. Cars are allocated on a rotation system that allowed 12 drivers per group to participate with up to 12 accompanying non-driver guests.
Also, driving sessions run twice a day on weekdays and 4 sessions on weekends from 8:45 to 7:10pm. The requirements to qualify driving the cars is tad strict. It requires all drivers to between 27 to 70 years of age with at least 2 years of driving experience. This is presumably to fit a suitable insurance age-to-price bracket by the insurance underwriter. Do remember to bring your original Singapore-issued driving license or digital license on Singpass for verification purposes.
Safety Circuit: Precision and Control
Upon arriving, the first 30 mins are reserved for Welcome, product presentation and safety briefing, there the event unveiled the latest M cars such as the new M5, on top of the M4 CS and M135i. More on that later. Food and refreshments are provided for this segment.
Thereafter, you split into groups and led outdoors to the adjacent driving Safety Circuit. For about 30 minutes of driving time. Available cars for the Safety Circuit included the 318i, i5 eDrive40, iX1 eDrive20, 216i Gran Coupe M-Sport, and X2 sDrive16i. Notably, the i4 eDrive35 M Sport was advertised but not available. While the i5 weighs like an elephant, the sportiest car in the line-up was the 318i due to its rear-wheel drive capabilities.
Furthermore, cars are allocated on a first come first served basis, so its fingers first. Under the guidance of professional instructors, cars are dispatched one by one to tackle the circuit. You start off with a slalom run, then three sharp U-turns at speed where you try to get the car into tripod at the corner. The course ends with another U-turn followed by an emergency brake stop into a braking zone. You have 2 goes in one car, by swapping out into the next car behind you for the 2nd drive.
Weirdly, you are not allowed to turn off stability systems on the car, which made it difficult to get to car to do skids on the tarmac. The intent touts to provide a deeper appreciation of features like BMW’s Dynamic Stability Control and Anti-lock Braking Systems. These systems aim to keep drivers and passengers safe in real-world conditions.
xDrive Circuit and Challenge
The xDrive Circuit and Challenge offered a controlled linear off-road course tailored to demonstrate BMW’s all-wheel-drive xDrive system’s versatility and capability. You get to navigate through uneven terrains, steep inclines, and sharp descents.
This is done all under the supervision of professional guides who guide alongside the closed course in a loop. Cars of the selection here included the X4 xDrive30i M Sport, X5 xDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i M Sport, and X1 M35i xDrive. I got to go in both the X5 and X1 M135i.
The experience allowed you to explore the power and control of BMW’s SUVs. It makes for a standout activity for those interested in sport activity vehicles. A fun part here is to get your car to balance on the incline ramp transition, where the instructors can rock your car like a see-saw.
Still, the BMW’s are no Landrovers, so don’t expect steep 45 degree climbs and controlled decent, only small ramps and side slopes here. These are BMW range of soft-roaders or “sport activity vehicles” nonetheless and not hardcore off-roaders.
BMW Taxi Rides: Thrills on the Track
Furthermore, the final segment of the Joy City event are the BMW Taxi Rides which offered an exhilarating experience for those preferring the passenger seat. Strapped into performance-orientated BMW models, you be chauffeured by professional race drivers around a specially designed circuit.
Also, these rides showcased the speed, agility, and handling of BMW’s sportier models, including the M series. The experience included heart-stopping acceleration and expertly executed drifts. It provides motorheads and adrenaline rush an introduction into controlled drifting or just a day as a gymkhana.
Cars of the selection includes the BMW’s M135 (F70), M2 manual, and i4 M50. Three guests are squeezed into each car to experience approximately five minutes of free-form driving. This is done on the circuit by a professional driver instructor. For an even more exciting ride, I recommend choosing the M2 with its manual transmission. Here, you have the additional thrill of experiencing a J-Turn, which is not possible with electric vehicles and cars with automatic transmissions.
JOY CITY warehouse space
The event concluded at BMW Joy Town’s warehouse space with a prize presentation, including personalized driving certificates. You could then explore the rest of the JOY CITY warehouse. The indoor area houses food stalls, merchandise booths, and a relaxing lounge area- open to both event participants and public visitors.
Also, the warehouse was themed as streets leading to various experiential zones. The X-Boulevard showcased BMW’s current selection of X series SUVs, while the Electric Avenue featured a display of wall chargers for their electric vehicle lineup.
The M Garage hosted an array of performance models. This includes the M3, M2 Coupe, M340i, and M3 Touring, highlighting BMW’s M division’s legacy of innovation in performance vehicles.
The upcoming models for 2024/2025 promise to continue this tradition with a commitment to delivering unparalleled driving experiences that blend motorsport heritage with cutting-edge technology. The House of Luxury featured the i7, BMW’s largest electrified sedan.
XM SUV and New G90 M5
Interestingly in a far corner, the rare BMW XM (G09), valued at over a million dollars in Singapore including COE. The 2.8-ton large SUV is a plug-in hybrid electric drivetrain, and is the second car developed entirely by BMW M, after the BMW M1 in 1978. We can see this largely as a halo car, with the know-how leading to hybrid electric developments in the new M5.
Wrapping up, the Legacy Lane showcased a small collection of classic BMWs from collectors. This includes icons such as the E34 M5, E36 M3, and E30 M3. These vehicles offered a glimpse into BMW’s rich history and the evolution of their performance models.
Moreover, the event also announced the new BMW M5 with its hybrid system, touted as the fastest M5 ever. Though also one that faces challenges in weight management but still delivers impressive performance figures. It is able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just over three seconds.
The BMW M4 CS Coupe also impressed with its track capabilities and daily practicality, offering 543 horsepower and reaching 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds. Lastly, the BMW M135i xDrive offers M-level performance experience in a compact city-friendly SUV package, achieving 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds with its all-wheel-drive system.
All in all, that wraps up our tour and experience of BMW 2024 BMW Joy City. You are good at the event for about 3 hours tops. The event does capture the brand’s dedication to delivering joy and excellence through immersive driving experiences and a vibrant festival atmosphere. It does reinforce BMW’s status as more than just a carmaker- a lifestyle that resonates with enthusiasts and the broader community alike.
