It's amazing how much can change in just a year, isn't it? Major things were happening for the entire auto industry this year, and BMW was no exception. Not only did the automaker add three brand-new models to the lineup, they forged partnerships that are sure to change the shape of the company and the auto market, and tweaked their manufacturing plants to accommodate rapidly changing technology and brand expectations. Before we jump head first into 2012, we'd like to take a minute to talk about what an excellent year 2011 has been.

How about those new BMW models? Not just one, but three, joined the BMW family, wowing critics and enthusiasts around the world. The BMW 6 Series Coupe and Convertible gained an xDrive variant that makes even the harshest winters in Beaverton easy to navigate. The BMW 1 Series M Coupe brings racetrack performance to the streets, with a fiercely designed exterior and a powerful six-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine under the hood. Last, but certainly not least, the automaker introduced BMW ActiveE technology, where performance and sustainability meet up with unmatched style.

BMW also made some major changes to their manufacturing facilities. To start, they invested heavily in their South Carolina plant, adding 1.2 million square feet of floor space to increase worldwide availability of the X3, X5 and X6 models. And then they invested more money in their partnership with SGL Group (a major carbon fiber manufacturer), enabling the launch of an all-new carbon fiber plant in the Northwest. The plant, located in Moses Lake, WA, will produce carbon-fiber components for the yet-to-be-released BMW i3 and BMW i8.

SGL Group isn't the only partnership BMW bolstered in 2011. Inspired by the top-performing cars in their lineup, BMW created the BMW Performance Team and sponsored 11 Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls. As if that's not even, BMW launched their traveling Guggenheim Lab in NYC to fuel a worldwide discussion on urban life and sustainability. The Lab will spend the next six years travelling the globe, spurring discussions on improving the lives of city-dwellers and drivers alike.

This is just a brief sampling of all of the work the teams at BMW have been up to this year. That said, we simply can't wait to see what they have in store for next year. They've already been hinting at new partnerships, models and technology! So, be sure to stay tuned with Kuni BMW, located at 10999 SW Canyon Rd Beaverton, OR 97005, for the latest news and updates.