Woodcliff Lake, NJ - April 16, 2008…The BMW Motorrad Motorsport team is making final preparations to compete in the 2008 FIM Qtel Endurance World Championship. The first event in this year’s six-round championship will take place April 19 and 20 at Le Mans, France.
BMW Motorrad team members are looking forward to returning to the historic Bugatti circuit for the ‘24 Hours Moto of Le Mans’ race. Last year, the factory team marked its return to world championship motorcycle racing with a fantastic result at the grueling 24 hour race in France, ending with a win in its class and a highly impressive 16th overall after 776 laps on the modified R 1200 S sports boxer.

Along with many other teams, BMW has been participating in two days of testing on the Bugatti racetrack and is now able to confirm its rider line-up for this prestigious race. Two BMW factory teams will pilot the new HP2 Sport at Le Mans. Experienced endurance rider Stephan Mertens — now free from injury - will return to the team on bike number 17, along with fellow Belgian countryman Sebastian Le Grelle and German rider Rico Penzkofer. British rider Richard Cooper, Spaniard José-Luis Nion and American Brian Parriott will ride bike number 71.

For Richard Cooper, his inclusion in the team is a “dream come true”. The 24-year-old recently impressed international audiences with a fantastic ride for BMW Motorrad Motorsport in the Formula Xtreme Daytona 200 race - the most prestigious race in America - where he finished in fifth place, just in front of teammate Brian Parriott. Although he appeared perfectly at home on the HP2 Sport in the USA, Cooper has benefited from the recent shakedown test at Le Mans and is feeling extremely confident with the capability of the sports boxer on the French circuit.

“Things couldn’t have gone much better for me in the USA last month, and this has fortunately continued last week in Le Mans,” he said. “I rode a different bike than the one I had at Daytona and things just ‘clicked’ instantly. I was the fastest BMW rider in every session and I’ve come away much more confident, and with what I believe is a really good set-up for the race. I can’t put my finger on it, but things just feel right. Our team seems really well suited too - José -Luis Nion is the same size as me, so we have a similar bike set-up; and Brian speaks Spanish, which helps team communication with José-Luis. It’s a shame Thomas Hinterreiter is injured as he is such a valuable member of the team, but I believe he will be in pit-lane with us anyway.”

Richard’s teammate, Brian Parriott, is looking forward to participating in what is probably the most famous and also the toughest endurance race on the calendar. The Californian was part of the works team that raced at the Bol d’Or last September and was also in sensational form at Daytona earlier this year. He is really looking forward to joining the factory squad in Europe again.

“I love racing in Europe - who wouldn’t? For me, it is especially nice to be back with the factory BMW team. I have a great relationship with everyone involved and it is a very top-notch effort. I enjoy Le Mans as a circuit and the surrounding area is very beautiful, so I am very much looking forward to this opportunity. My early impressions of the HP2 Sport are that it is just fabulous - a real race bike. I’ve been racing BMW boxers for a long time now and the changes from the R 1100 S to the HP2 Sport are 3,000 percent! It seems to me that the Boxer Cup series really excited BMW and challenged the company to start building race-ready machines.”

This is a view that is shared by José-Luis Nion, who is looking forward to hustling the factory twin-cylinder sports bike around the 4.18-kilometer Bugatti circuit in front of an anticipated 90,000 spectators this weekend.

“I love the new HP2 Sport, and I believe it has great potential. It’s very fast, handles well thanks to its stiff chassis and suspension, and has excellent braking capability too. The French Le Mans circuit is seriously fast and very technical, so the bike’s excellent performance at low revs is important. I would love to get on the podium here - as last year’s result in Oschersleben was one of my best moments in racing - but we’ll have to see what happens. The weather can be so variable at this time of year, but we’ve got lots of experience in the team and we are ready for anything.”

One rider that is certainly ready for anything on the works BMW is Sebastian Legrelle. Like his teammates, the Belgian rider has vast experience on the sports boxers from his early days in the International BMW Boxer Cup series, and he too has benefited from the pre-race test sessions at the Le Mans circuit.

“The two days I spent at Le Mans with the team were invaluable for getting to grips with the BMW HP2 Sport. I was soon ‘up to speed’ and was comfortably doing similar lap times to those from last year, so this bodes well for the 24 Hours race. The circuit isn’t one of my favorites, but when you ride the HP2 Sport, it’s hard not to enjoy yourself. It feels similar to every sports boxer I have ridden before, but is so much better in every area, such as power, brakes, and chassis. For me, the start of the race can’t come soon enough!”

Free practice will start at the Le Mans ‘Bugatti’ track on Thursday, April 17 at 11:00 a.m., with a first qualifying session taking place in the afternoon and a night session finishing off the day’s proceedings. On Friday, April 18, the second qualifying session will start at 11:00 a.m. The average best lap of each rider will define the team’s position on the starting grid, making it a real team effort from start to finish. The pit-lane will be open to the public on Friday, April 18 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The official start of the ‘24 Hours Moto of Le Mans’ will be on Saturday, April 19 at 3:00 p.m.

Woodcliff, NJ - April 14, 2008… BMW today announced that the influential J.D. “Dave” Power III, founder of J.D. Power and Associates and board member of Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc., is the latest high-visibility eco-friendly ambassador to receive keys to a BMW Hydrogen 7 - the first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan. Power is the most recent member of the BMW Hydrogen 7 Pioneer Program, which gives industry leaders and prominent figures in entertainment, politics, business and more a BMW Hydrogen 7 for their daily use for three weeks.

Only a very few manufacturers have made substantial investments in hydrogen fuelled internal combustion engines, including BMW,” said Power. “Hydrogen technology is moving along and appears to be a viable alternative to petroleum fuelled internal combustion engines and one of the answers to the future of emission-free vehicles.”

J.D. Power and Associates recently issued an Alternative Powertrain Study, charting consumers’ inclinations toward alternative fuel vehicles for the past two years. The study finds that consumer consideration for purchasing clean energy vehicles, which were newly introduced to the market in 2007, is at 73 percent which is up from 2006, where only 69 percent of shoppers considered purchasing clean energy vehicles.

While the BMW Hydrogen 7 is not for sale, it is considered to be a milestone in bringing forward hydrogen as the sustainable fuel for individual transportation. Running in hydrogen mode, the BMW Hydrogen 7 essentially emits nothing but water vapor, representing a major step in reducing harmful CO2 emissions. It is not a concept car, but a production model vehicle that has successfully completed the entire Product Development Process.

BMW believes that hydrogen will replace petroleum as the long-term alternative to fossil fuel, and hopes the Hydrogen 7 will play a pioneering role in driving forward the hydrogen technologies that will ensure our mobility in the future. By harnessing the power and influence of individuals who, like Dave Power, are at the forefront of their respective disciplines, BMW hopes to continue to generate support of hydrogen-drive vehicles in the short term and stimulate demand for a viable hydrogen infrastructure in the long-term.

A number of entertainers, politicians, business leaders and more have already opted for a BMW Hydrogen 7 as their energy-efficient ride of choice in order to evaluate the technology. Those who have recently chosen the vehicle include Will Ferrell, Jay Leno, opera star Placid Domingo, Ed Norton, Jason Bateman, and famed director Steve Gaghan, among others.

Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey - April 11, 2008…Navigation systems have become even easier, faster and more convenient to use with the introduction of “MyInfo”. This latest addition to the BMW Assist Safety Plan allows subscribers to send business locations and street addresses and their associated phone numbers found in Google Maps(TM), an innovative online mapping service, from the comfort of their home or office directly to their BMW.
Effective as of April 8 production of 2008 X6 Sports Activity Coupes equipped with the BMW Assist and Bluetooth® Hands-free calling System, customers will be able to call the phone numbers received with their Bluetooth connected mobile phone or, if their BMW is equipped with a navigation system, immediately start route guidance by a simple push of a button.

To use MyInfo, just search for a business or street address on Google Maps (http://maps.google.com) and click on the “Send” link at the top-right corner of the map. Select “Car”, then “BMW” and “BMW US” for country and enter your e-mail address on file with BMW Assist as your BMW Assist account name. You can add a personal note, if desired, then press the “Send” button – and your destination is on its way. Once inside your BMW, simply push the MyInfo button within the BMW Assist menu and you will find the desired destination and associated phone number.

Already popular in Europe and recently launched in Canada this unique service allows advanced preparation for your next trip. Before you leave the house or office, you can easily and quickly determine online the exact location of up to 10 of your desired destinations and then make them available in your BMW. The advantage is that the listings found at Google Maps no longer have to be written down or printed out. Also manual data entry into the navigation system is no longer needed -the address and phone number is already in your iDrive menu. Even better, you can share MyInfo with your family, friends and colleagues so that they can send destinations, phone numbers and even notes to the vehicle while you are on the road. But best of all, there is no charge for this service, as it’s included as part of the Safety Plan for the first four years, like the other benefits of Ultimate Service.

MyInfo will be included on BMW Assist-equipped X5, X6, 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 Series, effective with Model Year 2009. For now it is an exclusive feature of the 2008 X6. The X6 Sports Activity Coupe will be offered in the USA in two versions. The X6 xDrive35i, sporting a 300hp, twin-turbo, inline 6 cylinder will be available at authorized BMW SAV centers on April 26th. The twin-turbo V8 powered X6 xDrive50i will come to the US market in the late summer 2008.

To learn more about MyInfo, please visit www.bmwusa.com/bmwassist.

About BMW Assist:

BMW Assist provides the driver with services that enhance on-the-road security and convenience, for added peace of mind. The BMW Assist Safety Plan is standard on all 5, 6, and 7 Series models, including M5 and M6, and is included in the Premium Package or available as a stand-alone option on all other models. BMW is the only manufacturer that offers this service for 4 years at no additional cost. Most other manufacturers cover only the first year of service.

The in-vehicle equipment for BMW Assist includes GPS technology and hands-free communication functions accessed via buttons in the overhead or center console. Vehicle occupants may request emergency or other services simply by pressing a button; the BMW Assist system then transmits the location and vehicle information to the BMW Assist Response Center. A response specialist will then speak with the occupants to coordinate dispatch, notify emergency contacts on file, and link BMW Roadside Assistance or emergency services as needed and requested. A severe accident automatically activates the BMW Assist emergency call as well. The BMW Assist Safety Plan also includes Remote Door Unlock and Stolen Vehicle Recovery services, which can save the owner time and money.

TeleService automatically notifies the BMW center when a vehicle will need service. The Service Advisor then proactively calls the customer to set up a convenient appointment and have the needed parts ready.

BMW Assist subscribers can also enroll in the BMW Assist Convenience Plan (available at an additional cost of $199 per year) to avail themselves of BMW Assist Concierge services, from travel planning to dining reservations, shopping assistance and event tickets, as well as receive directions, and traffic and weather information. On most models produced September 2006 and later, a selected destination and its phone number can be sent directly to the BMW navigation system and Bluetooth®–linked mobile phone, after a push of the Concierge button. The Convenience Plan also includes Critical Calling, a service that connects the driver in case their mobile phone is not in the vehicle or its battery is discharged. After pushing the SOS button, a BMW Assist response specialist will link the driver to his requested party for up to five minutes and for up to four events per year.

As before, the BMW Assist system includes Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity with hands-free phonebook access and dialing by name or number via the steering wheel controls. Use of this feature requires a customer-provided compatible Bluetooth mobile phone.

More aggressive, more attractive: With its latest facelift, BMW has made its successful 6-series coupé a little more dynamic. Everyone who thinks this measure does not go far enough will welcome the newly restyled aerodynamic components from AC Schnitzer. Like its predecessor, the new front skirt of the ACS6 mirrors the famous kidney design of the grille, but its proportions have been clearly sharpened by Head Designer Michele Viandante. In conjunction with the new- style triangular fog lights from BMW, the car looks considerably more powerful. This impression is reinforced at the restyled rear, where an AC Schnitzer rear spoiler enhances the new design of the tailgate with its dynamic “sharp creases“ and the integral brake light. The Aachen-based vehicle tuner has made the rear skirt slightly smoother than before, which in conjunction with the facelift rear lights make the vehicle appear not only more elegant but also more dynamic – an effect only enhanced by the AC Schnitzer sports rear silencer with chromed tailpipe. Made totally from stainless steel, this is not only an eyecatcher but also optimises engine response.

A touch of sophistication is given by the AC Schnitzer new side skirts which now also look flatter than before. In contrast, the power and torque curves of the uprated engines are anything but flat! This is especially true of the new diesel, which is available in the 6-series for the first time in the facelift model. AC Schnitzer has really turned up the power screw in the 635d in particular: instead of 210 kW/286 HP and 580 Nm, the ACS6 3.5d develops 228 kW/310 HP and 680 Nm.

For genuine petrol-heads, AC Schnitzer offers the 650i with the 5.1 l engine, which in technical terms is almost a completely new engine. Its power rises from 270 kW (367 HP) to a superb 302 kW (411 HP). At the same time, driving performance improves: the top speed increases by 35 km/h. Trimmed with alloy wheels from the AC Schnitzer collection, the new 6-series coupé cuts a fine figure even when stationary, especially with the breathtaking racing rims Type VI in 9.0J x 20″ at the front and 10J x 20″ at the rear.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ - April 10, 2008… In recognition of its innovative interactive dealer kiosk, BMW of North America received a gold Outstanding Merchandising Award (OMA) for “Best Permanent Display” during a special ceremony held at Global Shop-the U.S.’s largest marketing-at-retail trade show-in Chicago. The OMAs are one of the most prestigious and sought-after awards in the marketing-at-retail industry.
“It is an honor to receive the 2008 Outstanding Merchandising Award for our interactive dealer kiosk,” said Jack Pitney, Vice President, Marketing at BMW of North America. “BMW likes to be just as innovative in our marketing strategies as we are in the designs of our vehicles. So it was imperative that our display provided the perfect balance of interactivity and information to effectively capture the attention of consumers-all in a style typical of BMW.”

The award-winning kiosk features a sleek BMW-like design, a 46″ Sony Bravia LCD screen with a wireless keyboard and over 3 hours of interactive content, including: more than one-hundred short high definition videos and graphic animations about every aspect of BMW (exciting footage of the new M3 and X6, competitive comparisons, European delivery, night vision, dynamic stability control, innovative BMW technology); and information about safety, accessories, the BMW Golf Championship, upcoming events and much more.

Once “inside the system” viewers can get first-hand information about a specific BMW vehicle or any other topic that interests them. Client advisors also frequently use the system to visually explain safety, technology or other features the customer experienced during a test-drive. The kiosks are connected via high-speed T-1 lines and are constantly updated as new material becomes available.

Over 560 entrants representing the best of the marketing-at-retail industry entered this year’s contest.

BMW GROUP HEADING TOWARDS A SUCCESSFUL YEAR IN 2008

Adjusted pre-tax earnings will be above last year’s level
All-time high sales volume levels expected for all three brands

Munich. The BMW Group intends to continue its successful business performance in the current year. “We are aiming towards a current year profit before tax -adjusted for the exceptional gain on the settlement of exchangeable bond on shares in the British aero engine manufacturer, Rolls-Royce, in 2007 - that is higher than in the previous year”, said Norbert Reithofer, the Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG at the BMW Group Annual Accounts Press Conference in Munich on Tuesday.

The BMW Group plans to achieve new record sales volume figures for all three brands in 2008 and hence to retain its position as the world’s leading premium manufacturer. “The BMW Group expects another record number of deliveries in 2008. We remain well on course to achieving our strategic sales volume target of 1.8 million vehicles in 2012″, continued Reithofer.

The BMW Group again faces some major challenges in the current year as a result of the strong euro, a weaker US economy and continuing high raw material prices. It is also likely to be confronted in the future by stricter emission standards in many countries. The BMW Group has invested several hundred millions of euros in environment-friendly technologies in recent years, enabling and providing the BMW Group a competitive edge over its competitors. Our EfficientDy-namics programme offers customers the best technology that is currently avail-able on the market to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. In 2007, some 450,000 vehicles were sold in Europe alone equipped with EfficientDy-namics. This figure is expected to rise in 2008 over 830,000 vehicles.

Number ONE strategy aimed at safeguarding BMW Group’s future

“We are making sure that the BMW Group is fit for the future. All of the measures adopted in conjunction with our Number ONE strategy are aimed at safeguarding the BMW Group’s future and increasing its value”, he emphasised. By 2012, the BMW Group’s Automobiles segment is aiming to achieve a return on capital employed in excess of 26% and a return on sales in a range of 8% to 10%. “Profitability is essential factor in our endeavours to safeguard the future of the BMW Group. It ensures that the necessary financial resources are available and also safeguards our independence”, stressed Reithofer.

BMW Group achieves all of its targets in 2007

The BMW Group achieved all of the targets that it had set itself for the financial year 2007 by posting new record sales volume and revenue figures and an ad-justed profit before tax higher than one year earlier. Profit before tax, at euro 3,873 million (2006: euro 4,124 million), was 6.1% down on the record level achieved in the previous year. Adjusted for the exceptional impact of the settlement of the exchangeable bond on shares in the British engine manufacturer, Rolls-Royce plc, the profit before tax, as previously announced, was 0.6% higher than one year earlier. The exceptional gain on the conversion of the remaining options in 2007, at euro 97 million, was significantly lower than the previous year’s gain of euro 372 million. Group EBIT rose by 4.0% to euro 4,212 million (2006: euro 4,050 million).

As a result of the one-time effect of the corporate tax reform in Germany, the net profit also rose by 9.0% to a new all-time high level of euro 3,134 million (2006: euro 2,874 million). The net profit therefore surpassed the three billion euro figure for the first time. Group revenues climbed by 14.3% to euro 56,018 million (2006: euro 48,999 million) on the back of sharp rise in sales volume and thanks to the dynamic growth of financial services business. This means that revenues were able to break through the euro 50 billion barrier for the first time. Operating cash flow rose to 6,340 (2006: 5,373) million euros, resulting in an increase of 18%.

Adverse currency impact of euro 517 million in 2007

The BMW Group again had to face strong headwinds in 2007 caused by unfavourable developments on the foreign exchange and raw material markets. The adverse currency impact totalled euro 517 million (2006: euro 666 million), while higher raw material prices increased costs by euro 288 million (2006: euro 178 million). Efficiency improvement measures and strong business growth, however, enabled the BMW Group to offset this impact to a large extent. The BMW Group forecasts that the adverse currency impact in the current financial year will be lower than in 2007. All of the main currencies are practically fully hedged for the current financial year.

Shareholders to participate significantly more in success of business

The Board of Management and the Supervisory Board will propose at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 8 May 2008 that the dividend per share of common stock be increased by 51.4% to euro 1.06 (2006: euro 0.70) and that the dividend per share of preferred stock be increased by 50.0% to euro 1.08 (2006: euro 0.72). “We also want our shareholders to be able to participate significantly more in the success of the BMW Group in the future”, explained Reithofer.

New authorisation for share buy-back proposed

The Board of Management and the Supervisory Board of BMW AG will propose a resolution at the Annual General Meeting to authorise the buy-back of up to 10% of the Company’s share capital. The authorisation, if resolved, will be valid for a period of 18 months. The buy-back authorisation passed in the previous year remains valid until 14 November 2008. It has not yet been decided whether or the extent to which the new authorisation will be applied to buy back further shares.

Automobiles segment earnings increased in 2007

The profit before taxes of the Automobiles segment for the financial year 2007 improved by 7.3% to euro 3,232 million (2006: euro 3,012 million) despite ad-verse currency factors and high raw material prices. Segment EBIT improved by 12.9% to euro 3,450 million (2006: euro 3,055 million). The EBIT margin was unchanged at 6.4%. Segment revenues increased by 12.7% to a new all-time high level of euro 53,818 million (2006: euro 47,767 million), therefore growing at a faster pace than sales volume. The return on capital employee (ROCE) improved to 22. 8% (2006: 21.7%).

The total number of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles delivered to customers in 2007 rose again to its highest level to date, with the sales volume up by 9.2% to 1,500,678 units (2006: 1,373,970 units). This means that the BMW Group fully achieved the upper single-digit sales growth rate target set for the full year 2007.

One of the major contributing factors for the good performance was the EfficientDynamics package which is helping to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Customers are also benefiting from this innovative technology in many MINI models.

1,276,793 BMW brand cars were sold in 2007, surpassing the previous year’s level (2006: 1,185,088 units) by 7.7%. The MINI also recorded good growth with the retail sales volume rising by 18.5% to 222,875 units (2006: 188,077 units). Rolls-Royce increased its sales volume figures for the fourth year in succession and remains the undisputed market leader in the ultra-luxury segment. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars handed over 1,010 vehicles (2006: 805 vehicles) to customers in 2007 (+ 25.5%), therefore achieving a four-figure annual sales volume figure for the first time.

Motorcycles business continues to perform well

The Motorcycles segment’s earnings performance again made good progress in 2007, primarily thanks to process optimisation and efficiency improvements. The segment profit before tax rose by 7.6% to euro 71 million (2006: euro 66 million). Revenues fell by 2.9% to euro 1,228 million (2006: euro 1,265 million) due to the changed model mix. The EBIT margin generated by motorcycle business improved to 6.5% (2006: 5.9%), while the ROCE increased to 18.2% (2006: 17.7%). The sales volume increased by 2.4% to 102,467 units (2006: 100,064 units).

Financial services business continues to perform dynamically

The Financial Services segment continued to perform dynamically in 2007 despite less favourable refinancing conditions. Segment profit before tax, at euro 743 million (2006: euro 685 million), was 8.5% ahead of the previous year. Revenues rose by 25.8% to euro 13,940 million (2006: euro 11,079 million). At the year-end, 2.63 million lease and financing contracts were in place with dealers and retail customers, representing an increase of 15.8%. The proportion of new BMW and MINI cars financed by the Financial Services segment increased to 44.7% (2006: 42.4%).

Capital expenditure almost at previous year’s level

Capital expenditure in 2007 totalled euro 4,267 million (2006: euro 4,313 million) and was therefore almost at the previous year’s level. Capitalised development costs recognised as assets in accordance with IAS decreased by 13.2% to euro 1,333 million (2006: euro 1,536 million) reflecting the lower volume of series development projects. Capital expenditure for property, plant and equipment and other intangible assets increased by 5.7% to euro 2,934 million (2006: euro 2,777 million), partly in connection with the expansion of the production network. The capital expenditure ratio of the BMW Group declined to 7.6% (2006: 8.8%).

Slight increase in workforce

The workforce increased slightly during the year, mainly as a result of the acquisition of Husqvarna Motorcycles and two acquisitions made by the Financial Services segment. At the end of 2007, the worldwide workforce comprised 107,539 employees (31 December 2006: 106,575 employees), an increase of 0.9%.

The BMW Group - an Overview
2007 2006 Change
in %
Vehicle production
Automobiles 1,541,503 1,366,838 12.8
Thereof:
BMW units 1,302,774 1,179,317 10.5
MINI units 237,700 186,674 27.3
Rolls-Royce units 1,029 847 21.5
Motorcycles units 104,396 103,759 0.6

Deliveries to customers
Automobiles 1,500,678 1,373,970 9.2
Thereof:
BMW units 1,276,793 1,185,088 7.7
MINI units 222,875 188,077 18.5
Rolls-Royce units 1,010 805 25.5
Motorcycles units 102,467 100,064 2.4

Workforce at the end of the year1 107,539 106,575 0.9

Revenues euro million 56,018 48,999 14.3
Capital expenditure euro million 4,267 4,313 -1.1
Operating cash flow euro million 6,340 5,373 18.0
EBIT euro million 4,212 4,050 4.0
Profit before tax euro million 3,873 4,124 -6.1
Thereof:
Automobiles euro million 3,232 3,012 7.3
Motorcycles euro million 71 66 7.6
Financial Services euro million 743 685 8.5
Reconciliations euro million -173 361 -
Income taxes euro million -739 -1,250 -
Net profit euro million 3,134 2,874 9.0
Earnings per share2 euro 4.78/4.80 4.38/4.40 9.1
Dividend per share of com-mon/preferred stock euro 1.06/1.08 0.70/0.72 51.4/50.0
1 figures exclude dormant employment contracts, employees in the work and non-work phases of pre-retirement part-time arrangements and low wage earners
2 earnings per share in accordance with IAS 33 for common and preferred stock shares

Australian Grand Prix
Melbourne, 16th March 2008
1st of 18 World Championship races
Summary

Brilliant start to the season for the BMW Sauber F1 Team:
Heidfeld finishes second in Melbourne, Kubica is unlucky

Melbourne (AUS). It was a fantastic season opener for the BMW Sauber F1 Team. At the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Sunday, Nick Heidfeld (Mönchengladbach) finished second to bring home the team’s fifth podium place in their short career. Only British driver Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren-Mercedes proved faster. Third place was claimed by Nico Rosberg (Wiesbaden) in a Williams-Toyota. Heidfeld had previously been runner-up in Canada last year. His team-mate Robert Kubica was not so lucky: having started from second place on the grid, the Pole was in fifth position when he was shunted out of the race on the restart following a safety car phase.

In all, a turbulent race with three safety car periods and numerous retirements saw just seven out of 22 drivers complete the race. Crossing the line in fourth place was Spaniard Fernando Alonso in a Renault, followed by Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) in the second McLaren, Rubens Barrichello (Brazil/Honda) and Kazuki Nakajima (Japan/Williams-Toyota). Sébastien Bourdais (France/Toro Rosso) and Kimi Räikkönen (Finland/Ferrari) failed to finish but were nevertheless classified and also benefited from Barrichello’s subsequent disqualification. In the overall standings McLaren-Mercedes leads with 14 points ahead of Williams-Toyota (9) and the BMW Sauber F1 Team (8). Renault (5) is fourth, followed by Toro Rosso (2) and Ferrari (1).

BMW’S ALL-NEW 2008 M3 CONVERTIBLE AND CONCEPT CS CAR MAKE THEIR NORTH AMERICAN DEBUTS AT THE 2008 NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW IN MANHATTAN

Woodcliff Lake, NJ - March 18, 2008… BMW will give the Big Apple a glimpse into what the future of pure driving pleasure looks like as its all-new 2008 M3 Convertible and Concept CS vehicles make their North American debuts at the 2008 New York International Auto Show in Manhattan on March 19.

“BMW is excited to present the North American debuts of the 2008 M3 Convertible and the Concept CS at the New York International Auto Show,” said Tom Purves, President and CEO, BMWNA. “The cars round out several new production and concept vehicles introduced by BMW over the past few months, which not only exemplify our dedication to providing the ultimate driving machines, but also give some insight into future innovations.”

Arriving this spring, the all-new 2008 M3 Convertible shares the M3 Coupe and Sedan’s high-revving 414-horsepower engine, and just as its counterparts, will feature the first V8 in a series-production BMW M3. The introduction of the Convertible also marks the debut of BMW’s optional M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic (M DCT Drivelogic)-a unique 7-speed double clutch transmission specially designed for a high-rpm engine (6-speed manual transmission is standard). The M3 Convertible will also feature driver-adjustable settings for crucial dynamic controls encompassing throttle response, steering, damping and stability (with an available steering-wheel-mounted “MDrive” button to store the preferences) and a sumptuous interior which can be optimized to the driver’s desires including the comprehensive entertainment/navigation system operated through BMW’s latest iDrive controller.

BMW will also present the North American debut of its Concept CS, the German automaker’s vision of a unique four-door car that combines the exclusivity of a genuine luxury Grand Turismo with the fascinating thrill of a high-performance sports car. Inside and out, the concept vehicle provides a new definition of powerful and expressive design, utilizing materials of the highest quality while combining stylish luxury with the most uncompromising ambience, full of class and value.

In addition to BMW’s latest vehicle lineup, its stand will also feature the following recently debuted vehicles:

* 2008 X6 Sports Activity Coupe - The world’s first Sports Activity Coupe, combining the sporting elegance of a large BMW Coupe with the powerful presence
of a BMW X model. With two variants, both with Twin Turbo and direct injection, the X6 xDrive35i (3.0 inline six-cylinder engine, 300 hp, 300 lb.-ft torque) will be available in May and the X6 xDrive50i (4.4 V8 engine, 400 hp, 450lb.-ft torque) this summer.
* 2008 1 Series Coupe and Convertible - Inspired by its iconic 2002 models of some 40 years ago, the BMW 1 Series Coupe and Convertible represent the core BMW philosophies of pure performance and premium design. Both available in 128i (3.0 inline six-cylinder engine, 230 hp, 200 lb.-ft. torque) and 135i (3.0 inline six-cylinder engine, 300 hp, 300 lb.-ft torque) versions, the Coupe will go on sale in March; the Convertible will go on sale in time for summer.
* 335d Advanced Diesel vehicle - Marking a significant milestone in the BMW EfficientDynamics strategy, this fall BMW will release two vehicle models equipped with BMW Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance-the X5 xDrive35d and 335d. Successfully meeting the strict exhaust emissions requirements of the North American automobile market, the vehicles will be available in all 50 states and on average, offer 25 percent less fuel consumption than equally powerful gasoline engines.
* 2008 M3 Coupe and Sedan - Featuring the first V8 in a series-production BMW M3 just as their roofless sibling, the all-new 2008 BMW M3 Coupe and M3 Sedan arrive in March 2008. Fourth in the line of vehicles that set the standard in minimizing any compromises between race-inspired performance and luxury and convenience, the 2008 BMW M3 Coupe, Sedan and Convertible each offer new possibilities to experience uncompromising driving dynamics.

BMW Group in America

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 models and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and the upcoming X6 Sport Activity Coupe. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle retailers, 82 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.