The Ultimate Driving Machine's Clean Sweep: BMW Australia Wins 5 Categories at 2010 Australia's Best Cars Awards

MULGRAVE, AUSTRALIA – December 3, 2010: Australia’s Best Cars Awards are largely recognized as being the most independent and objective vehicle awards nationally, with transparent criteria and scoring, and a panel of expert judges from motoring clubs including NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAASA, RACWA, RACT and the AANT undergoing exhaustive vehicle testing to arrive at their decisions.

On Tuesday November 30th judges from State and Territory based motoring clubs smiled upon BMW and MINI, as BMW Group Australia took home 5 of the 15 awards, winning in virtually every category they were nominated for.

Winners, plus excerpts of the judges’ comments, are listed below:

135i Coupe - Best Sports Car under $80,000
“… as if to script, the BMW 1 Series 135i Coupe resisted all challenges to take the category title for the third consecutive year. …so complete is the 135i in the areas of Design and Function and On the Road (class leader in both).

“… this is an engine for any occasion, eager to send the tachometer needle racing to red line, or (thanks to a broad spread of torque between 1300 and 5000rpm), impress with its mid-range muscle. The six-speed manual gearshift is rifle-bolt precise, although the optional six-speed sequential (paddle) shift auto is even quicker.

“The Australian motoring press first got to drive the 135i on home soil at its release in the Snowy Mountains in May 2008. There, on the high altitude serpentine that is the Alpine Way, the 135i won plenty of friends with its ability to dispatch all challenges that this mighty road could throw in its path. We all agreed that its big brother, the awesome M3 (twice the price), could not have proved any more competent at this place and time. Triple Australia’s Best Cars awards later, the 135i remains just as convincing.”

M3 Coupe - Best Sports Car over $80,000
“BMW’s iconic M3 sports coupe has once again muscled its way to the top of a tightly packed field representing the very best of the prestige sports car market.

“It is important to note that while the M3 can take its place at any club track day it also possesses a highly refined and technically advanced driveline allowing it to be used without question or compromise as a cosseted luxury coupe when the need arises. And when it comes to performance the advantage of the M3 is the spread of flexibility that can be dialed into the car via the M-Drive, so that steering forces, damper settings and traction or stability control can be adjusted.

“It bristles with advanced technologies including variable valve timing on both inlet and exhaust along with individual electronically controlled throttle butterflies. The result is an engine that gives its best across a wide rev range and delivers it with the glorious backing of a grand prix sound track.”

320d Sedan - Best Medium Car over $50,000
“The 320d reinforces BMW’s sports DNA. The rear-wheel-drive sedan boasts class-leading ride and handling wrapped in a stylish, comfortable package.

“The winner of this category, the BMW 320d, is a great example of maximising performance while minimising consumption.

“The key feature of our winner is the enhanced 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine which delivers 135kW of power, providing strength and purpose in its performance. In fact the 320d rated the highest of the finalists for performance.

“The 320d boasts a taut European ride, good steering and precise, communicative handling. The judges awarded the car with a pair of nines for performance and handling. The 320d also scored two nines for ergonomics and build and finish quality, which are considered trademarks of the Bavarian brand.

“Slide into the driver’s seat and you will instantly recognise the brand promise of ‘the ultimate driving machine’. Even in this entry-level offering, the vehicle gives the driver an instant feeling of being at one with the car.

“The look of the 320d is purposeful and bolder than in previous models, and the interior gives the occupant a feeling of style and sophistication.”

X5 xDrive30d - Best Luxury SUV over $60,000
“BMW is to be congratulated on refreshing a tried and proven formula without changing the basic DNA of the vehicle that has kept the X5 at the front of the field many times before.

“Since the Australia’s Best Car awards started more than a decade ago, the BMW X5 has grabbed half of the wins in this category, and in 2010 it is another win to the new BMW X5 diesel.

“Where X5 did dominate was the area of Design and Function, and because it is a successful recipe that BMW has been refining over the years it is a class leader in this area.

“X5 has also rightly gained a very good reputation for on-road performance.

“This, coupled with the X5’s car-like handling, engendered the feeling of a very tight and tidy package.

“With comfort levels that are class-leading , all occupants enjoy leather seating and climate-control air-conditioning, and they are protected by good levels of safety equipment, including dual front, side and curtain airbags.

“The revised 3.0-litre straight-six common-rail turbo=diesel engine gave it a kick along with a better environment score.”

MINI Cooper D - Best Small Car over $35,000
“The Cooper D might be relatively small in stature but it still packs a punch in the safety stakes, with a five-star ANCAP safety rating, courtesy of six airbags, ESC and ABS with EBD and BA.

“The styling might be retro and mimic the original (it’s got the largest speedometer sitting prominently in the centre of the dash) but the build and finish quality more than befits this class and is above average.

“Not surprisingly, the Cooper D shines in the On The Road scores. A taut chassis and direct steering combine to deliver an engaging drive experience. Despite the modest power output of the diesel engine (compared with the petrol offerings in this class), if you use the 240Nm of torque that’s available, you’ll smile every time the road becomes twisty.”