BMW Claims Three of Car and Driver's 10Best Awards for 1999
10 December 1998
BMW Claims Three of Car and Driver's 10Best Awards for 1999 WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Dec. 9 -- For eight consecutive years,
BMW automobiles have been included in Car and Driver magazine's list of 10Best
Cars, which appears in the January issue. This year that honor goes to the
BMW 328i/M3, 5 Series and M coupe/M roadster.
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"With more than 40 brands offering some 250 distinct models on the
American market, it's an amazing achievement for one manufacturer to capture
three of our 10Best awards," said Csaba Csere, editor of Car and Driver.
The BMW 3 Series has been chosen for a remarkable eighth year in a row by
Car and Driver, which writes, "Together these up-level 3 Series models remain
the definitive sports sedans." This string of awards now spans two
generations of 3 Series models, including the all-new 328i sedan released
earlier this year.
The 3 Series has long been regarded as the standard for automobiles that
combine quality, roominess, performance and handling in an affordable package.
The 1999 BMW 328i elevates this standard with greater interior space, more
standard features and an upgraded 2.8-liter six-cylinder engine.
The BMW 5 Series models were praised for their "silky-smooth six- and
eight-cylinder engines" and "rock-solid construction." Car and Driver salutes
the 5 Series for providing drivers with equal amounts of luxury and
performance, and for continuing to offer the option of a manual transmission,
a rarity in this market segment. New for 1999 are the six-cylinder 528i sport
wagon and the V-8 540i sport wagon, which is currently the fastest wagon in
the US.
As for the M Coupe and M Roadster, both based on the Z3 sports car built
in Spartanburg, SC, the Car and Driver editors were swayed most by the
performance and handling of both models, and the unique styling of the
Coupe, new for 1999. They write that "the oneness between driver and machine
combines with the lively steering, precise shifter and 240-hp M engine to
produce an uncanny harmony between the driver's desires and the car's instant
reflexes."
Victor Doolan, president of BMW of North America, Inc., remarked, "It is
an incredible honor to be named to Car and Driver's 10Best list for the eighth
year in a row. This recognition truly shows that BMW automobiles continue to
be appreciated for their exceptional driving experience."
To be eligible for the 10Best list, a car must be available to the public
by the end of January 1999, and not exceed a price of $55,000 including all
applicable fees and taxes. All nominees are tested and evaluated by Car and
Driver editors, who then rate each car on a scale of 100. The 10 that receive
the highest average scores are declared the winners.
BMW of North America, Inc., was established in 1975, at which point the
company assumed marketing and distribution responsibilities of BMW automobiles
in the U.S. from the previous private distributor. Motorcycle marketing and
distribution was added in 1980. Since then the company's North American
operations have grown to include marketing, sales and financial services
organizations in the United States and Canada; a South Carolina manufacturing
operation; a design firm in California; and various other operations
throughout the U.S. and Canada. BMW is represented in North America through a
network of more than 375 automobile and 190 motorcycle retailers in the United
States and Canada. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the brand's North American
headquarters, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
Information about BMW products is available to consumers via the World
Wide Web on the BMW homepage. The address is: http://www.bmwusa.com.
