BMW M5 - a Fast Car also in Terms of Sales

Whitby, Ontario... The number is as impressive as the car itself: Benefitting
from BMW's flexible manufacturing systems, production and worldwide sales of
the new BMW M5, the car which established the high-performance saloon segment
in the first place, now amount to no less than 11,867 units ever since the
introduction of the new model in October 1998 (BMW sold 271 units in the year
2000 at an MSRP $104,250). The current model is therefore already way ahead of
its predecessor, which took three times as long to reach the same sales volume,
becoming the first 8-cylinder M5 to open up the door to an all-new dimension -
together with the M3, the current M5 is the most successful M Car ever seen.
Adolf P Prommesberger, the President of BMW M, has a clear view on this
impressive figure: "Creating the new M5, we have obviously succeeded in
achieving a great success almost overnight with a car of the highest and most
dynamic standard. The M5 clearly confirms the theory that a product exactly
meeting all its purchasers' expectations will establish its own market."

The current M5, a 400 bhp high-performance saloon, was developed by BMW M as an
absolutely unique, unparalleled model based on the BMW 5 Series. Acceleration
to 100 km/h from a standstill comes in just 5.3 seconds, acceleration in 4th
gear from 80-120 km/h takes a mere 4.8 seconds, giving the M5 the same
performance as a thoroughbred sports car. And to make sure that the M5 is able
to get all this power on to the road smoothly and without the slightest lack of
control, this very special driving machine features its own M sports suspension
with BMW's compound high-performance brakes, a limited-slip differential and
DSC Dynamic Stability Control all fitted as standard.

The current M5 now even more appealing thanks to the face lift of the entire 5
Series last year represents the third generation of a very special kind of
automobile created by BMW M in the first place: the four-door sports saloon
segment.

The very first M5, at the time with a straight-six power unit, entered the
market in 1984 with maximum output of 286 bhp from 3.5 litres engine capacity.
The second model, which remained in production from 1988 - 1995, initially
developed 315 bhp from an engine displacement of 3.6 litres and was then
upgraded to 340 bhp with an increase in engine size to 3.8 litres. There was
also a very exclusive touring version of this very special car.

Total production and sales of the BMW M5 since 1984 now amounts to
approximately 26,000 units - establishing an unparalleled benchmark of success
in the market which gives the BMW M5 a truly outstanding position as the
absolute leader in its category all over the world .
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