BMWs Capture 7 Awards in "Automobile Magazine"
At a press conference today at the New York International Auto Show,
Automobile Magazine's editors and readers bestowed seven All-Star
awards on BMW. The awards spanned three of BMW's model lines, including
the new X5. The awards were as follows: 1. 3 Series coupe Editor's
Choice All-Star - "Best Coupe " 2. 3 Series coupe Reader's
Choice All-Star - "Best Coupe " 3. 3 Series sedan Reader's
Choice All-Star - "Best Luxury Sedan Under $40,000" 4. 528i
sedan Editor's Choice All-Star - "Best Luxury Sedan Under
$40,000" 5. M5 Editor's Choice All-Star - "Best Sports
Sedan" 6. M5 Reader's Choice All-Star - "Best Sports
Sedan" 7. X5 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicle Reader's Choice
All-Star - "Best Small/Midsize Sport Utility Vehicle" The
full All-Star awards program is detailed in the magazine's May, 2000
issue. "We are truly honored to receive this recognition from the
esteemed editors and readers of Automobile Magazine. For us to
consistently appear on the All-Star list is a testament to our
long-standing tradition of building cars that truly embody the meaning
of the Ultimate Driving Machine," said Tom Purves, Chairman of BMW
of North America, Inc. "We are a company dedicated to creating cars
that people love to drive and are thrilled to receive these
awards." For the eighth time, spanning two model generations, the
BMW 3 Series - both the sedan and coupe - continue the tradition by
cinching three All-Star spots for 2000. In choosing the new BMW 3
Series coupe, the editors of Automobile Magazine commented, "If
you are looking for the real-world definition of the term 'performance
coupe', look no further . The BMW 3 Series coupe is as pure a
distillation of that concept as you'll find." Apparently the
readers couldn't agree more, bestowing upon the 3 Series coupe a
Reader's Choice All-Star for "Best Coupe". An All-Star winner
last year, the 3 Series sedan tops the All-Star list for "Best
Luxury Sedan Under $40,000" as voted by the readers. The 3 Series
sedan continues to define the term "sport sedan," combining
performance, handling and quality in a roomy, yet agile package which
represents value without compromise. Value and performance are clearly
recognized as winning attributes of the BMW 528i sedan as judged by the
editors of Automobile Magazine. With a base price of $38,900, the 528i
sedan was named an All-Star for "Best Luxury Sedan Under
$40,000." This is the third year in a row a 5 Series has graced the
All-Star list. As one editor declared, "This combination of
impeccable luxury and driving pleasure makes the 528i not only the best
sedan you can have for less than $40,000, but one of the best sedans
you can buy period." Perhaps the most exciting
performance-oriented All-Star winner for BMW is the new M5. With close
to 400-horsepower surging under the hood and sport-tuned suspension
keeping it glued to the ground, the M5 is essentially a
thinly-disguised 4-door race car that is capable of, not only
blistering performance, but also the highest levels of comfort - all
without compromise. With praise from both the editors and the readers,
the M5 took home both the Reader's Choice and the Editor's Choice
All-Star award for "Best Sport Sedan". In its first year of
production, the readers of Automobile Magazine have awarded the BMW X5
4.4i a Reader's Choice All-Star for "Best Small/Mid-Size Sport
Utility Vehicle". With its balanced combination of all-wheel-drive
technology plus suspension, braking and engine response, the all-new X5
is the world's first Sports Activity Vehicle, (SAV). Delivering
all-roads capabilities, the X5 sets new on-road standards for vehicles
that can also venture off the pavement. With such responsive handling
and a potent 4.4-liter V8 engine, the readers of Automobile Magazine
have recognized that the X5 stands above the crowd.