The BMW 3 Series Sedan and Touring models now benefit from further additions to standard specifications that further consolidate its role as the leading car in its segment.

All 3 Series Sedan and Touring models now include Comfort Access as standard, while 320i and 320d standard and Executive versions now gain rear Park Distance Control, anti-dazzle interior mirror, through-loading from the interior into the boot and an adjustable front armrest.

The 320i and 320d Executive models are also now equipped as standard with partially power-operated front seats, while the 325i gains BMW’s Business Navigation system, including map display.

The BMW 3 Series also gains from a price reduction for the Navigation systems in models in which they are optional.

Additionally, the 323i Sedan and 323i Touring models gain from a 10 kW increase in power, with the in-line aluminium-magnesium six-cylinder engine now producing 140 kW. This is accompanied by improvements in fuel consumption that see the combined figure for the automatic-transmission 323i Sedan at 8.8 litres/100 km while the 323i Touring now returns 8.5 litres/100 km in manual-transmission form and 8.9 litres/100 km as an automatic.

All 323i models, Sedan and Touring, manual and automatic, also record faster acceleration times with the manual 323i Sedan, for example, reaching 100 km/h from a standing start in a rapid 7.8 seconds.

The BMW 1 Series bucked the trend in the premium small car market when it arrived in Australia in 2004.

More than 5,400 BMW 1 Series have been sold in Australia since that time, making it the most successful selling vehicle in the $40,000-plus premium small car market, with more than 2,090 sold last year alone.

With the dynamic superiority of rear-wheel drive in its segment and the choice of petrol or diesel four-cylinder engines, plus a high-performance, sophisticated inline six-cylinder, the 1 Series sets the benchmark.

Now, a new-look BMW 1 Series adds to the already superlative levels of refinement and dynamics with a bolder appearance, improved performance and economy, and even more refinement.
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Last year’s best-selling car in its segment of the luxury market, the BMW 5 Series, moves further ahead of the field with an update that brings new styling features inside and out, along with a host of innovations that add to driving pleasure, comfort and safety.

Among a number of new, first-in-segment features, the new BMW 5 Series continues with the unique technology it brought to market with its Australian introduction in 2003.

Foremost among these technologies is the standard-equipment variable-ratio Active Steering system, which introduced new levels of driving finesse with its ideal combination of sports-car low-speed response and unparalleled highspeed stability.
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BMW will introduce the optional Lane Change Warning system on the new BMW 5 Series for the first time, helping drivers avoid unintentional lane change manoeuvres.

The Lane Change Warning system identifies any deviations from the car’s ideal course and gives the driver discreet but tangible feedback at exactly the right moment for safe steering – on the steering wheel.

The Lane Change Warning system is made up of a camera fitted near the interior mirror on the windscreen, a control unit serving to compare data and a signal unit generating discreet but unmistakable vibration on the steering wheel. Whenever the driver expresses his intention to change lanes or direction by operating the direction indicator, the Lane Change Warning function is automatically deactivated and there is no warning signal.
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Featured as an option for the first time in the new BMW 5 Series, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function offers the driver even greater convenience and effortless motoring.

This innovative system offers an additional, automatic distance hold function enabling the driver to cruise along smoothly on the freeway, keeping an appropriate, constant distance from the vehicle ahead – even in very slow, stop-and-go traffic.

Using this system, the driver is able to choose four distance settings. Once the distance from the vehicle ahead, as selected by the driver, is no longer maintained, the system smoothly adjusts the speed of the car to actual traffic conditions. Then, as soon as the lane in front of the driver is free again, Active Cruise Control returns the car to the speed originally selected by the driver, helping to enhance the driving experience in the new BMW 5 Series.
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BMW Individual will offer its High End Audio System featuring exclusive live audio signal processing technology in the new 5 Series range, providing customers with an unparalleled musical experience.

The system, developed by sound specialists at BMW M GmbH, incorporates particularly high-quality hi-fi components designed especially for use in automobiles and newly developed signal processing technology, exclusive to BMW.

So-called DIRAC live signal processing technology, it is unique in the automobile industry and was first offered in the new BMW X5. The technology corrects the impulse response of each loudspeaker, thus facilitating linear and accurate sound reproduction inside the car. The resulting true impulse response during sound reproduction enables both the driver and all passengers in a BMW to enjoy an extraordinarily multi-faceted and vivid sound experience. Up to 16 high-performance loudspeakers featuring Neodym magnetic drive and exceptionally stiff Hexacone diaphragms, a digital 9-channel amplifier with a maximum output of 825 watts and precision crossovers guarantee unparalleled sound quality.
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Combining dramatic style, supreme passenger comfort and an unmatched blend of on-road smoothness and handling precision, the BMW 7 Series revolutionised the luxury car segment when it was introduced to Australia in January 2002.

From the elegant, individual presence of the V8-powered 740i to the blistering power and commanding authority of the long-wheelbase, V12-powered 760Li, the flagship BMW sedan has established a footprint to be envied at the upper end of the luxury market.

And now, to further extend the appeal of the 7 Series to luxury car buyers, BMW has developed a two-model strategy that adds Executive and Sport models to the existing range.
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BMW Full Circle is a flexible retail finance programme designed to minimise the costs of funding a new car while providing end-of-contract peace of mind through the availability of a Guaranteed Future Value option.

In one sweep, this option removes the problem of making a decision at the end of the contract by leaving the customer with a number of easy choices, including the decision to remain within the programme, or end the contract with no further liability.

It also protects the customer from negative market trends, while still allowing positive trends to be capitalised on.
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Mazda Australia continued to forge ahead as the country’s top selling importer posting record sales figures for the month of May.

Strong sales across the entire vehicle range helped Mazda achieve a benchmark May result of 6345 retails, a 12.8 per cent increase on the same month last year.

So far this year Mazda is on a record sales pace with sales averaging 6436 retails to the end of May.

Mazda extended its lead as the country’s top-selling import brand by 1137 sales, giving the company a year-to-date market share of 7.7 per cent compared with 7.0 per cent Y-T-D 2006, according to VFACTS figures.
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Australia’s cheekiest convertible just got a whole lot more luxurious with the arrival in showrooms of the new MINI Cabrio Sidewalk model.

Available in supercharged 1.6-litre MINI Cooper S guise with 125 kW on tap, or the sporty naturally-aspirated MINI Cooper, the Sidewalk is packed with exclusive features that will ensure it is the most sought-after drop-head for sophisticated small car sun-lovers.

Equipped like no other MINI Cabrio before it, the Sidewalk model, which is available in 5-speed manual or CVT automatic for the Cooper, and six-speed manual or six-speed automatic for the Cooper S, provides a treasure trove of goodies unavailable on any other four-seater convertible in Australia.
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The fastest-growing German luxury brand in Australia, Audi, has reached yet another record sales result.

Audi has closed the month of May with 611 units, ahead 41% for the period May 2007 year-to-date. Audi has now sold 3,143 units in the first 5 months and is clearly on a successful growth path in Australia.

Eclipsing its May 2006 result by an incredible 40%, the Ingolstadt-based brand is proving that Australian luxury car buyers are choosing Audi over its traditional European competitors thanks to exceptional product like the Audi Q7 sports performance SUV, new all-terrain A6 allroad quattro and the TT Coupe.

According to managing director, Joerg Hofmann, the company’s double digit growth targets are being met month-by-month, with a host of even more exciting new cars to be introduced Downunder in the remainder of the year.
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Australia’s premium BMW Airport Service for high-fliers arrives at a new altitude with First Class travel as standard now offered in Melbourne.

All cars using the long-established and customer-friendly BMW or MINI Airport Service feature will be ferried between the airport and the dealership aboard a brand new fully-covered rigid-sided luxury transporter operated by Garden State Towing on behalf of Mondial Assistance.

The car carrier has been specifically designed to carry all BMW and MINI vehicles in a secure environment from the Qantas Valet car park to the customer’s preferred BMW service location.

Once serviced, detailed and fully refreshed, the car is returned in the same car carrier in time to meet the owner at Qantas Valet parking on their return from interstate or overseas.
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