Morning Reads: Wednesday, 5 March 2008

[mika]

TodayÔÇÖs Birthdays / Calendar

Statement from Packers General Manager Ted Thompson:

"Brett Favre has informed us of his intention to retire from the Green Bay Packers and the NFL. He has had one of the greatest careers in the history of the National Football League, and he is able to walk away from the game on his own terms - not many players are able to do that.

"The Packers owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. He has given Packers fans 16 years of wonderful memories, a Super Bowl championship among them, that will live on forever. Brett's many accomplishments on the field are legendary. He leaves the game holding virtually every career passing record, plus his consecutive starts streak, which may never be duplicated.

"The uniqueness of Brett Favre - his personality, charisma and love of the game - undoubtedly will leave him as one of the enduring figures in NFL history."

greenbaypressgazette.com
After 17 years, ÔÇÿIÔÇÖm just tiredÔÇÖ: Farve tells Packers heÔÇÖs retiring

Packers .com

jsonline.com
Packers Plus online: Brett Favre

motorcyclenews.com
Four-wheeled ÔÇ£motorcycleÔÇØ due to launch this week


motoinsight.it
February still falling for 2 wheels


amadirectlink.com
Getting rolling at Bike Week


<script src="http://flash.revver.com/player/1.0/player.js?mediaId:720118;width:480;height:392" type="text/javascript"></script>

buell.com
Buell Teams on the podium at Moto-ST Daytona Opener


ktmpress.com
Thumbs up for KTM Night Riders at Qatar tests


yamah-motor.com
ÔÇ£Mr. DaytonaÔÇØ set for AMA Superstock return


FIM.ch
Qatar GP time schedule, wild-card rider
Superbike & Supersport World Championhips, Superstock FIM Cup: 2088 final calendar


[url= http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=31624]roadracingworld.com
Buell contracts The Sprotbike Company to run inside pass track day/demo program


motorcyclenews.com
WSBK: Max Biaggi breaks wrist in 170mph crah


worldsbk.com: Official Web Site ÔÇô News, features and more


motogp.com: Official Web Site ÔÇô News, features and more

BMW Sauber F1
BMW Motorsport


paddocktalk.com
RUMORS: F1 ÔÇô Formula One to add street race in Germany?


formula1.com
Williams unveil 2008 race livery

formula1.com
McLaren: media reports ÔÇÿinaccurate and misleadingÔÇÖ


americanlemans.com
Grand Prix of Houston canceled for 2008


windingroad.com
Silverstone porposes new pit and paddock complex

windingroad.com
Driving over fish ÔÇô BMW winter training


autoweek.com
Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe attracts new buyers


egmcartech.com
Officially Official: VW Scirocco debuts in Geneva (with video)


jalopnik.com
Geneva Motor Show: Morgan LifeCar up close and personal


telsamotors.com
Mythbusters part 2: The Tesla Roadster is not a converted Lotus Elies


autobloggreen.com
Geneva ÔÇÖ08: Gm announces new second-generation mild hybrid system


reuters.com
Tata seen under-powered for Jaguar, Land Rover

BMW Website Review:


BMW Yachtsport


BMW Golfsport


BMW Oracle Racing


BMW Sport website


BMW PressClub: Page 2

BlogRoll: some of the blogs I have collected while purposefully wondering around the internet.


Stuff: A place for everything and everything in its place, including stuff.


webbikeworld.com
Cameleon Motorcycle chain oiler


a-harley-morotrycle.com
How to make claims after accidents


foodanddrinkeurope.com
Brews aiming smaller in US craft beer drive


M.R. Traveler


Places 2 Ride Blog


www.biker-events.com
Finding the Good Times on 2 Wheels


Horizonsunlimited.com ÔÇô Newsletter

2008 International Rally
Gillette, Wyoming, July 17-20 2008


Mining The Website


A message from home, the Home Page that is.

NEW FEATURE: Picture This!
As inspired by the Forum, each month we'll provide a topic for photo contributions. Members are invited to submit one photo that best depicts the topic. Photos will be judged by MOA staff. Those selected will be featured in the BMW Owners News. Each photo must include a 50 word (or less) description, your name, member number, city, state. Topic: Where I keep my Owners News. Send your photo to picturethis@bmwmoa.org. The winners will appear in the APRIL issue of the BMW Owners News.



Threads worth following:

Photo Assignment:
Here is a link to the PHOTO ASSIGNMENT INDEX, with links to the various excellent Photo Assignment threads

Latest project: ÔÇ£Old CroÔÇØ the R-evolution

Diary of a Barn Queen

ItÔÇÖs time to switch the ratchet over to tighten.






TodayÔÇÖsRoadFood.com


Woot

Todays Woot
The Blog

Packer News: Packers.com, jsonline.com - Packers Plus Online


Humor

Over Heard in New York | Voice of the City
Sluggy Freelance
The Onion
xkcd


Bike Candy:

THE END

 

[mika]

Pge - BMW PressClub

Rolls-Royce PressClub

ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS PRESS CONFERENCE
GENEVA MOTOR SHOW 2008

IAN ROBERTSON
CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE
4 MARCH 2008

The spoken word is applicable.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us this afternoon.
It is always a pleasure to be in Geneva and particularly when, as you can see, we have something new to unveil. You may remember it was exactly two years ago that we showed the experimental 101EX Coup?® right here and so I am particularly pleased to be able to show you the production model, closely based on this car – but we will come to that in a few minutes.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars had an exceptional year in 2007. We celebrated our fifth anniversary of production at the top of the super-luxury sedan segment, with a record sales result and a promise of major developments over the next two years.

Sales were up by 25 per cent compared to 2006, with retails of over 1000 cars – 1010 to be exact - and our fourth successive sales increase since the company was launched.

North America once again remained our strongest market overall, accounting for around 40 per cent of Phantom sales with Europe second accounting for almost a quarter of our business. Within Europe, the UK was the clear leader with Russia in a solid second place and growing strongly. Further from home we saw exceptional performances in the United Arab Emirates and in Asia Pacific too, particularly China, and in emerging markets like India.

There was strong demand for all Phantom models in 2007, with an outstanding reaction to the Phantom Drophead Coup?®, launched in July. The first car was sold for $2 million at a charity auction in the US and by the end of 2007 over 250 cars had been delivered to customers worldwide, far above expectations. Our order book is currently full through this year and well into 2009, with no signs of demand slowing and increasing requests for Bespoke features.

Our new model series, named RR4, is due for launch in 2010. The engineering development is now well under way and you will perhaps have seen spy shots of the engineering test cars that have been published in the past few weeks

We have recently announced that we are developing a brand new engine for this model. Phantom is already the most efficient car in the super luxury segment and the new engine will be a further substantial advance.

Building work at our manufacturing plant at Goodwood is now underway, expanding operations in readiness for our new model series, all within the footprint of the existing buildings. We are building a second assembly line and introducing new working patterns, with up to three shifts in some production areas. All departments will be expanded, including dramatic expansion of the paintshop, a new leathershop across two floors, new wood working facilities and an updated logistics operation.

A major recruitment campaign starts later this month and will continue through this year and next. We will have increased the current 700 strong workforce by several hundred by the end of next year

So in the medium term we have a vital new addition to the product line-up, but we have a more immediate one too – called the Rolls-Royce
Phantom Coup?®.

We had a fantastic reaction to its experimental predecessor,101EX, as it toured the world following its unveiling at this show two years ago and so we decided to take it to production readiness. And since we announced last year that we would build a production version, customer deposits have been flooding in and are already well into three figures. What is particularly satisfying is that two thirds of these orders have come from people who have never owned a Rolls-Royce before and so, just as Drophead expanded the appeal of our range, so too has Coup?®.
The engineering of this car is based on both the Drophead and the Phantom, but this is a car with quite a different character. It has been created as a real transcontinental tourer and is the most driver orientated car we have produced to date.
We have made a number of subtle engineering changes, which, when added all together give the car quite a different feel. But this is still first and foremost a Rolls-Royce with the emphasis on silent running, seemless ride and effortless power. It is certainly not a sports car in any sense, but does feel more dynamic than our other models.

Starting with the chassis, it is incredibly stiff – in fact the stiffest Rolls-Royce chassis ever built – and that’s a great starting point. Springs and damper are slightly firmer, there are thicker anti-roll bars and steering assistance is reduced to increase feel. The brakes have been programmed to give a little more initial bite while a sport button on the steering wheel reprogrammes the gearbox with a more aggressive shift pattern.
By changing the rear structure of the car we have been able to increase both fuel and luggage capacity by 25 per cent, compared to the Drophead. This means a range of well over 600 km and the ability to carry four sets of golf clubs, if you share my passion for the game.
Chief Designer Ian Cameron and his team have done a magnificent job with this car once again. The exterior will speak for itself in a few moments, but there are some lovely details inside the car. The use of wood is exquisite and different to all our other models – and I am delighted to say that the starlight headliner from the experimental car has made it onto the production version as on option.

But I think I have said enough and its time for you to make up your own minds. Ladies and gentleman allow me to present to you the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coup?®.


BMW 3 Series Convertible wins iF Gold Award 2008 for excellent design.
03/04/2008

BMW 3 Series Convertible wins iF Gold Award 2008 for excellent design.
"Industrie Forums Design" will present the prestigious award at the opening of CeBIT in Hanover/Germany.


Munich/Hanover. Stretched dynamics, powerful elegance, fascinating technical perfection: these are the qualities that also convinced the jury to present the internationally acclaimed iF Product Design Awards to the BMW 3 Series Convertible. On 4 March, 2008, the opening date of the CeBit technology fair, the first BMW Convertible with a fully retractable hardtop will be announced as the winner of the iF Gold Award. This special prize is the highest award the "Industrie Forum Design" will present. The BMW 3 Series Convertible is one of fifty winners of a Gold Award, which were selected from a total of 821 winners of the iF Labels 2008.

This most recent award for BMW 3 Series Convertible is another milestone in the BMW success story with iF Product Design Awards. Last year, the BMW 3 Series Coupe won a Gold Award. In 2001, the previous-generation BMW 3 Series Convertible received the exclusive trophy. The most recent commendation shows that the BMW Design Team scored a winner yet again.

With retracted or closed roof, the long wheel base, horizontal shoulder line and flat rear end make the BMW 3 Series Convertible a real eye-catcher. With its overall arrangement and flow of lines, the four-seater is an unmistakable representative of the characteristic synthesis between technology and aesthetics that is so typical of BMW. Its proportions express sporting elegance, while the flat shoulder, the retracted seating position and the short windscreen guarantee the intensely pleasant driving experience that has always been the hallmark of BMW 3 Series Convertibles. Thanks to the intelligent, space-saving solution for storing the three roof components, the low shoulder line at the rear runs along in one uninterrupted, harmonious flow. Equipped with a retractable hard top for the first time, the BMW 3 Series Convertible retains the character, the line flow and driving experience that have been this model's hallmark for over four generations.

"For our designers, the tradition of the BMW brand is one of the most important sources of inspiration," explains Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Design. "Nonetheless, every new design will question the traditions that characterized the brand. All known formal details are scrutinized to help determine whether they ought to be retained, changed or given up and replaced by something new. At the same time, state-of-the-art technologies are always a source of inspiration."

Not only is the electro-hydraulically retractable sheet steel lightweight hard top perfectly integrated into the overall design of the new BMW 3 Series Convertible, it is also distinguished by its maximum comfort of control and minimum noise emission. The interior design creates a link with the theme of stretched dynamism. The side trim panels start at the instrument panel and continue past the front seats to the rear seat armrests with an uninterrupted sweeping movement. The center console with its lively, undulating form also reaches into the rear. The flexible storage concept, which frees up an impressive loading volume of up to 350 liters, underlines the BMW Design Team's expertise in developing attractive and functional design solutions.

Spearheaded by Christopher E. Bangle, BMW Group Design has consolidated its position among the elite of international design for years. Bangle is firmly and solidly committed to innovation. It is part of his strategy to open up more creative freedom for the design of individual members of the BMW model range with the objective of bringing alive the unique product personality of each model of the BMW brand and allowing a closer identification with the customer. This way, the creative scope has been broadened significantly. The vehicles thus created, have assumed their rightful place among the masterpieces of car design, as prestigious awards for a wide variety of current models of the BMW range prove.

One of the special achievements of the BMW Design Team is the fact that every new model evokes passion for technology and aesthetics. During the design process, progress and sustainability are always in a dynamic equilibrium. "As designers, we wish to make ownership of a BMW an experience. Our objective is to establish a relationship between the people and the product which becomes closer and closer over time," van Hooydonk explains.

If you have any further questions, please contact our:



BMW Museum opens on 19 th June 2008
03/04/2008

Munich. After a construction period of around two and a half years, BMW will once again be opening the doors to the BMW Museum on 19 th June 2008. A major architectural and design redevelopment has extended the exhibition space fivefold to more than 5,000 sq. m. Following this new-concept rebuild, its trademark remains the so-called "museum bowl" - the unique, world-famous construction by Viennese architect Karl Schwanzer that dates back to 1973. Along with the BMW Welt Experience and Delivery Centre and the BMW plant tour, the BMW Museum adjacent to the Group's headquarters provides a unique brand experience at the Munich location. Two days after its ceremonial inauguration, the Museum will be open to the public again from 21st June.

Brand museum
The New BMW Museum is a brand museum that showcases the historical evolution of the brand's competence and innovative strength, along with its achievements and sporting successes. The development of the BMW brand is traced from the past to the present and on into the future. At the core of the exhibition material are such icons of BMW's product history as the BMW R 32, the BMW 507 and the legendary BMW 2002. Some 120 exhibits, encompassing production and racing models as well as concept vehicles, bear eloquent testimony to the thrilling history of the BMW brand. Featured themes range from design and engine construction to advertising, aerodynamics and motorsport. Exceptional exhibition technology underlines the aspiration of the Museum's new concept: "Once again BMW is setting new trends and embarking on untrodden paths to link up the history of its vehicles with that of the company in an exciting and surprising way. Quite simply, fascination and passion is what it's all about," says Karl Baumer, Director of BMW Group Mobile Tradition.

Architecture
The extension of the BMW Museum into the neighbouring low-rise building has allowed the exhibition area to swell to five times its former size. Karl Schwanzer's architectural philosophy is further pursued in the newly claimed spaces: in addition to streets and squares, bridges and houses appear within a built-up space. The upshot is an urban architecture, a kind of "traffic complex" composed of the fundamental constituents of the automotive environment. Visitors will discover enclosed and open exhibition spaces, a configuration of ramps, numerous detailed views and broad vistas, and a series of ever-changing perspectives that will take them by surprise.

 

[mika]

Statement by Dr. Kay Segler, Senior Vice President Brand Management MINI, BMW AG, MINI Press Conference 78th Geneva Auto Show 2008
03/04/2008

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today everything is dedicated to John Cooper Works. And not only the two new models are making their world debut here, but also the John Cooper Works brand, which is celebrating a wonderful premiere.

Let's first take a look at the two cars right here in front of you: the MINI John Cooper Works and the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman. For the first time we have a John Cooper Works straight from the factory. Indeed, we even have two models, each offering 155 KW (211 hp) maximum output right from the start. And developing peak torque of 280 Nm/206 lb-ft -including 20 Nm Overboost- the twinscroll turbo ensures really powerful and dynamic acceleration at all times.

In fact, the MINI John Cooper Works accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds, with the Clubman hardly lagging behind. The John Cooper Works is also the leader against the competition in terms of CO2 emissions, with a really low 165 g/km. The racing enthusiast can order these two sports cars from his dealer as of 20 March.

Dear friends of motorsport: The epitome of extreme driving pleasure at MINI is now called "John Cooper Works"! From now on the entire range of models for particularly sporting and ambitious drivers will bear this label under the MINI roof. So John Cooper Works is becoming an integral part of the MINI brand itself, following the acquisition of the brand rights of John Cooper Garages in January 2007. Today you see the new brand logo for the first time as a clear sign of a new beginning. This logo stands for exceptional know-how in motorsport, a passionate quest for performance, and unconventional character through and through. All John Cooper Works components are tailored perfectly to the MINI and are developed and manufactured on an absolute premium level.

Let me make a few comments on the two models you see here today: You will certainly be surprised to see two new cars both at the same time. After all, we have always proceeded very carefully in introducing new models since the re-launch in 2001, enlarging the portfolio only step-by-step. But following the first tests by our engineers, we had no choice but to present the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman to MINI racing fans right away, without waiting one single day.

Now let's move on to the core business of the MINI brand: In 2007 we delivered 223,000 MINIs to customers the world over. That is 18.5 per cent more than in the previous year - once again an all-time high for the MINI brand. Never before have we delivered so many MINIs to customers. So as a result, the MINI brand is growing faster worldwide than any other premium brand.

With this in mind, our decision to enlarge production capacities was absolutely correct - even though this meant shutting down production for a certain period last year. Today, as a result, we are able to meet the ongoing great demand for our three current models, with sales in February, for example, exceeding the previous year's figure in February 2007 by more than 30 per cent.

What makes MINI so attractive? Quite simply, it is not just the image and flair of the brand so essential to a genuine small premium car, but also the outstanding substance MINI has to offer: MINI offers a truly outstanding finish and the most advanced drivetrain technology. All models come with an exemplary standard of safety, a high level of fuel efficiency, and supreme reliability. This gives MINI lasting value in the aftermarket as a pre-owned car.

A particular point I would like to highlight is that the MINI Cooper D has a CO2 rating of just 104 g/km. This superiority results, among other things, from trendsetting technologies such as Brake Energy Regeneration, an Auto Start Stop function, as well as a gearshift point indicator all working together to make the car very friendly to the environment. With engine power of 80 kW (110 hp) you still enjoy lots of driving pleasure in typical MINI style.

Through its outstanding product substance, the MINI will continue in future not just to thrill its fans, but really to convince them in every respect. This is why we have increased our production capacity in Oxford to no less than 260,000 units a year, giving Sales the challenge to reach a record of at least 240,000 customer deliveries in 2008.

The unique MINI Clubman will continue to thrill modern trendsetters everywhere. Since the market launch of this new model in mid-November last year, more than 10,000 customers have already opted for the Clubdoor MINI. And again, in typical MINI style, we see a large share of 26 percent MINI Cooper S.

Now the MINI Clubman is conquering new continents, after being launched only three weeks ago in the USA and just recently in Japan. Feedback is absolutely excellent, again confirming the positive trend. On average, the customer must wait three months for his car.

But now let me quickly enter the final straight.

For now it's "pedal to the metal" to the After-Works Party. No - I naturally mean the After-Work Party. Starting here on the MINI stand at 5:00 this afternoon.

We look forward to seeing you all!

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you very much for your attention.


Statement by Dr. Klaus Draeger, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, BMW Group Press Conference, 78th International Motor Show Geneva, March 04, 2008
03/04/2008

Ladies and Gentlemen-
The revolutionary low rates of fuel consumption of 6.5 liters per 100 kilometers and carbon emissions of 172 grams per kilometer are the result of the advancement of our BMW EfficientDynamics strategy.

Allow me to tell you a bit more about the innovations that have been incorporated in our concept study BMW Vision EfficientDynamics:

As always, the first step is to optimize the engine, the heart of all our vehicles. In this particular case, we have equipped a four-cylinder diesel engine with Variable Twin Turbo technology. The unique charging system makes this two-liter four-cylinder engine the world's first diesel with a specific power output of over 100 bhp per liter of capacity.

An electric motor providing 15 kW contributes to vehicle acceleration.

A high-performance lithium-ion battery stores electrical power and feeds it into the vehicle electrical system.

An extremely fast and efficient eight-speed automatic transmission brings the full power of this drive system to the road. Germany's first eight-speed automatic transmission-developed jointly with our partner ZF-is something we are particularly proud of.

But intelligent energy management is about more than plain driving operation. You can see that this concept study has a solar roof. It generates the energy used for pre-heating the transmission fluid. So from now on, the extremely inefficient cold starts are a thing of the past.

Aerodynamics have been improved as well. This completely new aerodynamic rim design minimizes any turbulence at the wheel.

The concept and design of the study showcased here is based on the current BMW X5, a highly successful vehicle and-even more importantly-one of the most efficient in its class today. What we are presenting is how a large SAV can reach consumption levels otherwise typical for compact cars.

Step by step, individual elements of this concept car will be applied to an increasing range of models. Our goal always remains the same: Reducing fuel consumption as much as possible while providing the maximum in sheer driving pleasure.

You might know that we are developing a modular system of hybrid components in cooperation with our partner Mercedes Car Group. So each manufacturer can use individual components and install them in its vehicles as needed to provide "best of hybrid".

I suppose Dr. Zetsche will tell you the same in a moment as their press conference is about to start. But don't worry-there is still enough time for you to come upstage and have a closer look at our BMW concept study.

Thank you very much for your attention.


Statement by Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, BMW Group Press Conference, 78th International Motor Show, Geneva, 04 March 2008
03/04/2008

Ladies and Gentlemen-
Welcome to our BMW stand at the Geneva Motor Show.

Here in Geneva we put EfficientDynamics at center stage for the first time exactly one year ago. The initial models we presented were both highly dynamic and fuel-efficient. We also announced our plan to equip more and more BMW models with EfficientDynamics as a standard feature.

Can you see those cars behind me on stage?

This is a full dose of EfficientDynamics! These are high-efficiency cars you can already find on our roads today.

But this is only the beginning. At our exhibition stand, we are also showing:

ÔÇó the European premieres of the BMW 1 Series Convertible and the BMW X6,
ÔÇó as well as the world premiere of the new BMW M3 Convertible.

It goes without saying that EfficientDynamics is available as standard equipment with these models as well.

This means: All models offer higher dynamics at lower fuel consumption. EfficientDynamics sets us ahead of our competitors today. And I am convinced that this will not change anytime soon. At present, our model portfolio includes 22 BMW models that emit a maximum of 140 grams of CO2.

EfficientDynamics is not only installed in one or two ecological models. On the contrary, EfficientDynamics operates across the entire model range.


And our effort is bearing fruit:

ÔÇó When it comes to climate protection, we are "best in class."
ÔÇó We are ahead of our competitors.
ÔÇó We are the benchmark manufacturer in our industry.

This year alone, we expect to sell approximately 700,000 BMWs equipped with EfficientDynamics in Europe.

So, what does that mean?

ÔÇó This year's fuel savings for all new cars to be sold in Europe will amount to around 150 million liters compared to 2006!
ÔÇó And when it comes to carbon emissions, we are talking about a reduction of 373,000 tons.

Let me put it differently:

ÔÇó If you transformed all the fuel we will save into electric energy, the supply would be large enough to cover the demand of 780,000 people for one year.
ÔÇó The citizens of Geneva could even go more than four years on this quantity of energy.

This shows: Our innovations are taking effect! We stand by our commitment to lower the fuel consumption of our new car fleet in Europe by 25 percent between 1995 and the end of 2008! But environmental protection does not apply to the products alone. Environmental protection has to be implemented along a company's entire value chain!

Once again, we set the standards in our industry:

ÔÇó Energy consumption per vehicle produced was lowered by 4.1 percent last year.
ÔÇó Carbon emissions in production went down 10.6 percent during the same time period.
ÔÇó And we reduced sewage per vehicle by close to 35 percent over the last five years.

This may not help us a lot in the face of current political debates. But what is more important: It helps the environment.

We have received numerous awards for EfficientDynamics, such as:

ÔÇó the "Green Award" in Great Britain or
ÔÇó the "Green Steering Wheel" in Germany, to name only two.

Obviously, this makes us happy and proud. But we are not resting on our laurels. We want to achieve more. We plan to take it to the next level.

This is why we ask ourselves: Where can we open up new potential?

Hybrid and hydrogen are EfficientDynamics issues as well. Last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show, we introduced the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid as the first full-hybrid concept with a petrol engine. The first BMW hybrid will arrive on the market in 2009.

And further innovations are in the making. So let me present one of our ideas for the future, an exclusive debut here at Geneva: the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics.

This car is what the automotive future could look like for BMW drivers just a few years from now. For the very first time, we have combined a hybrid transmission with a four-cylinder diesel engine. And we have every reason to be proud of the result: a car that needs only about 6.5 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers. For a vehicle of this size and weight, this is quite a revolution.

So I would now like to hand over to my colleague Klaus Draeger-who will tell you more about the details.

Thank you very much!


BMW GROUP ANNOUNCED AS ONE OF "AMERICA'S MOST ADMIRED COMPANIES 2008" BY FORTUNE MAGAZINE
03/04/2008

BMW Group ranks no. 1 in its industry and no. 14 in the overall score.
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - March 4, 2008... FORTUNE Magazine announced that BMW Group is one of "America's Most Admired Companies". The study ranks BMW Group no. 1 in its industry for the second time in a row. For the first time BMW Group also made it - as the only European company - into the overall top 20 list. More than 600 companies were surveyed.

The list and related stories appear in the March 17 issue of FORTUNE, on newsstands March 10 and are currently available online at www.fortune.com.

Tom Purves, Chairman and CEO of BMW of North America, LLC, said: "We as BMW Group are honored and proud to be recognized as one of the most admired companies in the U.S. An important element is our strong customer orientation. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We are not just customer focused, we are customer obsessed. As an example, we are the only luxury performance car company to offer a comprehensive four-year free maintenance program at no cost with every vehicle we deliver. It means no service or maintenance bills and makes ownership more enjoyable."

The FORTUNE survey is a proof of BMW Group's long-term, value-oriented corporate philosophy. As a leader of industry, the company continues to make real contributions to the search for solutions to tomorrow's problems. Employees are the basis of the success. The highly skilled, committed employees of the BMW Group and the work that they produce form the basis for the company's success. Working in the BMW Group means meeting the demanding requirements of a premium manufacturer and service provider - being enthusiastic about the brands and products, achieving results of the highest quality, being willing to learn at all times, being flexible when it come to forms of work and working times and, most of all, wanting to push the success of the BMW Group further forward.

About FORTUNE's America's Most Admired Companies List
FORTUNE's America's Most Admired Companies list is the definitive report card on corporate reputations. FORTUNE's survey partners at Hay Group started with the FORTUNE 1,000 - the 1,000 largest U.S. companies ranked by revenue - and the top foreign companies operating in the U.S. They sorted the companies by industry and selected the ten largest companies in each.

To create the 64 industry lists, Hay Group asked executives, directors, and analysts to rate companies in their own industry on eight criteria, from investment value to social responsibility. This year only the best are listed: A company's score must rank in the top half of its industry survey.

To create the top 20, an overall list of America's Most Admired Companies, Hay Group asked 3,721 executives, directors, and securities analysts who had responded to the industry surveys to select the ten companies they admired most. They chose from a list made up of the companies that ranked in the top 25% in last year's survey, plus those that finished in the top 20% of their industry. Anyone could vote for any company in any industry. The difference in the voting rolls is why some results can seem anomalous; for example, Johnson & Johnson is one of the top ten America's Most Admired Companies but only second in its own industry.

A total of 622 companies in 65 industries were surveyed. Due to an insufficient response rate, the results of ten companies in the energy industry are not reported. In addition, for 46 companies, only the aggregate scores and ranks are published due to the distribution of responses in the following five industries: (1) Internet Services and Retailing, (2) Mortgage Services, (3) Oil and Gas Equipment, Services, (4) Wholesalers: Diversified, and (5) Wholesalers: Food and Grocery.

 

[Ridesalot]

Morning reads

Thanks M1ka

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm cake

Honey whats for breakfast ?

 

[mrich12000]

I so like the new Clubman