BMW 320d 2006 News

1. What is the state of the Australia luxury-car market at the moment?"It is stable on a high level, but it's a competitive market. "We expect to be traveling on the same level as last year on a full- year basis, and we are confident we can grow the BMW Group business.2. How does BMW rate globally?"On a worldwide scale, if you take away South Africa where there a very special regulations and BMW is an assembler, we have the highest market share in the world."We have 29.2 per cent of the luxury sector in Australia, and in Germany the figure is 27.4 per cent and the worldwide number is 19.9 per cent."3. Why is BMW doing so well in Australia?"Australians like our products and we have a very strong brand here. "We have other things which are particularly appealing to potential owners, like guaranteed future values for our cars. We are the only manufacturer to do that across the range. It shows the confidence we have because we know the situation with BMW residuall values."Others will follow us, because they do, but we are the first. That is especially appealing to luxury users, as they have the option to hand the car back at the end of their lease term."This program is fitted to the Australian market, but we have other things and there is also a good demand here for the BMW four-wheel drives with the X5 and X3."4. How has BMW been tracking in Australia over recent years?"Since 1999 we have grown by 79 per cent and, although we usually don't talk about our competitors, that is more than anyone else and gives us a lead of 20 per cent over the same time last year. "That includes the 4x4s but not the commercial vehicles sold by one of our competitors. It's passenger cars and four-wheel drives."If you look at other manufacturers there is one other brand which is doing well but coming from a low base, yet we outsold them 3:1 in 1999 and now we outsold them 3.3:1 in 2005."5. Looking forward, what can we expect in 2006 and 2007?"We are now expanding our range on the diesel front, and we will have the 120d and 320d in the second quarter of this year. There will also be the 323i Touring in the second quarter, and later in the year a new 3 Series coupe. Also the 323i sedan."We have now the revised Z4 including the M Roadster, and of course we have the Z4 coupe coming in the secnd half of the year and the M coupe version which will be very exciting."2007 is still quite a way down the track, so we will have a few renewals."In the 1 Series we are far away from having exploited the market potential and we will have a few very nice things that will fit perfectly in Australia. But that will be 2007."Also, a little bit down the track we will have . . . a sporty version of the X5. It is in the design stage and, from what we have seen, it will be a stunning success."6. You are also responsible for Mini as part of the BMW Group. How far away is the replacement car?"The new model Mini will be in the market in Australia next year. "In that life cycle it will also have several more variants that will also come to Australia and they will help to substantially grow Mini in the market. It was originally a one-model vehicle but will grow to a full product family."

The show has been moved back from February to March 3-12 this year so it doesn't clash with the Melbourne Motor Show which opened last week. The Melbourne event was staged earlier to avoid a clash with the Commonwealth Games.Diesel cars, an Aussie supercar and hybrid technology were the highlights of the Melbourne show.Brisbane show organiser Michelle Ramsey said manufacturers usually held back the launch of new models until the Melbourne show, which meant Brisbane missed out.However, with the unveiling of several new and exciting models in Melbourne last week, Ramsey said most of these would be coming to Brisbane providing one of the biggest automotive feasts yet seen here."It's very nice of Melbourne to have this practice run for us," Ramsey said.She predicted a record of more than 50 new models would make their Queensland debuts.The Melbourne show not only unveiled several new models to the Australian market but also featured the return after 18 years of the Fiat brand with the Punto hatchback and Dodge with the Caliber compact SUV to go on sale about September.In an acknowledgement of record fuel prices, Holden, BMW, Jaguar, Fiat, VW, SsangYong and Alfa Romeo announced new diesel-powered passenger cars.For the first time in Australia, BMW will introduce diesel power to its four-cylinder cars, with the 320d at $56,700 and the 120d at $47,800 in the next quarter.The most significant of diesel releases is Holden's Astra diesel.The car will feature a 1.9-litre turbocharged diesel engine and be available later this year. No prices are yet set.GM Holden boss Denny Mooney said it would "not be high volume but it might be a surprise".Volkswagen Group Australia managing director Jutta Dierks said the diesel Astra would increase interest in diesel and not take sales from their range, which this year will feature an oil burner in every model."We have a head start on diesel and it (Astra) will only lift sales," she said.Several manufacturers also announced new fuel-miserly hybrid petrol-electric models, while Korean manufacturer SsangYong said it would introduce a hybrid diesel-electric Kyron sports utility vehicle later this year.However, fuel-hungry supercars were also on the agenda, led by the Australian-made bespoke Redback Spyder which is coming to the Brisbane motor show.The $250,000 mid-engined 335kW V8 two-seater weighs 900kg and has a top speed of 320km/h. It goes from 0 to 100km/h in three seconds and will be a highlight of the Brisbane Motor Show.The current model can only be driven on a racetrack but the Melbourne-based builders plan to build a street-legal version.Builder Nick Tomkinson said American talk show host Jay Leno was considering buying one.