The future, according to most European car manufacturers, is diesel. Audi, BMW, Mercedes and even Jaguar sell growing numbers of increasingly powerful diesel-engine models. However, Porsche will not be joining them
BMW dealers may not be eating their hearts out, but many will be chewing their fingernails. Audi’s all-new, snub-nosed A6 is good – good enough to present a very real choice to buyers who have a 5-series at the top of their shopping list.
After lying dormant for decades, Maserati is being re-invented as a proper sports-luxury brand to compete with Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Jaguar.
Citroen, Ford, BMW, VW, Peugeot and DaimlerChrysler have agreed to lift servicing restrictions following a major inquiry into new car warranties by the Office of Fair Trading. However Which? magazine has been forced to apologise after claiming seven carmakers were still offering warranties in breach of EU law
No BMW, no Mercedes-Benz – but at least Porsche will be representing Germany at the Sunday Times Motor Show Live this week. And it has one of the few world premieres planned for the NEC, Birmingham, event – the new 911 Turbo S
The BMW Group and Brilliance China Automotive Holdings today performed the official grand opening ceremony of their joint venture plant BMW Brilliance Automotive in Shenyang, the capital of the Liaoning Province in the north-east of the People's Republic of China
Jardine Motors Group has acquired Milcars Holdings' London BMW and Mini business. The purchase, for an undisclosed sum, came to light while AM was compiling its annual listing of the top 100 automotive retail groups
The new BMW 1 Series will go on sale in September priced from £15,690 to £20,800
Helmut Panke, chairman of the BMW board of management, says the carmaker will achieve record sales and earnings this year
Although still the blue chip choice for luxury saloon buyers, the Mercedes-Benz S-class is now the oldest car in the segment. BMW, Audi, Jaguar and even VW have all launched high-tech, high quality rivals within the past three years, and in Britain it faces tough competition from Range Rover
BMW has reported a 2.5% increase in its first quarter pre-tax profits to €851m (£575.5m) and said it was on course to produce record results in 2004
Definition of executive express
Diesel vs petrol – which 5-series is best?
BMW has teamed up with Manheim Auctions to roll out a series of online auctions to its 150-strong franchise network, enabling dealers to purchase used cars online
BMW has outpaced rival Mercedes-Benz with a higher-than-expected 14.5% increase in second quarter profits and by reconfirming its forecast of record earnings for the full year.
The Government is determined not to make the same mistakes again. In 1998, when then BMW boss Bernd Pischetsrieder dropped the bombshell at the British motor show that he would close subsidiary Rover's Longbridge plant unless it made huge cost savings and efficiency gains, MPs were caught completely cold.
Lost franchises, notably two BMW outlets, and large investment in new premises are blamed for a massive slump in pre-tax profits at premium retail group William Jacks.
So why has BMW released details of its all-new 1-series – and even allowed a selected few journalists to drive it – months before the car's official release?
BMW, the German premium carmaker, is expecting record new car sales and profits this year driven by the introduction of new models and strong registrations for Mini.
BMW Group group's profit from ordinary activities, at €3,205 million, was 2.8% below the record level of 2002. Net profit for 2003 was €1,947 million, 3.6% down from 2002.
