Engine Oscars: BMW Group Booked on Winning

Munich. The BMW Group has won three out of a total of twelve prizes awarded at
today's renowned 'International Engine of the Year Award' event. Winning engine
Oscars number 16, 17 and 18, the BMW Group has become a true serial winner of
the industry's most significant award for engines. The 3.2-l six-cylinder
engine of the BMW M3, the 2.5-l six-cylinder engine of the BMW Z4 roadster, and
the 1.6-l four-cylinder engine of the MINI Cooper S have all been awarded the
title 'Engine of the year 2003' in their respective displacement classes.

Having started in 1999, forty acclaimed motor journalists from 18 different
countries choose the most outstanding engines of the year during the 'Testing &
Engine Expo' trade fair in Stuttgart; so far, they have most frequently voted
for BMW's four, six, eight and twelve-cylinder engines.

It is largely thanks to the 3.2-l six-cylinder in-line engine of the BMW M3 -
which has been awarded yet another prize - that BMW is the most successful
competitor by a wide margin. Having won the especially coveted - because it
includes all displacement classes - "International Engine of the Year" award in
2001, this year's award in its displacement class of 3 to 4 litres makes it the
winner for the third time running. By the way, the M3 engine won the class
hat-trick with nearly twice as many scores (or 202 points) as the Porsche 911
GT3 that came out second with 109 points.

The winner is: BMW M3

The jury states that the BMW six-cylinder engine owes its landslide victory -
33 out of 40 judges voted in favour of the engine - to the wealth of technology
behind it. And rightly so, as the four-valve engine with dual variable camshaft
control - the so-called 'M Bi-VANOS' -, separate high-pressure oil supply, and
its high-speed Formula-1 concept is a true high-performance gem. 343bhp (252kW)
at 7,900rpm make it one of the world's most powerful NA engines in terms of
specific output; it nonchalantly exceeds the magic 100-bhp line per one litre
of displacement and boasts a maximum torque of 365Nm at 4,900rpm. This power
unit is second to none, catapulting the BMW M3 from standstill to 100kph in a
mere 5.2 fleeting seconds. Says Irish motor journalist and judge Padraic Deane
of the Irish Auto Trade Journal by way of explanation: 'Probably the best
street-legal performance engine around.'

Tried and trusted in the 3 and 5-series, new in the Z4: the 2.5-l six-cylinder
in-line engine.

Even though the second winner from Munich, the 2.5-l six-cylinder in-line
engine, is older than the contest itself, it comes along more modern and
sportier than ever in the new BMW Z4 roadster, and offers a convincing
performance. Knowing the engine from the BMW 325i and 525i models, the judges
nevertheless find it most convincing in the Z4 roadster where 'the engine's
sporty nature' can be seen at its best.

With its 192bhp (141kW) at 6,000rpm and 245Nm at 3,500rpm, the 2.5-l engine is
yet another one of the enthusiasm-inspiring sporty engines made by BMW.
Speeding up from 0 to 100kph in only 7 seconds and boasting a top speed of
235kph, the two-seater is easily the sportiest open-air festival of the year.

In the 2 to 2.5-l displacement class, the Z4's engine could be found on almost
every other judge's score sheet - not least because its exemplary environmental
results are points in its favour: Complying with the strictest exhaust emission
regulations currently in force in Europe and in the US, EU4 and ULEV,
respectively, it proves that sheer driving pleasure under blue skies does not
necessarily have to leave dark clouds of fumes in its wake.

The Greatest Honour Bestowed upon the Smallest: An Oscar for the MINI.

The MINI team of the BMW Group can also rejoice about a prize awarded to the
engine of the MINI Cooper S. The basic engine was developed in co-operation
with Chrysler and is also installed in the MINI One and the MINI Cooper; the
MINI Cooper S version has now been given a shot in the arm by the BMW Group's
engineers: Both the compressor and the intercooler helped the 1.6-l
four-cylinder engine of the MINI Cooper S win the 1.4 to 1.8-l category with
flying colours.

A 16-valve engine propels the appealing subcompact with its 163bhp (120kW) at
6,000rpm from 0 to 100 in 7.4 seconds, and further on up to 218kph. Yet in
spite of this fantastic forward pull, the MINI's consumption averages no more
than 8.4l of premium per 100 kilometres.

However, the torque curve of the compact engine, which offers a full 80 per
cent of its maximum torque of 210Nm in the wide range between 2,000 and
6,500rpm, impressed the judges even more. According to their judgment, the MINI
Cooper S owes its go-kart-like handling to a combination of torque, engine
output and its weight of only about 1,140 kilograms that is optimally
distributed over the front and rear axles.

In Canada the M3 Coupé and Cabriolet, featuring the 3.2 litre "Oscar" winning
engine, retail for $73,800 and $83,800 respectively. The Z4 2.5 retails for
$51,500. And after only one year since its reintroduction to worldwide markets
and many awards later, the MINI Cooper S retails for $29,950.

BMW Group Canada, based in Whitby, Ontario, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BMW
AG and is responsible for the distribution of BMW luxury performance
automobiles, Sports Activity Vehicles, Motorcycles, and the 2003 North American
Car of the Year - MINI. BMW Group Financial Services Canada is a division of
BMW Group Canada and offers retail financing and leasing programs on new and
pre-owned BMW and MINI Automobiles, as well as retail financing for new and
pre-owned BMW Motorcycles. A total network of 35 independent BMW retail
centres, 16 independent BMW motorcycle retailers, and 16 MINI retailers
represents the BMW Group across the country.

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