MINI USA/FTR DRAGSTER DEBUTS WITH WIN AT HOT IMPORT NIGHTS IN PHOENIX, AZ

MINI USA Partners with Fireball Tim Racing to Build Wild Dragster - Steals
Coveted "Best Engineered" Award from over 300 Competitors

October 19th, 2005... MINI USA has collaborated with the extreme California
based tuner FIREBALL TIM RACING (FTR) to create a one-of-a-kind record-breaking
dragster. The extreme MINI made its show debut, beating 300 competitors to win
the "Best Engineered" award at the Hot Import Nights in Phoenix, Arizona
Saturday, October 15th.

The outrageous MINI dragster stood out in an atmosphere thick with music,
models and impressive custom cars as the crowd of over 15,000 carved their way
through the best of the best. From the coolest Japanese and German tuners to
high end exotic wonder cars, the MINI dragster wowed judges and onlookers with
its polished under-hood hardware and eye-catching graphics.

MINI USA provided FTR with a carbon-fiber bodied, 1700lb MINI Cooper S with
John Cooper Works and an assortment of parts and accessories to create the 500
horsepower + twin-charged drag monster. The car will appear at select events
through the end of 2005, making its performance debut at the NHRA Sport Compact
World Finals in Pomona, October 22 followed by an appearance at SEMA in Las
Vegas, November 1 - 4.

Hollywood car designer and constructor Fireball Tim (Lawrence), and partner,
import drag racer and tuner, Hubie Fuh have built the show-stopping MINI
dragster. The two specialize in creating all forms of extreme, record-setting
street and race cars. FTR currently holds the title "World's Fastest Street
MINI" with a turbo, supercharged and nitrous powered MINI Cooper S pulling 12
second quarter-mile track times.

"MINI USA is excited to collaborate with Fireball Tim Racing to help us promote
MINI's prowess in the import drag world." said Jeff Stracco, MINI Product
Manager. "With its compact dimensions and lightweight carbon fiber body, this
MINI project car will be a true David amongst Goliaths on the drag strip. And
of course winning an award right out of the gate is a pretty impressive way to
start."

"As MINI enthusiasts we are very excited to be partnering with MINI USA to
create a unique one-of-a-kind rocket," said Fireball Tim. "To have this car
beat out 300 others for "Best Engineered" is not only an awesome testament to
the platform but to all the hard work everyone has put into the project so far
- just wait till we get it on the strip!"

Fireball Tim
Fireball Tim is famous for his many maniacal movie car designs from films like
SON OF THE MASK, JURASSIC PARK and about 50 others. The Fireball Tim brand
includes TV programming, toys, clothing, and candy sold in retail outlets
nationwide, including Wal-Mart. More information about Fireball Tim and FTR
can be found at www.fireballtim.com.

MINI in the US
MINI is an independent brand of the BMW Group. In the United States, MINI USA
operates as a business unit of BMW of North America, LLC which has been present
in the United States since 1975. ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Cars NA, LLC began
distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to
include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW
brand, the MINI brand, and the ROLLS-ROYCE brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA,
an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley
and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co.,
LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and
is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 Roadster and X5 Sports Activity
Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through
networks of 340 BMW passenger car centers, 327 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
centers, 148 BMW motorcycle retailers, 80 MINI passenger car dealers, and 25
ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales
headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff
Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet
at:

www.bmwgroupna.com
www.bmwusa.com
www.bmwmotorradusa.com
www.miniusa.com
www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com

Journalist note: Information about the BMW Group and its products is available
to journalists on-line at the BMW Group PressClub at the following address:
www.press.bmwgroup.com.

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