The Automobile Club of Southern California chooses the BMW 528i sport wagon and 328i sedanas the top picks in its 1999 Target Car Report

August 12, 1999, Woodcliff Lake, NJ. The Automobile Club of Southern California
released its 1999 Target Car Report and BMW took the top two spots among 48
cars tested. First place honors went to the 528i sport wagon. Finishing a
close second was the 328i sedan. The Target Car is a vehicle evaluation
program developed by the Automobile Club of Southern California. It evaluates
currently manufactured, four (or more) passenger vehicles on key design
characteristics, comparing them to an ideal or "target" car.

"The Target Car program is designed not only to help consumers choose the best
vehicle for them, but to keep government and the automotive industry moving
toward better and safer cars", said Steve Mazor, principle automotive engineer
for the Auto Club. The twelve characteristics used for the evaluation , in
order of consumer importance, were:
- Braking distances - Interior noise
- Crash worthiness potential - Acceleration
- Visibility - Ease of entry and exit
- Handling - Interior size
- Ride Quality - Turning circle (maneuverability)
- Fuel Economy - Luggage-carrying capacity

Given BMW's constant focus on these design criteria it's little wonder that the
528i sport wagon and 328i sedan would fare so well in this evaluation.

In choosing the 528i sport wagon the Auto Club noted that it was "surprisingly
quiet and had an exceptional mix of nimble handling combined with a smooth and
compliant ride." They concluded that the "1999 528i [sport wagon] combines the
safety, performance and styling of a fine sport sedan with the utility of a
station wagon."

They concluded of their number two choice that the "1999 BMW 328i is fun to
drive." They discovered that the "BMW 328i is an extremely responsive vehicle"
which resulted in the 328i scoring "one of the best times ever in our slalom
test."

BMW of North America, Inc. was established in 1975, at which point the company
assumed marketing and distribution responsibilities for BMW automobiles in the
U.S. from the previous private distributor. Motorcycle marketing and
distribution were added in 1980. Since then the company's North American
operations have grown to include marketing, sales and financial-services
organizations in the United States and Canada. BMW is represented in North
America through a network of BMW Centers in the U.S. and Canada, including more
than 375 for automobiles and 190 for motorcycles. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the
brand's North American headquarters, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.