BMW Dominates What Car? Car Of The Year 2004
Published: 25th January 2004
Fleet Excellence recognised
The four What Car? awards come hot on the heels of five honours for the BMW Group at this year’s Fleet Excellence Awards 2004, held on 20 January 2004. These awards are based on votes cast by readers of key fleet publications Fleet Management and Fleet Week.
The new BMW 5 Series picked up two trophies, winning the best Executive car category and as top choice for user choosers. Described by judges as a ‘sublime combination of ride and handling clothed in a forward looking body’, the new 5 Series won twice as many votes in the User Chooser category as its nearest rival.
Mirroring What Car? success, the BMW Z4 took the prize for best Sporting Car while the BMW Group secured further success for the MINI Cooper with a win in the Supermini category. In the Large 4x4 category the X5 triumphed, with judges praising its handling:
"In the medium term, the X5’s status as the best-handling on-road large 4x4 in the market looks to be unchallenged and should ensure votes continue to pour in next year for this seemingly unassailable masterpiece."
On success at the Fleet Excellence Awards 2004 Bernard Bradley, BMW (GB) Ltd General Manager Corporate Sales commented: "Five awards for the BMW Group is a stunning result and we’re delighted with this glowing endorsement from those who work in the fleet sector. What is really encouraging for BMW is the breadth of our success, particularly with two brand new models instantly winning the praise of fleet managers.
"We are also delighted to be ‘highly commended’ as Manufacturer of the Year. This is surely an indication that BMW’s strengths in new product are now reflected in a corporate sales structure that is delivering real benefits to our customers."
