BMW - Presenting Sponsor of the 1999 World Alpine Ski Championships
1 February 1999
BMW Drives Into Vail As Presenting Sponsor of the 1999 World Alpine Ski ChampionshipsFeaturing the Official Vehicle 'The X5 Sports Activity Vehicle' WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Feb. 1 -- BMW announced that it will be the presenting sponsor and official car of the 1999 World Alpine Ski Championships in Vail, Colorado. The highly anticipated international skiing competition will run from January 30 through February 14. The Championships, which consist of nine races at Vail and three at Beaver Creek, provide BMW with an ideal opportunity to introduce more than 500 million viewers from across the globe to the new X5 Sports Activity Vehicle which recently debuted during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. "BMW is thrilled to be the presenting sponsor of this exhilarating competition, which shares many of BMW's core values -- including powerful performance, brilliant handling and precise maneuverability," said Mr. Victor Doolan, president of BMW of North America. As the world watches its greatest skiers wind their way through the sharp turns of the Giant Slalom and hurtle through Downhill races on the snow, BMW will put its sure-footed sport wagon through a series of challenges on the icy surface of Nottingham Lake in nearby Avon, Colorado. During the Championships, BMW will stage the Winter Driving Experience, featuring the new 5 Series sport wagon. A specially designed autocross circuit will be created to safely build participants' skills in slide control and the benefits of All Season Traction and Dynamic Stability Control systems. The program features professional hands-on driving instruction, as well as the chance to participate in a team competition. The Winter Driving Experience, which will run for the duration of the championships, is open to the public. Licensed drivers over the age of 21 may call 800-422-4345 to register. The 60-minute classes will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. everyday. Directions to the park are available at 888-862-6BMW. For more information on the events, activities and schedules, interested individuals can check out the World Alpine Ski Championships website at http://www.vail99.com/venues.cfm or call the Vail Valley Foundation at 970-949-1999. As the presenting sponsor of the Championships, BMW will provide a fleet of vehicles to the Vail Valley Foundation for the event's courtesy car program, display the X5 and other vehicles at key locations in and around the competition, and be featured in a number of broadcast and print advertisements surrounding the event. X5 Creates A New Market Niche The much anticipated X5 Sports Activity Vehicle, will make its second public appearance during the competition. Like all BMWs, the X5 reflects the company's dedication to superior aesthetic design, unparalleled performance and industry-leading safety features. The X5 offers exceptional handling on every kind of road. With its unitized body and independent suspension, the X5 sets new standards in driving dynamics -- performing brilliantly in both on and off-road conditions. BMW's Sports Activity Vehicle utilizes the latest standard in four-wheel-drive technology to achieve the highest level of driving performance and comfort. The model year 2000 vehicle will be produced at BMW's North American production facility in Spartanburg, S.C., and will be available at BMW centers across the country beginning in fall 1999. Sport Wagons Provide Ultimate in Performance and Utility In the fall of 1998, BMW introduced the six-cylinder 528i and the V-8 540i sport wagons. Both vehicles combine their award-winning sedan counterparts' essence of sporty, driver-oriented performance and handling with a measure of extra space. Participants in The BMW Winter Driving Experience will learn first hand how the marque's All Season Traction and Dynamic Stability Control modulate engine power and employ the brakes selectively to eliminate wheelspin, maintaining grip on the most slick of surfaces at a variety of speeds. BMW Of North America BMW entered the North American market in 1975. Since then, the company has grown to include marketing, sales and financial service organizations in the United States and Canada; a South Carolina manufacturing operation; a design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley; and various other BMW operations throughout the U.S. and Canada. BMW is represented in North America through a network of more than 375 automobile and 190 motorcycle retailers in the United States and Canada. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the brand's North American headquarters, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.