Despite several misadventures with the Rover Group and major management crises, it's business as usual for BMW. Fortunately for the Munich auto maker, Ford has just acquired Land Rover, while the Alchemy Partners Group have become the owners of the Rover Group. Interestingly, Alchemy Partners is the same consortium that owns those Parker pens and the "Fatty Arbuckle" fast food chain in Great Britain.
So BMW has finally dislodged the two bullets that were threatening to inexorably lead them into the abyss of commercial and financial instability. But the indelible disturbances that shook the German firm have not slowed down their development of new models. The automobile slated to replace the Berlin Series 7 will be unveiled in early 2001, introduced in European showrooms over that same summer, and will most likely be introduced in North America in September 2001. This automobile will no doubt be the most sophisticated in its category thanks to its high-tech interior, which includes a television, a joystick, and four keys to control its various functions.
Naturally, its frame will also be very refined. An integrated system will provide traction control, improved lateral stability and increased cornering grip. An electro-hydraulic brake system is also on the program. In fact, the electronic system of this new model is so impressive that engineers have chosen a 48-volt electric system, i.e. four times the standard power of most vehicles currently on the market.