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| BMW returned to its aviation roots with Roll-Royce |
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The increasingly diverse BMW line-up may have been doing fine, as were motorsport projects (BMW won the 1995 and 1999 Le Mans 24 Hours) but buying Rover was all-too-soon seen as being a very expensive mistake. As was well-documented at the time, German officials began to refer to the British firm as "The English Patient" (after the novel/film popular at the time) and by the end of the decade, to much opposition from workers' unions, the British media and the general public, BMW's board decided to cut its losses and split up the Rover Group. It was also forced to sell its share in the Rolls-Royce aircraft engine business. Land Rover was sold to Ford's Premier Automotive Group, along with its associated facilities, and the Rover and MG brands, the Longbridge facility and associated assets were famously handed over to an independent consortium of investors for £10 (and a pledge from BMW to pay off outstanding debts). BMW retained the rights to Mini, the Hams Hall engine plant and Cowley facilities - and continued top-secret work on its all-new Rolls-Royce and factory in Goodwood, Sussex.
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| X3: the new breed of off-roaders |
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The new millennium sees BMW in superb shape, with sales rising in most model ranges and profits which buck downward market trends. An "all-time high" was recorded in 2000 - once Rover was offloaded - and last year, 1.1 million BMWs (including MINI and Rolls-Royce models) were sold. Contributing to this success have been the latest 5-Series (from July 2003), the hugely popular MINI (from 2001) and continuing high demand for the 3-Series. Sales of the latest, controversially-styled 7-Series have been slower to take off, but the adventurous angles of design director Chris Bangle are becoming more accepted with each successive new model: the 7 paved the way for the all-new 6-Series coupe and convertible, the 5 and most recently, the 1-Series small family hatchback and X3 compact 4x4. Like the Z8 luxury two-seater (400bhp) launched in 2000, the Rolls-Royce Phantom may not sell in huge numbers, but it acts as a 'halo' image-enhancing model for the company. BMWs continue to compete in the European Touring Car races, as well as returning to F1 with Williams in 2000. And after a couple of seasons in the wilderness, Williams looks like being on the verge of a return to championship form. Indeed, the Bavarische Motor Werken marks 75 years in business at its strongest point yet.
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