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BMW Announces Winner of First Z4 - 10/22/2002
Winner Joe Marchese Selected from Over 100,000 Entries to be the First Owner of the New Z4
WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ, October 22, 2002 (BMW Group) - A loyal BMW owner today got the thrill of a lifetime when he became the first person in the world to own the hottest new addition to the BMW line - the Z4 roadster. The winner, Joe Marchese, was selected randomly from over 100,000 entries from BMW owners in a brand-loyalty giveaway contest entitled "Owner's Count." Marchese has the distinction of driving the new Z4 before it even hits sales floors on October 26.
Marchese was flown to Spartanburg, South Carolina, home of BMW Manufacturing Corp. where the Z4 is produced, and was handed the keys by Ed Robinson, Executive Vice President of BMW of North America, LLC. After witnessing the final production of the car and actually riding through the final inspection, Marchese drove his Z4 off the production line and spent an exhilarating day at the nearby BMW Performance Center putting the Z4 through its paces.
Marchese is a 44 year-old certified financial planner from New York City. He is the President of Financial Planning Concepts of America located in Newdorp, Staten Island and has been driving BMWs for close to a decade. His loyalty to the BMW brand came rather inadvertently. Eight years ago, he bought a 325i from a friend and stayed with BMW ever since. He upgraded to a 525i for more room and now drives a five-speed 528i. He had owned a number of cars prior to driving BMW's, but none were as much to his liking.
Recently married and an avid skier and golfer, Marchese is thrilled to have been selected to be the first Z4 owner. "The Z4 Roadster is the perfect second car for me, and it's great to be the first Z4 owner," said Marchese. "This is a fun, fast car, and I cannot wait to take it for a spin."
The "Owner's Count" giveaway, a drawing in which the new Z4 roadster was awarded, was open to all BMW owners who are residents in the United States and the District of Columbia. More than 100,000 BMW owners submitted their vehicle identification numbers (VIN) through the BMW of North America web site at: www.bmwusa.com/Z4drawing.
"We are thrilled to reward loyalty to the BMW brand in this way," said Tom Purves, Chairman and CEO of BMW (US) Holding Corp. "As we see through his last three consecutive car choices, Mr. Marchese clearly has a love of driving and of BMW, and we are pleased to make him our first Z4 owner."
The new Z4 is a modern interpretation of the classic roadster. It is a completely redesigned successor to the Z3 roadster that burst upon the scene in 1995 as James Bond's company car in Goldeneye. The Z4 features a long and sweeping hood, a long wheelbase, short overhangs, and a low seating position in a cockpit that is set back. The MSRP is $33,795 for the Z4 roadster 2.5i and $40,945 for the Z4 roadster 3.0i, includes destination and handling. It will be available for sale in the U.S. in late October, then will make its appearance in Europe in spring 2003.
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