Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (Bavarian Motor Works) or BMW is one of the world's leading performance-luxury automakers of cars and motorcycles, and is the parent company of the MINI and Rolls-Royce brands. BMW AG began as aircraft engine manufacturer in Germany; shifted to motorcycle production in 1923 and automobiles in 1929. The BMW logo, a circular blue and white badge, is said to be derived from the logo of its predecessor company Rapp Motorenwerke, while ultimately taking on the colors and checkers from the arms of Bavaria.

BMW AG bought the British Rover Group, comprising the Rover, Land Rover and MG, as well as Austin and Morris in 1994 and owned it for six years. BMW sold Rover (under substantial losses) to the Phoenix Consortium to form MG Rover, while Land Rover was taken over by Ford. BMW held on to the rights to build the new MINI in 2001. The term "Beemer" started as an acronym for the abbreviation "BMW". BMW follows a nomenclature in their vehicle names; a 3-digit number is followed by 1 or 2 letters. The first number is the series number. The next two numbers traditionally represent the engine displacement in cubic centimeters divided by 100.

BMW 1-Series ($28,600-39,100)
Combining sporty rear-wheel-drive dynamics, agile handling, powerful engines and seating for four, the 1-Series Coupe made its debut in 2008. The 128i Coupe is powered by a 3.0-liter, 230 horsepower inline 6-cylinder engine. The powerful 135i Coupe will be equipped with BMW's twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower and an incredible 300 lb-ft of torque.

BMW 3-Series ($32,400-64,950)
The BMW 3-Series is still the benchmark when it comes to world's best sport sedans. The 3-Series sedan and coupe come as 328i, all-wheel-drive 328xi, and 335i models; an AWD 335xi sedan and a 2-door convertible in 328i or 335i versions are midseason additions. Wagons are offered as the 328i or 328xi. All models of 3-Series are powered by a variant of the 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine.

BMW 5 Series ($44,300-82,900)
BMW has fitted the 525 and 530 models with the all-new 3.0-liter inline and the 550i with a 4.8-liter V8 unit. The 5-Series sedan lineup includes: 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi and 550i; the wagon is available in 530xi trim only. Distinctive in a look-alike market, the 5 delivers just about everything you would ask in a sports sedan - comfort, convenience, sporting image and plenty of interior space.

BMW 6-Series ($75,600-105,100)
This 2-door, 4-passenger luxury sports car, or convertible sports car, is available in two trims - the 650i Coupe and the 650i Convertible. Marked by classic BMW flair, the sculpted sleek exteriors, detailed interiors, outstanding performance, brilliant handling and rock-solid stability, the 6-Series enjoy true cult status. The 650i coupe and convertible are equipped with a standard 4.8-liter, V8, 360-horsepower engine.

BMW 7-Series ($75,800-122,600)
The 7-Series is BMW's flagship luxury sedan, the ultimate driving machine in its class, offering unparalleled levels of power, performance and precision. The 2008 750i sedan and the 2008 760Li sedan are carryovers from 2007. Added to the lineup mid-year, is the sporty Alpina B7, with a supercharged 500-hp 4.4-liter V8.The 7-Series comes as a 4-door, 5-passenger luxury sedan, or luxury sports sedan, available in 4 trims, ranging from the 750i sedan to the 760Li sedan.

BMW M-Series ($47,100- $105,100)
The BMW "M" badge stands for Motorsport and these cars are the finest showpieces of BMW's precision engineering. The 2008 M-Series include the M5, M6 Coupe, M6 Convertible, Z4 M Coupe and Z4 M Convertible. BMW's new 2008 lineup offers super-car handling, luxurious accommodations and brilliant everyday driving characteristics that are hard to beat.

BMW X3 ($38,000-38,000)
The 2008 X3 is a 4-door, 5-passenger luxury sport-utility, available in one trim as the 3.0si Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV). The X3 is re-badged with a new engine and subtle styling touches. The SAV is roomy, can fit both passengers and cargo with ease and combines the power and space of an SUV without the bulkiness. It comes fully loaded with a wide sweep of standard features, as well as active and passive safety features, both of which add to its appeal.

BMW X5 ($45,900-54,500)
The X5 is 4.5 inches longer in wheelbase, 7.4 inches longer overall, 2.4 inches wider and 2 inches taller. It is offered in two models - the six-cylinder 3.0si (which replaces the 3.0i) and the V8 4.8i (which replaces the 4.4i).

BMW X6 ($52,500-63,000)
The 2008 BMW X6 is the latest addition to this German automaker's roster. This 4-door hatchback is slightly larger than BMW's 5-Series midsize cars and features a raised suspension similar to the company's X5 midsize SUV. The X6 comes in two trim levels, each with a twin-turbocharged engine and standard all-wheel-drive.

BMW Z4 ($36,400-52,100)
The BMW Z4 Roadster is a 2-door, rear-wheel-drive sports car with a convertible and hatchback coupe body styles. The Z4 Roadster replaced the Z3 for 2003 and the Z4 coupe joined the lineup for 2006. The Z3 was the first of a new wave of German roadsters that was introduced in early 1996 and the first BMW roadster to be sold in America since 1959, when the legendary 507 was discontinued. It is available in two trims, 3.0i and 3.0si, a high-performance M version is differentiated by engine power.

BMW Z4M ($50,100-$52,100)
The rear-wheel-drive Z4 M is available in both coupe and roadster forms. The M interiors are as subtly differentiated from the base cars as the exteriors. The M's 3.2-liter inline-six-cylinder engine produces 330 hp and redlines at 8,000 rpm. The power is transmitted to the asphalt by a six-speed manual transmission.