Friends,

Car companies continue to be excited with the current level of sales! Next week will see the release of the sales figures for March. This will provide the 2004 Q1 results, which will be a good indication of how the year is going for the respective companies. But with nine months to go and lots of new models to arrive, you can be sure that a surprise or two can still slip in quietly.

For example, Mazda is heading for a record year. They are thinking June, traditionally a strong month for sales, may be their best opportunity to break their existing monthly sales record. Supply needs to be managed though, as you cannot sell them if you don't have them. The new 3 and the new 6 are proving very popular, indeed. The Tribute and the 2, together with the RX-8 are making a healthy contribution, too. The MX-5, in it's new SE form is expected to play it's part as well.

It's the same industry wide, despite booming sales, each company wants more!

Another very happy company is Bentley. And why not .... they expect to deliver 200 Continental GT's this year! WOW!

Yet another fully satisfied company is Kia, they just cannot keep up with demand.

There's definately good times ahead!

Warm regards,
Stephen Walker

BMW Australia intended, originally, to import 5 examples of this 5-litre V8 roadster in 2000, but just 3 arrived. With a retail price of $320,000 you didn't need to worry about on-road costs, because they couldn't be registered for use on Australian roads. The Z8 was only made in left-hand drive! Performance was stunning. It could accelerate 0-100km/h in just 4.7 seconds. The V8 engine was the same as that which powered the BMW M5 sedan. The Z8's were manufactured between 2000 and 2003.