Driven... Not the Stalone flick, but a brilliant book by David Kiley.
Kiley writes about the most admired car maker in the world; Bavarian Motor Werke. Starting from the very beginning, he explores the company as an aircraft engine manufacturer (The BMW logo actually depicts an aircraft engine propeller against the blue bavarian sky) and thread the course of action the lead the company to become a renowned car maker. In each historical segment, he dwelve deep into each person responsible in the company. From the founders, the owners, chairmen, chief executives and the top management.
Kiley also writes about the corporate strategy of the company... the decisions that make BMW today. He also touch on advertising and people's perception of BMW; the ad agency that helped BMW get the title "The Ultimate Driving Machine", and the design of the new models, which received much criticism from enthusiasts and competitors. Then he touches on BMW's billion dollar blunder (which he aptly termed "The Ultimate Blunder") of acquiring the British Rover Group, and the corrective measures of disposing it (and the people who called the shots). Before the end, the book took a sneak peek to the future; BMW research and development of hydrogen fuel technology.
Overall it is a good case study that touches on general management, strategy and of course, BMW. I would recommend this book to anyone who is into management or anyone interested in the auto industry. In fact it is a must read if you happen to work in the auto industry.
Fiction fans need not apply.
man i had no idea what BMW stood for til now. hahahaha... how enlightening
Posted by: Ben | Wednesday, June 09, 2004 at 21:46
Wat do you think of the X3?
X5 better or the Porsche cayenne?
too lazy to read the book... ;-P
Posted by: hrh princess L | Thursday, June 10, 2004 at 01:35
Two words, Cadillac Escalade and another two words, dream on. Sigh.
Posted by: vlad | Thursday, June 10, 2004 at 10:25
hrh princess L,
If you have moolah to spend... get the X5.
X3 although it looks good, it is smaller, no power, and it will take BMW another year or two to get it refined. Cayenne vs X5, overall the X5 gets the top honors.
Posted by: Frodo | Thursday, June 10, 2004 at 13:48
The porsche cayenne is a boutique SUV. Yes, it is sexy and powerful... a sure attention grabber.
Get it if you have more than enough moolah to splash... then may be i can hitch a ride from you ;)
The X5 is indeed sexy and it is practical. I agree with frodo, it is your best bet in SUV.
As for the X3, it comes in two flavours 2.5l and 3.0l and 3.0d. I dont know what frodo meant by no power as it sure have comparable engines against the competitors in its class (CRV, Airtrek, Rav4, Escape etc)
Posted by: KaZ | Thursday, June 10, 2004 at 19:41
i'd go for the escalade too... with 21-inch-shine-like-crazy-chrome-rims that spins when you stop and stops when you go.... er.. you get the picture
Posted by: Ben | Thursday, June 10, 2004 at 21:41
Kaz,
You're right. It stands out in its class :). I was comparing it to the X5's hp in my previous comment. 335 vs 225 although the 0-6 sec test places the X3 ahead by .3 seconds. (it's lighter). So actually, that would negate my "no power" comment...hahaha...
Caddy Escalade is a pimpin' ride too. Those who is seriously thinking of buying a new BMW, should consider doing European delivery. You get to take your new car straight from the factory, and deliver it yourself to the port. And before you send it to the port, you can tour the whole of Europe if you want in your new car.
Posted by: Frodo | Friday, June 11, 2004 at 02:55
Oh yes, and the obvious and only reason to do the European delivery is you get to drive on the AutoBahn... wooohhoooo!
Posted by: Frodo | Friday, June 11, 2004 at 05:40
"Fiction fans need not apply"? LoL...terasa pulak...This reminds me I still have a book on Microsoft and Disney to finish...sigh...
Posted by: Zsarina | Saturday, June 12, 2004 at 20:49
Does it say anywhere about the Nazis being involved in the come-uppence of Auto Bavaria?
Posted by: Miss Aida | Sunday, June 13, 2004 at 11:06
Frodo: Aaahhh autobahn... yessss.....
Zsarina: heheh...
Miss aida: Yes... the history part is quite thorough. Kiley did mention about the nazis and BMW airplane engines and the irony of it all. Oppss I really shouldn't spoil it for you guys... go read it! :p
Oh yeah, speaking about the Porsche Cayenne, I just saw Tun Mahathir driving a maroon Porsche Cayenne S bearing the registration MM1.
Damn, that old man looked 20 years younger in it!
Posted by: KaZ | Sunday, June 13, 2004 at 19:00
Juz got back frm Harvard alumni/club din @sunway lagoon hotel, key note address frm Tun. topic on globalization & he looked fabulous & he didnt not ride in the cayenne.
;-( only the boring v6 lah.
However, muqriz or mohzani's porsche showroom (dealership)near telawi lah.
p.s. if i were 2drive a cayenne, wuld make me 20yrs younger as well? then i'll be a minor, not even a teenager? WHOAH!! KEWL!! NoT.
Posted by: HRH Princess L | Tuesday, June 15, 2004 at 01:12
Thanks for the write-up. I will have to read this book now.
Didn't know that m'sia has the Escalade. It is a big honking piece of machine.
Have you heard the purring of the engine on the Cayenne? man it sounds sweet. But it comes at a very hefty sticker price... I would easily settle for the decked out VW Toureg.
Posted by: asoon | Thursday, June 17, 2004 at 20:41