Tourism officials are looking to benefit from BMW's claim that Aberdeen and Grampian Highlands is the best destination in the UK for launching new cars.

German car manufacturers BMW chose the area to launch the MINI Cooper S in 2002 and Z4 in 2003, and this week (May 4 - May 11, 2004) its X3 and 5 Series Touring Estate are being launched in Aberdeenshire.

BMW spokesman, Duncan Forrester, said: "The countryside around Aberdeen is an ideal place to launch cars. The three main reasons for choosing Aberdeen and Grampian to launch our vehicles are hospitality, perfect roads and lack of traffic.

"The welcome we receive in Aberdeen is second to none. We enjoy excellent accommodation during our stay and also receive fantastic local food and service when we break from test-driving.

"The roads are exceptionally good for testing vehicles. The A90 and A96 gives us a good opportunity to test in a motorway environment and when we drive inland through the Grampian Highlands there is a fantastic combination of open roads and twisting and turning sections that show our cars off at their best.

"With fewer drivers in the area, we don't get stuck behind traffic like other parts of the British Isles.

"The safety of our guests and our surroundings is obviously of paramount importance and we closely monitor each test drive, treating all motoring laws with respect.

"There are obviously good roads throughout the UK, but Aberdeenshire, which has an airport on its doorstep, is the complete package. This is the reason we believe it is the best place in the UK for launching cars and keep coming back."

And, with over 100 motoring journalists from around the country flocking to the area for each launch, Aberdeen and Grampian Tourist Board's chief executive, Ian Dunlop, is hoping to encourage motoring enthusiasts, classic car owners clubs and rival car manufacturers to follow BMW's lead and take advantage of the area's attributes.

He said: "It is a huge compliment for BMW to say we have the complete package for driving in the area around Aberdeen and it is something we have always believed.

"The hope is that all sorts of motoring enthusiasts will come and stay in the area and enjoy our roads. Last year, Aberdeen was by far the sunniest city in Scotland and hopefully this combination of ideal roads and good weather will make for the perfect destination for a driving holiday.

"The North-east of Scotland is unique in that, with four tourist trails, it has some of the most interesting and scenic drives in the UK - the World's only Malt Whisky Trail, the Victorian Heritage Trail, the North-east Coastal Trail and Scotland's Castle Trail.

"VisitScotland also feature Aberdeen as the end-destination for three National Tourist Routes - The Highland Tourist Route from Inverness, the Deeside Tourist Route from Perth and the Coastal Route from Dundee. We also, thanks to Terry Wogan, have Britain's most famous stretch of road - the Cockbridge to Tomintoul over the Lecht!