The Hire is designed...
The Hire is designed to promote the brand to new buyers, and follows on from the short films of the same name released last year. The hero and his leggy accomplice ride in a bigger and more aggressive version of the Z4. But a spokesman said: "The cartoon is a new and innovative way to bring our brand to a different audience. However, there are no plans to build the car."
Race fans get ready...
Race fans get ready, as Formula One 2009 prepares for blast off! With new cars and rules, it could be the most thrilling season for decades.
British star Lewis Hamilton defends his world title, but the McLaren ace wonò€™t have it all his own way. Last year, he was run close by Ferrariò€™s Felipe Massa, who missed out on the title on the last lap of the season. The Brazilian wonò€™t want lightning to strike twice!
Massaò€™s team-mate Kimi Raikkonen will be a force, too. The Finn had a season to forget in 2008, and he will be aiming for a return to the form that saw him secure the 2007 championship. One team thatò€™s ready to spring a surprise is BMW Sauber. Bosses always targeted 2009 as the year it would fight for the title ò€“ and Robert Kubica could deliver.
If itò€™s major shake-up youò€™re looking for, then Brawn GP could deliver. It has set some blistering testing times.
New cars are also in the mix. Slick tyres return after a decade away, while revised aero regulations cut downforce.
Finally, teams have developed hi-tech Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS). This kit converts braking energy into electricity, which drivers can use to boost straight-line speed for short bursts.
Rarely has there been so much uncertainty at the start of a new season. For fans, it doesnò€™t get much better!