"It is the world's fastest sedan," Victor Doolan, president of BMW ÿNorth America, said atÿtheÿLos Angeles Auto Show, the industry's first major showcase of the year. The M5, equipped with a V8 engineÿthat has superior horsepower and torque,ÿblends "ÿsupercar" ÿperformance withÿ comfortale practicality and value, the company said.

Overall, the Germanÿcarmaker expects US sales this year to reach a record high of more than 130,000 cars. Sales volume has grown 145 per cent since 1991, Doolan said.

He expects annual sales of the M5, Which will become available in the United States from October, to be "as high as four digits." It will cost more than $55,000, though the company said an exact price had not been set.

The company also showcased its X5 sport utility vehicle, described as "a pure undilutedBMW."

"The SUV market may have peaked, but it is still a very, very big market," Doolan said. "Our double-digit growth won't continueÿ. It is important for usÿto go into other market segments in order to sustain growth."

BMW also unveiled a new 7 Series luxury Sports sedan for 1999 and a new "Protection Car," featuring light armour plating and other add-ons for the security conscious.

Among other carmakers represented at the Los Angeles show, Japan's Nissan Motor Co. took the wraps off a refined version of its Pathfinder sports utilityÿvehicle,ÿpart of its bid to broaden its presence in the US market.

The new model offersÿa redesigned front end as well as new headlights, grille design and colour selections.

The "more rugged, yet refined," Pathfinder will be available in the United States by late February, Jack Collins, Nissan's director of product strategy, said.

Nissan has also developed a new Frontier Crew Cab pickup truck for model year 2000. The truck, which can hold five passengers as well aschild safety seats, was designed for families with young children, Collins said.

The company said it expected total sales of the Frontier line of about 120,000 a year.

Nissanÿexecutives said the new production slate, along with a shift in marketing efforts back to "dependability, quality and reliability," was expected to boost US sales.

Meanwhile, Ford Motor Co.'s Mercury brand, which moved operations to Southern Californiaÿearlier, said it was evolving to offer a more stylish productline.

Mercury unveiled the Cougars performance-oriented concept car at the show, and displayed the Mercury Marauder and Cougar Eliminator concept cars.

The Cougars features such enhancements as integrated fog lamps, a lower brushedÿaluminum grille for improved cooling and integrated exhaust pipes at the rear of the car.

The ÿMercury Marauder concept is a souped-up version of the Grand Marquis, while the Cougar Eliminator concept car features modifications including a suspension system that lowers the rideheight.

Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Corp. used the Los Angeles event to showcase its 1999 Galant, which has been on sale in the United States since August.

The company said the all-new Galant, which features a range of safety improvements, had been well received by buyers, with sales up more than 40 per cent compared with the previous model.

Mitsubishi also unveiled the Montero Sport CityCruiser, a project vehicle described as a turbocharged SUV designed for city driving.