The 5000sqm premises incorporate a showroom and aftersales, servicing and workshop facility. Also included is a customer lounge and Isetta coffee bar – named after BMW’s iconic “bubble car” of the 1950s – and a dedicated delivery room.

One of the key features of the facility is an orange three-door Mini hatch – made of fibreglass – fixed to the exterior of the black Mini garage, which is attached to the BMW showroom.

Dealer principal Richard Johnston says enquiries for Mini are increasing every week.

Staff are also visible in pods around the showroom and not tucked away in offices in line with BMW’s new future retail philosophy. Customers can sit and use a big screen to build their ideal car, including colour, trim and accessories. If they want to know more about a car they can talk to a ‘BMW Genius’.

The location of the site is just 200m down Te Rapa Rd from the original premises that served Waikato customers for 25 years – effectively Waikato’s only BMW dealership in the central North Island. It took 10 months to complete.