JAGUAR remains the favoured car of Britain's top executives but BMW is gaining ground at the expense of the volume manufacturers, according to new research by benefits consultants W F Corroon. While Jaguar rules the roost at chairman/ chief executive level, BMW is becoming increasingly popular among board directors and departmental chiefs.

Part of a wider survey of the company car market due out later this year, Corroons spoke to 519 organisations to compile the report. Almost 50% of chairman drive a Jaguar, a quarter drive a BMW, 16% Mercedes and 10% Ford according to early findings of Corroon's 1996 Company Car Survey. At managing director level, Jaguar still has the lion's share at 38%, but BMW enjoys 30% of the market, Mercedes 18% and Rover 14%. In both cases, BMW increased its market share at the expense of Ford and Rover and, to a lesser extent, Mercedes.

Using an income of £60,000, with just under 40% of the market, BMW comfortably outstrips Jaguar and Mercedes and still sells marginally more than Ford. Further down the scale, using a benchmark income of £40,000, Ford is clearly the most popular marque, but BMW comes a close second, followed by Vauxhall, Rover and Volvo.