BMW Z8
BMW Z8 (E52) | ||
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Curb weight 3,494 lb (1,585 kg)[1] | |
The BMW Z8 is a roadster produced by German automotive manufacturer BMW from 1998 to 2003. The Z8 was developed under the codename "E52" between 1993 and 1999, through the efforts of a design team led by Chris Bangle from 1993 to 1995.[2] The exterior was designed by Henrik Fisker and the interior by Scott Lempert.[3]
The Z8 originally was designed as a styling exercise intended to evoke and celebrate the 1956–1959
Z07 Concept
The Z07 Concept had been based on the concurrently running E52 development programme. As a result, practical and regulatory considerations necessitated very few changes for the production model. Comparatively, the windshield of the series production Z8 was more upward, and the car had a larger front airdam. The Z8 hardtop differed from the Z07 in being a double-bubble form with a tapering fairing versus a single dome with a truncated convex rear.[5] The Z07's exotic driver's side helmet fairing was never intended for production, in order to allow easy operation of the power soft top.
The side turn signal repeaters were integrated into the side vents in a fashion that rendered them invisible until activated. The vintage simplicity of the interior was preserved by hiding the modern equipment under retracting panels. Complex compound curves were made through the use of an expensive MIG-welded aluminium space frame.
Specifications and features
The Z8 cost US$128,000, had an all-aluminium chassis and body,
The Z8 used neon exterior lighting, the tail lights and turn indicators are powered by neon tubes that offer quicker activation than standard lightbulbs and are expected to last for the life of the vehicle. Due to the quirk in the US FMVSS regulations, the turn signal indicators in the tail lights are entirely in red colour.
Every car was shipped with a colour-matching metal hardtop with a rear defroster. Unlike many contemporary hardtops, which are provided for practical rather than stylistic considerations, the hardtop of the Z8 was designed from the outset to complement the lines of the car's styling.
In order to keep the interior uncluttered, a number of functions were integrated into multifunction controls. For example, the power windows and mirrors were controlled by a single instrument. Also, the centre-mounted instrument cluster was canted slightly toward the driver. The displacement of gauges to the middle of the dashboard was intended to offer an unimpeded view of the hood and the road ahead.
In order to promote the Z8 to collectors and reinforce media speculation about the car's "instant classic" potential, BMW promised that a 50-year stockpile of spare parts would be maintained in order to support the Z8 fleet. Due to the limited volume of production, all elements of the car were constructed or finished by hand, thereby compounding the importance of ongoing manufacturer support for the type. The price and production process allowed BMW to offer customised options to interested buyers. A significant number of cars with bespoke paint and interior treatments were produced over the course of the four-year production run by BMW Individual, a division of BMW AG.
Z8 Safety Car
A
Alpina Roadster V8
With production of the Z8 completed by November 2002, the Z8 was replaced by the
Performance and power output of the Alpina roadster V8 differed from that of the standard car in that the peak power was reduced to 280 kW (381 PS; 375 hp), while peak torque was raised to 520 N⋅m (384 lb⋅ft); this torque was available at significantly lower rpm than the original in order to enable more relaxed cruising.[11] Curiously, the electronically limited top speed was officially raised to 260 km/h (160 mph).[9]
Production of the Roadster V8 amounted to 555 units, 450 of which were exported to the U.S. market and only eight to the UK.[12] In the United States, this special edition of the Z8 was sold directly through BMW dealerships, marking a first for Alpina, whose cars had never been sold through retail channels in the U.S.
Bertone Birusa
Unveiled at the
Production
The Z8's spaceframe was produced in the Dingolfing Plant[15] and the car was hand-finished in Munich.[16] A total of 5,703 Z8s were built: 3,160 for the world market and 2,543 for the North American market.[17]
In popular culture
The Z8 was showcased as
U.S. sales
Calendar year | U.S. sales |
---|---|
2000[20] | 317 |
2001[21] | 970 |
2002 | 524 |
2003[22] | 439 |
2004[22] | 110 |
2005 | 17 |
2006 | 5 |
References
- ^ "Aston Martin DB7 vs. BMW Z8, Ferrari 360 Spider Comparison Test" (PDF). Car and Driver.
- ^ "Z8 History". Bmwz8.us. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ^ The BMW Z8 birth book/coffee table book which was issued to every BMW Z8 owner
- ^ Holloway, Hilton, ed. (June 1996). "Z3's big brother breaks cover" (PDF). Car. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 December 2017 – via BMW Z8 US.
- ^ "BMW Z07 Concept". BMW BLOG. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ^ "BMW's Z8: Structurally Shaky?". Bloomberg. 19 January 2006. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
- ^ "Z8 History". bmwz8.us. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "BMW M MotoGP". bmw-m.com. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ a b Hutton, Ray (February 2003). "BMW Alpina Roadster V-8". Car and Driver. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
- ^ "Let's all stare at this gorgeous Z8 Alpina Roadster". Top Gear. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ^ "Alpina Z8 Roadster Is Asking for $244,900 to Come Home with You". BMW BLOG. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Buckley, Martin (January 2003). "BMW Aplina Roadster V8". Evo. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012.
- ^ "Concept Cars: Bertone Birusa". Diseno-Art. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019.
- ^ "2003 Bertone Birusa: Concept We Forgot". Motor1.com. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
- ^ "Produktion Z8". BMW. Archived from the original on 8 July 2003. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- ^ "BMW Group Plant Munich History". www.bmwgroup-plants.com. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- ^ BMW Z8 Club e.V.
- ^ "Annual Report 2000" (PDF). BMW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
- ^ "7.3 007-The World Is Not Enough". Azer.com. 25 September 1942. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ^ "2001 BMW Z8 Reviews by Cars.com Experts and Consumers". Cars.com. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
- ^ "2002 BMW Z8 Summary". Cars.com. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
- ^ a b "BMW Group Shatters All Past Annual Sales Records in 2004". Theautochannel.com. 17 November 2004. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
External links
- Media related to BMW Z8 (E52) at Wikimedia Commons