Bevy of future BMW renderings, including Z8 successor
German car mag Autobild has just placed its bet on what BMW's future lineup will look like by the end of the decade. Leading off will be a new large hardtop convertible, a successor to the Z8 if you will. While Autobild's rendering is mostly speculation, it clearly identifies the car as a meaty two-seater with a traditional long hood, short rear deck design. BMW should buy the rights to this gorgeous pic and just build it as is. The following list is what Autobild claims to have learned about the Z8 successor.
- Targeted at Mercedes-Benz SL
- Priced from 80,000 to 100,000 Euro ($102,000 to $128,000 USD)
- Target weight of 3,300 lbs.
- 15,000 annual units for seven years beginning with 2010 launch
- Possible engines include a 3.0L turbo I6 with 306 hp, a 4.4L V8 turbo wtih 408 hp, the lauded 5.0L V10 with 507 HP and possibly a 6.3L V12 turbo making 605 hp
- M model planned
[Source: Autobild]
Next Gen BMW Z4 - holds the Bangle at bay with soft curves
3-Series hardtop convertible - looks like a 3-series sedan with two less doors and no top... exciting.
X6 large sport utility - we've been wondering when BMW would target the Mercedes-Benz GL class
Next gen 7-Series - bigger kidneys and better butt
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Milos 7:12AM (6/05/2006)
nice!!! it would certainly be an improvement over existing lineup. Except, maybe, for that new z4 which is too soft and thus looks like some old mx5 miata or some other asian raodster
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azroadster 2:17AM (7/07/2007)
I agree! I have to admit it took me a little while to appreciate the Z4 but it IS distinctive compared with the next gen renderings.
pd 7:26AM (6/05/2006)
I think the current shark-nose of the current Z-4m looks much better than this soft nose. Finally doing away the side crease where the side marker light is,and scooped-out concave doors this is much nicer. The other cars look good,not as busy with everything smoothed over. imo
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Bob 8:09AM (6/05/2006)
I wonder if the renderings make BMW laugh. The Z8 replacement pictured looks just like the Chrysler Crossfire. The rest are very BMW like, hopefully the Bavarian boys will come up with better designs than these.
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Akeem 8:10AM (6/05/2006)
"3-Series hardtop convertible - looks like a 3-series sedan with two less doors and no top... exciting."
It's closer to the coupé than the sedan, I guess. Just look at those kidneys and headlights.
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digi01 8:15AM (6/05/2006)
These are so evolutionary that I doubt they are even close to what will come out. Every single one of these renderings are boring and the 3-series hardtop suffers from some particularly horrible proportions. Nice to speculate, but lets hope these are nowhere near the actuality.
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mickster 8:59AM (6/05/2006)
The X6 looks like a clone of the Subaru B9 Tribeca!
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dan 9:03AM (6/05/2006)
I'm pretty sure that the 3-series convertible is pretty much dead-on, given all the spy photos we've seen with exactly that roofline, and now that we've seen fully exposed pix of the coupe for a while now... The x5, now that we've seen virtually undisguised front ends of the new one, is a little off, and we can only hope the next 7 looks as good as the one above. I really dislike the existing car. Every time I see the nineties version I can't help but think what a handsome bull it was... clearly a man's car... that's what I think of when I think of bmw, the 740i Sport from like '96-'98... yeah
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Gunnar Heinrich 9:23AM (6/05/2006)
How much longer must we endure Mr. Bangle's poor design aesthetic? That 7-Series is uglier than the first generation E65. The oversize kidney grilles are just an eyesore.
http://automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com/2006/05/attempting-to-understand-misunderstood.html
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Howard Kerr 10:07AM (6/05/2006)
I don't know a lot about BMW but after having had a round of..."revolutionary" styling, I can see these evolutionary designs as being possible next gen. renderings. The 7 series in particular makes you wonder why they couldn't have used this instead of the current design.
As for the Z8, it's interesting that one of the possible engine choices for a M-B SL fighter would be a 6.3 liter V12. Especially considering that one of M-B's most legendary engines is/was the 6.3 as used in the 300 SEL sedan.
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SOhp101 10:58AM (6/05/2006)
Why do people always post about Auto Bild's 'Future Model Renderings' when they NEVER look like what actually comes out? They are always inaccurate and they just take parts from other/previous car models and slap em on some body shape that looks nearly like the current model's frame.
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Hung2 11:31AM (6/05/2006)
I was never a fan of the "slash" on the Z4 or the "duck butt" either - this latest rendering and I understand it's only a rendering seems like an attempt to woo back the Z3 fans.(That and poor Z4 sales!)Seems almost far to "soft" perhaps because we've lived with "flame surfacing" for so long. The rendering of the Z8 replacement - Nice! The 7 Series, not as tubby as the current but you gots to loose that droopy eye. The X6 - why bother? The 3 Series convertible - very nice!
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Corey Weldon 11:57AM (6/05/2006)
Well, there is no new Z4 coming out. This is the last one, so I'm not sure what they are talking about with that depiction. They've basicly taken competitor cars, added some bmw touches and touted it as they next one. x-6, ummm, tribeca (as stated before), new 7, mix between our current five and the current E-series from MB, the new X-5 looks nothing like the x-6, and the Z-6 looks like an SL with a roundelle on it.
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Robert 12:58PM (6/05/2006)
It's good to see Chrysler decided to build the Firepower. What? that's not the Firepower, but a BMW? Well that minivan looking things can’t be a BMW. Did they mean to make it look like a pug with rabies?
I wish BMW would focus on its strength to continue to build the world’s best sports sedans and sports coupes.
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emehrkay 1:02PM (6/05/2006)
will bmw finally offer a hardtop convert?
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Howard Kerr 3:44PM (6/05/2006)
Re emehrkay,
one of the models BMW is supposedly working on for launch "at almost any moment" is a folding topped 3 Series hardtop/convertible. It will be in addition to, not a substitute for the normal 3 Series convertible.They are also supposed to be working on a coupe/convertible 1 Series (or 2 Series?) which will probably also go to a folding hardtop.
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ZoomZoomin' 7:58PM (6/05/2006)
I'm not too hot about the new Z4...the styling is waaaaay too soft. The back end is alright, but the rest looks very "ugh."
However, the Z8 concept sketches are amazingly HOT.
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ZoomZoomin' 8:03PM (6/05/2006)
I'm not too hot about the new Z4...the styling is waaaaay too soft. The new grill, headlights, and back end look alright...but the rest looks very "ugh." I agree with the sentiment that it reminds me of an old Miata. It's just too "soft" looking and not in an appealing way...where's the shark?!
However, the Z8 concept sketches are amazingly HOT. It's very smooth, but retains a more aggressive demeanor...likely due to its stance and taper. I easily can imagine it being the short-nosed competition to the SL.
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Mike 2:55AM (6/06/2006)
remind me again why the random stylings of some car dork with photoshop are news?
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CARSTER 5:50PM (6/15/2006)
The Z8 concept is amazing!!!
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