More news on BMW's Z8 successor
It looks like BMW is moving forward, albeit at a leisurely pace, with plans for a successor to its discontinued Z8. According to InsideLine, engineering studies are underway for a more "mass-market" roadster, likely to be tagged the Z6, and targeted at the Mercedes-Benz SL.
Apparently, the Z6 concept has its roots in the California Spyder design study (shown above) unveiled at the Design Los Angeles exhibit at the 2005 Los Angeles Auto Show. Developed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA, the California Spyder was conceived as combining BMW driving dynamics with luxury and presence suitable for the L.A. scene. The concept included a folding carbon-fiber roof, and apparently a folding hardtop is still considered an attractive possibility, although we're guessing that a metal version is more likely than carbon-fiber.
The Spyder was envisioned as being powered by the 3-liter V10 used in BMW's last-generation Formula 1 car, but a production version is likely to draw upon BMW's current road-car engine portfolio, with the possibility of an M-series Z6 driven by the M5's 5-liter V10.
[Source: InsideLine]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
G 9:26AM (8/04/2006)
California's design influence on cars is all too painfully present today. Most every car - BMWs included - now has some element of street racer that draws heavily on the tuned Acura-Mitsubishi set.
http://www.automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com
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nastinupe 9:26AM (8/04/2006)
Sounds like another car that I can't afford is about to be added to my wish list.
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Dinkel 9:34AM (8/04/2006)
Dropping the 3 litre in would be nice ;)
In real life that sketch would be squeezed 70%.
Looking forward to mock ups.
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jordan 10:11AM (8/04/2006)
In other news, GM announces a new version of the Saturn Sky called the "Zee8." It comes in one color; this purple-esque thing. And then they toss on this blue and white circle logo thingy on front.
Am I the only person that sees this a as the child of a Saturn Sky and BMW Z4?
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Norton 10:37AM (8/04/2006)
Oh boy. Another one of Chris Bangle's flame-broiled abominations. I'll take the old Z8, thanks.
And yep: it looks A LOT like the Saturn Sky.
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gkz 10:57AM (8/04/2006)
imagine flying up behind someone in LA with the 3 liter screaming at 18,000 rpm. people would be crashing into everything.
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Alex 11:16AM (8/04/2006)
V10s are soo fad and yesterday... Modern F1 cars run V8...
So give us a highly strung V8 instead of this overweight V10 in M5, M6 and this new car.
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a 12:04PM (8/04/2006)
O_O
the beast in the pic is truly badass. what was the name of that batman car again?
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Fragmaster170 2:23PM (8/04/2006)
The Lincoln Futura?
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andrew 4:49PM (8/04/2006)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bmw
check out the table at the bottom of that page
it lists bmw's production line from 1960 till 2009
it says that a succesor to the z8 (called a z10) will be on sale beginning 2008.
im sure that this table is to be trusted, it came from bmw themselves.
chek it out.
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Hugh 11:27AM (8/07/2006)
I doubt the replacement for the Z8 will ever look truly as good as the Z8 does. Very few cars today can hold a candle to the Z8 in the flesh, not even the current Aston Martins that Henrik Fisker (designer of the Z8) designed and influenced.
BMWs coming out from under Bangle's wing have never been called graceful or elegant, and unless his design language changes dramatically, they never will be. BMW might have trouble selling a car to the Mercedes SL/Jaguar XK crowd without these qualities. Look at the 6-series. Bangle's flame-edges are already being compromised for bulbous curves that attept to, but can't be mistaken for being elegant. And, to put it into perspective, the Cadillac XLR, which arguably uses a similar design language (angular/flame-edged), is much better looking than any Bangle BMW, and has already carved its market.
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Roger Lavender 1:53PM (8/09/2006)
Hey, GM... Now this is what a "Pontiac Firebird" is supposed to look like. Stuff in an LS7 from the Z06 and you got a buyer!!
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