Click above for high-res gallery of M-Zero renderings
The car you see above, dubbed the M-Zero by its designer Mael Oberkampf, looks like spawn of a BMW M6 and Aston Martin DB9. Up front it's an all business BMW with a convincing set of "angry eye" headlights and a bit of snarl, but inspiration from Aston can be seen in the rear or by viewing the car in profile. Though the extra large wheels are a bit tunerrific for our tastes, the overall design wouldn't make a bad BMW at all. Not that the Munich-based brand needs any more high-performance coupes to sell alongside the 1 Series, 3 Series and 6 Series coupes, but if there were an open slot in the lineup, the M-Zero would fit nicely. There's no mention (at least in English) of what theoretical powerplant might be found beneath its bonnet, but we'd opt for the obvious and install the corporate workhorse 5.0L V10.
[Source: Tuvie.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Car Designer @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:04PM
awful, just plain awful
Mr. Oak @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:51PM
The nose does not fit the rest of the car, it looks grafted on. Not a cohesive design. I like everything aft of the A-Pillars.
Mr. Oak @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:58PM
Oh hell, I judged it from intro shot above, didn't flip through the gallery. Euthanize this thing, and burn the photographs. remove all traces of its existance from the planet.
geo.stewart @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:56PM
disgusting. somebody learning what photoshop can do and practicing on it. stretch here, thin lines there, pull up corners here.
tuna @ Apr 23rd 2008 5:18PM
I just realized something as I chew on my lunch... if you look at the side profile, it's almost identical to a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP coupe. Certain doesn't help its cause. Stay in school kids.
tuna @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:04PM
As a BMW owner, I say no to this wholeheartedly.
Kumail @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:05PM
I WANT ONE!
Franz @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:53PM
As is, it's not that good... the design doesn't seem cohesive at all... but there are several styling cues that IMO are right on the money. I think everything from the doors forward looks very good, with exception of the twin bubble-esque roof. The entire rear end is a mess though. I definitely think there's some promise in it - somebody ought to show it to BMW. :)
Aprime @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:06PM
I could've sworn this was designed by Chris Bangle.
IK47 @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:28PM
??
bangle era design is pretty nice
e90 and e60 especially
I'm not sure how this monstrosity can be related to him
sounds like blind hate to me
2004m3driver @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:06PM
yep thats ugly right there
Kingcyrus @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:06PM
whoa! just replace the m6 with this thing
stormyoftnl @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:13PM
Totally agree. The 6 series is the worst looking BMW by far. They'd be well off replacing the whole line with this body.
pd @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:09PM
Wow, this i like, pretty cool name too M-Zero.
Andrew Tanasescu @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:09PM
I actually liked it until I saw the rear...
Quattrofan @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:29PM
yep, that roof profile (as seen from the rear) needs to round up a tad more.... I'd say minor revision and you got yourselves a winner.
Quattrofan @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:39PM
that.... and thicken up those C pillars while at it...
mk @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:09PM
It takes talent to generate things like this...
But that being said, this thing is crude and ugly.
Less cohesive than an Aston Martin, and less linear than a BMW, and BMW has been getting less linear itself anyway.
The smiling kidney grilles and front bumper cover are a no-go. The back end with weird up-sweep into a square deck lid is not good either.
Are the metal ducts in front of the rear wheels scoops or side exit exhaust, in addition to the bumper cutting rear exhaust. (I wouldn't want to see what happens to a car hitting that bumper under an unfortunate circumstance)
The surfaces are decent, but the roof doesn't flow all that well. It certainly would not be so paper thin and flat.
Toy Yoda @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:10PM
I own a 6. The front, side, and front diagonal view of the 6 look better on the 6. The rear of this concept car could replace the 6, but it wouldn't better or worse. So overall, I think the 6 series looks better.
Richard @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:10PM
Definitely NOT Bangle: flat sides - no "flame-surfacing."
Front isn't bad. Back looks very kit-car-like.
At least to my eyes.