Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[BMW celebrates 75 years of building roadsters]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/29/bmw-celebrates-75-years-of-building-roadsters/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/29/bmw-celebrates-75-years-of-building-roadsters/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/29/bmw-celebrates-75-years-of-building-roadsters/#commentsFiled under: , ,


BMW Roadsters - Click above for a high-res image gallery

We generally think of BMW as the maker of some of the world's best sports sedans, but its put out some impressive roadsters over the years. Seventy-five years to be exact. The Bavarian auto manufacturer has been producing two-door open-seaters for three quarters of a century now, starting with 315/1 Sports model that was unveiled at the 1934 Berlin Motor Show followed by the more powerful 319/1. Two legendary roadsters came next, starting with the 328 Roadster in 1936 that was bred on the Nurburgring, and the classically-styled 507 in the late 1950's that inspired the next half century of BMW two-door ragtops.

It was nearly 30 years before BMW produced another roadster, and it came in the form of the Z1 that launched in 1988. The quirky roadster featured plastic body panels that bolted onto the steel monocoque body and doors that could retract into the side of the car. In 1995 BMW brought the roadster to the masses with the Z3, followed by the modern day Z4 that's just begun its second generation. Then, of course, there is the elegant Z8. Perhaps our favorite of all BMW's roadsters, it offered everything we would ever want from a sporty two-door convertible: a 400 horsepower V8, six-speed manual transmission, and a design that will never go out of style.

BMW has provided a wonderful gallery of photos highlighting each car, all available in high resolution. More details on each roadster can also be found in the press release after the jump.


Gallery: 75 Years of BMW Roadsters

BMW 315/1 BMW 315/1BMW 315/1BMW 315/1

Continue reading BMW celebrates 75 years of building roadsters

BMW celebrates 75 years of building roadsters originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 May 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BMWBMW 3151 SportBMW 3191 SportBMW 328 RoadsterBMW 507BMW RoadsterBMW RoadstersBMW Z1BMW Z3BMW Z8Bmw3151SportBmw3191SportBmw328RoadsterBmw507BmwRoadsterBmwRoadstersBmwZ1BmwZ3BmwZ8Fri, 29 May 2009 19:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19050652/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/05/29/bmw-celebrates-75-years-of-building-roadsters/19050652/article-detail.xml 19050652 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/05/bmwroadsters75th_lead_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/05/bmwroadsters75th_lead.jpg <![CDATA[First Drive: 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster grows up at the expense of its groove]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/13/first-drive-2009-bmw-z4-grows-up-at-cost-of-its-groove/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/13/first-drive-2009-bmw-z4-grows-up-at-cost-of-its-groove/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/13/first-drive-2009-bmw-z4-grows-up-at-cost-of-its-groove/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


2009 BMW Z4 - Click above for high-res image gallery
The all-new 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster is the eagerly anticipated replacement to both the Z4 Convertible and Z4 Coupe. Adding to this pressure, the two-seater is also tasked with satisfying the enthusiasts who enjoyed the high-performance M variants, both of which are discontinued - at least for the moment. Autoblog just spent a long day behind the wheel of the multi-role Z4, dissecting the Roadster's styling, ergonomics, chassis, powerplant and handling. How does the Z4 masquerade as four different models? Is it a credible replacement for one, or all? Most importantly, will the Z4 appease the enthusiast? Find out after the jump.


Gallery: First Drive: 2009 BMW Z4


Photos copyright (C)2009 Michael Harley / Weblogs, Inc

Continue reading First Drive: 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster grows up at the expense of its groove

First Drive: 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster grows up at the expense of its groove originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 May 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 BMW2009BmwBMW RoadsterBMW Z2BMW Z3BMW Z4 RoadsterBMW Z8BmwRoadsterBmwZ2BmwZ3BmwZ4RoadsterBmwZ8FeaturedFirst DriveFirst TestFirstDriveFirstTestLos AngelesLosAngelesPreviewRoadsterWed, 13 May 2009 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1544433/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/05/13/first-drive-2009-bmw-z4-grows-up-at-cost-of-its-groove/1544433/article-detail.xml 1544433 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/05/z4_1280_20_opta_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/05/z4_1280_20_opta.jpg <![CDATA[BMW M10 to challenge Audi R8 and Porsche 911]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/29/bmw-m10-to-challenge-audi-r8-and-porsche-911/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/29/bmw-m10-to-challenge-audi-r8-and-porsche-911/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/29/bmw-m10-to-challenge-audi-r8-and-porsche-911/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The legend we had always known was that BMW and Mercedes-Benz had a gentleman's agreement in place not to go after the Porsche 911. For whatever reasons, building a proper two-seat sports car was out of the question, though both build heavier and more accomodating grand touring machines that manage to skirt around the 911's segment.

Then came the Audi R8. Being stuck in third place of a three-man race has forced Audi to branch out into new segments, and the R8 is a bold statement that might make someone shopping a 911 think twice. Audi's bite of the forbidden fruit has apparently opened the door enough for BMW to consider a proper two-seat sports car. Sure, the M6 is plenty powerful with its 500-horse V10, more powerful than the R8 actually, but it's a pretty porker that can carry four people.

German outlet Auto Zeitung is reporting that BMW has begun work on an R8/911 competitor. To be called the M10, this front-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe would be the spiritual successor to the M1 and Z8. Though BMW has dabbled with carbon fiber in some of its recent designs, the M10 would likely be almost completely covered in the material to keep weight around 3,000 lbs. Power for the M10 could come from either the M3's 420-hp, 4.2L V8 or the corporate 5.0L V10 producing around 550 horsepower. We would expect both engines to be offered so that BMW could square off the M10 against the R8 and RS8, as well as the 911 and 911 Turbo.

If BMW is working on such a car, development is going on behind many closed doors and any official info is far off. Regardless, such a car makes sense for the brand that purports to build ultimate driving machines.

[Source: Auto Zeitung via Motor Authority]

BMW M10 to challenge Audi R8 and Porsche 911 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 May 2007 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Audi R8Audi RS*AudiR8AudiRs*BMW M1BMW M10BMW Z8BmwM1BmwM10BmwZ8M10Porsche 911Porsche911Tue, 29 May 2007 16:24:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/906100/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/05/29/bmw-m10-to-challenge-audi-r8-and-porsche-911/906100/article-detail.xml 906100 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/05/38395_450_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/05/38395_450.jpg <![CDATA[BMW may bring Z8 successor to Shanghai auto show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/02/bmw-may-bring-z8-successor-to-shanghai-auto-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/02/bmw-may-bring-z8-successor-to-shanghai-auto-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/02/bmw-may-bring-z8-successor-to-shanghai-auto-show/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Automotive News is reporting that BMW will be unveiling a concept version of the successor to its Z8 sports car at the Shanghai motor show next month.The new Z9 (Z10 seems to fit current naming practices better, but we'll stick with Z9 here because it's what Auto News is reporting) will likely one-up its predecessor with a folding hardtop and possibly a coupe version, as well. The Z9 is likely to get a version of the 500-hp, 5.0-liter V10 from the M5/M6.

The new top-of-the-line sports car will go head-to-head with the Mercedes SL and Audi R8, among others, when it debuts sometime in 2009 or 2010. BMW hopes to find as many as 15,000 buyers a year for the new sports car even though it only managed to move 5,702 Z8s during the whole run from 2000 to 2003. There are plenty of pics of an SLR-like gullwing Z9 concept that has a 6-series butt and a long tapered nose, but we are praying for something better. We hope it can match the beauty of the neo-507 Z8 pictured above when it debuts.

[Source: Automotive News, sub req]

BMW may bring Z8 successor to Shanghai auto show originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Apr 2007 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BMW M5BMW M6BMW Z10BMW Z8BmwM5BmwM6BmwZ10BmwZ8Shanghai auto showShanghaiAutoShowSLRMon, 02 Apr 2007 13:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/865381/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/04/02/bmw-may-bring-z8-successor-to-shanghai-auto-show/865381/article-detail.xml 865381 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/04/9_bmw_z8__thumbnail.gif http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/04/9_bmw_z8_.gif <![CDATA[BMW closer to a decision on the 2010 Z8?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/15/bmw-closer-to-a-decision-on-the-2010-z8/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/15/bmw-closer-to-a-decision-on-the-2010-z8/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/15/bmw-closer-to-a-decision-on-the-2010-z8/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Automobile Magazine lends a little credibility to last week's Autobild news that another BMW Z8 is on its way. The former claims that business plans for a Z10, which would be on par with the likes of the (too) low-volume Mercedes SLR McLaren, and a Z6, which BMW figured was too close to the new Z4, were scrapped in favor of a successor to the car that BMW dropped in 2003 (pictured).

But going back to the drawing board isn't such a bad thing. Like Autobild, Automobile says that the new Z8 will likely get BMW's 408 hp 4.4L turbo, 300 hp 3.0L turbo six cylinder, or the 500 hp 5.0L V10... but, the magazine says, it's not going to hit SL600 territory without the V-12. Sounds like fun to us, but the $100,000 to $125,000 price tag might be a little steep.

[Source: Automobile Magazine; Sfondideldesktop.com]

BMW closer to a decision on the 2010 Z8? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jun 2006 17:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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