Autoblog

BMW Z8 freshened courtesy of Senner Tuning

Zach Bowman — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Convertible, Performance, Etc., Europe, BMW, Design/Style, Luxury

The 2001-2003 Z8 is one of the more graceful designs to slip from the BMW design studios in recent memory. With the droptop's classic roadster lines and plenty of performance on tap, the Z8 may not have sold like gangbusters when it was in production, but its slow-burn appeal has ensured that it has plenty of fans and impressive resale value. Despite a very limited production run of just 5,703 units, Senner Tuning has belatedly turned its attention toward modifying this convertible, which is quickly becoming a classic.

The company's engineers got started with a new sports air filter and easy breathing exhaust, including low-restriction catalytic converters. Throw in a mild ECU reflash and the vehicle is good for 450 horsepower and 394 pound-feet of torque. Senner Tuning says those figures should be good enough to get the Zed to around 186 mph.

Thankfully, the folks at Senner haven't messed with the Z8's aesthetics too much. A set of slick 19x9-inch Work Schwert SC1 wheels ride up front while 19x10-inch rollers out back take care of putting power to the pavement. Senner also spent some time with the vehicle's suspension. A new coilover suspension with adjustable rebound, new strut bar and reinforced shock mount are all part of the package. If you like the sound of this recipe, Senner Tuning will rework your Z8 for the princely sum of just under $25,000 at current conversion rates. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading BMW Z8 freshened courtesy of Senner Tuning

BMW Z8 freshened courtesy of Senner Tuning originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infographic: A history of James Bond's famous cars

Zach Bowman — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., UK, Celebrities

James Bond and Aston Martin go together like a tuxedo and a license to kill, but everyone's favorite international man of mystery has been behind the wheel of more than just British sports cars during his long and sordid career. The good people at CarBuzz have worked up a lengthy infographic detailing the long history of British Intelligence vehicles piloted by none other than 007. Bond has even held the keys to a Ford LTD on at least two occasions in what could only be a practical joke from Q. He's also helmed such classy rides as a Lincoln Mark VII and an Audi 200 Avant.

That was long before Pierce Brosnan sent a BMW Z8 to its grave or Daniel Craig skipped an Aston Martin DBS V12 off its roof. Of course, as the graphic points out, these are just the cars that 007 has driven over the years. The spy has also commanded a couple of tanks, at least one bus, six helicopters and 20 boats or submarines. Hit the jump to check out the full graphic for yourself.

Continue reading Infographic: A history of James Bond's famous cars

Infographic: A history of James Bond's famous cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A behind-the-scenes look inside the BMW Classic warehouse

Michael Harley — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Europe, BMW

BMW Classic in Munich - Click above for high-res image gallery

Located just a short distance from the BMW Museum and Welt (famous as the company's European delivery center) in Munich, Germany, is BMW Classic. According to the German automaker, "BMW Classic coordinates all activities that are connected with the company's varied and successful history covering everything from the historical archives, assortment of aeroplanes, communication, the museum and BMW's role in the international club scene." In a nutshell, BMW Classic is tasked with archiving, restoring and preserving the company's ninety-year manufacturing history.

Earlier this year, the BMW Classic Center opened its doors to the public offering a full range of classic parts, restoration services and vehicle authentication. While local dealerships will continue to stock late model parts and accessories, BMW Classic is tasked with keeping an inventory part supply for vehicles (including motorcycles) that are generally more than fifteen years old. Not only are 30,000-plus components kept on hand, but the tooling that is relevant for subsequent fabrication is held at the facility as well. In addition, there are on-site restoration services, using 100 percent original parts, upholstery and paint, at prices that are very competitive to local shops (especially when you consider that BMW Classic Center is a one-stop shop for a turn-key restoration process).

While the downstairs shop area is in a constant flurry of activity, the multi-story warehouse - where much of the really good stuff is stored - is unfortunately closed to the public. However, thanks to a special invite, Autoblog was recently escorted on a private behind-the-scenes tour of the facility.

Viewed from the outside, the building is nothing spectacular. Yet, hidden inside its concrete walls are several floors of immaculately restored and preserved engines, motorcycles and automobiles. In addition to some of the company's most classic offerings, such as the BMW 507 and BMW 328, we stumbled over Isetta microcars and mint-condition 2002 race cars. We found the famed E53 X5 fitted with a V12 LMR powerplant (the 700 horsepower SUV clocked a record-setting 7:49 lap around Nürburgring at the hands of Hans Stuck nearly a decade ago) and a pristine street-ready McLaren F1 (parked yards away from its race-ready F1 GTR siblings). Look past the James Bond's genuine E38 7 Series (with highly-custom rear-seat driving controls), and you will see the fluorescent orange nose of the 1972 BMW Turbo Concept - the vehicle that inspired the BMW M1, arriving just five years later.

Our favorite has got to be an unassuming 1987 E32 7 Series, (aka the "Goldfish" 767), fitted with a prototype 6.7-liter V16 rated at 408 horsepower. The only hint to its potency are custom gill-like air intakes on each rear quarter panel - its massive engine is so long that the engineers were forced to move its cooling system to the trunk.

Take a long look through our extensive gallery, and let us know which ones are your favorites.

Gallery: BMW Classic Warehouse

A behind-the-scenes look inside the BMW Classic warehouse originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Upwardly Mobile: Ferrari edition Motorola Z8

Noah Joseph — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Ferrari

From its headquarters in Maranello, Ferrari has traditionally operated two divisions: one that makes exquisite road cars, and another that competes in motorsports. More recently, however, a third division has emerged, with the responsibility of conducting the company's ever-increasing marketing enterprise. The Global Branding Division itself seems to be following two tracks: licensing products as exclusive as the road cars and targeted towards their owners, and marketing merchandise to the Scuderia's enormous fan base.

Take for example the ever-popular Ferrari wrist watches: the company teamed up with Swiss watchmakers Panerai to offer a line of exquisite timepieces at big prices, all the while offering the common racing fan a less complicated, lower-cost wristwatch. Ferrari appears to be offering branded mobile phones along the same strategy: the company teams up with Vertu to offer exclusive four-figure devices to Ferrari owners, and with Motorola for more cost-effective (but assuredly still plenty pricey) cell phones.

The latest to fit into the strategy is this Ferrari-edition Motorola Z8, complete with red accents and Ferrari logos, and loaded with special content, including videos, ring-tones and wallpapers. For some reason it even comes loaded with "The Bourne Identity" in mobile format.

Prices haven't yet been released, but while the Vertu sells for thousands, the previous Motorola RAZR Maxx V6 Ferrari Challenge retailed for a more manageable $524. The Motorola Z8 Ferrari will be available from Ferrari Stores and select Motorola retailers. Unfortunately for anyone reading this and thinking it would make a great Christmas gift for a certain special someone, it won't be available until after the new year, so consider putting a personal voucher in with the card instead.

[Source: Kataweb via Unwired View, Motorpasion and CarScoop]

Continue reading Upwardly Mobile: Ferrari edition Motorola Z8

Upwardly Mobile: Ferrari edition Motorola Z8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What does Henrik Fisker roll on?

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 11:04:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket

Too many trips to SEMA have left us immune to the shiny detritus that populates the pages of some of our favorite mags, but when Henrik Fisker, the man who penned the BMW Z8 and the Aston Martin DB9, gets into the wheel business, we take notice.

Beyond his newest coachbuilding projects, Fisker has released two new wheels, designed to fit within the arches of several BMW and Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The ten-spoke FL10 has a bit more of a competitive aura, while the FT5 gets away with the right amount of style and substance. Both are available in gunmetal or titanium finishes, with prices starting around $1,500. But if you ask nice and are willing to exercise your Black Card, they'll customize your wheels with the paint scheme of your choosing.

You can see if you can purchase Fisker's wheels for your own whip by following this link to their website.

[Source: InsideLine]

What does Henrik Fisker roll on? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jun 2007 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: BMW Z9

John Neff — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 13:55:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, BMW

UDPATE: Like you, we're having a hard time wading through the conjecture on what this car is exactly. We mistakenly told you below that the Z9 would be a CL-Class fighter, which is wrong - it will be an SL-fighter (damned Mercedes nomenclature!). However, the test mule still doesn't look large enough to compete with the SL-Class (maybe the SLK, which is why we still think it's a Z4).

Reports are flooding in from Munich of a never-before-seen test mule from BMW that's purported to be the Z9, the successor to the short-lived Z8 premium ragtop the automaker sold from 2000 to 2003. Now, to be fair, the mule could simply be the next generation Z4 convertible, but the photographers from KGP seem to believe the body shape is purposefully misleading and that it is, indeed, the Z9.

Such a car would go head-to-head in the marketplace with the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class, and thus likely be offered in both coupe and hardtop converitble models. BMW's choice of engine for the Z9 seems obvious, as nothing less than the corporate V10 producing 500 hp would do for such a premium vehicle. In fact, Winding Road is surmising that the Z9 will carry an even more premium price than the Z8's $128,000 base MSRP, perhaps somewhere in the neighborhood of $150,000.

Despite the fact that speculators seem convinced this mule is the future Z9, we still think it looks too small for that to be the case. From the side profile it appears the vehicle is just about the right size for a slightly larger Z4 and not comparable to the size of a Mercedes-Benz CL-Class.

[Source: Winding Road]

Spy Shots: BMW Z9 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Jan 2007 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More news on BMW's Z8 successor

Stuart Waterman — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, BMW

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]

More news on BMW's Z8 successor originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Aug 2006 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW closer to a decision on the 2010 Z8?

Erin Mays — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 17:08:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Supercars, BMW

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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BMW rumor mill: a smaller Roller? a bigger M-Series?

Stuart Waterman — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 15:06:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Europe, BMW

The skies over Germany were full of trial balloons this week, as BMW chairman Helmut Panke has been teasing the German press with possible new products. In an interview with auto motor und sport (rough English translation here), Panke alludes to several possible new BMW models:

an M7? An M-version of BMW's 7-Series would be positioned against Mercedes' S63 AMG. Panke says market demand for an M7 is particularly strong in the U.S.
a baby Phantom? With a fully-equipped long wheelbase 7-Series coming in at around $215,000, and the Phantom selling for about $460,000, Panke believes there could well be a potential market at a $300,000 price point. However, he doesn't think that this luxo-model should be a BMW, which suggests that a smaller Rolls might be in the cards.
a Z8 successor? BMW didn't set the world on fire with its upmarket sports car, but Panke still sees an unserved sports car market segment waiting to be tapped by the right BMW product.

[Source: auto motor und sport]

BMW rumor mill: a smaller Roller? a bigger M-Series? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 Apr 2006 15:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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