NationMaster - Encyclopedia: BMW Z8

The BMW Z8 was a car produced by German automaker BMW from 2000 to 2003. It was given the E52 BMW model code. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... 2001 BMW Z8 Photographed in Newport, RI. This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Automakers, also known as carmakers, automobile manufacturers, motor manufacturers, or the automobile industry are companies that design and manufacture automobiles. ... For other uses, see BMW (disambiguation). ... The BMW 507 is thought by many to be one of the most beautiful cars ever produced. ... Categories: ... Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories. ... For other uses, see Supercar (disambiguation). ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... Saab 900 Convertible 1962 Rambler American 1981 AMC Eagle 4-WD convertible Convertible can also refer to a convertible security A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof (aka soft top or top in USA, hood in UK). ... An automobile platform is a shared set of components common to a number of different automobiles. ... Sketch of FR layout In automobile design, an FR, or front-engine, rear wheel drive means a layout where the engine is in the front of the vehicle and drive wheels at the rear. ... The BMW E52 automobile platform was the basis for the 2000 through 2004 Z8 convertible sports car. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... The BMW M62 is a V8 piston engine. ... â€œGearboxâ€ redirects here. ... A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Kerb (sometimes mis-spelled as curb by Americans) weight is the total weight of a vehicle with standard equipment, all necessary operating consumables (such as motor oil and coolant), a full tank of fuel and not loaded with either passengers or cargo. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Automotive design. ... Born in Denmark, Henrik Fisker is a leading automobile designer and CEO of Fisker Coachbuild. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1613x896, 209 KB) BMW Z8 Photo by Stephen Foskett File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): BMW Z8 ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1613x896, 209 KB) BMW Z8 Photo by Stephen Foskett File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): BMW Z8 ... Automakers, also known as carmakers, automobile manufacturers, motor manufacturers, or the automobile industry are companies that design and manufacture automobiles. ... For other uses, see BMW (disambiguation). ...

The Z8 was the production variant of the 1997 Z07 concept car, which was designed by Henrik Fisker at BMW's Designworks in Southern California. The Z07 originally was designed as a styling exercise intended to evoke and celebrate the 1956-'59 BMW 507. The Z07 caused a sensation at the '97 Tokyo Auto Show. The overwhelming popularity of the concept spurred BMW's decision to produce a limited production model called the Z8. 5,703 Z8s were built, approximately half of which were exported to the USA. 1938 Buick Y-Job, the first Concept car A concept car or show car is a car prototype made to showcase a concept, new styling, technology and more. ... Born in Denmark, Henrik Fisker is a leading automobile designer and CEO of Fisker Coachbuild. ... The BMW 507 is thought by many to be one of the most beautiful cars ever produced. ...

From Concept to Production

The original Z07 had been designed with production in mind. As a result, practical and regulatory considerations necessitated very few changes for the production model. Nevertheless, the windshield of the Z8 was extended upward, and a larger front airdam was fitted. Both changes were implemented to provide aerodynamic stability and a reasonably placid cockpit environment. The four spoke steering wheel of the concept car was replaced by a three spoke design. The hardtop was changed from a double-bubble form with a tapering faring to a single dome with a truncated convex backside. The concept's exotic driver's side helmet fairing was eliminated to allow easy operation of the power soft top.

Despite these changes, the Z8 remained extremely faithful to the concept car. The side-mounted turn indicators were integrated into the side vents in a fashion that rendered them invisible until activated. The vintage simplicity of the interior was preserved by hiding the modern equipment under retracting panels. Complex compound curves were preserved through the use of an expensive MIG-welded aluminum space frame. The Z8 even retained the concept's five spoke wheel design, albeit without the race-style center lug nut.

Features

The $128,000 car had an all aluminum chassis and body and used a 4.9 L (4941 cc) 32 valve V8, which developed 400 hp (294 kW) and 500 Nm (363 ft·lbf). This engine was built by the BMW Motorsport subsidiary and was shared with the E39 M5. The engine was located behind the front axle in order to provide the car with 50/50 weight distribution. The factory claimed a 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62.5 mph) time of 4.7 seconds; Motor Trend magazine achieved 60 mph (100 km/h) in 4.2 seconds. Road and Track measured the car's lateral grip at .92. Car and Driver magazine also tested the car and found that it outperformed the contemporary benchmark Ferrari 360 Modena in three important performance categories: acceleration, handling, and braking. As with most BMW products, its top speed was electronically limited to 155 mph (249 km/h); the car's maximum top speed with an unlocked chip was 186 mph (300 km/h). Aluminum is a soft and lightweight metal with a dull silvery appearance, due to a thin layer of oxidation that forms quickly when it is exposed to air. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The BMW M5 is the high-performance version of the BMW 5-Series automobile made by BMW M GmbH. M5 versions of the E28, E34, E39 and E60 5-Series have been made. ... Motor Trend is one of the oldest automotive magazines still publishing. ... Road & Track is an automobile enthusiast magazine in the United States, founded by two friends in 1947. ... Cover of Car and Driver from age of psychedelic lettering Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. ... Ferrari 360 is the name given to three models of Ferrari cars: the Ferrari 360 Modena, an enclosed two-door coupe; the Ferrari 360 Spider, a two-door convertible; and the Ferrari Challenge Stradale, the bare-bones version of the 360 Modena. ... Car handling and vehicle handling is a description of the way wheeled vehicles perform transverse to their direction of motion, particularly during cornering and swerving. ...

The Z8 included an innovative use of neon exterior lighting. The tail lights and turn indicators are powered by neon tubes that offer quicker activation than standard lightbulbs and are expected to last for the life of the vehicle. (The vehicle has been erroneously described as the first production vehicle to use neon instead of incandescent bulbs, but the 1995 Ford Explorer and 1998 Lincoln Mark VIII, among others, also featured neon bulbs and predated the introduction of the Z8.) The Ford Explorer is a mid-size sport utility vehicle sold in North America and built by the Ford Motor Company since 1990. ... A 1994 Lincoln Mark VIII(black) and a 1997 Lincoln Mark VIII LSC(Toreador Red). ...

Every Z8 was shipped with a color-matching metal hardtop with rear defroster. Unlike many accessory hardtops, which are provided for practical rather than stylistic considerations, the Z8 hardtop was designed from the outset to complement the lines of the roadster.

In order to keep the interior uncluttered, a number of convenience functions were integrated into multifunction controls. For example, the power windows and mirrors were controlled by a single instrument. Also, the center mounted instrument cluster was canted slightly toward the driver. The displacement of these gauges to the middle of the dash was intended to offer an unimpeded view of the hood and the road ahead.

In order to promote the Z8 to collectors and reinforce media speculation about the Z8's "instant classic" potential, BMW promised that a 50 year stockpile of spare parts would be maintained in order to support the Z8 fleet. Due to the limited volume of Z8 production, all elements of the car were constructed or finished by hand, thereby compounding the importance of ongoing manufacturer support for the type. The price point and production process allowed BMW to offer custom options to interested buyers. A significant number of Z8s with nonstandard paint and interior treatments were produced over the course of the four year production run by BMW Individual, a division of BMW AG.

2003 Model Year Changes - Alpina Z8

For 2003, the final model year, the Z8 model was augmented by the Alpina V8 Roadster. The Alpina was a departure from the hard-edged sporting focus of the original car, and elements of the new grand touring intent were in evidence throughout this final edition. Instead of the original six speed manual and 4.9 liter (S62) engine featured in earlier Z8's, the Alpina came only as an automatic, using a 5-speed BMW Steptronic transmission allied to an upgraded 4.8L Alpina-tuned V8 motor from the BMW X5 SUV. In order to complete the car's transition from sportscar to boulevardier, relaxed suspension tuning was used. The standard Z8's run-flat tires and 18 inch wheels were discarded in favor of conventional tires with softer sidewalls, and 20 inch wheels. A new, softer grade of Nappa leather replaced the Z8's less supple specification, and special Alpina gauges were featured on the dash cluster. An Alpina steering wheel with three solid spokes replaced the original, which could not be retrofitted with shift paddles for the automatic. Gear selection was displayed in an Alpina-specific display mounted in front of the wheel. Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH is an automobile tuning company based in Buchloe, in the OstallgÃ¤u district of Bavaria, Germany specializing in BMW cars. ... BMW Steptronic is the registered trade name for BMWs automatic transmission that operates similarly to Porsches Tiptronic, allowing more control over the transmission, but still employing a torque converter. ... The BMW X5 is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV sold by BMW since 2000. ...

Performance of the Alpina Z8 differed from that of the standard car in that peak power was reduced to 375 hp (280 kW) while peak torque was raised to 383 ft·lbf (519 N·m); this torque was available at significantly lower rpm than the original in order to enable more relaxed cruising. Curiously, the electronically limited top speed was officially raised to 161 mph (259 km/h). Only 555 of these Alpinas were built, most of which were exported to the United States market. In the United States, this special edition of the Z8 was sold directly through BMW dealerships, marking a first for Alpina, whose cars had never been sold through retail channels in the USA.

Criticism

The Z8 held BMW's production car performance records for several years, and many journalists praised the car, but some in the UK motoring press took umbrage at the car's left hand drive-only configuration and chose not to lavish the car with the praise it received in Europe and the USA. Most notable among these critics was Jeremy Clarkson, who while reviewing the Alpina edition of the Z8 on Top Gear (Series 2 Episode 3), described the car as having terrible handling and being an example of a car that never knew what it was supposed to be, a supercar or a roadster. For the original series, see Top Gear (original format). ... // 10 episodes, broadcast 20 October 2002 - 29 December 2002 10 episodes, broadcast 11 May- 20 July 2003 9 episodes, broadcast 26 October- 28 December 2003 10 episodes, broadcast 9 May- 1 August 2004 9 episodes, broadcast 24 October â€“ 26 December 2004; 1 special, broadcast 5 February 2005 11 episodes, broadcast...

The lack of a limited slip differential (LSD) was one of the Z8's odd characteristics: the car came with an open differential that allowed one wheel to break free under maximum acceleration in the wet. BMW's DSC traction and stability control prevented the absence of an LSD from becoming a safety concern, but owners and journalists agreed that this choice of differential represented poor judgment on the part of BMW. Many Z8 owners subsequently fitted Quaife LSDs to rectify the perceived shortcoming. In automotive applications, a limited slip differential (LSD) is a modified or derived type of differential gear arrangement that allows for some difference in rotational velocity of the output shafts, but does not allow the difference in speed to increase beyond a preset amount. ...

More generally, some journalists complained about airflow in the cabin at high speeds with and without the soft top in place, with tiresome wind noise and turbulence reported at speeds of over 85 miles per hour. The detachable wind blocker that was supplied with the car mitigated but did not eliminate the problem. Some journalists noted the ergonomic issues that arose as a consequence of the interior's uncompromising aesthetics, such as the vintage-look spoked steering wheel which lacked auxiliary audio, cruise, or climate controls, or the basic dashboard layout with no navigation screens.

Reports that the front shock towers could deform from a severe pothole impact gained attention in early 2006.The very hard run flat tyres are responseble for the problem. In response BMW AG engineered and released a strut tower brace kit to stabilize that area of the frame, describing it as a "Performance Package", by the end of the year.

The BMW Z8 in media

The car was featured in the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough in late 1999. The presence of the car in the film was in fulfilment of a three-movie product placement deal that had started with 1995's Goldeneye (BMW Z3) and continued with 1997's Tomorrow Never Dies (BMW 750 iL). 007 redirects here. ... For other uses, see The World Is Not Enough (disambiguation). ... Wikibooks has more about this subject: Marketing Product placement advertisements are promotional ads placed by marketers using real commercial products and services in media, where the presence of a particular brand is the result of an economic exchange. ... For other uses, see Goldeneye (disambiguation). ... Tomorrow Never Dies, released in 1997, is the eighteenth spy film in the James Bond series, and the second to star Pierce Brosnan as MI6 agent James Bond. ...

The combative role of the Z8 in The World is Not Enough was abbreviated in comparison to the 750i's lengthy fight sequence in the previous film, but the roadster did receive considerable screen time, being introduced at MI6 HQ before being seen driving the oil fields of Azerbaijan. During a dockside battle on the Caspian Sea near Baku, tackling buzzsaw-equipped helicopters, Bond remotely controlled the car, then got in and instructed the Z8 to destroy one of the aircraft with a surface-to-air missile. The second helicopter subsequently bisected the vehicle with a saw attack, but Bond was of course able to outwit the pilot and prevail – pausing only briefly to remark at the destruction of the Z8, "Q's not going to like this!" Bond's Z8 had been equipped with several Q-Division refinements, including the aforementioned SAMs (launched via an extending pod from the side vent/indicator module) and remote control via 007's key chain, a trick plus "six beverage-cup holders!" as proclaimed by new assistant gadget-man 'R'. As the car was not ready for production stage at the time of filming, a real BMW Z8 never actually appeared in the film: all Z8s used in the production and seen on screen were clever facsimilies built specially with authentic bodywork on Shelby Cobra kit-car frames. Though the car in the film has British numberplates (V354 FMP), it retains the Z8's true left-hand-drive-only driver's position. The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the worlds largest lake or a full-fledged sea. ... Coordinates: , Country Government - Mayor Hajibala Abutalybov Area - City 260 kmÂ² (100. ... Akash Missile Firing French Air Force Crotale battery Bendix Rim-8 Talos surface to air missile of the US Navy A surface-to-air missile (SAM) is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft. ... 427 A/C Shelby America CSX 4109 Cobra Signature Series #3 of 4 The AC Cobra was a powerful Anglo-American sports car built in the 1960s. ...

Another movie in which the Z8 appeared was Bond-esque spy romp The Tuxedo, starring Jackie Chan and Jennifer Love Hewitt. The Tuxedo is a motion picture released in 2002 directed by Kevin Donovan and starring Jackie Chan, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Debi Mazar. ... Chan Kong-Sang (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ), also known as Jackie Chan Sing Lung (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ) or Jackie Chan SBS, (born on April 7, 1954) is a Chinese martial artist, action star, actor, director, screenwriter, film producer, singer and stunt performer. ... Jennifer Love Hewitt (born February 21, 1979) is an American actress and singer-songwriter. ...

The Z8 made its broadcast television debut during NBC's coverage of the 1999 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. A silver Z8 was driven at slow speed over the parade route to promote both the new model and the corresponding James Bond film. Willard Scott and Katie Couric discussed the Z8's performance, price, exclusivity, and the James Bond connection, while the camera captured close shots of the vehicle. â€œMacys Day Paradeâ€ redirects here. ... Willard Herman Scott, Jr. ... Katherine Anne Katie Couric (born January 7, 1957) is an American media personality who became well-known as co-host of NBCs Today. ...

The BMW Z8 was also featured in a number of racing video games like the Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 and was used as a pace car for the 2000 FIM Motorcycling Grand Prix. A racing game is any game that involves competing in races through a surrogate playing piece or vehicle, either getting it from one point to another or completing a number of circuits in the shortest time. ... See also List of Indianapolis 500 pace cars A pace car has been used to start the Indianapolis 500 since 1911. ... Grand Prix motorcycle racing refers to the premier category of motorcycle grand prix currently divided into three distinct classes: 125 cc, 250 cc and MotoGP. Grand prix motorcycles are purpose-built racing machines that are neither available for general purchase nor can be legitimately ridden on public roads; this contrasts...

References

Csaba Csere (pronounced ; in American transliteration Chubba Chedda) is a Hungarian - American former technical director and the current editor-in-chief of Car and Driver. ... Cover of Car and Driver from age of psychedelic lettering Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. ...

External links

External Picture Galleries

Categories: Articles lacking sources from April 2007 | All articles lacking sources | BMW vehicles | Luxury vehicles | Supercars | Sports cars | Roadsters | Rear wheel drive vehicles | Convertibles | James Bond For other uses, see BMW (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The BMW 1 Series (code name E87) is a Small-luxury car / small family car produced by the German automaker BMW since 2004. ... 1995 BMW 318ti 1997 BMW 318ti California Edition 1995 BMW 318ti Sport competing in an autocross event The BMW Compact was a compact car / small family car, basically a truncated hatch-back version of the BMW 3 Series, produced by the German automaker BMW between 1994 and 2004. ... The BMW 1 Series (code name E87) is a Small-luxury car / small family car produced by the German automaker BMW since 2004. ... Alfa Romeo 159, a compact executive car mainly sold in Europe Infiniti G35, an entry-level luxury car for sale in North America and Japan Compact executive car (British English, Mittelklasse in German) or entry-level luxury car (American English) is a car classification which respectively describes large family cars... The BMW 3 Series is an entry-level luxury car / compact executive car manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. ... BMW E21 is the platform designation for the first BMW 3-Series automobile, produced from 1975 to 1983. ... BMW E30 318i BMW E30 325es with diving board bumpers E30 318i Lux Convertible E30 Convertible built April 1993 The E30 automobile platform was the basis for the 1982 through 1991 BMW 3 Series entry-level luxury car / compact executive car. ... 318is CoupÃ© 1995 316i Compact 1996 M3 CoupÃ© E36 convertible E36 Wagon Georgia State Patrol 318i The E36 automobile platform was the basis for the 1991-1999 BMW 3 Series entry-level luxury car / compact executive car. ... The E46 automobile platform is the fourth generation of BMWs highly successful 3 Series entry-level luxury car / compact executive car. ... The BMW E90 automobile platform is the fifth generation of the BMW 3 Series range of entry-level luxury/compact executive cars. ... The BMW 5 Series is a mid-size luxury car / executive car manufactured by BMW since 1972. ... The BMW E12 automobile platform was the basis for the 1972 through 1981 BMW 5-Series automobiles and the first platform to bear the 5-Series name: the 5 denoting BMWs fifth New Class platform. ... The BMW E28 automobile platform was the basis for the 1981 through 1987 BMW 5-Series automobiles. ... BMW 525i, E34 Touring version The BMW E34 is the version of the BMW 5 Series automobile built from February 1988 to 1995 (Touring until 1996). ... 2000 BMW 540i E39 The E39 automobile platform was the basis for the 1996 through 2004 BMW 5 Series. ... The BMW E60 automobile platform is the basis of the 2004-onwards 5-Series automobile, replacing the BMW E39. ... The BMW F10 is an automobile platform in BMWs 5-series expected to go into production in the 2011 model year, as a replacement for the BMW E60 platform (after 7. ... 2001 BMW 750iL The Ford Falcon, a popular Australian full-size car A full-size car is a marketing term used in North America for an automobile larger than a mid-size car. ... The BMW 7 Series is a full-size luxury vehicle produced by the German automaker BMW. It replaced the New Six models in 1977. ... BMW E23 (1977 - 1986) The BMW E23 is an automobile platform that was the basis for the first BMW 7 Series luxury car, produced by the German automaker BMW. Replacing the BMW E3 large sedan, the E23 was produced for ten years from 1977 to 1987 and was replaced by... 1992 BMW E32 740i In 1986, BMW introduced the second generation of the 7 series, known internally as the E32. ... 1999-2000 BMW 735iL The BMW E38 automobile platform was the basis for the 1994 through 2001 BMW 7 Series automobiles. ... The E65/E66 automobile platform is the basis for the 2002 through present BMW 7-series. ... The BMW F01 is an automobile platform in BMWs 7-series expected to go into production in late 2008, as a replacement for the current 7-series (BMW E65/E66) platform. ... The Peugeot 406 CoupÃ©, designed by Pininfarina 1990 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC coupÃ©, noted for its large, angular design 1997 Rover Vitesse Coupe, club coupÃ© Rover P5 Coupe, a traditional four-door coupÃ© Mercedes CLS, a modern four-door coupÃ© Gala-CoupÃ© of Leopold II, Brussels 1970s Sunbeam Alpine fastback coup... The BMW 6 Series is two distinct lines of automobiles from BMW, both coupÃ©s. ... BMW E24 (1976 - 1989) (1989 Pictured) The BMW E24 automobile platform was the basis for the first production of BMW 6-Series CoupÃ©s, manufactured between the 1976 and 1989 model years. ... The BMW E63 and E64 automobile platforms are the basis for the coupe and convertible versions of the 2004 6_Series respectively. ... 1950 Jaguar XK120 roadster This article is about the car body style. ... The BMW Z1 is a two-seat roadster developed by BMW Technik GmbH and produced from July 1988 to June 1991. ... The BMW Z3 was the first modern mass-market roadster produced by BMW, as well as the first BMW model assembled in the United States. ... The BMW Z4 is a rear-wheel drive sports car by the German automaker BMW, known as the E85 in roadster form and E86 in coupe form. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... For other uses, see Supercar (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Gran Turismo. ... The BMW M1 is a supercar produced by the German automaker BMW from 1978 to 1981. ... The BMW 8 Series (chassis code BMW E31) is a V8 or V12-engined 2-door 2+2 coupe built by BMW from 1989 to 1999 with an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h), although with the limiters removed top speed was estimated at 186 mph... Categories: ... A crossover SUV (also called CUV for Crossover Utility Vehicle) or XUV (not to be confused with GMCs Envoy XUV) is an automobile with a sport utility vehicle appearance but is built upon a more economical and fuel-efficient unibody construction. ... The BMW X3 is a compact luxury crossover SUV (though BMW advertises it as an SAV, or Sport Activity Vehicle) produced by the German automaker BMW. It is based on the BMW 3-Series automobile platform. ... The BMW E83 automobile platform is the basis for the 2004 through present X3 compact SUV. It is the first BMW since the M1 to not be built at a BMW factory. ... The BMW X5 is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV sold by BMW since 2000. ... The BMW E53 automobile platform was the basis for the 2000 through present X5 SUV. It will be replaced by the BMW E70 in the future. ... The BMW E70 automobile platform will be the basis for the future X5 SUV. It will replace the BMW E53. ... The BMW X6 is an upcoming full-size luxury crossover SUV to be released in the 2009 model year. ... The BMW X6 is an upcoming full-size luxury crossover SUV to be released in the 2009 model year. ...

Contents

From Concept to Production GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");