Today’s car is my stylistic favorite of the last 25 years. A true timeless icon, this car, almost 25 years old, has not aged a bit. Let me introduce you to the BMW Z8.
Designed by Henrik Fisker under the direction of Chris Bangle, this heir to the legendary BMW 507 features fine and muscular features at the same time, mixing curves and edges in a timeless design.
I do my best level of objectivity
– Fabian
In terms of mechanics, this roadster draws from the brand’s engine bank and is equipped with the V8 from the BMW m5 e39 developing 400hp and 520Nm. Mated to the same 6-speed manual gearbox as the M5, it is differentiated by a shorter axle ratio favoring more brutal acceleration at the expense of a lower top speed. Overall, the Z8 is intended to be quite torquey low in the revs and provided with a rather linear rise in revs, thus falling into the category of GT (grand touring) rather than that of sports cars.
Produced from 2000 and initially limited to 5000 copies, production stopped 3 years and 5703 copies later. Its price was then around 125,000 euros, a price that the notoriety will allow it to keep for all these years as long as the mileage remained reasonable. Nowadays, the average used price is close to 250,000 euros and even close to 300,000 for the Alpina version (555 units).
Today, although automobile designs evolve, few models are able to honor their brand’s past as accurately as the BMW Z8. This car has managed to remain timeless by focusing on a refined and elegant design, without falling into excess or stylistic overkill. It embodies a harmony between heritage and modernity, a balance that is often difficult to achieve. By wanting to modernize or seduce too much, certain current designs sometimes lose the emotional connection that made their predecessors so unique.
I won’t add more, instead I’ll let you enjoy these few images.
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