Engineering:BMW Z
| BMW Z | |
|---|---|
 2019 BMW Z4 M40i | |
| Overview | |
| Production | 1989–1992, 2007–2016, 2018–present (Z4 only) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sports car (S) |
| Body style | |
| Layout | Rear-wheel drive |
The BMW Z models are a line of roadsters manufactured by German automaker BMW. The Z stands for zukunft (German for future),[1] and has been produced in four different series with six generations consisting of roadster, coupé, sports car, and concept variants.
The introduction of the M Coupé and M Roadster in the Z3 line marked the first of the Z series to have a high-performance BMW M variant. The first generation Z4 also continued to offer M Coupé and M Roadster variants. The current Z4 (G29) uses BMW's (B58B30) inline-six, its platform is the basis for the current Toyota Supra.[2]
BMW Z1 (E30 based; 1989–1991)
.jpg)
The BMW Z1 is a two-seat roadster developed by BMW and was produced from March 1989 to June 1991. It was based on the E30 3 Series platform.[3] The Z1 featured unusual doors which, instead of opening outward or upward, dropped into the door sills and had body panels which could easily be removed and replaced; the car could be driven with all its body panels removed for weight reduction and increased performance.[4] Only 8,000 examples of the Z1 were produced.[5]
BMW Z3 (E36/7/8; 1995–2002)
The Z3 was the first modern mass-market roadster produced by BMW.[6] It was introduced for the 1996 model year shortly after being featured in the James Bond movie GoldenEye. More than 15,000 were sold by the time the car was introduced.[7] The Z3 underwent a facelift in 1999 with the introduction of a coupé bodystyle and featured revised styling, before the end of its production run in 2002.[8] The coupé had controversial styling and was nicknamed as "clown shoe".[9] It was manufactured and assembled in Spartanburg, South Carolina.[10]
BMW Z8 (E52; 2000–2003)
The Z8 was produced from 2000 to 2003 and was the production variant of the 1997 Z07 concept car, which was designed by Danish Henrik Fisker at BMW's DesignworksUSA.[11] The Z07 originally was designed as a styling exercise to celebrate the 507 roadster of the 1950s, but the overwhelming popularity of the concept spurred BMW's decision to produce a limited production model called the Z8. 5,703 cars were built, approximately half of which were exported to the United States .[12]
BMW Z4 (E85/E86; 2003–2008)
The first-generation BMW Z4 was known as the E85 in roadster form and E86 in coupé form.[13] It was designed by Danish BMW-designer Anders Warming.[14]
The Z4's design addressed many criticisms of the preceding Z3; it was larger and featured a significantly stiffer chassis.[15] The Z4 was initially only available as a roadster, but a coupé version was officially launched in 2006.[16] The last model was manufactured on 27 August 2008 at the Spartanburg plant.[17]
BMW Z4 (E89; 2009–2016)
_front_20100815.jpg)
_rear_20100815.jpg)
The second-generation Z4 was announced on 13 December 2008[18] and debuted at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit the following month.[19] It is the first Z Series model to use a retractable hardtop and meant that there were no longer separate roadster and coupé versions of the car.[20] The top is made of a two-piece lightweight aluminium shell and takes 20 seconds to operate.[21] Manufacturing was moved from Spartanburg, United States to Regensburg, Germany.[22]
BMW Z4 (G29; 2018–present)
The G29 Z4 is the third and current generation Z4 and was unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on 23 August 2018.[23] It reuses the soft-top convertible roof found on the E85 Z4 instead of a retractable hardtop which now takes 10 seconds for operation. The G29 Z4 shares its platform with the J29 Toyota Supra and is manufactured in the same plant in Austria.[24]
Production and sales
The following are the production and sales figures for Z models, excluding the Z1:[25][26][27][28][29]
| Year | Production | EU sales | US sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | - | 15,040 | |
| 1997 | 57,100[30] | 30,954 | 19,760 |
| 1998 | 53,000[30] | 27,776 | 20,613 |
| 1999 | 51,000[30] | 24,268 | 20,062 |
| 2000 | 42,800[30] | 18,681 | 16,699 |
| 2001 | 39,579[30] | 17,358 | 15,884 |
| 2002 | 26,428[30] | 10,749 | 10,490 |
| 2003 | 52,016[30] | 24,224 | 20,324 |
| 2004 | 38,483[30] | 18,593 | 13,654 |
| 2005 | 28,808[30] | 14,137 | 10,045 |
| 2006 | 30,981[30] | 15,844 | 12,284 |
| 2007 | 28,383[30] | 15,281 | 10,097 |
| 2008 | 18,006[30] | 6,116 | 5,879 |
| 2009 | 22,761[30] | 13,497 | 3,523 |
| 2010 | 24,575 | 13,153 | 3,804 |
| 2011 | 18,809 | 9,417 | 3,479 |
| 2012 | 15,249 | 7,508 | 2,751 |
| 2013 | 12,866[31] | 5,970 | 2,480 |
| 2014 | 10,802 | 5,373 | 2,151 |
| 2015 | 7,950 | 4,093 | 1,829 |
| 2016 | 5,432 | 3,006 | 1,187 |
| 2017 | - | 244 | 502 |
| 2018 | - | 125 | 4 |
| 2019 | - | 9,681[32] | 2,941[33] |
| Total: | 585,028 | 271,086 | 211,354 |
Z9 Concept (1999)
.jpg)
The BMW Z9 (or Z9 Gran Turismo) is a concept coupé introduced at the 1999 Frankfurt Auto Show,[34] with a convertible variant later unveiled at the 2000 Paris Auto Show.[35] The vehicle features unique gull-wing doors that also opened like a conventional hinged door and innovations such as an early concept of BMW's iDrive system, called the Intuitive Interaction Concept, were incorporated into other production vehicles.[36] Much of the styling found on the E63 6 Series is also derived from the Z9.[37]
See also
- List of BMW vehicles
References
- ↑ Toma, Sebastian (2017-05-15). "BMW Z4 Replacement Will Not Be Called Z5, Company Official Says" (in en-us). autoevolution. https://www.autoevolution.com/news/bmw-z4-replacement-will-not-be-called-z5-company-official-says-117778.html.
- ↑ "What's the best BMW Z car?" (in en-US). BMW BLOG. 2016-05-05. http://www.bmwblog.com/2016/05/05/whats-best-bmw-z-car/.
- ↑ Oswald, op. cit., p. 258. Production was to commence in June, 1988 but was delayed until March 1989.
- ↑ "Retro review: the oddly doored BMW Z1" (in en). Top Gear. 2017-09-24. https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/bmw/25-2dr-lhd/first-drive.
- ↑ "1989 - 1991 BMW Z1 Review @ Top Speed" (in en-US). Top Speed. https://www.topspeed.com/cars/bmw/1989-1991-bmw-z1-ar107255.html.
- ↑ "1996-2002 BMW Z3". https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hsx/2015/01/Zed-Sled---1996-2002-BMW-Z3/3745681.html.
- ↑ Meier, Jeff. "z3roadster.com - Smiting swarms of untamed hippos since 1997". http://www.z3roadster.com/.
- ↑ "AutoSpeed - New Car Test - BMW Z3 2.2i Roadster". http://www.autospeed.com/cms/article.html?&A=1486.
- ↑ "BMW Z3M Coupe For Sale: Clown Shoes are getting expensive". http://www.bmwblog.com/2017/01/07/bmw-z3m-coupe-sale-clown-shoes-getting-expensive/.
- ↑ "Last Z3 Roadster rolls off line at BMW Manufacturing | BMW US Factory" (in en-US). https://www.bmwusfactory.com/bmw_articles/last-z3-roadster-rolls-off-line-at-bmw-manufacturing/.
- ↑ "Henrik Fisker's 'Timeless' Automotive Designs" (in en-US). WIRED. https://www.wired.com/2010/07/henrik-fisker-design-gallery/.
- ↑ "Here's Why the BMW Z8 Is Worth $200,000" (in en-US). Doug DeMuro. 2015-04-16. https://petrolhat.net/video/9715.
- ↑ "AustralianCar.Reviews: #1 for Reviews and Used Car Valuations" (in en). http://australiancar.reviews/reviews.php#!content=review&make=BMW&model=Z4%20Coupe&gen=138.
- ↑ "Design to Reality: the Z4 Roadster". AutoFieldGuide. http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/120201.html.
- ↑ "2003 BMW Z4" (in en-US). Road & Track. 2012-11-06. http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/first-drives/reviews/a9537/2003-bmw-z4/.
- ↑ "2006 BMW Z4 3.0si Coupe" (in en). Car and Driver. https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2006-bmw-z4-30si-coupe-short-take-road-test.
- ↑ "The last BMW Z4 built at Spartanburg Plant" (in en-US). BMW BLOG. 2008-08-31. http://www.bmwblog.com/2008/08/31/the-last-bmw-z4-built-at-spartanburg-plant/.
- ↑ "2009 BMW Z4 Review: The New Landshark has landed". Autospies.com. 2008-12-14. http://www.autospies.com/news/2009-BMW-Z4-Review-The-New-Landshark-has-landed-38854/.
- ↑ "Detroit Auto Show Preview: 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster" (in en-US). Road & Track. 2008-12-12. http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a14718/detroit-auto-show-preview-2009-bmw-z4-roadster/.
- ↑ "2009 BMW Z4 Convertible - Prices & Reviews". https://www.autotrader.com/research/car-models/2009-BMW-Z4/19105/2dr-Roadster-sDrive30i~photos.jsp?activeMediaTab=photos.
- ↑ "New BMW Z4 to debut on Jan 11th". iCars Singapore. http://www.icars.sg/2008/236/new-bmw-z4-to-debut-on-jan-11th/.
- ↑ "BMW Z4 finds home in Regensburg". 2009-04-20. http://www.autonews.com/article/20090420/GERMAN_NEWSLETTER/904200272/bmw-z4-finds-home-in-regensburg.[yes|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
- ↑ Constantine, Chris. "BMW Teases New Model Ahead of Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance" (in en-US). The Drive. http://www.thedrive.com/news/22513/mysterious-bmw-production-car-teased-unveiling-at-pebble-beach-concours-delegance-aug-23.
- ↑ "2019 BMW Z4 Production Starts In Austria" (in en). Autoblog. https://www.motor1.com/news/275133/2019-bmw-z4-production-start/.
- ↑ "BMW Z3 US car sales figures" (in en-US). carsalesbase.com. http://carsalesbase.com/us-car-sales-data/bmw/bmw-z3/.
- ↑ "BMW Z4 US car sales figures" (in en-US). carsalesbase.com. http://carsalesbase.com/us-car-sales-data/bmw/bmw-z4/.
- ↑ "BMW Z8 US car sales figures" (in en-US). carsalesbase.com. http://carsalesbase.com/us-car-sales-data/bmw/bmw-z8/.
- ↑ "BMW Z4 European sales figures" (in en-US). carsalesbase.com. http://carsalesbase.com/european-car-sales-data/bmw/bmw-z4/.
- ↑ "BMW Z8 European sales figures" (in en-US). carsalesbase.com. http://carsalesbase.com/european-car-sales-data/bmw/bmw-z8/.
- ↑ 30.00 30.01 30.02 30.03 30.04 30.05 30.06 30.07 30.08 30.09 30.10 30.11 30.12 BMW Business figures 1997–2006
- ↑ "Archived copy". http://www.bmwgroup.com/e/0_0_www_bmwgroup_com/investor_relations/downloads/_pdf/InvestorPresent_March_2014_online.pdf.
- ↑ "BMW Z4 European sales figures" (in en-US). carsalesbase.com. https://carsalesbase.com/europe-bmw-z4/.
- ↑ "BMW Z4 US sales figures" (in en-US). carsalesbase.com. https://carsalesbase.com/us-bmw-z4/.
- ↑ "1999 BMW Z9 Review @ Top Speed" (in en-US). Top Speed. https://www.topspeed.com/cars/bmw/1999-bmw-z9-ar1391.html.
- ↑ "BMW Z9 Convertible Concept" (in en). Motor1.com. https://www.motor1.com/news/79410/bmw-z9-convertible-concept/.
- ↑ "BMW Press Release: BMW Group at the 2001 North American International Auto Show". Press.bmwgroup.com. http://www.press.bmwgroup.com/pressclub/us02.nsf/fwPressemeldungFrame?readform&docid=7D7A341D17E423BAC1256BB9002A13C7.
- ↑ "10 things you did not know about the BMW 6 Series" (in en-US). MOTOR SHOW BLOG. 2015-01-11. https://www.motorshowblog.com/en/10-things-about-bmw-6-series/.
 |  |
