| BMW has just thumbed its corporate nose at these | | | | 40WR-18 run-flat tires for as long as you wish. In fact, |
| prophets of doom in the most eloquent way | | | | launching the Z8 to get the best performance numbers |
| possible--by introducing its most distinctive, most | | | | demands a delicate touch. But when we got it right, the |
| charismatic, and most exclusive car since the 1979 M1 | | | | Z8 hustled to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and got through |
| supercar, or perhaps even the 1957 507 roadster. | | | | the quarter-mile in 13.0 seconds at 111 mph. |
| That this new car, the Z8, is scorchingly fast comes as | | | | Despite the powerful thrust of this sleek sports car's |
| no surprise. It employs the potent 400-hp M5 | | | | engine, there's nothing remotely uncivilized about the |
| powertrain, which endows the M5 sedan with the | | | | power delivery. You can tool around town in as gentle |
| acceleration of a Corvette. Weighing about 500 | | | | a mode as a limo-driving-school graduate if you wish. |
| pounds less than the two-ton M5, the Z8's | | | | The chassis, however, never disguises its |
| performance is beyond question. | | | | high-performance orientation. Although we wouldn't |
| Neither were we surprised by its striking styling. Based | | | | characterize the ride as harsh, even on the smooth |
| on the Z07 concept car that BMW revealed to the | | | | roads around Los Angeles the suspension made few |
| world at the 1997 Tokyo motor show, the Z8 is | | | | bumps disappear the way they do in BMW's 5- and |
| intended to evoke the famous 507 roadster with that | | | | 7-series sedans from which the Z8's suspension is |
| car's characteristic twin-nostril grille and uniquely | | | | derived. |
| shaped front-fender vents. The only question was | | | | The 5-series contributes the strut suspension used in |
| how closely the production car's styling would hew to | | | | the nose of the Z8, although overall travel is down |
| the concept. As the photos demonstrate here, BMW | | | | about 15 percent. The spring and damping calibrations |
| did not stray far from the sensuously sculpted shape | | | | are also stiffer, and few of the individual pieces are |
| that stole the Tokyo show almost three years ago. | | | | identical. The Z8 is also the first application of a |
| Even the design of the alloy wheels is virtually identical. | | | | rack-and-pinion steering mechanism in a V-8-powered |
| What did surprise us, however, was how artfully BMW | | | | BMW car. The Z8 carries its engine farther back in the |
| translated the Z07's retro interior into production -- and | | | | chassis than in the 5- and 7-series, which left room up |
| how much this added to the excitement of driving the | | | | front for the rack-and-pinion steering. |
| car. | | | | The rear suspension is more closely related to that of |
| The dashboard is a painted plastic panel (black, blue, or | | | | the 7-series, borrowing the lower suspension arms |
| taupe) that runs the full width, recalling the steel | | | | from that model as well the steel subframe for its |
| dashboards used in cars almost a half-century ago. | | | | wide track. The upper suspension pieces are unique to |
| The instruments are mounted in the center of this | | | | the Z8, as are the springs, the shocks, and the anti-roll |
| panel, shaded by a neatly integrated hood and angled | | | | bars. Moreover, hard rod ends replace many of the |
| toward the driver but still quite legible to the passenger. | | | | rubber bushings used in the sedans' suspension pivots. |
| The steering wheel has three spokes, each of which | | | | The 7-series also contributes the brake booster and |
| consists of four thin metal rods, another styling gesture | | | | the front calipers and rotors, but the rear stoppers are |
| recalling a bygone time. The switches and buttons, the | | | | unique to the Z8. The M5 brakes were deemed |
| shifter knob, and all of the metal trim are fabricated | | | | unnecessary for the lighter, and more lightly loaded, Z8. |
| from brushed aluminum. Much of the rest of the trim is | | | | These various bits are mounted to a frame made |
| polished chrome. To preserve the clean interior, the | | | | from fairly large-section extruded aluminum tubes. |
| climate controls are straightforward and the electronic | | | | These are MIG-welded by hand in careful order so |
| panel that controls the excellent stereo and | | | | that the entire assembly does not require heat treating |
| uncomplicated navigation system is neatly tucked | | | | when it is finished. Four major tubes in the central |
| behind an aluminum door. | | | | tunnel create a strong backbone. Aluminum sheets |
| Despite its homage to interiors of old, the Z8 layout | | | | welded and crimped to the tubes in several areas |
| works remarkably well. We quickly adjusted to | | | | provide additional stiffening. Naturally, the bodywork is |
| glancing down slightly and to the right to scan the | | | | also formed from aluminum. |
| instruments. And we appreciated that this instrument | | | | According to BMW engineers, this construction |
| placement allowed an unobstructed view of the Z8's | | | | reduces tooling costs, which is important since only |
| long hood. In this roadster, you definitely feel as though | | | | 1500 cars will be produced each year. They also claim |
| you're driving the car, not the dashboard. | | | | that it yields the stiffest convertible on the market. We |
| The retro touches are combined with excellent | | | | can't unequivocally confirm that, but the Z8 does feel |
| switchgear placement and a power telescoping | | | | very rigid and free of quivers with the power-operated |
| steering wheel and power seats, allowing for a | | | | top up or down. We didn't sample the removable |
| modern and comfortable driving position. There's plenty | | | | hardtop that comes with this sports car. |
| of room for two adults in the sumptuously inviting | | | | The rigid chassis definitely lends precision to the way |
| interior, with leather covering almost every surface that | | | | the Z8 carves up winding roads. The steering |
| isn't finished in chromed steel or brushed aluminum. | | | | response is accurate and linear, and road feel is |
| Even the roll-bar hoops behind the seats are sheathed | | | | excellent. At moderate speeds, understeer dominates |
| in beautifully stitched cowhides. | | | | the Z8's behavior. But if you turn off the traction |
| In truth, the Z8's visual charisma is so powerful that just | | | | control, you find that there is more than enough power |
| sitting in this car with the engine off is more fun than | | | | to balance the chassis and kick out the tail, even at |
| driving many other cars. Then when you press the | | | | rather fast speeds. Better to leave the stability control |
| starter button -- set apart, also a tribute to the | | | | on unless your right foot and your seat-of-the-pants |
| past--another entire level of excitement begins. | | | | oversteer sensor are well calibrated. |
| The 4.9-liter V-8 fires instantly and generates the | | | | Although the sticker price of the Z8 will be $135,304, |
| same muscular exhaust burble that we enjoyed on the | | | | including gas-guzzler and luxury tariffs, the 400 Z8s |
| M5, except that the volume is higher when you lower | | | | allocated for the U.S. this year are already spoken for. |
| the convertible top. The progressive clutch, in | | | | In fact, BMW expects the Z8 to become a classic and |
| combination with the precise gearbox, makes the Z8 a | | | | is guaranteeing that it will supply parts for at least 50 |
| breeze at takeoff. Acceleration is nothing short of | | | | years. |
| effortless, with the M5 engine's power multiplied not | | | | That may seem presumptuous, but the Z8 proves that |
| only by the Z8's relatively light weight but also by a | | | | BMW is confident in its future as a modest-sized |
| differential ratio shorter than the M5 sedan's. | | | | automaker. Besides, name another car that is both |
| Press down firmly on the throttle, and the Z8 lunges | | | | fabulous to drive today and likely to be found on the |
| ahead in any of its six forward gears. Switch off the | | | | 18th green at Pebble Beach in 2025. |
| traction control, and you can fry the tread off the 275 | | | | |