BMW Z8

Hello again guys,

Yesterday i asked my friends if they heard about this car, not surprisingly none of them heard about it.
So for people like my friends, here is some interesting facts about the BMW Z8
Let`s start with the beginning :

BMW Z8 was a roadster produced from 1999 to 2003. It was given the E52 model code and was the production variant of the 1997 Z07 concept car, which was designed as a styling exercise intended to evoke and celebrate the 1956-59 BMW 507, designed by Henrik Fisker, known for designing iconic luxury cars including the Aston Martin DB9, V8 Vantage and the Fisker Karma.

as you can see, not many have changed to the production model, the windshield of the Z8 was extended upward, and a larger front airdam was fitted, even the rims remained the same, something unheard this days.

It used neon exterior lighting, and 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.

The car had an all-aluminium chassis and body and used a 4.9L V8, that developed 400 hp(300 kW) and 500 N·m (370 lb·ft) torque. The engine known as S62 was shared with the E39 M5.
New, it costs 128.000$ and right now, according to Autoscout, the minimum price is 150.000$ and the price goes up as an Alpina V8 Roadster can go up to 300.000-400.000$.

With production of the Z8 completed by November 2002, for 2003 the Z8 production was replaced 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 evident throughout this final edition.
Instead of the original six-speed manual and 4.9 L (S62) engine featured in earlier Z8’s, the Alpina came only as an automatic, using a five-speed Steptronic transmission mated to a downgraded 4.8L Alpina-tuned V8 motor from the Alpina E39 B10 V8 S (M62).

Performance of the Alpina V8 differed from that of the standard car in that peak power was reduced to 375 hp (280 kW) while peak torque was raised to 519 N·m (383 lb·ft).
Only 555 of these Alpinas were built, 450 of which were exported to the U.S. market and only eight to the UK.