Ten BMW concepts that had a sacred meaning. BMW concept cars – a look into the future Spicup, designed by Bertone

Few people know and remember that the place of the now centenary BMW in the legendary “German trio” could become vacant by the end of the 50s, and the world would be plunged into sadness without ever seeing the M5, M3, CSL and many other “Bavarians”. Of course, competitors would have made the day of the concern’s fall a red day on the corporate calendar, but the automotive industry would certainly have been noticeably different without the legendary “nostrils.” The brand owes its salvation to the modest BMW 700 and its predecessor Isetta, in which the public saw potential, giving the company the opportunity to grow and experiment. It was precisely the Bavarian enterprise’s attempts to breathe something new into the industry that made its way into the hearts of millions of people, and this is definitely a good reason to take another look at the most impudent, provocative and, of course, beautiful concept cars from BMW’s recent history.

1969: BMW Spicup

Presented at the 1969 Geneva Motor Show, this car was the brainchild of the Bertone design house. It was there that they decided to equip the car with retractable steel panels on the roof, a “face” that was terribly similar to the Alfa Montreal and Lamborghini Espada, and a 2.5-liter engine of its own production. By the way, the Spicup exhibition concept was sold a couple of years ago, so the chance of seeing it on the street is negligible, but everyone still has it.



1972: BMW E25 Turbo

The predecessor of the BMW M1 was specially built for the Summer Olympics in Munich to test advanced technologies such as a radar warning system for pedestrians and curbs. The given direction in the design of the E25 Turbo was later picked up not only by the M1, but also by the 8 Series and even the Z1 Roadster.



1991: BMW Nazca

This design debut from 26-year-old Fabrizio Giugiaro, who took inspiration from Formula One and Group C racing, takes some getting used to in order to relate it to the image of a classic BMW. The very light, 1,100-kilogram concept with a carbon fiber body and a panoramic 360-degree view from the cabin had very easy-to-enter gullwing doors.



1995: BMW Z18

Fans of the brand have been begging BMW for more than 20 years for this experiment in creating an off-road roadster to go into production, even despite its rather strange appearance. This is what “hooked” means.



1999: BMW Z9 Gran Turismo

A kind of test of the pen, which marked the return of the 6th series to the modern line, was made by Chris Bangle and presented to the public in 1999. Here we see the gullwing again and ask a fair question: why the hell weren't these doors attached to any production 6-Series model?



2001: BMW X Coupe

The culture shock that visitors to the 2001 Detroit Motor Show experienced with the X Coupe concept is one they still can't recover to this day. BMW challenged preconceptions and pushed the boundaries of reason, completely going too far with the trunk, the role of which is played by almost the entire rear part of the body.



2006: BMW Concept Coupe Mille Miglia

When creating this project, BMW designers apparently got used to the image of a Chicago mafioso from the 50s, prone to futuristic fantasies. Indeed, the car looks cosmically retrospective, although nothing can suppress the features of the classic 328 in it.



2007: BMW Concept CS

Smooth lines, which, however, do not mislead about the explosive nature of the power plant in this car, are combined with a low landing and a shark-like “nosed” profile. Comparable to the 7-Series, the Concept CS was a hair's breadth away from the series, but at the end of 2008 this idea had to be abandoned due to not too much enthusiasm from the public. Perhaps in vain.



2008: BMW GINA

Simple words about this model end, it’s only worth mentioning that it is based on the platform from the Z8 roadster. Next comes a continuous flight of design imagination from Chris Bangle, who emphasizes that in the future, buyers will themselves shape the appearance of their cars. Leather upholstery not on the inside, but on the outside - although this is very cool, it is, apparently, still too bold for the time when every hooligan can have a knife or scissors with him.



2008: BMW M1 Hommage

In the same year, in honor of the 30th anniversary of the release of the M1, BMW's first true supercar, the company presented at Concorso d'Eleganza a literal homage to the legendary car. The same proportions, the same earthiness and daring of the 70s, but served with a sauce from hot flamenco design by Chris Bangle.



2009: BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics

One of the most discussed concepts of the time promised “sweets without consequences” or, simply, high performance with minimal CO2 emissions. There were unique figures of less than 100 g/km with M3-level power, but these figures were also surpassed in the i8, albeit much later.



2011: BMW Vision Connected Drive

Almost all smart car technologies have been tested on VCD - a 3D projection display, a browser-predictor of the situation in the area you are currently passing, and, of course, the primarily visible LED lighting of the car body.



2011: BMW 328 Hommage

In another tribute to the company's history, the iconic BMW racing car has been reincarnated into a carbon fiber and reinforced plastic body with a 3.0-liter inline-six engine instead of a heart.



2012: BMW Zagato Coupe

Having made its debut at the same Concorso d'Eleganza, this car was assembled by hand in the same way as the 328 sports cars in the 30s of the last century. Despite the fact that the Vmax concept into which this model was included implies that it should first of all, just to drive quickly, the designers perfectly diluted the classic Bavarian before elements like the double “wave” on the roof and the famous Kamm tail.



2014: BMW Vision Gran Turismo

At the moment, the only disadvantage of this concept is that it was created only in virtual space specifically for the game Gran Turismo 6. The digital sports car, of course, has simply excellent weight indicators (1180 kilograms), ideal load distribution on the axles and excellent performance with 3 -liter six-cylinder engine. So we agree to lower the degree of anticipation even a little, if only the concept will someday go to a real race track.



2015: 3.0 CSL Hommage

Since the original CLS forever took its place on the walk of fame, then BMW, creating a concept based on it, had to try hard to be at least somehow remembered. This “canary fireworks”, released at the Italian Villa d'Este Concours, coped with the task completely, making everyone forget about the “Batmobile” for a while, as the classic CLS is called differently.



2016: BMW i Vision Future Interaction

It is logical that this bundle of technology was presented not at a car show, but at the Consumer Electronics Show - it contains so many innovative ideas and their implementation in simple but necessary details. Most of them directly relate to how the driver interacts with the car and all his electronic gadgets. For example, this concept takes over control without any extra requests, as soon as a call is received on the phone, and the giant electronic panel understands the control gestures of the driver and passenger.

Concepts are an attempt to look into the day after tomorrow. In the case of a concept car, this is the work of many passionate specialists: designers, engineers, technologists. It's rare that a car show goes by these days without a new concept car being unveiled.

Building a concept car is a work for the viewer, an experiment in design and technology. A good concept car is a tight symbiosis of an art object and a litmus test, combining the advanced achievements of engineers and designers, a subtle tool for assessing the viewer's reaction. A sophisticated viewer. Expert viewer.

That is why the completeness of the concept car and its suitability for real life are not so important. An idea translated into reality does not always need to comply with the evidence. Some manufacturers tend to abuse this and build concepts purely for the love of art, cars that will never hit the road. As a result, a common belief has arisen that a concept car is something incredibly wonderful, but also incredibly far from reality. Fortunately, not all manufacturers are so irresponsible about the expectations of their consumers.

Today our story is dedicated to the history of BMW concepts - a company whose cars are known for their mischievous character and great design. And it’s especially nice that BMW is one of the few companies whose production cars do not lose touch with conceptual developments.

Over the 100 years of its activity, BMW has created many variants of concept cars. It is gratifying that many of them have been developed into production models. Let's look at the most significant of them.

Historical reference:

Having begun its history in 1913 with the production of aircraft engines, BMW soon mastered the production of cars. And although the first BMW Dixi model of 1927 was a licensed copy of the British Austin Seven, BMW also released it as a roadster, and 3 years later, in 1930, a special sports racing version was created.
Sports cars are the closest thing to concept cars. In the harsh conditions of sports competitions, new design solutions are tested, new ideas and promising technologies are tested. A sports car is the platform where solutions for tomorrow's road car are developed.
Before the early 40s of the 20th century, BMW created many sports cars, but concept cars were not yet common practice. Unfortunately, the Second World War greatly slowed down the development of the entire German industry and BMW was no exception. Moreover, the external control of the occupying forces deliberately slowed down the development of the automobile industry through forced restrictions. As a result, the company was able to release its first concept car relatively late.

BMW introduced the first concept car in the modern sense of the word in 1972, and it was a surprisingly impressive car:

1972 - BMW Turbo - Truly an advanced development for those years. Innovative sports car concept.

Interpreting the ideas behind the 1968 Pontiac GTO, the front end pays homage to the work of Detroit designers. In general, the body shape is in tune with the advanced developments of Lamborghini and develops the futuristic ideas of Italian designers.

Particular attention is paid to safety - a large glass area provides excellent visibility, the driver's workplace was designed taking into account ergonomic requirements. Gullwing doors completed a series of design finds. Also in the design of the BMW concept car, inertial seat belts (a technical novelty in those days) were used, equipped with an ignition interlock system when the seat belt is not fastened. Two full-fledged, serviceable prototypes were produced. The car had good aerodynamic performance.

All these developments were not in vain - in 1978, BMW, in collaboration with Lamborgini, released the M1 model, which embodied many of the ideas from the first BMW concept car.

BMW M1, 1978. The production sports car is a direct successor to the BMW Turbo concept.

Another 10 years later, serial production of Z-series road cars began - some ideas from the first BMW concept car were also used in it.

The BMW Z1 is a production road car, a successor to some of the design solutions of the BMW M1.

But in terms of the overall design of the BMW Z-series, it was still a new interpretation of the classic look of roadsters of the 30s: an elongated hood, a low silhouette, and the interior resembles a cockpit. Fortunately, the company did not place part of the control levers on the outside of the body, as often happened with racing sports cars in the 30s.

In any case, the Z-series for many years became an outlet for BMW designers and technologists, allowing them to bring bold ideas to life and mass production.

The Z-series also became a testing ground for BMW to develop new technologies and an endless source of joy for fans of the brand: after the release of the Z1 in 1988, it was followed by the Z3 in 1996, and in 2002 the Z4 - all of these models are distinguished by their bright recognizable design and follow the traditions of classic roadsters.

Separately, it is worth noting the BMW Z8 model.

BMW Z8 Conceptturned out to be so good that it went into production virtually unchanged.

The first BMW concept car, the Z07, was presented at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1997.

The design of the car refers us to the BMW 507 model, produced in 1956-59, and, according to many fans of the brand, one of the most beautiful BMW cars of the post-war period. With this concept, BMW designers wanted to show what the 507 would look like if it were still in production today.

The concept car received such rave reviews that it went into mass production almost unchanged in 2000 under the BMW Z8 designation.

Serial BMW Z8- the best of the tradition of sports roadsters in production.

An all-aluminum body, a Y-shaped frame and the most powerful 5L engine available at that time in production. and a power of 400 l/s with a vehicle weight of 1700 kg provide the BMW Z8 coupe with acceleration to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. Everything is in the best traditions of sports roadsters and available in mass production - BMW knows how to turn dreams into reality, to the delight of its fans and the envy of other manufacturers.

Historical reference:

At the turn of the 90s and 2000s, there was some stagnation in the field of automotive design.
No, everything was fine with interpretations of old ideas - as we saw above, many wonderful models were created. But with the development of current ideas, designers are frankly bogged down. Timid experiments in the field of late bio-design provided us with several boring years in the early 2000s, when all production cars began to lose their personal expressiveness and, to put it mildly, were not original. The BMW concern did not escape this fate.

2001 - BMW X-Coupe concept. BMW made an attempt to go beyond the ordinary in 2001 with its X coupe concept car.

The eclectic design of the BMW X-Coupe, replete with citations of American motifs of the late 60s in the interpretation of bio-design, the company tried to explain as “a source of creative inspiration that anticipates BMW design of the 21st century.” The car had an asymmetrical body - the design of the right and left parts was significantly different. On the right, the BMW X-coupe concept car lacked a central pillar, and immediately behind the front door a rear window began, continuing as a hemisphere to the rear pillar on the left side of the body. The trunk of the BMW X-coupe concept opened backwards along with a solid part of the body and the rear window.

2001 - BMW X-Coupe concept. This is what a lack of control over designers can lead to.

“This is very different from anything that has been created in our company before,” BMW representatives say.

“What a blessing that these ideas were not embodied in production models,” we will answer as ordinary consumers.

Despite such a controversial ideology, the BMW X-Coupe concept car became one of the most interesting new products at the Detroit auto show, which gives us some idea of ​​​​the complexity of the situation in the field of automotive design in those years. Sarcasm aside, it is worth noting that this model outlined a rather important trend towards combining the properties of an off-road vehicle and a sports coupe in one model.

Fortunately, in the second half of the 2000s, two significant events occurred at once: Ford designers developed the concept of kinetic design, which gave a powerful impetus to the development of the entire industry, and BMW engineers were able to identify the most promising design trends, which provided us with a whole series of brilliant new products, Among which it is worth highlighting the heir to the design ideas of the X-Coupe concept car - the BMW Concept X6.

In 2007, the company exhibited several bright innovative concepts, but the BMW Concept X6 presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show was perhaps the most iconic.

BMW Concept X6- the first representative of the Sports Activity Coupe class.

Taking this opportunity, BMW showed that it can not only make excellent roadsters, but also create new classes of cars. The BMW concept X6 became the world's first representative of the Sports Activity Coupe class. Elegant, solid, and at the same time filled with energy - a worthy founder of a new class. The designers managed to harmoniously bring together all the achievements of previous years, and engineers and technologists maintained a high level of innovative solutions. As a result, the car has not only a charming appearance, but also impressive technical characteristics: in the maximum configuration, the two-ton beauty accelerates to 100 km/h in just 3 seconds.

It is not surprising that the BMW Concept X6 concept was enthusiastically received by the public, especially since the development was in the pre-production stage. As a result, the production BMW X6, released in 2008, became the standard of a new class, which is now being actively developed by many automakers.

Subsequently, BMW continued to develop and consolidate its success, delighting with a whole series of wonderful and iconic concept cars.

2008 - BMW Hommage M1. Thirty years later.

Remember the BMW Turbo concept car and its successor, the BMW M1? After 30 years they are back!

The BMW M1 Hommage is a convincing confirmation of how highly BMW designers value the brand's heritage, and is also a good example of how modern ideas can be combined with classic solutions. The concept car widely used the ideas of high-tech and kinetic design, while the original motifs of previous models were not lost. It is a rare case when the heir to an iconic series is in no way inferior to its eminent predecessors. In the Hommage M1 concept, BMW did not violate the established tradition of cooperation with Italian craftsmen in the series, and the appearance of the car was created by GiorgettoGiugiaro, recognized in 1999 as the automobile designer of the century, and involved in the creation of such iconic cars as the VW Golf I, DeLorean DMC-12, and Lotus Esprit S1.

The BMW Hommage M1 was highly praised by the public and generated a lot of discussion about the possibility of releasing at least a limited series.

Also in 2008, BMW introduced another, this time truly revolutionary concept car: the BMW Gina Light Visionary Model.

2008 - BMW Gina Light Visionary Model.Summoning Creaturesthe following principles of automotive industry.

A concept that challenges existing principles and traditional processes. This is not a high-tech design close to our time, but rather a futuristic flight of free thought, truly a new word in the history of automotive design. This is the very case when the foundation for the distant future of the industry is being laid before our eyes.

The model name itself is not a very typical acronym for BMW. GINA stands for Geometry and FunctionsIn “N” Adaptions, geometry and functions in a nth number of options. And indeed it is. In this case, not the traditional approach was used, when the function determines the form, but an innovative solution, when the function changes the form.

Structurally, the skin of the BMW Gina Light Visionary Model concept car is made of durable elastic material stretched over a movable frame. As a result, the car lives and changes depending on the tasks assigned to it.

BMW GinaLight Visionary Model can change the shape of the headlights depending on the lighting.

There is nothing to compare such achievements with - there are simply no analogues yet. Thanks to BMW GINA, the company still occupies a strong leading position in the field of advanced design solutions.

It is not surprising that having picked up such a pace, BMW did not stop there and continued to develop the theme of innovative design. The very next year, 2009, the following iconic concept car was presented:

Probably the most daring embodiment of high-tech design, the quintessence of high technology. The car looks charged with energy and ready to take off at any moment. And these are not empty words - the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics power plant (to call this system an engine is too modest) consists of two electric motors, a powerful traction battery and a turbodiesel to power the power plant. The entire system produces an enviable torque of 800 Nm, which allows you to reach a speed of 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. All-wheel drive and a variety of electronic on-board systems allow for on-road performance almost impossible for a traditional car.

Particular attention is paid to the ergonomics of the pilot's workplace - the most important information is projected onto the windshield, which also provides additional passive safety.

The external design of the body is highly technological, emphasizing the lightness and aerodynamic perfection of the structure. In general, BMW Vision EfficientDynamics resembles a children's toy designed specifically for adults, and evokes a huge range of positive emotions among everyone interested in the prospects for the development of automobile transport.

In 2011, this concept car received some development and a new index - BMW i8. Particularly gratifying is the fact that BMW promises to launch production vehicles based on these conceptual developments as early as 2013.

And, of course, these are not all the pleasant surprises that BMW is preparing at the turn of the company’s 100th anniversary. Already, even more daring ideas are being developed that engineers will have to implement. And thanks to modern technologies, the future is getting closer. Who knows, maybe in a few years we will see such wonderful cars on the roads.

BMW i4 is a possible car of the future.

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In most cases, concept cars are created as part of a particular auto show in order to demonstrate the best discoveries and achievements of the company, as well as to obtain the opinions of the public and experts. After the end of the exhibition, the concept is put away in a warehouse and is not remembered again.

But one cannot but agree that using conceptual models it is quite interesting to observe the development of the history of design thought, to monitor which solutions and elements were used in production cars and which were simply abandoned.

10. BMW X Coup? Concept 2001

The premiere took place at the Detroit Auto Show. From a design perspective, X Coup? was fundamentally different from all the models created by the company before, and became a logical step in the evolution of car design of the German concern.

At the very beginning of the 21st century, the lines between traditional classes of cars began to blur, only in 1999 the first-born BMW X5 appeared and designers under the leadership of Chris Bangle began attempts to cross a coupe with a crossover. Perhaps the modern BMW X6 has distant echoes of X Coup?.

Although the concept name contains the letter X, most of the solutions and elements were adopted by BMW passenger cars. For example, the headlights resonate with the BMW 1 Series, while the curved convex lines of the body and rear lights are reminiscent of the BMW Z4 E85.

What is striking in the interior is the steering wheel, which will later be used on the 5 Series sedan (e60), and the iDrive system, a project for which will not appear soon.

9. BMW Z22 Concept 2000

The world saw this concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The show took place at the car showroom of the same name. The appearance of the car does not impress with its novelty or beauty of design, but this is not the main thing. The purpose of creating this prototype was to familiarize the public with the symbiosis of innovative electronic technologies and a traditional car. Many of the systems presented then are installed on modern production models.

The BMW Z22 Concept was equipped with:

• Electronic system of exchange rate stability and headlight leveling.
• Fingerprint scanner.
• Rear-view mirrors with built-in cameras that transmit a signal to the display in the cabin, which displays a panorama of three images.
• Hmi – Human Machine Interface, now known as iDrive. First installed on the Z9 at IAA in 1999, and then moved to the Z22.
• A system for projecting information onto the windshield of a car.

The BMW Z22 Concept combines electronic control systems for the gas pedal, steering gear, ignition key and handbrake. New systems took the place of mechanical connections and mechanisms, and also provided flexibility in achieving safety and gave scope to designers.

8. BMW Turbo Concept 1972

At the opening of the Summer Olympic Games in Munich in 1972, BMW presented a new project, the “Turbo Concept”. The prototype was conceived as a clear demonstration of innovative technologies in the field of safety and engine building. The company also wanted to emphasize that the German automaker has left the difficult period of the 60s behind.

Back then, few could have imagined that BMW's only supercar to date would inherit the concept of this impressive prototype.

7. BMW Concept CS 2007

It was the first step in mastering a promising segment - a four-door coupe. This prototype combines the dynamics and character of a 6 Series coupe with the comfort and refinement of a 7 Series.

Many of the design solutions of the prototype will subsequently be implemented in production models. It is worth noting the wide radiator grilles, which migrated to the 7 Series of 2008, and the climate control unit handles, which found application on the Z4 (E89).

Soon the very idea of ​​a four-door coupe will be embodied in a production model, the release of which is just around the corner.

6. BMW M1 Hommage Concept 2008

It was presented at an exhibition of automotive rarities called Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. The exhibition was organized in honor of the thirty-year anniversary of the BMW M1.

The management of the BMW Group assures that this is just a present to themselves for a memorable date. In fact, many elements of this prototype, most notably the front end, are now used in the BMW i8 hybrid.

5. BMW Concept Gran Coupe 2010

The premiere took place as part of the Design Night event in Beijing. The concept was presented as a logical continuation of the study of the idea of ​​a four-door coupe, which originated in the earlier BMW Concept CS project, with the only difference being that the design of the new prototype is almost complete. To confirm this, the new BMW 6 Series has the same front end and rear end.

The BMW 6 series Gran Coupe is based on this concept car with minimal changes. Testing of the car is in full swing and next year we will be able to enjoy the production model.

4. BMW Z9 Gran Turismo Concept 1999

He became the main sensation at the Frankfurt auto show in 1999. Back then, the public and experts admired the massive doors that rose up or opened in the traditional way. We now understand that the design and technical equipment of this prototype predetermined the direction of development of BMW for the next 10 years.

Under the hood of the concept is the world's first V8 turbodiesel with direct injection, created using unique common rail technology. The BMW 740d model, released this year, received a similar power unit.

The BMW Z9 Gran Turismo Concept was the impetus for the development of diesel engines, which transformed from noisy and smelly tractor engines into powerful, economical and high-revving engines.

A year after the presentation of the Z9, the new 7 Series (E65) was released, borrowing from the concept the steering wheel, dashboard and central tunnel, on which the iDrive joystick first appeared.

And in 2003, the BMW 6 Series (E63) was released, in which the features of the Z9 Gran Turismo Concept are visible to the naked eye, especially the nose and the bend of the trunk.

3. BMW 328 Hommage Concept 2011

To celebrate the 75th birthday of one of the most famous models of the 30s - the BMW 328 roadster, the BMW 328 Hommage concept car was shown. The name Hommage means “homage, homage,” which is a perfect way to describe this prototype.

Karl Baumer, Head of BMW Group Classic, says: “With the release of Hommage, we would like to honor the passion and ingenuity of the designers of the BMW 328. They managed to create a car - a legend, the release of which is considered a red day in the calendar of the history of the industry.”

The concept brings the character and principles of the car of the 1930s into our era and demonstrates a possible version of how the designers of the past, Rudolf Schleicher and Fritz Fiedler, could design the BMW 328 today, using modern technology.

It's not hard to see that the prototype is partly styled after the Vision ConnectedDrive concept car. Moreover, it is its antipode, if one is a reflection of the latest achievements of the company, then the Bavarians equipped the BMW 328 Hommage with such archaisms as leather belts covering the hood of the car, in the spirit of a classic model, and chronometers.

2. BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept 2009

If the BMW Z9 GT defined the company's direction for the first ten years of the 21st century, then it is very likely that the BMW Vision EffecientsDynamics will do so for the second decade. Note the concept's prominent radiator grille, the same design element featured on the new BMW 3 Series F30.

In addition to its fantastic appearance, the prototype has modern technologies, such as a lightweight carbon fiber body and, most importantly, a hybrid power plant.

This year, the concept car has evolved almost unchanged into, the release date of which is scheduled for 2013.

1. BMW GINA Light Visionary Model Concept Car 2008

The project marked the peak of Chris Bangle's career at BMW. He claimed that GINA allowed him to "challenge traditional processes and principles"

“GINA” is an acronym that spells out “Geometry and functions in ‘N’ Adaptations,” which in Russian means “Geometry and functions in the nth number of adaptations.”

The key letter in the acronym is the letter “A” - adaptation. The car covering is an almost seamless, damage-resistant and waterproof fabric. The cladding is stretched over a movable structure, thanks to which the designers achieved opening/closing of the hood and headlights.

The public premiere of the new two-seater car took place in August this year. The new product is produced jointly with Toyota, but there are no Japanese attributes in it.

new BMW Z4 concept 2017-2018

In this article we will try to highlight as much as possible the design, interior, component materials and cost of the sporty and powerful BMW Z4 Concept roadster.

Design of the BMW Z4 Concept convertible

The exterior perfectly combines almost incompatible things - aggressiveness and elegance. It is not difficult to note that on the sides the car is associated with a shark, which the new product inherited from its predecessors. But some products include a false radiator grille with voluminous mesh openings, headlights smoothly flowing onto the hood and convex ribs on the side of the car.

During a visual inspection, it is not difficult to note some disproportions of the body, for example, the interior is slightly shifted towards the wheelbase.

In general, when examining the BMW Z4 convertible, one can note the professional development of the car and highlight the following advantages:

1. Pronounced lines of external outline;
2. Massive wings;
3. A rigid grille that gives the model aggressiveness and power;
4. Large headlights, if you consider the lighting as eyes, then it is not difficult to note the slanting of the exterior;
5. Volumetric air intakes on the front bumper;
6. The rear lighting has a wide format;
7. Harmonious diffuser at the rear;
8. Wheel arches for 20" wheels and 5-spoke wheels.

Interior of the new BMW Z4

The salon is made in such a way that we can confidently say that everything is thought out to the smallest detail, that is, there is a clear and pleasant compatibility of minimalism with presentability. The designer tried and thought through all the subtleties, so driving the BMW Z4 2017-2018 is a pleasure.

Comfortable seats are offered for the driver and passenger. The driver's seat is trimmed with black genuine leather; the passenger seat is trimmed with nubuck leather (orange). When you look at such a selection of colors, you don’t even think about another color palette, everything is so multifaceted and compatible. Of course, traveling in such a car is simply bliss; the absence of glass opens up a view of the spatial dimension.

interior of the BMW Z4 roadster

Inside, all the elements just scream BMW, the steering wheel is very similar to a McLaren model. The multi-function instrument panel has a color display, the starter button is located next to the gearbox, it is worth noting that the gear lever has a different design. The multimedia system screen is placed at an angle, like the control buttons and tachometer scale.

The steering wheel is equipped with assistant buttons that are located under the steering wheel. The most fashionable and modern accessories are located in the cabin - dashboard, multimedia system, gearbox.

Let's summarize all the interior elements of the BMW Z4 Concept and highlight the important points:

— A combination of conservatism and minimalism;
— Interesting configuration and colors of the seats.

Everything in the car is built in such a way that nothing will distract the driver from the driving process, and at a casual glance, the interior amazes with chic and fullness. It feels like everything is so harmonious that any added detail will only spoil the appearance.

Dimensions of the BMW Z4 concept

Overall dimensions are indicated by the following indicators:

The base is a Toyota Supra series platform with a length of 4500 millimeters;
wheelbase - 2.50 meters.

The car contains many interesting components, we will try to highlight the main ones:

— climate and cruise control;
— multifunctional instrument panel with head-up display;
— fashionable audio system;
- Motion Sensor;
— sports seats of different colors;
— a steering wheel equipped with three spokes and red buttons for changing gears;
— interesting console design;
— automatic gearbox with 2 clutches.

As of today, manufacturers do not disclose complete information about the equipment of the BMW Z4 (Z4) roadster, apparently there are some nice things that will surprise car enthusiasts.

iDrive Specifications

Of course, it is impossible to obtain all the information about the technical characteristics today, but still some information has reached us. Let's try to highlight the main details. The basis of the BMW Z4 is a rear-wheel drive platform jointly developed with Toyota.

The concept in question does not have a roof, but according to information received, the car, which will be presented in 2018, will have a soft fabric roof. The design contains a large amount of carbon fiber materials, which makes it possible to lighten the mechanism by 150 kilograms. The modern platform of the CLAR model also lightens the weight of the car.

Manufacturers promise that turbocharged engines with 4 or 6 cylinders will be placed under the hood.

It is known that the BMW Z4 will be assembled in 2018-2019 at one of the factories in Austria, along with the famous Toyota Supra model.

The developers promise that when the car enters the market, it will have several options:

— Turbocharged engine — sDrive20i and sDrive30i with a power of 252 horsepower;
— M40i with engine power of 340 horsepower;
— The Z4 M has a power of 370 horsepower.

The car's fuel consumption is 9 liters per 100 kilometers, and the BMW accelerates to a speed of 100 kilometers per hour in 4.8 seconds.

BMW Z4 2018 price

As it became known, the public presentation will take place in 2018 as part of a special event, the approximate cost is determined by the figure of 35 thousand euros, in Russian rubles - three million 660 thousand rubles.

Let's sum it up and determine the most important thing - such a car is a path to freedom, radiating strength and ambition.

Video review of BMW Z4 Concept 2017-2018:

Photos of the new BMW Z4:

Illustration copyright Getty Image caption Top Gear believes that the M1 Hommage is far from the coolest prototype created by the Bavarian Engine Plant

Over its almost hundred-year history, BMW has experienced many significant events. But among all of them, one can highlight one, the most important thing: salvation from bankruptcy with the help of a pop-eyed small car.

The fact is that although BMW was very successful in producing aircraft engines during the First and Second World Wars and produced a number of legendary cars (for example, the amazing BMW 507), by the end of the 1950s the company was close to financial collapse, and was almost sold.

If it weren't for the success of the humble little BMW 700 (and its Isetta predecessor), we might have to live in a world without the later BMW M5, M3 or even the three-litre CSL. It would be a sad, dreary world, say Top Gear editors.

So all car enthusiasts should take their hats off to the small rear-wheel drive BMW with a rear engine: it paved the way for the company to prosperity and financial independence, giving it the opportunity to grow, develop and experiment.

In a sense, this indirectly led to the emergence of masterpieces of design thought presented in this article.

We bring to your attention a selection of BMW concept cars, inspired by the 3.0 CSL Hommage concept unveiled to the public earlier this year. It is, of course, good, but it is far from the craziest and coolest prototype of the Bavarian Engine Plant.

Look what else there were.

Spicup, designed by Bertone

This concept was shown in 1969 at the Geneva Motor Show, and it was created by the now bankrupt Italian design studio Bertone.

The car was based on the 2000 CS, and one of its distinguishing features was the steel roof panels that retracted into the roll bar.

From the front, the Spicup was very similar to the Alfa Romeo Montreal and the Lamborghini Espada (also by Marcello Gandini), and under the hood was a BMW 2.5-liter straight-six.

The concept car shown in Geneva was recently put up for sale at auction. (Photo: Bonhams)

E25 Turbo (1972)

Looks familiar? No surprise: this is the predecessor of the wonderful BMW M1, built for the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich as a platform for testing new technologies - including a complex radar system that warned of curbs and other obstacles.

Paul Braque's recognizable design style was later embodied in the BMW M1, 8 Series and even the Z1 (the notorious roadster with retractable doors).

Nazca concept (1991)

And this is a completely different matter. The BMW Nazca M12 concept car was the debut work of 26-year-old Fabrizio Giugiaro, who was inspired by Formula 1 cars and Group C racing cars. Not a bad source of inspiration, what can we say.

The supporting frame and body of the car were made of carbon fiber, and light alloys were widely used in the project, which made it possible to reduce the weight of the prototype to 1,100 kilograms.

The Nazca's hood and trunk were combined into one unit; the car had a windshield covering the cabin and visibility of 360 degrees.

It also had a 300-horsepower five-liter V12 engine taken from the 850i, placed between the axles and mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.

The rear-wheel drive car had gullwing-shaped doors, which immediately gave it a lot of additional advantages in its karma.

Z18 Concept (1995)

This is a minor misunderstanding - BMW's first roadster SUV. It is worth noting that he is also the last one for now.

Perhaps there are compelling commercial reasons for this, although he himself, of course, is excellent.

The car had a V-8 engine, all-wheel drive, plastic body panels mounted on a steel frame, and its interior could be reconfigured at will.

BMW, please put it into production! Not too late.

Z9 Gran Turismo (1999)

This prototype marked the beginning of the return of the BMW 6 Series to the company's modern lineup. This car was drawn by Chris Bangle and shown in 1999.

Inside it was equipped with an early version of the now familiar iDrive electronic control system, and even deeper in its innards was the four-liter diesel engine that later migrated to the 740d model.

The body, of course, was made of the usual carbon fiber panels on an aluminum frame, but it had one important distinguishing feature: gullwing doors.

The fact that BMW ultimately decided not to make the 6 Series with these doors defies explanation.

X Coupe Concept (2001)

The X Coupe wowed audiences at the 2001 Detroit Auto Show, and continues to wow to this day.

This is how BMW interprets the phrase “pushing the boundaries of what is possible.” Well, the boundaries are indeed being obediently pushed back.

The X Coupe is a crazy all-wheel drive coupe based on the parquet X5 SUV, with a three-liter inline six-cylinder engine and a fully reclining rear end.

Was this machine completely divorced from real life? In general, no: in some ways, it is the progenitor of the X6, as well as many other coupe SUVs.

So with this alien unit, BMW was again first.

Mille Miglia coupe concept (2006)

The Mille Miglia concept coupe is an illustration of how people in the 1950s imagined the future. The future looked good.

The overall shape of the car is a clear reference to the classic 328.

Beneath its carbon fiber body panels was the chassis of the Z4 M Coupe. And that means a fiery 3.2-liter inline-six engine with an even more fiery 340 horsepower inside.

The same engine, by the way, was in the BMW M3 version E46.

CS Concept (2007)

This car was the size of a 7 Series, and it seriously upset us. Why?

Yes, because BMW first started talking about putting it on an assembly line, but at the end of 2008 the damn crisis ruined everything, and the assembly line didn’t happen.

CS is a thing though! Fast, flowing lines, "an engine suited to a dynamic character", a low, shark-like profile. Great.

GINA concept (2008)

Let's get some simple information out of the way first: this concept car is based on the Z8 roadster. This is where the simpler information ends.

The body of this car is a flexible material stretched over a wire frame reinforced with carbon fiber.

According to the plan, the driver should be able to change the shape of the car while in motion.

At the time, designer Chris Bangle believed this was the future: allowing customers to create their own cars to suit their needs.

But if you look at the parking lot in front of any supermarket, it becomes clear that the prophet from Bangle was not very good.

We at Top Gear think it all comes down to the potential threat of scissor-wielding thugs.

M1 Hommage concept (2008)

BMW loves its history - and how can you not love it if it included cars like the M1?

This bright unit was first seen at the Concorso d'Eleganza exhibition of historical cars in 2008 - in honor of the 30th anniversary of the release of the BMW M1, the first and only true supercar of the German company.

The concept shares a similar look to its ancestor: a low, wide and bold profile straight out of the 1970s, somewhat modernized by Chris Bangle's signature design language.

Nothing was said about the engine, it was purely a visual job. But just imagine 12 cylinders under that hood...

Vision Efficient Dynamics (2009)

The VED appeared in 2009 and instantly became one of the most talked about concept cars of recent years, in part because it was all made up of different layers. Well, the technical stuff was interesting, of course.

The hybrid turbo engine seemed to hint that the car's dynamic characteristics could be comparable to the M3 model, but at the same time emit less than 100 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer.

It’s like eating only cakes and not getting fat. Moreover, this concept finally reached the assembly line in the form of the i8 model.

Vision Connected Drive (2011)

This is how BMW envisions a future in which the car seamlessly becomes an extension of the driver's brain, without a painful lobotomy.

This concept, shown in 2011, embodies a vision of a world in which cars are connected into one network.

It is capable of projecting three-dimensional images onto the windshield; has an “emotional browser” that loads information about the area where he is traveling; and even features multi-color fiber optic elements in the body panels. Plague.

BMW 328 Hommage Concept (2011)

This is an immediate yes. And what a “yes”! It's hard to even decide where to start.

The 328 Hommage Concept is a tribute to the classic BMW 328 from the 1930s. And this was one of the best racing cars in the history of the company.

The body is made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic, and under the hood is a three-liter inline six. Aluminum, leather, power and nostalgia in one bottle. Give me two.

Zagato Coupe Concept (2012)

Another debutant from the Concorso d'Eleganza. This beauty, based on the Z4 model, appeared in 2012 in an attempt to revive interest in the hand-built racing cars of the past.

The entire body is handcrafted, like the unique BMW 328 coupes of the late 1930s. The idea is called the Vmax concept - which in general probably means “fast device”.

The radiator grille is unmistakably BMW, the roof is shaped like a double hood, and the rear section is made in the chopped shape of a “Kamm tail” (this design, developed by the Swiss Wunibald Kamm, improves aerodynamics).

The body is entirely molded in one mold.

Vision Gran Turismo (2013)

This, strictly speaking, is not so much a concept, but a virtual car developed for the computer game Gran Turismo 6. We know practically nothing more about it.

Concept 3.0 CSL Hommage (2015)

The very first BMW CSL regularly appears in lists of the best creations of the Bavarian concern, and this is understandable: it is not for nothing that it bears the nickname “Batmobile”.

This concept car shown at the 2015 Concorso d'Eleganza is a yellow tribute to the great racing car of the 1970s, and it is the Thing.

The body is made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The design retains the signature notes of the original CSL, while at the same time being a thoroughly modern killing machine. Just what the doctor ordered.

This is where our list comes to an end. You can also mention (Google it if you want) the BMW Hurricane concepts of 1964, the BMW 528/502 and the M8, which lives in a single copy at the company's headquarters...