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BMW Z8 - a bit retro with lots of style and power

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Created on July 22, 2020

Reading time 10min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Bruno von Rotz

50

BMW AG

8

Archiv BMW AG

2

MGM

1

Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH

1

Bruno von Rotz

50

BMW AG

8

Archiv BMW AG

2

MGM

1

Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH

1

BMW Z8 (2001) - ein Auto für die schönen Stunden im Leben

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BMW Z8 (2001) - mit Windschott

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BMW Z8 (2001) - gut 5000 Autos wurden gebaut

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BMW Z8 (2001) - kann überraschend leise dahingleiten

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BMW Z8 (2001) - lässt sich schnell, aber auch gemächlich fahren

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BMW Z8 (2001) - klassische Roadster-Statur auch von vorne

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BMW Z8 (2001) - gutes Fahrwerk ohne übermässig hart zu sein

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BMW Z8 (2001) - von 0 bis 100 km/h in rund fünf Sekunden

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BMW Z8 (2001) - warum können nicht alle Autos von hinten so gut aussehen?

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BMW Z8 (2001) - gemütliches Cruisen mit dem Z8 ist kein Problem

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BMW Z8 (2001) - muss nicht laut sein, um zu gefallen

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BMW Z8 (2001) - sofort zu erkennen

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BMW Z8 (2001) - bei 250 km/h wird abgeriegelt

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BMW Z8 (2001) - fliessende Silhouette

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BMW Z8 (2001) - gut 1,8 m breit, für heutige Begriffe fast schon schmächtig

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BMW Z8 (2001) - klassische Roadster-Proportionen

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BMW Z8 (2001) - lange Schnauze, kurzes Heck - klassische Proportionen

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BMW Z8 (2001) - grosse Räder, kurze Überhänge

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BMW Z8 (2001) - breite Niere

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BMW Z8 (2001) - manche Beobachter halten die schmalen Rückleuchten für eine Reminiszenz an den Jaguar e-Type, da passt die Katze ja ganz gut

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BMW Z8 (2001) - Blick ins Cockpit

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BMW Z8 (2001) - wie der Prototyp Z 07 hat auch der Serien-Z8 ein Lenkrad mit Federspeichen und zentral angeordnete Instrumente

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BMW Z8 (2001) - elegantes Interieur

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BMW Z8 (2001) - gut erreichbarer Schalthebel

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BMW Z8 (2001) - auch ein Airbag-Lenkrad kann gut aussehen

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BMW Z8 (2001) - nichts lenkt den Blick zur Strasse ab

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BMW Z8 (2001) - nettes Detail, die in weiss gehaltene Analoguhr

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BMW Z8 (2001) - Sechsgang-Handschaltung

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BMW Z8 (2001) - glattes Leder für die Sitze

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BMW Z8 (2001) - so tief und weit hinten wie möglich eingebauter V8

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BMW Z8 (2001) - 400 PS leistet der Fünfliter-Motor

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BMW Z8 (2001) - vier obenliegende Nockenwellen, vier Ventile pro Zylinder - viel Technik

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BMW Z8 (2001) - vom Motor sieht man leider nur wenig

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BMW Z8 (2001) - der V8-Motor wurde auch beim BMW M5 eingebaut

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BMW Z8 (2001) - Chassisnummer

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BMW Z8 (2001) - trägt stolz das BMW-Zeichen über der breiten Niere

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BMW Z8 (2001) - Xenon-Scheinwerfer

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BMW Z8 (2001) - nicht allen gefallen die Xenon-Scheinwerfer unter Glas

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BMW Z8 (2001) - 18-Zoll-Räder

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BMW Z8 (2001) - Warnung im Rückspiegel

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BMW Z8 (2001) - dieser Luftauslass an der Flanke erinnert an den BMW 507

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BMW Z8 (2001) - elegante Luftauslösse

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BMW Z8 (2001) - ins Design integrierte Türgriffe

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BMW Z8 (2001) - sicherlich eine der gelungendsten Heckpartien aller Zeiten

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BMW Z8 (2001) - amerikanische Modelle haben einarbige Rückleuchten

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BMW Z8 (2001) - noch selten sahen Rückleuchten so elegant aus

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BMW Z8 (2001) - Neon-Technik für die Rückleuchten

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BMW Z8 (2001) - die berühmten Heckleuchten

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BMW Z07 (1997) - Studie, präsentiert in Tokio 1997

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BMW 507 (1956) - zusammen mit BMW Z8 von 2002 - wieviel haben sie wirklich gemeinsam?

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BMW Isetta (1960) - zusammen mit dem BMW Z8 im Jahr 2002 - kaum Gemeinsamkeiten

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BMW Z8 (1999) - Pierce Brosnan als James Bond mit dem Z8

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BMW Z8 Alpina (2002) - in der Tradition der AC Cobra

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BMW Z8 Alpina (2002) - in der Tradition der AC Cobra

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BMW Z8 (2000) - elegant präsentiert

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BMW Z8 (2000) - genug Platz für zwei Personen und das nötige Wochenendgepäck

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BMW Z8 (2000) - Serienversion mit Hardtop

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BMW-Roadster-Klassiker Z1, Z3, Z8 und Z4

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BMW-Alpina Z8 Roadster (2002) - insgesamt 555 Alpina-Varianten entstanden in den Jahren 2002 bis 2003

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BMW Z8 (2000) - bereits heute ein Klassiker und im Hintergrund gemeinsam mit dem 507 gezeigt - Auto e Moto d'Epoca 2014

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BMW Z8 - unverkennbare Hecksignatur - Techno Classica Essen 2019

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Summary

For years it was considered a classic of the future, but now the BMW Z8 has matured into a youngtimer. And its prices have remained at a high level for years. Anyone who sits in the elegant "roadster" will understand why this BMW is held in such high esteem. Because it is a super sports car and gentleman's grand tourer in one. This driving report describes the history of the BMW Z8 and shows it in current and historical pictures. There is also a sound sample.

This article contains the following chapters

Premiere at the IAA 1999
Design - Retro Plus
Technology - at the cutting edge
Completely
Seen is not yet built
Incomparable?
Halved for Bond
Stable investment
A true gentleman's GT

Estimated reading time: 10min

Preview (beginning of the article)

For years it was regarded as a classic of the future, but now the BMW Z8 has matured into a youngtimer. The magazine "auto motor und sport" ran the headline "Pfau Acht" (Peacock Eight) and characterized the new sports car at the launch of the Z8 in 1999 as follows: "The BMW Z8 Roadster, available from spring 2000, combines the 400 hp V8 from the new M5 and a design inspired by the timelessly beautiful 507 to create a sports car in a class of its own". "This is our gift to the millennium," Wolfgang Reitzle, Board Member for Development and Sales, was quoted as saying before he left BMW. Some things went well at BMW back then, some things went badly. The "Rover" adventure had not left a good aftertaste, but with the (re-)entry into Formula 1, BMW had big plans. And the Z8 was one of them.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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