BMW Z9
Encyclopedia
The BMW Z9 is a four-seat coupe concept car
, carbon-fiber skin over an aluminum
space frame. It was introduced on September in 1999 at the Frankfurt Auto Show. During
the 2000 Paris Auto Show a convertible variant
of the Z9 was debuted. It was designed by Chris Bangle
, who was promoted to Director
of BMW Group Design. Much of the styling found on the current E63 6 series
is derived from the Z9.
automobile, motorcycle
and engine manufacturing
company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the MINI
brand, and is the
parent company of Rolls-Royce
motorcars. The
logo the BMW is carrying is a circular blue and white BMW logo or roundel is exposed
by BMW as the movement of an aircraft
propeller, to signify the white blades cutting through the blue sky. BMWs are known
for their performance. Due to the terms of the
Versailles Armistice Treaty
., BMW was obligated to cease aircraft production after
World War I
. The first important aircraft engine
due to its high performance was the BMW IIIa inline-six liquid-cooled engine of
1918. The company consequently shifted to motorcycle
production in 1923 once the restrictions of the treaty started to be lifted, followed by automobiles in 1928–29.
BMW's first significant aircraft engine was the BMW IIIa inline-six liquid-cooled engine of 1918, much preferred for its high-altitude performance. With German rearmament in the 1930s, the company again began producing aircraft engines for the Luftwaffe
.
By 1959, BMW’s automotive division was in financial trouble and a shareholder
meeting took place to decide whether to go into liquidation or find a way of carrying on. It was decided to carry on and to try to cash in on the current economy car boom enjoyed so successfully by some of Germany's ex-aircraft manufacturers such as Messerschmitt and Heinkel. The rights to manufacture the Italian Iso Isetta
were bought, the tiny cars themselves were to be powered by a modified form of BMW's own motorcycle engine. This was moderately successful and helped the company get back on its feet. The controlling majority shareholder of the BMW Aktiengesellschaft
since 1959 is the Quandt family, which owns about 46% of the stock. In 1992, BMW acquired a large stake in the state of California
based industrial design studio Designworks USA which was acquired in 1995.
located between the front seats. The control consists of a
combination rotary and push button for selecting functions. Confirmation of the
selected mode is displayed on a dash mounted
screen. Several hundred functions can be controlled with this device. The concept of
operating the Z9, which BMW calls Intuitive
Interaction Concept, allows the driver to easily activate functions while driving
without the need to constantly examine and
manipulate conventional controls. The Z9 has only a starter button and light switch
on the dashboard. An electronic key is used to
activate the driver's controls. Then, a simple starter button starts the engine. The
instrument panel folds out when prompted. Classic,
circular dials provide feedback to the driver. A large, 8.8-inch monitor in the
center of the dashboard displays all the information the
driver needs, apart from the speedometer and tachometer, which are conventional
analog instruments. The monitor is positioned
within the driver's field of vision, allowing it to be viewed while focusing
attention on the road ahead. Drive or reverse gears can be
engaged with a dash mounted lever. The Steptronic transmission can also be operated
with steering wheel mounted buttons. These
buttons can be used for manually shifting gears. The interior included an early concept of BMW's iDrive system
, called the Intuitive Interaction Concept The Z9 featured the world's first V8 turbo diesel for non-truck use, later produced for the BMW 7 Series
740d model.
become hallmarks of BMW sport coupe
design. The “face” of the Z9 incorporated trademark BMW design elements, such as the
dual round headlights flanking the central
kidney grille. Large wheels, 20-inch front and 21 inch rear, provided a hint of the
performance capability of the Z9. Front and rear
turn signals featured neon light technology, while rear lights incorporated
light-emitting diodes (LED). One of the most striking features of the Z9 is the gull wing door.
But, these doors can also be opened like a conventional
hinged door! The conventional doors are actually fitted into the gull wings,
allowing the doors to function in both ways. The
full-length gull wing doors can be opened automatically at the press of a button on
the electronic key. Depressing the button on the
remote control will both open and close a door. In fact, holding the button down
will cause the door to repeat the procedure
indefinitely; in effect, like flapping it's wing! The Z9 did not make it into production, but many of its
innovations did.
740d model. The 3.9 liter V-8 is a common rail, direct injection unit. It produces more
torque than any other engine in BMW's history, an
incredible 413 lbs/ft (560 Nm) of torque. Torque is maintained constantly between
1750 and 2500 rpm to give outstanding
performance even at the low end of the rev range. Maximum power is an impressive 245 hp. Choosing a diesel engine to power a
large sports coupe like the Z9 is a testament to BMW's confidence in the refinement
and performance characteristics of the 3.9 liter
V-8.
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
, carbon-fiber skin over an aluminum
space frame. It was introduced on September in 1999 at the Frankfurt Auto Show. During
the 2000 Paris Auto Show a convertible variant
of the Z9 was debuted. It was designed by Chris Bangle
Chris Bangle
Christopher Edward "Chris" Bangle is an American automobile designer. Bangle is known best for his work as Chief of Design for BMW Group, where he was responsible for the BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce motor cars.- Biography :...
, who was promoted to Director
of BMW Group Design. Much of the styling found on the current E63 6 series
BMW E63/E64
The BMW E63/E64 is the current model of the BMW 6 Series of luxury coupés, introduced in Autumn 2003 in Frankfurt Motor Show by German car manufacturer BMW. It comes as either a coupé or cabriolet and in several engine variants ranging from a 3 litre straight-6 to 5 litre V10 in the M6 model...
is derived from the Z9.
Company History
BMW, which stands for Bavarian Motor Works in English, is a GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
automobile, motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
and engine manufacturing
company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the MINI
Mini
The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers...
brand, and is the
parent company of Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a British manufacturer of luxury automobiles based at the Goodwood plant in West Sussex, England. It is the current producer of Rolls-Royce branded automobiles, whose historical production dates back to 1904. The factory is located across from the historic Goodwood Circuit...
motorcars. The
logo the BMW is carrying is a circular blue and white BMW logo or roundel is exposed
by BMW as the movement of an aircraft
propeller, to signify the white blades cutting through the blue sky. BMWs are known
for their performance. Due to the terms of the
Versailles Armistice Treaty
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
., BMW was obligated to cease aircraft production after
World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The first important aircraft engine
due to its high performance was the BMW IIIa inline-six liquid-cooled engine of
1918. The company consequently shifted to motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
production in 1923 once the restrictions of the treaty started to be lifted, followed by automobiles in 1928–29.
BMW's first significant aircraft engine was the BMW IIIa inline-six liquid-cooled engine of 1918, much preferred for its high-altitude performance. With German rearmament in the 1930s, the company again began producing aircraft engines for the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
.
By 1959, BMW’s automotive division was in financial trouble and a shareholder
meeting took place to decide whether to go into liquidation or find a way of carrying on. It was decided to carry on and to try to cash in on the current economy car boom enjoyed so successfully by some of Germany's ex-aircraft manufacturers such as Messerschmitt and Heinkel. The rights to manufacture the Italian Iso Isetta
Isetta
The Isetta is an Italian-designed microcar built in a number of different countries, including Spain, Belgium, France, Brazil, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Produced in the post-World War II years, a time when cheap short-distance transportation was most needed, it became one of the most...
were bought, the tiny cars themselves were to be powered by a modified form of BMW's own motorcycle engine. This was moderately successful and helped the company get back on its feet. The controlling majority shareholder of the BMW Aktiengesellschaft
Stock corporation
A stock corporation is a for-profit corporation which the ownership of the corporation is expressed by shares of stock. This allows for the ownership of the corporation to be readily determined, as shares are property, and are transferrable as any other property such as money, subject to any...
since 1959 is the Quandt family, which owns about 46% of the stock. In 1992, BMW acquired a large stake in the state of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
based industrial design studio Designworks USA which was acquired in 1995.
Interior Design
Controls are operated with a single large, multifunction knoblocated between the front seats. The control consists of a
combination rotary and push button for selecting functions. Confirmation of the
selected mode is displayed on a dash mounted
screen. Several hundred functions can be controlled with this device. The concept of
operating the Z9, which BMW calls Intuitive
Interaction Concept, allows the driver to easily activate functions while driving
without the need to constantly examine and
manipulate conventional controls. The Z9 has only a starter button and light switch
on the dashboard. An electronic key is used to
activate the driver's controls. Then, a simple starter button starts the engine. The
instrument panel folds out when prompted. Classic,
circular dials provide feedback to the driver. A large, 8.8-inch monitor in the
center of the dashboard displays all the information the
driver needs, apart from the speedometer and tachometer, which are conventional
analog instruments. The monitor is positioned
within the driver's field of vision, allowing it to be viewed while focusing
attention on the road ahead. Drive or reverse gears can be
engaged with a dash mounted lever. The Steptronic transmission can also be operated
with steering wheel mounted buttons. These
buttons can be used for manually shifting gears. The interior included an early concept of BMW's iDrive system
IDrive
iDrive is a computer system which is used to control most secondary vehicle systems in many current BMW cars. iDrive's user interface consists of a LCD panel mounted in the dashboard and a controller knob mounted on the center console....
, called the Intuitive Interaction Concept The Z9 featured the world's first V8 turbo diesel for non-truck use, later produced for the BMW 7 Series
BMW 7 Series
The BMW 7 Series is a line of full-size luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW. Introduced in 1977, it is BMW's flagship car and is only available as a sedan or extended-length limousine...
740d model.
Exterior designs
The Z9 Gran Turismo Concept car features the long hood and short rear deck that havebecome hallmarks of BMW sport coupe
design. The “face” of the Z9 incorporated trademark BMW design elements, such as the
dual round headlights flanking the central
kidney grille. Large wheels, 20-inch front and 21 inch rear, provided a hint of the
performance capability of the Z9. Front and rear
turn signals featured neon light technology, while rear lights incorporated
light-emitting diodes (LED). One of the most striking features of the Z9 is the gull wing door.
But, these doors can also be opened like a conventional
hinged door! The conventional doors are actually fitted into the gull wings,
allowing the doors to function in both ways. The
full-length gull wing doors can be opened automatically at the press of a button on
the electronic key. Depressing the button on the
remote control will both open and close a door. In fact, holding the button down
will cause the door to repeat the procedure
indefinitely; in effect, like flapping it's wing! The Z9 did not make it into production, but many of its
innovations did.
The Engine
The Z9 featured the world's first V8 turbo diesel for non-truck use, later produced for the BMW 7 SeriesBMW 7 Series
The BMW 7 Series is a line of full-size luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW. Introduced in 1977, it is BMW's flagship car and is only available as a sedan or extended-length limousine...
740d model. The 3.9 liter V-8 is a common rail, direct injection unit. It produces more
torque than any other engine in BMW's history, an
incredible 413 lbs/ft (560 Nm) of torque. Torque is maintained constantly between
1750 and 2500 rpm to give outstanding
performance even at the low end of the rev range. Maximum power is an impressive 245 hp. Choosing a diesel engine to power a
large sports coupe like the Z9 is a testament to BMW's confidence in the refinement
and performance characteristics of the 3.9 liter
V-8.