German magazine Automotorundsport has revealed several pictures of a BMW prototype codenamed Z29. Most possibly this car is the alleged Z5 (see the camouflaged pictures bellow) that was approved for development in 1999 to compete against sports cars like the Porsche 911 and the Honda NS-X. Unfortunately, this 2 seater coupe with its impressive Lamborghini styled doors, never found its way into production as BMW preferred to evolve it to the more subtle Z4 Coupe.
Although the Z29 formed the basis for today's Z4, there are several differences between the two. Thanks to it's lightweight carbon monocoque chassis and the aluminum front and rear modules of the body, the Z29 weighs a mere 1.160 kg - 2.557 pounds. The Z29 wears the M3's 343 Hp 6cylinder engine, which gives it an impressive weight to Hp ratio of just 3,4. According to the German magazine, 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) takes 4.4 seconds and 80 to 120 km/h, 3.0 sec while the Z29's top speed is 270 km/h (168 mph). via: Automotorundsport
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