Updating The Bond Cars
Being a bit of a BMW fan I (Daniel Dykes) thought I’d bring you the latest pictures of the two Z-Series BMW’s that James Bond has had the privelidge to drive.
To begin with let’s take a look at the 2001 BMW Z8. Bond drove the 2000 Z8 in 1999’s The World Is Not Enough and the car is enjoying a good update. People who watched this car evolve like myself will note that the Z8 is looking more like the original concept model of the Z07. Which is a good thing. Don’t get me wrong – the 2000 Z8 was a beautiful car…
Aside from the obvious physical changes I couldn’t find out any performance changes. But I can tell you the car will retail for $US128,000 and BMW will only ship 400 cars to the US each week. To the best of my knowledge, the car is remaining left hand drive so it won’t appear on most markets.
Moving away from the Z8 to the much nicer Z3 now. I managed to get this information off BMW2002.
The new Z3 Roadster, will have a greatly improved chassis to help match its rivals from Audi, Honda & Mercedes.
It’s bigger in every dimension freeing up more cabin space & extended wheel base.
UK deliveries expected Spring 2003, with the USA to get deliveries in 2002. It’s to take on the Audi TT, the Honda 2000 & the Mercedes SLK, the front design hints at the concept X-Coupe recently seen at Detroit motor show.
BMW are considering a folding hardtop option & are working with Webasto & Karmann to design the new hood.
Should run rings around the opposition as it uses the new 3-Series (E46) front engine, rear suspension setup.
Models are to include 5 Speed; 2.0 litre 4 Pot from Hams Hall delivering 140 Bhp, 2.2 – 6 Cylinder 170 Bhp, 2.5 – 187 Bhp, 3.0 – 231 Bhp using BMW’s Valvetronic varible timing system.
A range topping 3.2 – 343 Bhp from the latest M3 (E46) available in 6 Speed manual or SMG Auto. 0-60 should take 5.2 Secs & Top speed limited to 155 Mph. It will have it’s own unique dash board & higher levels of Trim. All will be built at the North Carolina USA factory.
Hope you enjoyed reading this article just as much as I did writing it. I love the Z series. You can of course discuss these new cars in our forums, we don’t have an exact area for the discussion of BMW’s so perhaps you’d care to look in the Pierce Brosnan forums.