BMW Z8 Debut at LA Auto Show
4 January 2000
IMMEDIATE Robert D. Mitchell Product Information Manager 201-307-3790 rob.mitchell@bmwna.com David J. Buchko Product Information Manager 201-307-3789 dave.buchko@bmwna.com THE BMW Z8: A 2-SEATER SPORTS CAR WITH CLASSIC DESIGN AND FUTURISTIC TECHNOLOGY APPEARS FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW Los Angeles, CA, January 6, 2000... The BMW Z8 sports car appears for the first time in the U.S. at the Greater Los Angles Auto Show. An exotic V8-powered 2-seater sports car at the highest level of contemporary engineering and technology, the Z8 has already been hailed by expert media as "ready to spearhead the company's charge into the new millennium" (AutoWeek, August 2, 1999) and "a bold Bavarian supercar" (Road & Track, May '99)...all of which begins to sound like understatement when one learns what the Z8's voluptuous shape is, and what it conceals. What the shape is: A contemporary sports-car design that recalls the glorious BMW 507 roadster of 1956-59, the Z8's design forms the outer skin of an innovative new aluminum space frame construction. Combining a robust aluminum "skeleton" with structural body panels into an amazingly rigid, yet relatively light unit, the Z8's body/chassis structure is a wave of the future that radiates the romance and excitement of classic design. What the shape conceals: First and foremost, under the classically long hood, the very 5-liter, 400-hp V8 engine that also powers the new M5 sport sedan. Here, driving through the same 6-speed manual transmission but carrying some 470 pounds less weight, the V8 powers the Z8 to a 0-60-mph time well below 5 seconds - and of course does so with thundering sonority to match the Z8's compelling looks. This engine is by no means all the Z8's technological appeal. BMW has developed an all-new front suspension system, naturally made of aluminum and steered by a razor-sharp rack-and-pinion steering system; at the rear BMW's proven Integral Link suspension also appears in aluminum. Contact with the road is maintained by hefty 18-in. alloy wheels with W-rated performance tires of differentiated front/rear sizes and run-flat capability. Active safety is further enhanced by BMW's Dynamic Stability Control. The fortunate driver of this top-caliber sports car commands its performance from a leather-lined cockpit for two. Here, too, design details recall a glorious era; real aluminum trim, centrally located instruments and distinctive color coordination are among the notable elements. Ultimate sportiness does not preclude lavish luxury: A reference-quality audio system, GPS Navigation, portable hands-free phone, CD changer, heated seats, fully automatic softtop and a removable hardtop are all standard. Fewer than 500 units will be produced for the U.S. during 2000 in a dedicated area of BMW's Munich, Germany facility. The Z8 had its "pre-debut" as the Z07 concept car at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show, and the production version's world debut at Germany's Frankfurt Automobile Show in September 1999. Many will see the Z8 in motion for the first time at the movie theater, as it plays the role of 007's ride in The World Is Not Enough. First deliveries of Z8s to retail customers are expected to begin in April. The Z8's base price is $128,570 including destination charge. BMW IN AMERICA BMW entered the U.S. market in 1975. Since then, the company has grown to include marketing, sales and financial service organizations in the United States; a South Carolina manufacturing operation; a design firm in California; a technology office in Palo Alto and various other operations throughout the country. BMW is represented in the U.S. through a network of 340 automobile and 160 motorcycle retailers. BMW US Holding Corp., the Group's headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. Information about BMW products is available to consumers via the World Wide Web on the BMW homepage. The address is: <http://www.bmwusa.com/>http://www.bmwusa.com. # # #
