As the primary automobile developed by BMW Technik, the Z1’s modular design, radical styling, and affect on the Z3 and Z4 cement its legacy in BMW historical past.
Forty years in the past this yr, BMW started getting actual severe about idea automobiles. The corporate’s administration board wished to create a “assume tank” for cutting-edge automobiles. That group was known as BMW Technik, which was shaped in 1985. And the very first automobile the semi-covert group began work on was the BMW Z1 Idea, marking the start of the BMW Z Sequence as we all know it right now and as we have identified it for the previous 4 many years. With out the Z1 Idea, some actually iconic BMW fashions would’ve by no means come to fruition. Forty years later, we’re wanting again on the Z1’s legacy.
How Work Began on the BMW Z1 Idea
The BMW Z1 began life in 1985 as a purely conceptual car. A particular suspension, dubbed the “Z axle,” together with physique panels created from a futuristic and high-strength materials, had been the core parts. The automobile wasn’t even deliberate to have doorways, initially. By August 1986, the Z1 was full, with a road-going idea in addition. The automobile even touted the bizarre, drop-down doorways that had been nearly assured to make sure the Z1 remained an idea and nothing extra. Whereas Technik’s boss was insistent on producing the Z1, it was nonetheless very a lot up within the air till after the automobile debuted. Seems, it was a success. Prospects began letting BMW know that the Z1, which apparently confirmed simply sufficient 507 and 328 affect to intrigue, was one thing that wanted to enter manufacturing.
However we’re skipping forward just a bit bit. The BMW Z1, as an idea, noticed a breadth of design modifications all through its historical past. The automobile wasn’t only a styling undertaking and technical tour de pressure. It was additionally designed from the bottom as much as be a versatile platform, doubtlessly accommodating all kinds of fashions. You would even consider it as an early “modular platform” that we see right now from the model. Because of this, BMW Technik sketched, and finally shelved, a plethora of fascinating Z1 Idea automobiles. Not solely was there an early model of the clown shoe coupe form that later appeared on the Z3 M within the late Nineties, we additionally noticed F1-engined Z1 Ideas, off-road variations (one cleverly dubbed “Grasshopper”), and extra. One other core focus of the Z1 was rushing up BMW’s manufacturing course of.
Bringing the Z1 Idea to Actuality and Past
Simply over a yr handed after BMW debuted the Z1 earlier than official communication got here. The corporate declared the Z1 Roadster was going to grow to be a actuality in August 1987. That was in reality a little bit of a hurdle for BMW, as hand-assembly was nearly necessary on account of the Z1’s reliance on Xenoy plastic physique panels and unorthodox design. BMW ironed out the kinks and by 1988 was in a position to begin manufacturing, bringing six Z1s into the world per day.
Then, in fact, there’s the legacy. With out the Z1, we wouldn’t have fashionable classics just like the Z4 M40i. However we’d even have missed out on automobiles just like the Z3 M Roadster and its capturing brake brother, the Z3 M Coupe — affectionately and colloquially often known as the “clown shoe” for its extremely distinctive form. The equally unique Z4 M Coupe and its open-top counterpart, the Z4 M Roadster, too, wouldn’t have existed with out the Z1. And the legacy all began 40 years in the past this yr.
Elements of this story had been gleaned from BMW’s Hidden Gems, a part of Steve Saxty’s wonderful BMW Behind the Scenes assortment. We extremely suggest checking the e-book out for your self in the event you can. You’ll discover extra in regards to the Z1 and BMW Technik, together with unique photographs and particulars you gained’t discover anyplace else.
