As the primary automotive 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 critical about idea autos. The corporate’s administration board needed to create a “assume tank” for cutting-edge vehicles. That group was referred to as BMW Technik, which was shaped in 1985. And the very first automotive 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 in the present day and as we have identified it for the previous 4 many years. With out the Z1 Idea, some really iconic BMW fashions would’ve by no means come to fruition. Forty years later, we’re trying 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 made out of a futuristic and high-strength materials, had been the core parts. The automotive wasn’t even deliberate to have doorways, initially. By August 1986, the Z1 was full, with a road-going idea besides. The automotive 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 automotive debuted. Seems, it was a success. Clients 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 automotive wasn’t only a styling mission and technical tour de power. It was additionally designed from the bottom as much as be a versatile platform, doubtlessly accommodating all kinds of fashions. You possibly can even consider it as an early “modular platform” that we see in the present day from the model. Consequently, BMW Technik sketched, and ultimately shelved, a plethora of fascinating Z1 Idea vehicles. 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 the truth is a little bit of a hurdle for BMW, as hand-assembly was nearly obligatory on account of the Z1’s reliance on Xenoy plastic physique panels and unorthodox design. BMW ironed out the kinks and by 1988 was capable of 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 vehicles just like the Z3 M Roadster and its capturing brake brother, the Z3 M Coupe — affectionately and colloquially often called 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.
Components of this story had been gleaned from BMW’s Hidden Gems, a part of Steve Saxty’s glorious BMW Behind the Scenes assortment. We extremely advocate checking the e book out for your self when you can. You’ll discover extra concerning the Z1 and BMW Technik, together with unique pictures and particulars you gained’t discover anyplace else.
