The BMW Z1 was a short lived roadster built from 1989 until 1991. Featuring unique vertically sliding doors, the Z1 was powered by an 2.5L inline 6 engine that sent drive to the rear wheels …

The BMW Z1 is the first model in BMW's line of Z series roadsters (two-seater convertibles), and was produced in limited numbers from 1989 to 1991. The Z1 is unique for its plastic body panels and vertically sliding doors which drop into the door sills.

It is the first Z Series model to use a retractable hardtop and meant that there were no longer separate roadster and coupé versions of the car. [20] . The top is made of a two-piece lightweight aluminium shell and takes 20 seconds to operate. [21] . Manufacturing was moved from Spartanburg, United States to Regensburg, Germany. [22]

During the development of the BMW Z1 roadster, the newly-formed BMW Technik GmbH looked at a potential Z1 Coupe, a kind of forerunner to the Z3 Coupe. The BMW Z1 Coupe: the more you look at it, the more appealing it becomes. It's quite possibly the greatest shooting brake the world has never seen.

Nov 6, 2018 · BMW planned four-wheel drive and coupe versions of the Z1, with the latter making it as far as the mock-up stage. Although it never made it beyond a concept, its influence on the future Z3...

Dec 2, 2024 · Discover the untold story of the BMW Z1 Coupe Concept, a pivotal prototype from BMW Technik GmbH that paved the way for the iconic Z3 Coupe.

Apr 4, 2010 · BMW Z1 Coupé: The base for the platform concept. The original research project – that was ultimately to bring forth the creation of the BMW Z1 – included fundamental research in the areas of...

Jul 30, 2023 · Fittingly, the team's first project was the Z1 sports car. Though a fixed-roof coupe was designed in conjunction with the roadster, BMW elected to only move forward with the drop top.

The Z1 had all the right credentials: low weight and low centre of gravity, front mid-engine and compact dimensions. The highlight though was without doubt its pioneering technology: the unique vertical sliding door concept and the supporting sheet-metal structure with a …

Aug 15, 2023 · The BMW Z1 was a test bed of ideas intended to revive its maker's sports car heritage. Here's the story of its development and significant impact