In July 1986 a car was presented to the press which instantly sparked the interest of the motoring world by virtue of its unusual concept and striking appearance: it was the BMW Z1. Apart from its 170 bhp (125 kW) six-cylinder fuel-injected engine with drivetrain adopted from the 3 and 5 Series, the Z1 had virtually nothing in common with any other BMW production car. It was a completely new development, the result of a great deal of hard work and commitment, and constituted, as it were, the apprentice piece of the new development division. Initially, however, the car was regarded solely as a test bed and prototype without any firm prospect of going into production. Only after the Z1 had made its debut at the 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show and order requests began flooding in was the go-ahead given for series production.

For the first time in BMW's post-M1 history, a car had been constructed with a plastic body made up of individual panels. The strongly wedge-shaped body was attached to a selfsupporting steel structure with bonded plastic floor, a hotgalvanized monocoque frame. The lightweight roadster hood disappeared discreetly under a cover which blended harmoniously into the sleek, no-frills profile of the car. Bne of the Z1's striking features was its hydraulically retractable doors, which lent the hi-tech model an even greater stamp of exclusivity.

The production of the new BMW Z3 Roadster marked an entirely new departure in the history of BMW. The Z3 is the first BMW to be built exclusively at BMW's American plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Special attention was devoted to manufacturing quality which, under the slogan "Made by BMW", had to fulfil every expectation associated with buying a BMW product.

The Z3 managed to create a stir long before it went into production, thanks to its role as special agent James Bond's means of transport in the box-office hit "Golden Eye". This exciting action film with its theme song by rock legend Thina Turner allowed the Z3 a public exposure rarely granted to a brand-new sportscar.

BMW's latest roadster model has been available with two engine variants since spring of 1996. Today, after sales of around 35,000 units, one can safely predict that the Z3 will go down as the most successful BMW sportscar in the company's history. The most affordable entry into the circle of BMW Roadster owners is offered by the version with a 1.8-litre twin-valve four-cylindre engine. 115 bhp (85 kW) ensure that the Z3 Roadster 1.8 is not wanting in power. With a top speed of well over 190 km/h (129 mph) and 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) achievable in just 10.5 seconds, it delivers a true sportscar feel. For the more exacting driver, a Z3 1.9 variant with a hi-tech four-cylinder, four-valve engine delivering 140 bhp (103 kW) has also been available since the start of production. Both engines come with the latest in engine technology: an individual-control intake manifold (DISA), digital motor electronics (DME) and a valve drive with roller-type rocker arms. ABS, driver and passenger airbags and seatbelt pretensioners come as standard, ensuring a high degree of passive safety.

The Paris Motor Show in October 1996 saw the debut of a new Z3 version which will cause plenty of excitement among roadster fans as the open-air season approaches: the Z3 Roadster 2.8 with a six-cylindre engine. A direct descendant of the legendary 328, the 192 bhp (141 kW) delivered by this hi-tech four-valve unit will make for very impressive performance all round. Apart from a tom speed of almost 220 km/h (135 mph) and acceleration from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.1 seconds, the 2.8-litre engine offers outstanding flexibility and thus ideal conditions for supremely smooth motoring.