BMW is planning a new model that will rival the Mercedes SL-Class and fill the gap left by the discontinued Z8, according to two magazine reports this week. Both the U.K.’s AutoCar and U.S.-based AutoWeek are reporting BMW most definitely is working on a car called the Z6 that will rival the highly successful SL Mercedes. The reports come 6 weeks after Germany’s AutoBild first indicated BMW was working on such a car.
According to AutoCar the Z6 looks like a cross between a Nissan 350Z and a Porsche 911. The report indicates that it will be the same size as the BMW 6-Series, but much sportier. The report also indicates the car will weigh under 3,300 pounds. AutoBild reported the same figure in April, stating the car would be a sporty alternative to the 3850-pound Mercedes SL.
The car is designed to be a technology showcase, and, as such, will use exotic materials like magnesium and carbon fiber. It will also use a more efficient engine than the Z8, both reports said.
BMW hopes to sell 15,000 units per year, according to AutoCar.
The AutoWeek report indicates the car will cost less than the Z8 (which sold for $130,000) and has a great deal of support from the BMW board. The report also suggests an entry-level Z2 will be slotted below the Z4.
Both magazines say plans for a mid-engine layout were scrapped, and BMW instead opted for a front-engine design.
In its report on the car, AutoBild said while BMW can’t “reinvent the hardtop,� it wants to give the car a strong coupe character when the roof is up.
Interestingly, AutoWeek suggests that recent spy shots that some fan sites speculated showed the Porsche Panamera wearing a BMW M5 body are actually the Z6 platform in testing.



05/25, 9:26 AM
posted by:
typical LLN poster
AWW I TS SO BAD man chris bangle is the worst ever blah blah i hate him sooo much, etc etc, he should be killed.
05/25, 9:29 AM
posted by:
Donfuy
That’s NOT a BMW image. I’ve already seen that magazine. The Auto Bild has done that image!
DUH!
05/25, 9:31 AM
posted by:
typical LLN poster
i was clearly kidding… did you read my name?
05/25, 9:34 AM
posted by:
BAMF
lol #1.
I can’t wait to see what this car looks like. Too bad it won’t be mid-engined, would’ve been cool… but I’m sure it will be nonetheless. Priced at less than $130,000? Damn… That doesn’t sound good.
05/25, 10:12 AM
posted by:
David
Is this going to be able to compete with the SL 65 AMG? In my opinion BMW should make a car like the SL but perhaps lighter and better handling, and that way be able to get away with not having as much power.
It had better be faster than the M6…
So I guess what I’m getting at is: what motor are they putting in this?
Also, am I the only person who thinks the car in that photo doesn’t look the size of the 6? Looks more like a Z-coupe on steroids. Sub-$130,000 is a nice target, if you consider the SL 65 is $175,000 invoice.
In any case, it’s a good-looking car.
05/25, 10:26 AM
posted by:
BAMF
Yeah I think the photo car looks like a BMWed SL. I just wanna see the real one they’re gonna do.
05/25, 10:31 AM
posted by:
Ryan
Its about time BMW. They should drop the new engine from the 650i into it as base, to battle the sl550, and throw us a higher class M roadster/coupe with their 5.0 V10, followed up with their V12 in the same price range as the V10 – without the M treatment. That would piss Benz off.
05/25, 11:43 AM
posted by:
Ed
The current 6 series is a bloated, ugly pig not deserving of following the tradition set by the gorgeous coupes from the 70s. This Z6 is a step in the right direction and looks pretty sharp. P.S. Bangles does suck, the best thing about the 5 series is that it’s so @#$@# ugly that the 7 series looks damn good now.
05/25, 11:59 AM
posted by:
pd
I read somewhere months ago this was to be called a Z-10,with direct-injection 5.5 litre V-10 AND 600 horses. Still very nice
05/25, 12:43 PM
posted by:
Anonymous
Should be funny to see BMW crash again. People are not even willing to pay that much for a 760i which is about the same price range so don’t know how they gonna pay for this. Plus the Mercedes has 50 years history almost as old as BMW the company itself lol.
05/25, 2:06 PM
posted by:
r
Nothing much to add, but I saw a Z8 a few days ago. Still a gorgeous car, and the design definitely reminds me of the 612.
05/25, 2:22 PM
posted by:
VDub
I think the Z6 will come in a cheaper base model v8 and v12 and also a more expensive M model to compete agaisnt the amg.
05/25, 4:11 PM
posted by:
Paul D.
Give this car something the Benz doesn’t offer, a manual gearbox and it will sell.
05/25, 4:14 PM
posted by:
RangeRoverBoy
I love it! The first BMW in a while I actually would want.
Hire the guy who did the Photoshop.
05/25, 8:24 PM
posted by:
junaid
hmmmm cross between 350z and 911…:D wow might be something like z4 coupe but bigger.
sportier than 6 series…:D:D:D
im looking forward to seeing this, seems like bmw has a lot of new cars coming, 1 series convertible, 1 series 2 door hatch (and m models), m3 coupe and convertible AND 4 door m3, m6 convertible, wow AND a z6 cant wait…
05/25, 9:13 PM
posted by:
All American Cars Are A POS! Thats Right, You Heard ME.
Nice Bimmer. The Lexus taillights look good on it.
05/25, 10:33 PM
posted by:
Matt
I heard they are supposed to offer a 4.4l twin turbo and a updated v10. As far as mercedes having a history of 50 years… its a lot longer than that. And as far as being almost as old as BMW…. mercedes has been around longer but uhh news flash BMW has been around since shortly before WWII. So both have a decent amount of experience i would say lol… and anyone who thinks an AMG car is better than an M has down syndrome.
05/26, 1:04 AM
posted by:
VDub
its gonna be called the Z6 M roadster/coupe like the Z4 M
05/26, 1:09 AM
posted by:
BAMF
lol, Edward
05/26, 6:47 AM
posted by:
junaid
I kinda agree with edward they messed up the naming system. I looked at it like this:
1 Series – 4door hatch, 4door hatch M, 2door hatch, 2door hatch M, Convertible, Convertible M
3 series – Coupe, Coupe M, Saloon, Saloon M, Convertible, Convertible M, M3 Coupe, M3 Saloon
Z4 – Coupe, M coupe, Convertible, M Convertible
5 series – Saloon, Saloon M, M5
6 Series – Coupe, M6 Coupe, Covertible, M6 Convertible
7 Series – Saloon
Z6??? where can the z6 go coz the “6″ name has been taken. this means it should either be called Z2 or Z8, but Z2 would mean it is smaller than the Z4 so that leaves z8, hmmm i dunno they messed it up but. btw the list i made has some cars that arent
out yet but they will be soon (m6 convertible, 1 series 2door hatch…)
05/26, 7:07 AM
posted by:
junaid
if bmw wanted a perfect naming system heres what i thought would work:
1 Series – 4door hatch, 4door hatch M, 2door hatch, 2door hatch M, Convertible, Convertible M
2 Series – 1 series convertible + coupe (named z2 coupe and roadster)
3 series – Coupe, Coupe M, Saloon, Saloon M, Convertible, Convertible M, M3 Coupe, M3 Saloon
4 series – z4 Coupe, M4 coupe, z4 roadster, M4 roadster
5 series – Saloon, Saloon M, M5
6 Series – z6 Coupe, M6 Coupe, z6 roadster, M6 roadster
7 Series – Saloon
8 Series – z8 coupe, M8 Coupe, Z8 roadster, M8 roadster
remember BMW is expected to unveil new cars and “re-write the rule bookâ€? at the July motor show, well i think it is the “2 series” which is the convertible/coupe of the 1 series we seen in testing. It could also be the new 3 series Coupe, M6 convertible but we already heard about these so it wouldnt be anything too special. i dunno just thought i would share that lol…
05/26, 7:08 AM
posted by:
junaid
ps. i thought the 8 series should be the ‘Sl-fighter’ just incase it wasnt clear lol
05/26, 11:41 AM
posted by:
wickedated
Scrap that and bring back the 8-series, but this time, make it into a big 7 series coupe, CL competitor! On, and keep the hidden headlights that pop out!!! bring that **** back
05/26, 11:55 AM
posted by:
TechZOnline.net » The BMW Z6, looks familiar, but still quite a sight
[...] Sources: MobileMag | LeftLaneNews [...]
05/29, 12:07 AM
posted by:
stickInx
hey y’all naming conventionists. don’t forget to add in the X3 and X5 as well….
05/30, 2:40 AM
posted by:
mcdonald
Guys no matter what the BMW does it can’t compete with the likes of MERC SL65, this guys have a lot of experiance and they invest a lot in making sure their cars look good and fast not forgetting safety as their primery feuture
08/05, 3:31 PM
posted by:
maxymus
BMW Z6 is a bomb no one ever resist. it`s a car of great perfection and i think it will be the car best car in years to come
10/21, 6:50 PM
posted by:
Zpost | BMW Z2 » Blog Archive » BMW Z2 in the works ?
[...] BMW Z2 in the works ? The cover of the latest issue of Germany’s AutoBild magazine features an artist’s illustration of the forthcoming BMW Z2. While we don’t have specific details on the rumor, the Z2 appears to be a small roadster slotted beneath the Z4 range. In May, AutoWeek and AutoCar reported BMW was working on a new roadster called the Z2, in addition to the much-rumored Z6. While it’s almost certain a smaller roadster is under consideration at BMW, we suspect it may receive a name other than Z2. As previously noted by Leftlane, BMW published the names Z1 and Z5 for opposition at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on January 17, 2006. Regardless of its name, the new roadster looks like it will introduce some new styling cues to BMW’s design language, including some unusual 3D headlamps. Update: Auto Zeitung is also reporting in its latest issue that BMW is planning a Z2 for the 2009 model year. However, the report suggests a coupe model will also be offered. [...]
10/21, 6:51 PM
posted by:
Zpost | BMW Z2 » Blog Archive » BMW Z2 in the works ??
[...] The cover of the latest issue of Germany’s AutoBild magazine features an artist’s illustration of the forthcoming BMW Z2. While we don’t have specific details on the rumor, the Z2 appears to be a small roadster slotted beneath the Z4 range. In May, AutoWeek and AutoCar reported BMW was working on a new roadster called the Z2, in addition to the much-rumored Z6. While it’s almost certain a smaller roadster is under consideration at BMW, we suspect it may receive a name other than Z2. As previously noted by Leftlane, BMW published the names Z1 and Z5 for opposition at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on January 17, 2006. Regardless of its name, the new roadster looks like it will introduce some new styling cues to BMW’s design language, including some unusual 3D headlamps. Update: Auto Zeitung is also reporting in its latest issue that BMW is planning a Z2 for the 2009 model year. However, the report suggests a coupe model will also be offered. [...]