I like that, looks somehow like an old Citroën 2CV…

With increasing accuracy provided by computer modeling and testing, I don’t see how this turn of the century looking pile of steel could provide any worthwhile information.

……waits for idiot poster to say how ulgy it is and how could bangle design that

Bangle is getting carried away with his designs!!!
haha jk’ing^^.

Wierdest test mule I’ve ever seen. It does look like a Citroen 2CV.

where can I buy one of these??? =\

Oddly enough I like it just the way it is. It’s so homegrown I can’t help but think it’s cool. Lets just hope this new Z8 (or whatever it will be called) does better than its 2 predecessors.

I wonder what that thing is that this new Z8 is towing…

^LoL

neato skeeto

oh damn i want a trailer with BMW rims

that box looks sick with dual exhausts

Make it a targa and I’d buy one.

Y’all never know—as weird as this world is (the Scion xB is selling like hotcakes), it just might sell, as is. And it’d be unique for about eight months until the Koreans noticed and could build a knock-off for $15K.

^^somewhat stupid but oddly true

http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/12/14/mustang_wagons/index.html

suddenly that weird looking bmw thing isnt so stupid.

At Chris C.
What do you think? That they build a whole car, just from a digital design, without testing any seperate parts, so if there is something wrong, your model was not totally correct, or the simulation contains an error, you can start all over again?

No matter what you design and manufacture, first you make a model with all kinds of submodels, than you simulate your submodels and if it is like you want to have it, you build it and test it in real life. First of all to check it with your simulation, secondly to find out if you have forgotten anything. And all that is done again with the larger model containing those checked submodels. The sooner you find a bug in your simulation or model, the cheaper it is to fix it.
And that also means that at one point you just want to test your chassis, with all those subsystems it consists of, before continuing. And going out on the streets with such a thing.

The only advantages of increasing accuracy of computer simulation and testing, is that you have to do less steps back: the chance of doing it right in less steps is increased, but you still have to test it.

It’s a Safety Car for the Hampster on the Beeb’s “Top Gear”….

5 weeks and counting until they return….

@ bneshev,

You are not alone. The line forms now.

it actually has less odd angles than a Z4

This takes mule camouflage “to a whole nover level…”

well they are testing anything minus aerodinamics thats for sure

For kicks, they should have added the double kidney grill. That would have been funny.

Looks like a a friggen ice shanty with some dual exhaust and a trailer with some sweet rims.
Grumpy old men anyone???

I was thinking that maybe this is a future Rolls-Royce Phantom pickup truck?

The body really is pretty gargantuan compared to the chassis based on the size of the tires. One of you very correctly pointed out that whatever they are testing, it certainly does not take into account aerodynamics.

What is the towing rating on the Bimmer wagon?

When will BMW learn they can’t make cars that can compete with Mercedes at price level?

ahahahaha…^ BMW > Mercedes

Wouldn’t that be the best sleeper ever? You pull up at a light, ignore the anticipated “What is that bucket of steel crap you’re driving” comments from other drivers, and then leave the competition wondering what hit ‘em.

Leave it as is! Sweet!

Vdub, I seriously hope Ford is not considering making that. I don’t want to see a Mustang station wagon… If I saw one of those driving down the road, I’d plow my 86′ K5 Blazer into it. It’d be worth the increase in insurance premiums. *vomits*…

As for the bmw test mule, I’d buy one… Paint it blue and put some 20s on it, and it would look better than a Scion xb.

whatever they build the final product will be sick… stop hatin on bimmers.. whats better than a 335i at the momnet other than a porsche and so on?

based on the wheelbase of that thing, I’m guessing thats a z2 mule and not a z8… that thing is TINY.

Is that recaro bucket seats? In that tin?

Good thing that aint a production car design.

I dunno about the new Z series… thats speculating a little TOO much. By the looks of the shiny suspension components and the boxy looking body, its safe to say they’re probably testing suspension systems, given the shape of the car is probably the worst for cornering. Whether or not they’ll use it on the Z thats assuming too much. Also, who knows for sure what the wheelbase will be?

Thats a very cool design, BMW should continue with that desing in its new cars

This is probably the best BMW ever built. For once it doesn’t look like some cheap crappy rental car. It will probably still drive like **** and still pale in comparison to the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky, for twice the price.