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BMW Z29: The Flyweight Carbon-Fibre Concept Car
Lighter is Better

source:Canadian Auto Press

For years, BMW has used the slogan "The Ultimate Driving Machine" for its advertisements across the globe, and with good reason. Their vehicles are amongst the best to drive, delivering a thoroughly interactive experience. In the quest to make things even better, BMW’s done some research into material science and engineering to further their knowledge and their cars’ performance.

Such efforts have resulted in the Z29 Concept, which is a bit of an on-road science experiment that focuses on paring away excess mass. The Z29 is a two-seat hardtop sports coupe with a front, mid-engine layout similar to the new M-Coupe, however, at 4.0 metres (157 in) in length, it’s a full 11 cm (4.3 in) shorter and features a pair of very cleverly hinged doors, similar to the Koenigsegg supercar. Make no mistake though; the Z29 is not based on any current BMW product.

Aside from the doors, the Z29 seems pretty normal, but under its rather angular skin is a unique hybrid monocoque chassis. BMW’s 5-Series currently has a hybrid monocoque that mates an aluminum front section to a steel unit body for weight reduction and improved weight distribution, and the new M6 features a carbon fibre roof, but the Z29 takes such features to new extremes. The front half of the monocoque where the engine is located, is composed of lightweight aluminum, while the passenger cell is made of carbon fibre!

Of course the engineering didn’t just stop there; BMW went an extra step further to ensure that the Z29 was as light as it could possibly be, while retaining modern safety standards and some creature comforts. All glass on the car is thinner, while new lightweight designs for the windshield wiper, heating and ventilation system, and even the exhaust system were incorporated to shed kilos for a curb weight of just 1,160 kg (2,557 lbs), or, the same as a fully-loaded Honda Fit Sport.

Unlikethe eco-minded Fit, the Z29’s featherweight frame is propelled by a substantial engine, the 343-hp, 3.2-litre M-Motorsport tuned inline-six that’s currently used in the M-Coupe and the M3. There’s no disputing that the M-Coupe is a very quick vehicle, but it carries a massive 260 kilogram (573 lb) weight penalty when compared to the Z29! That gives the little Beemer a weight to power ratio of 3.4 kg/hp, which puts it on par with Porsche’s new 480-hp 911 Turbo and Ferrari’s 540 horsepower 612 Scaglietti.

Without the extra mass to lug around, but with the ultra-quick SMG gearbox to take care of up-shifts, the Z29 Coupe is devastatingly quick; it takes just 4.4 seconds for it to hit 100 km/h from a standstill, and it can leap from 80-120 km/h (50-70 mph) in three seconds flat. Being a concept car BMW hasn’t hamstrung it with an electronic limiter, meaning, with a stretch of land long enough, it will exceed 270 km/h (168 mph).

Unfortunately, BMW bosses have condemned the Z29 to permanent concept status due to the cost of materials. However, this concept’s achievements won’t necessarily be put to pasture entirely; the brand will be using techniques learned during its development for upcoming vehicles.