This is a “walking roadster” well known to lovers of beautiful cars…and beautiful mechanics! BMW Z3 ! Its history dates back to the early 1990s, when BMW sought to expand its range of cars by offering roadster available. Then it was about competition Mazda with its MX-5/Miata. For this, the company wants to take advantage of the success of such emblematic models as BMW 328 (1936) and 507 (1955). Its development began in 1991, and its design is neo-retro testimony, a nod to these two models. It has smooth, curved lines and a radiator grille typical of BMW models. “Aggressive but elegant” are the words we can use to describe the current production version introduced at the end of 1995.

A success that paved the way for the Z4

As for the engine, the Z3 is offered at launch with petrol, four- and six-cylinder inline units. Engines of the first crops — 1.8 and 1.9 liters, the power of which ranges from 116 to 140 horsepower.. The year 1996 comes the most radical version of M and its 3.2-liter 6-cylinder engine that develops 321 horsepower ! Tourist roadster becomes a high-performance sports car that straight up tickles the AC Cobra of the era ! It was this year that a closed derivative resembling a shooting break was presented for the first time, called the Z3 Coupé. Finally, to yours replaced in 2002 by the Z4 roadsterZ3 will be a big success. Nearly 280,000 copies were produced by Spartanburg chains in the United States, plus nearly 18,000 Z3 coupes. An aura that BMW still enjoys as the Z4 is now in its third generation, launched in 2018 !

Unpublished charts, 20 years later

Despite its disappearance more than 20 years ago, the Z3 is now being talked about again! BMW’s current chief designer, Domagoy Dukec, has just revealed never-before-seen sketches and designs of the Z3. ! These are styling studies carried out in the early 90s, when the final design of the roadster had not yet been fixed. We recognize ours on one of them round shapes and biodesign serial version. Others, on the contrary, are much bolder, more original or more whimsical. Interesting to look at different steps through which design teams passed at that time. One of the most Italian sketches, p styling reminiscent of Alfa Romeo Montreal in particular. Another gives him more sports car ringtones, there is also an obvious connection to rival AC Cobra. Because beautiful pictures are worth more than a long speech, open them below in our slideshow !

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