This new edition of BMW's contemporary classic roadster is sure to raise eyebrows. A Z8 with an automatic transmission, powered not by the BMW M engine, but rather by a specially developed, higher-performance version of BMW's "regular" V-8 engine and featuring 20-inch wheels and tires in place of the original model's 18-inchers. A very special car indeed.
This new Z8 is not only from BMW, but also from ALPINA. ALPINA was established in 1964 as an official and approved "ennobler" of BMW automobiles. Their tradition is to take production BMWs and make them even more appealing to connoisseurs of automotive finery.
ALPINA has transformed the Z8 through a variety of refinements, some dramatic and some subtle. Most dramatically, the BMW ALPINA ROADSTER V8 replaces the Z8's BMW M engine (5.0 liters, 394 horsepower, elaborate individual throttles for each of the eight cylinders and many other racecar-like engineering characteristics) with a performance-developed version of BMW's "regular" V-8 engine. Remarkably, the 4.8-liter ALPINA engine comes to within 19 hp of the BMW M unit (375 hp, vs. 394), does so at lower rpm levels, and is thus suited to teaming with an automatic transmission. Its power peak comes at 5800 rpm, vs. 6600; its torque peak occurs at the same 3800 rpm but is actually higher: 383 lb-ft. (vs. 368 lb-ft). In another significant departure from the original Z8, and in harmony with the new engine, the 6-speed manual transmission is replaced by a special BMW ALPINA automatic transmission. Based on the 5-speed ZF automatic employed in V8-powered 5 and X5 Series, the ALPINA version features SWITCH-TRONIC.
In addition to up- and downshifting by "tipping" the shift lever rearward or forward, the driver can also shift by pressing "+" and "-" buttons near the steering-wheel rim. Directly in front of the driver, a transmission display instrument indicates the range (P, R, N, D), mode (Automatic or Manual) and the gear currently engaged.
Modifications to the beautiful exterior of the Z8 have been kept to a minimum. Special BMW ALPINA 20-inch wheels, with five clusters of four spokes each are 9.0 inches wide at the front and 10.0 at the rear. They carry Y-rated performance tires of dimensions 255/35R-20 at the front and 285/30R-20 at the rear.
Retaining the Z8's power telescopic adjustment, the BMW ALPINA ROADSTER V8 adopts a different steering wheel, with three leather-and-metal-finished spokes in place of the Z8's "banjo" spokes. An ALPINA logo replaces the BMW emblem on the steering wheel's center hub. The cockpit is upholstered in Soft Nappa (distinctive from the Z8's Nappa), with special piping and ALPINA logos in the upper seatback. Three color schemes are offered: Black/Black, Black/Crema and Black/Sport Red.
ALPINA plans to build only 555 BMW ALPINA ROADSTER V8s. Of those approximately 450 will come to the US beginning later this month.
Text and photos courtesy of BMW AG
