You have to know that a lot of the German brands are aching to have the success of Audi's halo car, the R8.
After all, the R8 has aided Audi in a big way. Now the brand has effectively rebranded themselves and is the "hot" brand of 2010.
And you better believe BMW is not taking this sitting down. Word on the street is suggesting that the Bavarians are working full steam ahead on a Z8 successor to take down the sensational R8...
Watch out Audi – BMW is gunning for the R8! Auto Express has uncovered incredible plans for a sensational two-seater roadster, set to be badged Z9. Replacing the Z8, which went out of production back in 2003, it will be BMW’s flagship supercar, sitting at the very top of the range, giving the brand some extra glamour and a rival to the R8 and Mercedes SLS.
Its taken some time for the newcomer to come to fruition, first appearing at the 2005 Los Angeles Motor Show as the California Spyder concept. A sleek, low-slung drop-top with carbon-fibre bodywork to save weight and a 700bhp BMW F1 engine, which revved to 17,000rpm.
The firm’s top brass gave the green light for production, albeit with conventional powerplants. But the economic downturn caused the California Spyder to be put on ice in 2007, and since then BMW has withdrawn from Formula One, too. But with an improving financial climate, the car is back on the card...
[Source: AutoExpress]
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