Introduced at the 1999 Frankfurt Auto Show, the BMW Z8 sports car was the company's conception of what its famous 507 roadster would have been if built past the 1950s. Stylistically, it offered many of the same cues, such as a long, sloping hood with round headlight blisters, twin-kidney grille, distinctive vents aft of the front wheels and a striking leather interior with a simplistic layout. Not all was retro, though. The Z8's aluminum space frame was draped with aluminum body panels, and hidden from view was BMW's typical front strut/rear multilink suspension arrangement. For power, the Z8 relied on the same engine used for the third-generation M5 sedan.
The BMW Z8 was always intended to be a "halo" car, designed to draw attention to BMW and lead to increased sales of other BMW vehicles. BMW produced it for just four years with an annual production rate of about 1,500 cars. Naturally, Z8 ownership is an exclusive club. Given that the 507 is coveted by collectors and a good one can fetch more than half a million dollars, a similar future might be in store for the Z8.
Vital statistics
Model- BMW Z8
Engine Type- V8
Capacity- 4941cc
Power- 400 bph
Torque- 369lb ft @ 3800rpm
Transmission- Transmission Six-speed manual
Suspension- (front) aluminium wishbones, dampers coils, anti-roll bar
Tyres- 245/45 ZR18
Fuel- 21.1mpg (combined)
CO2- 349g/km
Acceleration- 0 to 100kphh: 4.6sec
Top speed- 250kph
Dimensions- 4400mm length x 1830mm width x 1370mm height
Verdict A cracker. It does not handle brilliantly but that gives it character. In a straight line its power shines through so you won't be embarrassed by any hot hatches leaving you for dead at the lights. Shame about the roof though, which spoils its lines completely. Just pray for sunny days and long straights and you could not wish for a better car
A phenomenal engine such as the 2010 BMW M5's race-bred 500-horsepower V10 is typically enough to win enthusiasts over. Look at the muscle car era, for example -- its beloved icons are little more than enormous V8s strapped to the bare minimum in rubber, sheet metal and suspension bits. In the realm of super-sedans that cost close to $90,000, though, the stakes are considerably higher, and the M5 turns out to be not so super after all. Yes, that V10 is a thing of beauty, but the M5 is otherwise missing too much of the expected BMW DNA to earn our recommendation.
The problems start with the mandatory variable-assist and -ratio steering, which is a member of BMW's "active steering" family -- a dirty phrase in the eyes of 3 Series and 5 Series enthusiasts, who tend to avoid these newfangled systems like the proverbial plague. Driving the M5 is a reminder why. There's so little of BMW's trademark steering feel here that it could be mistaken for electric power steering, and the variable ratios sometimes feel out of step with driving conditions. This is a passable setup by the standards of mere automotive mortals, but when we see M badges on a car's trunk lid, we expect more.
Then there are the two transmission choices, neither of which is particularly palatable. The standard seven-speed sequential manual gearbox (SMG) is a single-clutch automated manual -- a dwindling breed in this era of slick multiclutch gearboxes. In fact, BMW now has a dual-clutch unit of its own in the M3, but the M5 soldiers on with the old-school SMG. On the bright side, SMG will rip off spine-tingling rev-matched downshifts all day long. Upshifts, however, are never smooth, and they usually involve unseemly lurching -- particularly at low city speeds. A six-speed manual transmission can also be specified, but it overheated in a test car we had a few years ago, and it also comes with a non-defeatable stability control system, which is befuddling in light of the M5's super-sedan identity.
Lest you conclude that we've been pounding steins full of M5 haterade, hear this: In most other respects, the 2010 BMW M5 is a stupendous car. As noted, the 5.0-liter V10 pumps out an otherworldly 500 hp, and it sounds as good as it goes, particularly as the stratospheric 8,250-rpm redline approaches. There are no fewer than 279 different vehicle settings according to BMW, which means you can fiddle with the M5's power, throttle, transmission and suspension settings to your heart's delight. The incredibly supportive and comfortable seats are quite possibly the best all-around automotive chairs in the world. Even the newly hard-drive-based iDrive is something to brag about now, thanks to an updated interface and menu structure that are actually intuitive and useful for a change. Without a doubt, the M5 is one of the planet's most capable super-sedans. And upon its debut, we thought pretty highly of this latest M5 icon. But with more time under our collective belt, we've become more attuned to its decidedly un-BMW-like shortcomings. And overall, we think there are simply better choices. Sizing up the field in this loosely defined segment, we'd rather have Mercedes-Benz's C63 AMG or E63 AMG, Jaguar XFR, BMW's own M3 sedan or even the Cadillac CTS-V. Porsche's new Panamera is another impressive contender. Here's hoping that the soon-to-be-redesigned 5 Series yields a properly lust-worthy next-generation M5.
Powertrains and Performance
The rear-wheel-drive 2010 BMW M5 is powered by a scintillating 5.0-liter V10 that pumps out a maximum 500 hp at 7,750 rpm and 383 pound-feet of torque at 6,100 rpm. Interestingly, the full 500 hp is only available when selected by the driver using the MDrive performance settings; the default setting is 400 hp, the same output as the previous M5's V8. The standard transmission is the seven-speed sequential manual gearbox (SMG), a single-clutch automated manual that can be placed in a fully automatic mode or operated manually via the gearshift lever or steering-wheel-mounted paddles. A conventional six-speed manual transmission is a no-cost option.
In performance testing, we've clocked the SMG-equipped M5 from zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, while a manual-equipped car accomplished the same feat in 4.7 seconds. Estimated fuel economy, should one care, is an expectedly poor 11 mpg city/17 mpg highway and 13 mpg combined with either transmission.
Ford is confident the new Falcon will be a hit, and having just spent a few days behind the wheel we're not inclined to argue. It's safer, it's more comfortable, it's better to drive and it's a more elegant car to look at. But for myriad reasons large car cuisine is not as appetising as it used to be.
The rise of SUVs and mid-sized cars as family transport, increasing petrol prices and more choice have all hindered the large car's dominance of the Australian new car market. But this could be set to change.
When Ford Australia's new president, Bill Osborne, says that the new Falcon can achieve market leadership, it's clear there is a renewed belief within the company that the FG Falcon is the real deal. Belief alone will not sell cars, but is the new Falcon the real deal? Let's find out:
Make: Ford
Model: FG Falcon Price: $36,490 - $54,990
Transmissions: 5-speed auto, 6-speed auto, 6-speed manual
Engine: 4.0-litre 6-cylinder petrol, 4.0-litre 6-cylinder turbo petrol, 5.4-litre 8-cylinder petrol
Seats: 5
Car Supplier: Ford Australia
Cabriolet was originally a French verb that meant “to cavort” or “cut a caper,” but in the 1700s, the term came to be used to describe “a light, two-wheeled horse carriage with a folding leather top.” Later, any carriage for hire became known as a “cab,” hence today’s synonym for a taxi. In the late 1800s, the first motor vehicles were all open cars, with no tops at all. As automobiles developed in the early 1900s, most were still convertibles.
Cabriolet – a Four-Seat Convertible
As the automotive industry evolved through the 1900s, the term “Cabriolet” acquired a specific meaning – a convertible that seats at least four people, in other words, a convertible with a real back seat. While Mercedes-Benz produced some of the world’s most collectible convertibles and Cabriolets across a 120-year history, its modern era began with the launch of the 1993 E-Class Cabriolet, its first four-seat convertible in several decades. A slightly smaller CLK Cabriolet followed in 1999, and a second-generation CLK Cabriolet line was offered through the 2009 model year.
Two Versatile Engines for the E-Class Cabriolet
The E350 Cabriolet uses the latest four-valve-per-cylinder V6 engine that produces 268 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. The E550 Cabriolet model is powered by a 32-valve 5.5-liter V8 delivering 382 horsepower and 391 lb.-ft. of torque. Both engines feature double-overhead-cam architecture with variable valve timing and a two-stage intake manifold for increased low-speed power.
For better fuel mileage, both the V6 and V8 powerplants use new systems that minimize engine power needed to drive the alternator, power steering pump and electric fuel pump, plus intake tumble flaps and state-of-the-art engine management.
The Porsche Carrera GT is a supercar, manufactured by Porsche of Germany. The Carrera GT is powered by an all-new 5.7 litre V10 engine producing 612 SAE horsepower (450 kW). Porsche claims it will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62.5 mph) in 3.9 seconds and has a maximum speed of 330 km/h (206 mph), although road tests indicated that in actuality the car could accelerate from 0-60 in under 3.5 seconds and to 0-100 in 6.8 seconds and has a top speed of 335-340km/h (209-212.5mph)
Disign
The Carrera GT has a basic 5 colour paint schemes which include: Black, Guards Red, Fayence Yellow, Basalt Black, GT Silver and Seal Grey. A six-speed manual transmission is the only available transmission, in contrast to its rival the Ferrari Enzo which is only offered with sequential manual transmission. With the Ferrari Enzo priced around $660,000, the Carrera GT base price of $448,400 makes the dream of owning a piece of Le Mans inspired technology somewhat more attainable. The Carrera GT is also priced at $559,000 in Canadian dollars, and at 390,000 in Euros.
The Carrera GT has large side inlets and airdams that help cool the large V-10 that lies framed by the carbon fibre rear hood. Fitted with Porsche's latest brake system, the 15 inch ceramic pad brakes make a stunning appearance underneath the 19 inch front and 20 inch rear tires. Similar to other Porsche Models, the GT includes an automatedrear wing spoiler which deploys in the higher ranges of speed (70 mph).
