Dream Machine

By Alastair Sloane

BMW calls its latest concept car the Z9 Grand Turismo. There is talk that it will replace the executive 840i coupe, which never really burned sales rubber.

But BMW says there are no plans to put the Z9 into production, although it is accepted that some features of it will turn up in the 840i replacement, due in 2004.

Like most concepts, the Z9 has been built to stimulate interest in BMW's future. A pointer here is in the design of its doors. Both can be opened conventionally, or gullwing-style via a remote control device that also acts as the key.

The Z9 is an aluminium spaceframe design and its body is a mixture of aluminium and carbon fibre. Its interior is minimalist, the dashboard showing only a speedometer, rev-counter, coloured monitor and analogue clock.

The concept car was powered by a 3.9-litre V8 diesel engine, the same 32-valve common rail powerplant used in the new 740d.

The Z9 doesn't use a conventional gear lever on the centre console. There is instead a small five-speed automatic shift on the steering column. Drivers can also shift gears by using buttons on the steering wheel, a sequential system gaining popularity among carmakers.