FIRST OFFICIAL PICTURE OF BMW'S Z8 SPORTSCAR

BMW has issued the first official pictures of the Z8, the new supercar roadster which will feature as 007's personal transport in the forthcoming Bond film, The World is Not Enough. And even before 'Q' has got to grips with it and made his unique modifications, the Z8 should be a rather special motor car. Rumour has it that Aston Martin are miffed that the film makers have not chosen the new DB7 Vantage for Pierce Brosnan - obviously BMW paid more than Ford were willing to!

Built along classical two-seater roadster lines the Z8 has a curvaceous body, strongly reminiscent of the BMW 507 of the '50s, short overhangs, twin polished steel exhaust pipes and a long bonnet. Beneath the bonnet lies the awesome 5.0-litre V8 power unit of the BMW M5.

Producing 400 bhp and 369lb.ft of torque this engine has been hailed as one of the greatest of all time by some car magazines (not us!). Thanks to double VANOS variable valve timing, the torque curve is better described as a plateau, with its peak developed at 3,800 rpm and an amazing 295lb.ft available at just 1200 rpm. On the road this means an instant response, virtually regardless of gear - and there are six to choose from.

The sprint to 62 mph will take comfortably less than five seconds and the brakes are powerful enough to bring the car to a halt from this speed in around 2.5 seconds. Maximum speed will be restricted to 155 mph.

The chassis is built around an aluminium space frame and the body panels are a combination of aluminium and polyurethane - the latter used to help cushion minor bumps in areas of the body which are more prone to such impacts. Many of the suspension components are made from aluminium too, to reduce unsprung weight.

All-new 18 inch alloy wheels have been specially designed for the Z8 and are shod with 245/45 tyres at the front and 275/40 tyres at the back. The particularly wide rubber at the back not only gives the car the outstanding grip it needs to transmit the prodigious power and torque to the tarmac - ably assisted by DSC III (Dynamic Stability Control) - but also adds to the low, wide look of the car from the rear.

The BMW Z8 will debut at the Frankfurt motorshow in September this year and will go on sale across Europe in the spring of 2000, in left hand drive only. A small number of cars will come to the UK at a price which is yet to be announced. We will be reporting on that show of course..

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