BMW’s Z3, even in M form, was never what we would have called “overpowered.” The Bavarian automaker must have grown tired of comments that the car needed more grunt, so its M Division apparently built a one-off prototype of a V-12-powered Z3 roadster.
Aside from three images posted to the BMW M Facebook page, there aren’t many details available on the car. Assuming that it was built during the Z3’s production run (from 1996 – 2002), that would seem to indicate that the V-12 under the hood is a 5.4-liter M73 engine, good for 326 horsepower and 361 pound-feet of torque.
BMW M’s V-12 Z3 – image: BMW
That certainly would have added thrust to the Z3, at the expense of handling balance. Although the M73 uses an aluminum engine block, you’ve still got all the steel internals to think about, which means this particular car would have been nose-heavy and a handful to drive at speed. At turn in, we’d expect gobs of understeer; get on the power too hard or too early, and snap oversteer would rear its ugly head.
BMW M’s V-12 Z3 – image: BMW
Maybe building an utterly unforgiving Z3 was the point; after all, no one has ever praised a Shelby Cobra for its forgiving handling. We’ll likely never know what the thinking behind this BMW skunkworks project was, but that’s OK with us. That the car exists at all is reason enough to not give up on the human race.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
