With the British spotlight fixed on the Lotus M250, the BMW Z9 concept car went relatively unnoticed at the the Frankfurt Motor Show. Further examination of the facts shows this car to be innovative in a way that hopefully isn't all concept car fantasy. The design philosophy behind the whole car was to keep things simple.

Following a popular trend, the car uses advanced lightweight materials which hopefully should make it to production cars in the not too distant future. In this case the body panels are carbon fibre, on an aluminium spaceframe.

Style

Similar in balance to the Z3 and Z8 it's been styled with a short rear and a lengthy bonnet. The doors make a massive style statement. Depressing the button on the remote control will both open and close a door. In fact holding the key down will see the door repeat the procedure indefinitely, flapping it's wing in an amusing trick for the office car park. Strangely, conventional doors are fitted into the gull wings, should you wish to enter the car in a less ostentatious manner.

Enormous wheels grace the back of the car with a whole 21 inches of alloy sitting in the arch. The front make do with mere 20 inch wheels.

The face of the car takes some traditional design cues including the now familiar twin headlamps and kidney shaped grille. The headlights merge into neon indicators on top, the same neon technology as used for the rear indicators. Rear light clusters are made up of sets of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

Power

Power comes from a 3.9 litre V8. Sounds good doesn't it? But get this, it's a diesel! Originally seen in the executives' 740 saloon, this unit develops an incredible 413 lbs/ft of torque. As a point of comparison, a 4.5 litre Cerbera 'only' develops 380 lbs/ft.

Interior

The simplicity theory is plain to see with the interior which could be considered Spartan when you see the lack of switchgear. The electronic key is used to activate the driver's controls, with an instrument panel folding out when prompted.

Starting the engine is achieved with a simple starter button and drive or reverse is engaged via a dash mounted lever. The Steptronic gearbox is operated with steering wheel mounted buttons.

Classic circular dials provide the feedback to the driver. All other functions normally provided by an array of dials and switches are accessible via a floor mounted lever in place of the gear lever placing it within reach of the passenger as well as the driver (is that wise!?).

The control consists of a rotary/push button for the selection of functions with confirmation of mode by a dash mounted screen. Several hundred functions can be controlled using this device.

The Future

BMW state that this car is a "Signpost pointing to the future". Let's hope other manufacturers take the same road and engineer some simplicity into the ever more complex machine that is the modern car.