It looks like a.....Smit Automotive's beautifully made Coupe

[Z-acht]

https://www.smitve.com/gallery

[boomster]

Gorgeous! Looks like the love child of a Z8 and Ferrari Roma. Why can't BMW make something like this instead of the cartoonish vehicles they currently sell?

[Norcal]

No interior shots… older z4 based? Beautiful on the outside.

[2112]

Are they hoping to sell one?

Might BMW go after them like other manufacturers have when the resemblance is too close?

[Musta10000]

Like it a lot !

[TheJQ]

Looks an awful lot like the Z07 Concept...

[keith1998]

Love the wheels

[TheJQ]

Adding photos:

[macfly]

Looks fantastic, hope they make it and send some our way!

[Norcal]

I agree! Very close to the z07. If you look at the seam/break in the roof, it looks like the previous z4 coupe. The rear quarter window does have some curve in the bottom that the bmw doesn’t.

[keith1998]

Are those 20" Alpina clones?

[macfly]

I've been in touch with the creators, who it turns out are based in San Diego, and there's a chance that we can do a show and tell in the LA area later in the month, so can I get a loose head count of folks who'd be interested to come out and see it.

Be a nice opportunity to have a catch up too!

[stev0001]

That IS stunning, though I do see a little Jaguar influence in the mix.

[redz8]

I'll do my best to make it, especially if it's earlier on a Saturday or Sunday, avoiding rush hour.

[macfly]

We're all set for Sunday Sept 26th at the Petersen - https://www.petersen.org/events/september-bcci

[macfly]

So great to see the car up close, it's so beautifully executed, and has maybe the sweetest of all BMW's V8 motors, the S65B44 4.4 liter naturally aspirated V-8 from the E92 M3 GTS.

It was great it meet the brothers who created it too, and see them won the enthusiasts choice award at the event.

[Z8DinanS2]

I may have posted this in the wrong thread? Either way, here is my take on this: The guys did a lot of work and kudos to them for doing so. Its nice but as they say, the Devil is in the details and this is ever true with car design. A basic shape it maybe, but what makes the Z8 so remarkable, even if to us subconsciously, are the numerous subtle curves that strike just that right balance aesthetically. IMO, the car at the Peterson had the right basic shape but to me its like looking at those replica 308 and Testarossa Ferraris that seemed relatively popular when Ferrari prices skyrocketed. You look at it and say it has the right basic shape but your eye knows something is not right. Same with this car. Adding to the problem is this: The Z8 had arguably the coolest interior of any modern car. The E89 had a very upscale interior, in fact, I'd say at almost Mercedes SL levels (had both at the same time). The least attractive interior was the first generation Z4....and that's what this car has. For that kind of money you better have a very nice bespoke interior. As Jay Leno frequently says, comedy isn't as easy as it looks. Nor is car designing and Fisker has shown he is one of the greats. Key will be whether anyone ponies up the money for one.....but it is most decidedly not a Z8 at all.

[Norcal]

It does seem to be a crazy expensive kit-car knock off. A real Z8 is much better… and cheaper. What’s the point? Like fiskers reskined sls, but less original.

[Z8911]

Did anyone who attended ask the guys from Smit what they did for the taillights? Looking through their gallery, they seem to have copied the Z8’s original design, but I would imagine they went with LED’s instead of neon tubes for obvious reasons. This seems like the solution we’ve all been waiting for.

[macfly]

They used real Z8 neons, which no doubt helps explain the cost on the build!

[Z8911]

Man, that's annoying... A missed opportunity IMO.

[macfly]

Here's a Top Gear clip of it in action....

[Z8DinanS2]

Here's a Top Gear clip of it in action....

It's videos like this that make me question automotive "journalists." "Yeah I'd absolutely have one over an original." What? Sorry, this is a nice car, but seeing it in person, and beside other V8s, not even close! Fisker's design is better, crisper and cohesive. The interior of this looks like the old Z4, not the E89 Z4 that had the much better interior. No, the Z4 this is based on had one of the least attractive, most bland interiors ever fit to a two seat convertible! I don't care for the wheels as they look inexpensive. And for $450k you get no carbon ceramic brakes? Copies of classic cars never look as good as the original....no surprise there.

[macfly]

I took it to mean over the Z4, which I'd agree with, but it's a bit silly to compare it o the Z8 - this will depreciate like a stone in freefall, while the Z8 is now a blue chip investment grade collector car.

[Z8DinanS2]

I took it to mean over the Z4, which I'd agree with, but it's a bit silly to compare it o the Z8 - this will depreciate like a stone in freefall, while the Z8 is now a blue chip investment grade collector car.

I think he meant compared to the Z8. Would be foolish to compare a $450k car to a Z4 that had a $37k MSRP. On the other hand, its nice he tried to help those guys out by talking up there car so much and perhaps his piece will generate some sales. Money and sense don't always go hand-in-hand

[macfly]

Money and sense don't always go hand-in-hand