Whatever you can (or cannot) say about BMW, the company makes some damn fine engines. Jay Shoemaker's review of the 335i hailed their direct injected twin turbo six pot as one of the finest powerplants ever to grace an engine bay, while Bimmer's Euro diesels eliminate any and all possible objections to the technology (smoke, vibration, cold start-up, etc.). No wonder low volume manufacturers of low weight sports cars hanker after powerplants made by the propeller people. The Ascari KZ1 rips through the time – space continuum with the previous gen M5's 4.0-liter BMW V8, Morgan's Aero 8 blurs your vision the X5's 4.4-liter V8, and Wiesmann's products get along rather nicely with either a 3.0-liter inline six or 4.8-liter BMW V8 (fitted to the GT pictured here). But the thing that really makes these cars fly is… design. You could call the Weismann's pastiche of Jaguar C-Type, Austin Healey and God Knows What slightly ungainly, but then I'd have to kill you. Besides, what would you rather have: a Go Like Hell But Look Like Everyone Else CL63 AMG Mercedes tank for $160k-ish or a WTF is That BMW-powered German thingie for the same wedge? The Mercedes obviously, but there are enough patrons of quirk to justify bringing the German roadster stateside. God bless capitalism.
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My Gawd… THAT is the sort of car that Jaguar would be making if Ford hadn’t castrated them and slowly squeezed what life was left of the marque. Of course Jaguar would be pushing up daisies if it weren’t for the 1989 acquisition, so no need to remind me of that.
But still, at first glance this car screams “Jaguar!” The C-type grille, the trademark Sir William Lyons long-low styling, the E-type “hips” over the rear wheels, and of course, the straight-six powerplant.
What an object of lust.
–chuck
http://chuck.goolsbee.org
At first glimpse, it’s been done before (Alfa showcars, Jags, Cobra…. 2000GT?), but I’m not sure it’s been done better. Whoa. And with the Bimmer straight 6, it’s a classic.
Hope it really gets here. I’d take one in a second over a Tuscan Speed Six (just in case I’m faced with that decision).
The grill is… nasty looking, but the rest, hoo boy.
To my eyes this one works only as a prop for a bad Batman sequel.
Maybe it would look better after a couple of beers….
DCX is making less SUVs and Pickups. Most of these were powered by the 4.7 and the HEMI. Less pickups= less engine production. The 300c and charger still have a HEMI take rate of 40%, same for the last 3 years. The muscle car era is not dying; the full and midsized truck segment is dying. The great thing about cars is that most v6 powered cars are just as fast as V8 trucks. The agility lovers, the stingy and the eco freaks can have their V6’s while us “large balled types” as you so eloquently put it, who derive our fun by throwing raw meat at PETA supporters can still have our V8s. My first car was a Volvo 960, great car, great inline 6. But after getting my 300c I will NEVER take anything less than a V8. There is nothing like the endless well of power and jet like torque from anyplace on the tachometer.
BTW, anyone who thinks that 17/25 constitutes poor fuel economy is being unreasonable. The camaro will probably do 18/28 and if you can’t afford those figures than you probably can’t afford the car in the first place.
It is not that apparent in the photo, but the design of the Wiesmann roadster have more in common with the Austin-Healey 3000 than with Jaguar. The curvature of the hood and fenders bowing down before the a-post, continuing towards the rear, the form of the door, the kick-up before the rear wheel, and the whole rear of the car. And therefor the BMW in-line six fits perfectly into the concept. Two engines are available, the 230 bhp Six, and the 340 bhp M3 Six. With over 500 delivered cars in the last ten years, they have become one of the major minor ones. Prices are about $150.000
http://www.wiesmann-auto-sport.de/index.html
I’m with 2006300c — less HEMI trucks, the same ammount of HEMI cars — as long as they keep selling.
By he way, the Wiesmann Roadster is the one with the BMW 3.0 I6, The Wiesmann GT (the one pictured) has the BMW 4.8 V8.
If you want to see some nice pics, here are the official brochures:
http://www.wiesmann-mf.com/downloads/PDF_DE.pdf
http://www.wiesmann-mf.com/downloads/GT_DE.pdf
A Hemi truck ate my dust at the drag strip last weekend… :)))
^
That’s kind of like being the smartest kid with downs syndrome :-)
http://www.wiesmann-mf.com/downloads/PDF_DE.pdf
Does this scream pre-assembled kit-car to anyone else?
Maybe i’ve been permanently Faragoed but the car illustrated brings to mind two luscious thighs surrounding an Audiesque flying vagina.
Looks like my previous post got deleted. The E39 M5 has always sported a 5 liter V8…..not 4.0 as stated in the intro paragraph. Even the 540’s motor was actually 4.4L from 97-04.
I want my liter back! ;-)
the Wiesmann is one sexy beast. I have to agree with what Chuck said in the first post. You can’t help but wonder…
You’re new beatle-isation lost me…..
The Camero can be a hoot with a v6 is it as fun to drive as it is to look at. I don’t think the rip-snorting v8s have gone into the sunset either. They’re getting better, and when GM catches up to the rest of the industry (or even their performance parts division) they should be something to behold.
I assume there will be a lot of HEMIs on used car lots when the Camaro hits the market.