The Z13 was similar to the McLaren F1 BMW-powered McLaren F1, with a central driver’s chair
BMW Group’s BMW Technik GmbH was assigned the task of creating a city car that would be fuel-efficient in the 1990s. The Z13’s exterior design was completely different from what BMW Group was using at the start of the decade. The Z13’s unusual body was not the only thing that the project team decided to do. They also extended the windscreen onto its roof and gave it wider rear fenders, much like the Volvo C30 13 years later.
BimmerMag reported that the original plan was for a horizontally opposed water-cooled four-cylinder engine. However, BimmerMag said that the idea received an inline-four from the BMW K1100 motorcycle. The engine was moved to the back, directly in front of the rear axle. It was then tuned from 100 horsepower down to 82 hp. A Ford CVT was also used.
In 1993, the Geneva showcar was not actually built by BMW. Instead, the company decided to give the project over to Stola, an Italian coachbuilder. The Z13 was not just an attractive concept that could be displayed at auto shows. It was also designed to be fully functional. The original technical specifications were followed and the second car was finished in red. It featured an aluminum frame and body, a more powerful engine, five speed manual gearbox and a larger interior.
The McLaren F1-style cabin featured a McLaren F1-style layout with the driver seated in the middle, flanked by two passengers with ample legroom. The BMW Z13 was originally a “Personal Car”, and was designed primarily to be a single-seater. The concept was similar to the i3 of today and featured a wide range of tech such as an electric parking brake (electronic parking brake), satellite navigation, telephone and even fax.
Legend has it that the concept was meant to be produced, but in 1994 BMW purchased Mini via Rover Group via British Aerospace. The Z13 became obsolete.