BMW M Unearths Mighty Z3 V12 Prototype 
    |           Posted by                 Carscoop Carscoop  
   Filed underBMWBMW ConceptsBMW MBMW Z3Concepts
 
     
 
  
 
Over  the years, BMW and its various subsidiaries and sub-brands such as the  BMW Technik GmbH (currently known as BMW Forschung und Technik, or  Research and Technology) and M GmbH,  have quietly developed an array of prototype models that never saw the  light of day when new, but which are gradually coming out of hiding. Among the many secret development prototypes that have been released to the public eyes are the M8 Coupe, 850Ci Convertible, E30 M3 Pickup Truck, E36 M3 Compact, E46 M3 Touring, E34 M5 Two-Door Cabriolet, Z1 Coupe and Z18 Buggy - just to mention a few.   
Today,  BMW's fabled M GmbH division dropped three photos of an M Roadster  prototype of the Z3 series powered by a V12 engine. The company doesn't  provide any information other than that the study was built "years ago". 
Given  that the Z3 series was sold from 1996 to 2002, itΆs very likely that  the V12 shoehorned under the hood of the roadster is based on BMW's M73  5.4-liter engine used on the E38 750i/iL sedans and E38 850Ci coupe of  the mid-1990s to early 2000s and which was rated at 322hp (326PS) and  490Nm (361 lb·ft). 
At the time, the fastest Z3 model  was the production M Roadster fitted with the E46 M3's 3.2-liter  naturally aspirated inline-six delivering 321hp (325PS) and 353 Nm (261  lb·ft) in EU specification (315hp in North American trim).  
Photo Credits: BMW M 
PHOTO GALLERY
 
 
