BMW Z4 GT3 undergoes first round of customer tests

Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, Europe, BMW, Racing

2011 BMW Z4 GT3

2011 BMW Z4 GT3 – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 BMW Z4 GT3 proved it can win races back in January when it took the overall victory at the Dubai 24 Hours. Never one to rest on its laurels, BMW took the car from the winners circle in Dubai and put it right back on a test track. After a good beating throughout March, BMW made aerodynamic and electronic tweaks to get the racer into absolute state-of-the-art shape for customer entries in 2011 GT3 competition.

The BMW Z4 GT3 resembles its production cousin in name and basic shape only. Most of its body panels have been significantly altered to keep the car slipping through the air and bolted to the road.

Under the hood, the production Z’s six-cylinder heart has been ripped out and replaced with the same 4.4-liter V8 that sees duty in the M3. The V8 feeds power to the ground through a six-speed paddle-shifted sequential manual. Stuffing all that engineering know-how into the Z4 GT3 isn’t cheap, either; the car retails at just north of $450,000. Full press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 BMW Z4 GT3

2011 BMW Z4 GT32011 BMW Z4 GT32011 BMW Z4 GT32011 BMW Z4 GT3

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW Z4 GT3 undergoes first round of customer tests

BMW Z4 GT3 undergoes first round of customer tests originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina undergoes high-speed testing

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Ferrari, Design/Style

Ferrari P4/5

Ferrari P4/5 hits the track – Click above to watch video after the jump

It’s no secret that we wish James Glickenhaus would adopt us (Hell, your author would barely have to change his last name) and we’ve always been quite smitten with his one-off Ferrari P4/5. The Pininfarina-bodied car has been seen everywhere from New York City to a Gooding’s auction at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Palm Beach, Florida and even the Paris Motor Show. Now we have footage of it doing more than just looking good as Glickenhaus took the car across The Pond for some high-speed testing.

After calling it a day at the track, the P4/5 doesn’t get put on a trailer, it’s used to shuffle off into the city to enjoy the local night life. We’re pretty sure that Mr. Glickenhaus gets the velvet-rope treatment when he heads out, but it’s nice to see that the P4/5 does too.

Hop the jump to watch a short video of the Ferrari P4/5 in action.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina undergoes high-speed testing

Video: Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina undergoes high-speed testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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