BMW Z18
The BMW Z18 is a concept car by the former think tank of BMW, BMW Technik GmbH. Unveiled in 1995, the Z18 combined elements of the BMW Z3 with one of an off-road vehicle, to create what BMW dubbed the first "off-road roadster". Background BMW Technik GmbH, founded by BMW in 1985, was an independent think tank created to design various vehicles which had radical design elements, interior and exterior. Some of the projects include the BMW E1, an early example of a hybrid electric car. Former Aston Martin chief executive officer Ulrich Bez was the first to head the think tank, under which the Z18 was developed. The Technik division has since been re-integrated back into BMW as its research and development department. Although first developed in 1990, the concept was not shown until 1995. Design The car possessed similar styling cues (such as the signature kidney grille) compared to other BMWs of the 90s and was based on the BMW Z3. The idea of the Z18 was to combine elements of an enduro motorcycle, off-road vehicle and roadster, the former of which saw a spike in popularity in the 90s. The Z18 retained the body of the Z3