Concept Car of the Week: BMW Z13 (1993)

Rear-mounted engine, three seats, central driving position, 830 kg. What might sound like the ingredients for a fantastic little sports car apply in fact to the exceptionally compact and exciting BMW Z13 concept presented in 1993 at the Geneva motor show.

BMW engineers and designers developed a car that combined practicality, innovation, safety, economy and, more importantly, it looks like a lot of fun.

Short with a fat bum and a large forehead, the Z13 doesn't sound too appealing at first, yet the 3,400mm package challenges all the small car benchmarks of that era. The large wheels set at each corner of the car combined with very short overhangs assured a great stance.

The oversized windscreen makes the car a little top heavy, but the graphic panoramic sunroof provides a light and airy feel. Notice the roof diving rearward under a neatly integrated rear spoiler. The clean body side is marked only by the side air intake which flows towards the rear-mounted engine.

The rear is probably one of the strongest features of the car with very wide and square hips. The car looks incredibly stable and powerful, although you might struggle to get an adrenaline rush with the frugal 1,200cc, 82hp petrol engine lifted from the K1100 motorcycle.

The Z13 offered both perfect ergonomics and the ultimate driving position for the driver. The passengers seated comfortably on each side of the driver benefitted from generous legroom. This seating layout also offers advantages if the car is involved in a side impact, while making it easier to enter or leave the car via either the left or the right door depending on the traffic.

The triangular seating layout was one of the memorable features of the McLaren F1 but it seems even more appropriate in a compact car. The Z13 was equipped like a luxury sedan with satellite navigation system, a phone, surround sound hi-fi system, and even a fax for businesspeople on the move.

The Z13 was a fully working prototype and the three-seater concept was being developed towards a potential production model. In 1994 BMW purchased the Rover group that included, of course, the Mini brand. The rebirth of this classic British icon would become a priority for BMW and the Z13 was no longer needed.

Despite Mini's success, it seems a pity that the project didn't go ahead as the innovations displayed in the Z13 would have been a major step forward in the conservative compact hatchbacks segment. And who knows, the benchmarks of today could have only three seats.

First seen Geneva 1993
Designer Robert Powell
Length 3,400mm
Weight 830 kg
Seats 3
Engine 1200cc; 60 kW / 82 hp petrol

Your author, Flavien Dachet is a UK-based, French-born car designer. You may know him as the purveyor of KarzNshit a photo blog that if it isn't in your bookmarks, certainly should be.

By Flavien Dachet