That 4.4-liter V8 was a fine choice.
The BMW Z4 is a pretty good candidate for just about anything. We've seen this two-seater sports coupe turned into a rally fighter and Wiesmann has made a $200,000, 400-horsepower special edition out of it too. With a short wheelbase, a long hood, and a pert rear end, the Z4 has all the right proportions, but our favorite rendition of these lines and shapes and dimensions has to be that of Smit Vehicle Engineering (SVE), the Oletha. We covered this car last year and salivated over the Z8-esque lines when things were still some way from journalists getting a chance to drive the car, but now we finally get to hear the German V8 roar in a new video from Top Gear.
In case you missed our earlier article, the SVE Oletha is powered by the S65B44 engine from the E92 BMW M3 GTS. This 4.4-liter power plant produces over 450 horsepower and only runs out of steam at 8,500 rpm. The motor comes with individual throttle bodies fed by a custom carbon fiber intake manifold. It exhales through a custom exhaust made from stainless steel and Inconel with 3D-printed finishers. Handling gear shifts is a six-speed manual, while a mechanical limited-slip differential, the power-steering pump from an E60 M5, and KW adjustable suspension all contribute to a sublime driving experience.
Other highlights include the addition of forged aluminum control arms, AP Racing brakes, wheels hewn from a single piece of billet, and a manually activated and electronically actuated rear spoiler. The above video also gives us a glimpse of the cabin, and although it's standard E85 BMW Z4 in here, it remains a simple, driver-focused, and stylish place to sit. The carbon fiber bodywork helps keep weight to around 3,090 pounds, but sadly, the price to pay for all this engineering excellence is rather high at around $450,000. That's pretty high, especially when the rare BMW Z8 that this is an homage to costs around $250,000 in concours condition. Still, you'd have to find one, and that's no easy task.
Keyword: The $450,000 BMW Z4 Restomod Sounds Glorious