AC Schnitzer 99d is a $205,500 BMW Z4 Fitted with a Diesel Engine that Returns 3.8lt/100km or 61.9 mpg

BMW's decision to create the new 'i' sub-brand for the growing number of eco-conscious buyers has apparently rubbed off its partners like AC Schnitzer, as the German tuning firm will be launching a production ready concept based on the Z4 hardtop-roadster at next week's Geneva motor show.

Developed as an eco-friendly sports car that adapts to AC Schnitzer's new motto "Efficient Performance", the 99d gets its name from its CO2 emission levels and the diesel powerplant housed under its hood.

More specifically, the tuning house fitted the Z4 with the BMW 320d Efficient Dynamic's 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine. After some performance upgrades, the four-pot's output was lifted from 163HP and 380Nm, to 190HP and 420Nm.

AC Schnitzer says the 99d can go from naught to 100km/h (62mph) in 6.9 seconds en route to a top speed of 235km/h (146mph), while returning an impressive fuel consumption of 3.8lt/100km (61.9 mpg US) with CO2 emissions of just 99.18 g/km.

To achieve these striking numbers, the German tuner also reduced the roadster's weight by 230kg (507 pounds).

"With the AC Schnitzer 99d, we've succeeded in building the previously inconceivable: an up-rated performance vehicle whose CO2 emissions have been reduced to 99 g/km and which, despite its sustainability, offers pure driving pleasure. That's Efficient Performance by AC Schnitzer," the company said in a brief statement.

According to the tuner, the price of the 99d is €149,000 or about US$205,500 at today’s exchange rates, but that's about all the details AC Schnitzer is willing to release before unveiling the car at the Geneva Salon.

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Official: BMW 2.0-liter Turbo Coming to the USA in 2011, Replaces 3.0-liter Straight-Six

We knew BMW's brand-new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine was coming to the States but now, the Bavarian automaker has made it official. The German company released a statement saying the first cars to be equipped with the force-fed four-banger will "arrive later this year" in the USA.

The 2.0-liter unit made its debut on the X1 compact crossover and will eventually replace BMW’s trademark normally aspirated 3.0-liter inline six. While BMW's US division has yet to announce which models will get the new engine, in Europe, the automaker has already confirmed the powerplant for the Z4 coupe-roadster and the 5-Series range.

In the U.S., the naturally aspirated 3.0-liter inline-six is currently available on these models:

-128i Coupe / Convertible 230HP

-328i Sedan / Coupe / Convertible / Sports Wagon / xDrive 230HP

-528i Sedan 240HP

-X3 xDrive28i 240HP

-Z4 sDrive30i 255HP

There's a strong possibility that BMW will offer the new 2.0-liter turbo on all of these models in the U.S. but this has yet to be confirmed.

BMW's more for less 2.0-liter unit combines twin-scroll turbocharging with high-pressure direct-injection and the firm's VALVETRONIC intake control. In the X1, the maximum output of 240 horsepower is achieved at 5,000 rpm, or 1,500 rpm lower than in the normally-aspirated 3.0-liter inline six. The peak torque of 260 lb-ft, comes on tap at just 1,250 rpm, which according to BMW, is not only 30% more torque than the aforementioned inline six, it also peaks 1,500 rpm earlier. On top of that, BMW says the four-pot also returns 16 per cent better fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions.

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2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster | Luxury Sports Car Photos

The Nissan 370Z Roadster is the convertible version of the 370Z. It will be available in late summer 2009.

2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster


Nissan 370Z Roadster

Be an alternative to models like the BMW Z4, Mercedes-Benz SLK, Porsche Boxster S or Audi S5 Cabrio. The Nissan 370Z Roadster, as the Porsche and Audi, has a roof which is made of a canvas; the Mercedes-Benz and BMW Z4 carry a folding metal.


Nissan 370Z Roadster

The roof of the Nissan 370Z Roadster has been designed according to Nissan, to meet three objectives: the Nissan 370Z Roadster is recognizable as a Nissan 'Z' by its silhouette, and is convertible tops or the operation of opening and closing the roof is rapid and piece of cake.


Nissan 370Z Roadster

The moon roof is glass and carries electrical resistors to prevent fogging. The Nissan 370Z Roadster has not specified how much it takes to open or close. The model it replaces, the 350Z Roadster, it took 20 s.


Nissan 370Z Roadster

The hood is connected to the frame of the windshield with three fixing points, the central beam to be a release or block manually (Nissan has not explained how they carried out this operation on the Nissan 370Z Roadster).


Nissan 370Z Roadster

Behind the seats has a crystal deflector for limiting air turbulence reaching the occupants when driving with the roof folded.


Nissan 370Z Roadster

The Nissan 370Z Roadster has a 3.7 liter V6 engine that provides 330 hp. It is more powerful and has more displacement than the Nissan 370Z Roadster; a 3.5-liter V6 in the latest version had 313 hp. It can be coupled to a gearbox six-speed manual or an automatic seven relations, which can be operated from the lever or by a cam located behind the wheel.


Nissan 370Z Roadster

The manual transmission has a system called 'SynchroRev Control" which allows the gears quickly and easily fall over the cuts.

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