Smit Oletha Coupe, The Z8 that BMW never made

Smit Oletha Coupe

This is the Smit Oletha Coupe, a fixed-roof body car similar in appearance to the BMW Z8, including a new carbon fiber handcrafted body with a lifting spoiler with electric actuators. There are 3D printed parts made of metal, composites or plastic everywhere.

​The brand didn't specify which car it's based on, but it may be based on the 2006 Z4 Coupé (E86). 

​The factory’s Z8 uses an M5 (E39) 400-horsepower 5-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine, while Alpina uses a 381-horsepower 4.8-liter engine. The Smit Oletha Coupe is powered by the aspirated V8 4.4 engine from the E92 M3 GTS. After tuning, it can provide the driver with more than 450bhp at 8,300 rpm in a car weighing only 1401 kg. 

Connected to the engine is a 6-speed manual gearbox, which powers the rear wheels through a mechanical limited-slip differential. Alternatively, a 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder (S54) is also planned.

Individual throttle bodies, specially engineered carbon fiber intake manifolds, and custom exhaust pipes made of stainless steel and Inconel help provide greater power. 


The original BMW Z8 Roadster weighs approximately 1,585 kg. Smit Oletha Coupe is not only lighter than the original Z8, but also provides a torsional stiffness of 30,000 Nm/deg, which is almost three times that of the Z8. 
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​About the suspension, there are lightweight forged control arms, two-way adjustable KW dampers and AP Racing brakes. Smit Oletha Coupe will be equipped with forged and monoblock wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires

​As a limited-production car, up to 100 cars can be produced, and the basic price is US$450,000.

All images courtesy of Ted Seven Photography