It would look like an original BMW in all respects. But it isn’t. In fact, the Oletha by Smit Vehicle engineering was created with the aim of offering the wealthiest enthusiasts a coupé version, never officially born, of the timeless Z8. In fact, back in 1998, the Bavarian house had presented the Z07 concept, a rigid roof version of the Z8, which never went into production.
Willem and Kaess Smit took care of changing the course of events with their Oletha, built on the technical basis of the 2006 Z4 M Coupé. The bodywork is made of carbon fiber, while the features pay homage to those of the Z8. At the rear there is also an electrically operated spoiler designed to increase the vertical load.
Under the bonnet, an aspirated V8 engine of 4.4 liters of cubic capacity and 450 HP of power (but as an option there is also a “smaller” 3.5 liters) paired with a six-speed manual gearbox with self-locking differential. And there is no shortage of goodies such as adjustable shock absorbers and suspension with forged aluminum arms. The braking system is provided by AP Racing, while the tires are high-performance Michelin Pilot Sport 4S.
Of course, the passenger compartment can be customized in every detail, starting with the seats, which can be shell-shaped – made of carbon fiber – or “touring”, eight-way adjustable. The price, as expected, is for connoisseurs: it starts at just over 383 thousand euros.
