AC Schnitzer 99d Concept Test Drive by GT Spirit

GTSpirit took the AC Schnitzer 99d Concept, an one-off model introduced earlier this year by the popular tuner at the Geneva Motor Show. This vehicle only emits 99g/km CO2 and delivers 190 hp / 140 kW and 420 Nm of torque, 0 – 100 km/h is in  6.9 s, and top speed is 235 km/h. Fuel consumption is only 3.8 litres diesel per 100 km.

Our afternoon inside the 99d left us with a smile. The minute you get behind the wheel of the 99d, you feel that it has been designed to deliver responsive performance. You sit just in front of the rear wheels and you look out over a long hood ready to go. The most interesting part of the whole experience awaits when you turn the key. The sound track is unknown to any Z4 in the world, because a diesel engine erupts under its colorful hood. Up to the moment you turn it off, it will tell you what you are dealing with via a lightweight silencer which produces a moderate growl.

The overall balance of the car has not changed significantly. The 99d feels lighter and more nimble than a stock Z4, but AC Schnitzer did not change anything with respect to the favorable characteristics of the two-seater. The 99d is still a cornering champion, exhibiting little body roll and plenty of grip. There’s no waiting for the rest of the car to make it through the turn because you’re practically sitting at the back of the roadster. The only penalty for this sublime handling is the ride quality that can be quite rough on patched asphalt roads. Comfort is not something you would immediately search for in the 99d, but the ride is far from bumpy or hard.

Read full review at GTSpirit

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