This is a new BMW Z4-based sportscar from the man behind Weismann

Remember Wiesmann – the German manufacturer that made its name building BMW-engined sports cars that were designed to look like they’d come straight out of 1950s Britain? Well, this isn’t them…

Yeah, sorry about that. Wiesmann got into financial difficulty back in 2014 and the company was bought out. If you read these pages regularly (and why wouldn’t you?) you’ll know that we’re expecting a comeback any day now with something called the Project Gecko. Well, that was actually meant to be unveiled in 2020, but we can think of a few things that might have got in the way, so we’ll let the new owners off for now.

Anyway, just to repeat – this isn’t that comeback and it isn’t the aforementioned Project Gecko. No, one half of the sibling pair that started that original company back in 1988 – Friedhelm Wiesmann – has teamed up with brothers Harald and Michael Käs to form a new brand. 

It’s called Boldmen, although interestingly all three founders have great heads of hair (sorry, we know it’s bald but just couldn’t resist). This is its first car – the BMW Z4-based CR 4. Certainly looks interesting with those bug-eyes and that pouty grille. Apparently every panel will be made from carbon fibre and the Z4’s turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine will be fettled to make 402bhp and 450lb ft of torque.

The not-so-bald-men say that 0-62mph will take just 3.9 seconds, and top speed is still limited to 155mph. The BMW’s eight-speed auto also remains, but there is a new stainless steel exhaust system and a re-trimmed leather/Alcantara interior. 

There’s no word on price just yet, but don’t expect it to compete with the Z4 with that full carbon body. Thoughts, Internet?