Ares Modena Delivers Italianized BMW Z4

Styling Inspired by Ferrari and Maserati

A month after Ares Modena’s transformation of the Corvette into a bona fide Italian supercar, the coachbuilder unveiled their latest production: The Wami Lalique Spyder. Drawing inspiration from classic 1950s and ’60s roadsters – most notably, the Ferrari 250 GT California and Maserati A6GCS Frua – this car may appear to be old-fashioned from outside but is in fact relatively modern in engineering. At its core lie the internals of the BMW Z4 E85 generation (built between 2002 and 2008).

It is evident that the production team behind the Wami Lalique Spyder was not focussing on speed; utilizing the standard 3.0-L M54 inline-six motor generating 231 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. As a confirmation that this car was created with leisure driving in mind, rather than speed racing, it is fitted with a 6-speed automatic gearbox instead of a manual setup.

The car is constructed of custom-made carbon fiber, including the exhaust, bumpers, and rims, with a visible chrome accenting. Ares Modena extended the typical 98-inch wheelbase by 14 inches in length. Purchasers can select from four colors, including Amalfi red, Mediterranean Blue, a creamy white, and a fourth still undefined shade.

Gazing upon the controls, the Z4’s influential impact is made known. Taking it to a completely new level, Ares Modena has ornamented the interior of the otherwise standard German automobile with Italian finesse. Each Wami Spyder comprises of thirteen individually created gems from Lalique, a renowned glassmaking establishment, built into the seating, dashboard along with other components. They fabricate the custom crystals by heating their glass up to more than 1,400° Celsius (2,552° Fahrenheit), consequently shaping them to flawlessness. The Hirondelles logo of Lalique is also imprinted onto the headrests and the wheel.

Adorning the cabin of this exquisite speedster, aside from having crystals placed about, is English oak, Italian leather, and carbon fiber all furnishing it. Consequently, Ares Design replaced the Z4’s former outdated infotainment monitor for a more contemporary unit fitted with integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

“As a young child, I was captivated by the cars driven by the film stars in the 1950s and 1960s, during that carefree and wonderful era known to all as La Dolce Vita,” stated Waleed Al Ghafari, Executive Chairman of Ares. “The design of the Z4-based restomod certainly brings back memories of that era, but it does feel a bit mismatched. If we were to spend our money on such a car, we’d go for the SVE Oletha.”

Ares Modena have declared that they will only make 12 instances of the Wami Lalique Spyder, each with a price point far beyond the reach of most pocketbooks. If you are wondering, this likely means that it is unaffordable to you. This vehicle joins a long list of eye-catching creations from the renowned car customizers, including a Bentley Mulsanne Coupe and a 2-seater Land Rover Defender devoid of its roof.