BMW’s fabled M GmbH division dropped some photos of an M Roadster prototype of the Z3 series powered by a V12 engine. The company doesn’t provide any information other than that the study was built “years ago”.

Given that the Z3 series was sold from 1996 to 2002, it’s very likely that the V12 shoehorned under the hood of the roadster is based on BMW’s M73 5.4-liter engine used on the E38 750i/iL sedans and E38 850Ci coupe of the mid-1990s to early 2000s and which was rated at 322hp (326PS) and 490Nm (361 lb·ft).

At the time, the fastest Z3 model was the production M Roadster fitted with the E46 M3’s 3.2-liter naturally aspirated inline-six delivering 321hp (325PS) and 353 Nm (261 lb·ft) in EU specification (315hp in North American trim).

When AC Schnitzer says it wants to be a tuner of everything BMW it really means it; from cars to motorcycles and now even the Bavarian firm’s bicycles. And mind you, not any BMW bicycle but the ultra-light M Carbon Race developed by none other than the brand’s fabled M division.

The Aachen-based tuner was able to shave 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) off the bicycle that now tips the scales at 6.9kg (15.2 lbs), a 12.7 per cent improvement over the regular M bike.

AC Schnitzer says it achieved the weight savings by replacing select components with lighter parts including the new carbon wheels that were developed in collaboration with “Xentis”, the carbon saddle and carbon saddle support combined with a carbon crank.

The final touch came via an AC Schnitzer paint job and special livery.

The German tuner has not yet announced prices, but for the record, the regular M Carbon Race retails for $3,579 in the U.S.

The German company’s program includes both performance upgrades and styling modifications for the M version of the 1-Series Coupe.

The tweaking starts under the hood with a Hartge power kit and a sports exhaust system that improve upon the standard model’s 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six lifting output from 335hp (340PS) to 396hp (401PS) at 5,850 rpm and maximum torque from 450Nm to 530Nm (391 lb-ft) at 2,950 rpm.

Hartge quotes a 0 to 200km/h (124mph) sprint time of 11.34 seconds, which is a significant improvement over the stock model’s 13.52 second run. We don’t know how, but the tuner also claims that it’s modified 1 M Coupe consumes 0.5 liters less fuel per 100 kilometers than the regular version.

For the suspension, Hartge offers a 30mm lowering kit, while buyers can also fit their cars with a choice of alloy wheels.

Next up is the styling package, which includes boot lid and roof spoilers, new exhaust tips, Hartge emblems, aluminum pedals and bespoke floor mats.