It happened in 2004. Usher Raymond IV, then at the absolute peak of his Confessions era powers, stood in front of a glass-walled house in the desert. He was mourning a relationship. But while the lyrics were about a flame dying out, the visuals were scorching. Specifically, that silver car. People still call it the Usher drop top, even though it has a much more prestigious, technical name in the automotive world. It wasn't just a prop. It was a statement of wealth, taste, and the futuristic aesthetic of the early 2000s that still feels weirdly relevant today.
You've probably seen the "Burn" music video a dozen times.
It’s iconic. The way the camera pans over the metallic curves while Usher does that signature choreography? Pure magic. But if you ask the average person what kind of car it was, they’ll usually just say "that silver convertible." Honestly, it’s understandable. The car looked like it was pulled directly from a sci-fi set, yet it was a very real, very expensive piece of German engineering.
Identifying the Usher Drop Top: The Saleen S7 or Something Else?
There is a lot of misinformation online. Some forums swear it was a Saleen. They’re wrong. The car featured so prominently in the "Burn" music video is actually a 2001 BMW Z8.
Specifically, it was a silver-on-black model. At the time, the Z8 was BMW's attempt to pay homage to the classic 507, but with the guts of an E39 M5. It had a 4.9-liter V8 engine pushing out about 394 horsepower. By today’s standards, where family SUVs have 500 horses, that might seem modest. In 2004? It was a rocket ship. Usher didn't just pick a random car; his team picked a vehicle that represented "New Money meets Classic Class."
The Z8 is a rare beast. Only 5,703 were ever produced globally. Seeing one in a music video was a massive flex because, unlike a Ferrari or a Lambo, the Z8 suggested you knew something about design history. It wasn’t loud. It was sophisticated. Much like the track "Burn" itself, the car felt smooth but carried a lot of heat under the hood.
Why the BMW Z8 Was the Perfect Choice for Usher
Music videos in the early 2000s were obsessed with "the future." We had the Y2K aesthetic—lots of silver, blue LEDs, and minimalism. The Z8 fit this perfectly. Its dashboard was weirdly centered, meaning the gauges weren't directly in front of the driver. This gave the interior a clean, symmetrical look that looked incredible on 35mm film.
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When Usher leans against the Usher drop top in the video, the silver paint reflects the orange glow of the literal fires burning around him. It’s a masterclass in color grading. You have the cold, metallic silver of the German roadster clashing with the warm, destructive element of fire. It visually represents the "cool" exterior Usher is trying to keep while his personal life is "burning" down.
The Cultural Impact of the Drop Top Aesthetic
Before every rapper was rapping about Maybachs and Urus SUVs, the drop top was the ultimate symbol of R&B luxury. Look back at the videos from 1998 to 2005. Jagged Edge, Joe, Ashanti—they all featured convertibles. But Usher’s BMW Z8 stood out because it wasn't a "video car." It didn't have 24-inch chrome spinners or a tacky wrap. It was stock. It was elegant.
Kinda makes you miss that era, doesn't it?
Today, car placements in videos feel like heavy-handed advertisements. Back then, it felt like part of the artist's persona. Usher was the smooth operator. He needed a car that could handle corners as well as he handled a stage. The Z8 delivered that.
Is the Car Still Around?
The specific BMW Z8 used in the "Burn" video has lived a quiet life since its 15 minutes of fame. While some iconic movie cars end up in museums like the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, music video cars often cycle back into private collections.
Interestingly, the value of the Usher drop top (the Z8 model) has skyrocketed. If you wanted to buy one in 2004, you were looking at roughly $130,000. If you want one today? You’re looking at $200,000 to $250,000, depending on the mileage. It has aged better than almost any other car from that period. While the Mercedes SLs of that era look dated and "plastic-y," the Z8 remains timeless.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Video
There’s a persistent rumor that the car was actually Usher’s personal vehicle. While Usher has had an incredible car collection over the years—including Porsches and Ferraris—most music video cars are rentals sourced by production companies like DNA Inc., which produced many of the top videos at that time.
The production was directed by Jake Nava. He’s the guy who also did Beyoncé’s "Crazy in Love." Nava knew how to make metal look like liquid. He treated the car like a second lead actor.
Another misconception? That the "Burn" video car was a modified Z3. Absolutely not. The Z3 was the "budget" roadster. Using a Z3 in an Usher video would have been like wearing a fake Rolex. The Z8 was the real deal, featuring an all-aluminum chassis and body. It was a supercar in a tuxedo.
How to Get the Usher Drop Top Look Today
Maybe you don't have a quarter-million dollars lying around for a BMW Z8. I sure don't. But the "drop top" lifestyle Usher popularized is still achievable.
The "Burn" aesthetic is basically "Desert Minimalist." To replicate it, you need:
- A silver or metallic grey vehicle.
- Clean lines (avoiding excessive spoilers or body kits).
- A "top-down" mentality, even when it’s slightly too cold outside.
Honestly, the Z8 influenced a whole generation of car designers. You can see echoes of its taillights in modern Astons and even some newer BMW concepts. It was a bridge between the analog past and the digital future.
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The Evolution of Usher's Car Taste
Since the days of the silver Z8, Usher has moved on to some pretty wild machinery. He’s been spotted in a customized 1964 Buick Riviera and a very sleek BBR (Big Block Roadster) that looks like a modern Cobra.
But for fans of 2000s R&B, nothing will ever top that silver Usher drop top in the desert. It captured a moment when music videos were cinematic events. We waited for the "World Premiere" on TRL just to see what Usher was driving and what he was wearing.
It wasn't just about the "Burn" lyrics. It was about the vibe. The car provided the vibe.
Actionable Insights for Car and Music History Buffs
If you're looking to dive deeper into this specific niche of automotive pop culture, there are a few things you can do to truly appreciate the engineering behind the "Burn" car:
- Research the E52 Chassis: If you want to understand why the Z8 drives the way it does, look up the BMW E52 development. It was a project led by Chris Bangle, though the exterior was designed by Henrik Fisker (who later started Fisker Automotive).
- Watch the "Making of" Documentaries: Look for old MTV Making the Video episodes. They often show the logistics of getting these high-end cars into remote desert locations without scratching the paint.
- Check Auction Results: Keep an eye on Bring a Trailer or RM Sotheby’s. Search for "BMW Z8." You’ll see how these cars are holding their value and why collectors still fight over them.
- Listen to the Confessions Album on Vinyl: To get the full experience, you need the high-fidelity sound. The way the bass hits on "Burn" is best experienced through a proper analog setup, mirroring the analog soul of the BMW Z8.
The BMW Z8 wasn't just a car in a video. It was the perfect mechanical avatar for Usher’s career in 2004: sleek, powerful, expensive, and completely untouchable. Even twenty years later, the sight of that silver drop top against the desert sand remains one of the most potent images in music history. It’s a reminder that while relationships might burn out, great design—and great music—lasts forever.
If you ever find yourself driving through the California desert at dusk, roll the windows down. Put on that track. You'll feel it. The Z8 might be out of reach for most of us, but the feeling of that era is just a play button away.