- BMW M is still trying to make the business case for a Z4M.
- M remains committed to the X5 M and X6 M.
MUNICH, Germany — BMW M is working on a proposal to develop a Z4M. "There are days when it hurts not to have one, but there was no compelling business case at the time when the decision was taken," Albert Biermann, head of product development told Inside Line. "We are trying to make a case but there are so many factors to consider."
The absence of a Z4M is made more surprising by BMW's decision to develop a customer racecar based on the roadster. BMW's head of motorsport, Jens Marquardt, recently declared his desire to introduce the Z4 GTS racer in the US. The presence of the GTS on the racetrack would only serve to highlight the absence of a road-going equivalent.
While the Z4M is still "possible," M remains committed to the X5 M and X6 M.
"There is no strong competition and they've made good money, even during the economic crisis," said Biermann. "The torsional rigidity of today's X5 is 28,000Nm/degree, while the old E30 M3 measured 23,000, so it's a good base for an M car."
Inside Line says: An M version is surely what the Z4 needs to boost its image.
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xorbe says:
04:41 PM, 10/25/2011
M: we sell SUVs, not 2-seaters!
edgy99 says:
11:23 AM, 10/25/2011
Forget this idea, hurry up with the 2 series and give us a M version of that, a smaller, lighter M car.
lookatmyshoes says:
07:38 AM, 10/25/2011
It is the best looking BMW in the whole lineup and an M Version would look amazing (aero package, dual exhaust, 19 inch wheels etc...)
Look at the older Z3M and Z4M they look great and have aged well and will become classic cars.
On the track I have to agree that will not be as communicative and responsive as a boxter S, but driving dynamics is good and acceleration of the M cars is just amazing, simply there are very fun to drive because of its massive torque rwd and short wheelbase.
The problem I see is that there is a tiny market for these cars and recently time BMW is giving less for more money so a Turbo 6 with 350 plus hp for over 65k is completely insane. So I know why BMW is debating whenever to build this car or not...
Finally having and M version of each BMW is just a waste of time an money and personally I don't see value of having a super powerful SUV to take the kids to school. BMW should focus in building super sports car to compete vs the R8 and 911.
Bottom line I don't think BMW is building the best german cars any more
dmpete says:
03:33 AM, 10/25/2011
I agree w/ an earlier comment, If the Z4ISthyrjmkgfhtr$4B is already above 60K loaded then what is the price point going to be for a Z4M. If BMW puts it up there with the M3 it will never sell. I for one would like to see an M roadster again, but things have gotten a little crazy with the pricing on these cars. Give it an inline 3.0, with small turbo that makes somewhere north of 350hp, keep the price below 60K and it might sell a few. But it still won't be as satisfying as the Cayman S.
rks838 says:
06:14 PM, 10/24/2011
M has changed! But 'tis business...
compressor says:
05:13 PM, 10/24/2011
vantageman,
1.) Yes, they all keep pace. Keeping pace doesn't mean it is a "sporting" car. Example: on longer track a Mazda MX-5 will not be able to keep pace with a Mercedes S600. Which one is sportier?
Honestly - do I think BMW is incapable of delivering a true Boxster competitor. Hell no. But history shows they always seem to the car that splits between the SLK and the Boxster.
2.) Chassis torsional stiffness. I was referring to the fact that for the same power output, heavier cars will need a stiffer chassis as they place greater stress on the chassis when going over bumps and cornering. A cars torsional stiffness, taken alone, is meaningless to a car's handling ability.
vantageman says:
04:29 PM, 10/24/2011
Im sorry i have to correct compressor..........one hes referrign to the structure being able to take power as with some tuner cars that arent rigid enough and the power actually twists the chassis. Second a 135i will outrun the boxster and cayman, out gun a 911 with a 6 speed, and keep pace with a cayman s and boxster s also with a 6 speed. Thats just the 135i, the M3, M5, and M6 are just as fast as majority of the millions of 911 versions. The X6M and X5M are also faster than the Cayenne sportiness by the way si for civics, scion tcs. performance is for cars of this class lesson over.....
compressor says:
03:40 PM, 10/24/2011
Given that the x5m weighs almost 2x as much as an e30 m3, its torsional rigidity is actually poor.
Besides, when did we start measuring the sportiness of a cars drive in torsional rigidity.
My take - they know they can't beat Porsche when sportiness is needed.
gmhl10 says:
03:17 PM, 10/24/2011
Considering a nicely loaded Z4 Sdrive 35is right now is about $75K well loaded... what would the price of a Z4M even be??? What kind of engine would even be used in it? Would it be the S65 again or would BMW move towards a turbo variant for the fuel economy route all the manufacturers are going towards or would it even be a S engine (like how the 1M coupe uses the same N54T engine as the Z4 35is, but in the 1er, it's called a ///M car)?
vantageman says:
02:21 PM, 10/24/2011
If BMW did a Z4 M im pretty sure they would use the V8 from the M3 which in that car not sure make sense. The is Z4 already using the 1 ms engine, I dont see them putting the X5/X6/m5 engine inside of a Z4 and frankly the new Z4 is far more expensive than the last one an M version of this car would easily run more money than an M3 so im guessing 70 - 80,000 range as base the Is is already running up to 67,000. Not to mention its a cool idea but how many are going to buy an SLK AMG its slower less powerful than a C63 yet its a 2 seater and costs thousands more why make the 2 seater the slower less powerful car. I think the same think will happen with the Z4 if they produce it it would simply be a waste of efforts but hey we have the X6m im sure that wont stop them from wasting time or money...