Newest Z4M Spy Shots from Nürburgring

[Kirby]

I think these have not been posted here yet? These are the most "finished" shots I have seen to date of a Z4M. Note the redesigned rear deck with the spoiler. The front looks more like a M car than any of the other pictures that have been floating around. If you look closely you can see telemetry connections and antennas in the photos.

From The Car Connection



http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?n=156,178&sid=178 Following their usual pattern, BMW initially introduces the standard version of a vehicle, and then some time later brings out a high-performance M version. It may seem a long time in coming for the Z4, but these recent photos, taken at Germany's famous racetrack Nürburgring, show that BMW is currently testing the M version of the Z4. The final product will most likely be launched at this fall's Frankfurt Motor Show.

The new sports car may use either a 350-hp V-8 engine or the 343-hp in-line six from the current M3.

The Z4 M can be distinguished from the standard model by its big front skirt with large air intakes and by the four exhaust pipes at the rear. This prototype also is equipped with a removable hardtop and very low-profile performance tires.

 

[bmw046series]

Looks Great!

 

[Chesty Bonds]

Meh, the Z never does it for me. Quite frankly, none of the new BMs get my juices flowing.

 

[Tom]

Great find Kirby...it's about time.

 

[bmw046series]

BMW is changing the Automotive industry with their design methods - look at the new Audi A6 - the Jetta and new Mercs the designs are closey tied to BMW - and the Z4 started that - you have to admit the Z3 was a girls car.

 

[Chesty Bonds]

you have to admit the Z3 was a girls car.

F#ckin' oath! That 'thing' was nothing more than a hairdresser's car. Thank God it's been consigned to history.

The M-Roadster was a bit tough though I guess... 321BHP of Munich's finest makes anything good.

 

[///M SPEED]

The spy shots even have the current M3 wheels on it. I wonder what it will be equipped with when it debuts....

You may think is it a girly car now, but when they put either a V8 or the current 343/333 HP M motor in it will change the way people view the Z4M. It will be a monster. I just wonder how much the final weight of the car will be...

 

[bmw046series]

No the Z3 was a girls car - 2 1/5 tons

 

[Kirby]

I just wonder how much the final weight of the car will be...

Can I start a rumor about a Z4M CSL????

 

[Chesty Bonds]

No the Z3 was a girls car - 2 1/5 tons

Huh??? The Z3 was more like 1.5 tons...

But yeah, it still looked like a girls car.

 

[bmw046series]

QUOTE "///M Speed" : I just wonder how much the final weight of the car will be...

No the Z4 weighs a little over 2 tons this will way 2 and a half! You have to get out of the past the Z3 is dead and over, god man get out of the 90s!

 

[Militant-Grunt]

Huh??? The Z3 was more like 1.5 tons...

But yeah, it still looked like a girls car.

The Z3 had a crappy seating position, too up high, while in the Z4 you have a huge bonnet in front of you, and ur all the way in the rear, with a nice low position.. I really like the Z4 I hope they make the Z4M awesome.

 

[Kirby]

QUOTE "///M Speed" : I just wonder how much the final weight of the car will be...

No the Z4 weighs a little over 2 tons this will way 2 and a half! You have to get out of the past the Z3 is dead and over, god man get out of the 90s!

Huh?????

The Z4 does not weigh 2 tons - that's 4000 lbs. From BMW's web site, it is 2998 lbs with the 5 speed. The weight will not change much at all on the Z4M. Even if they put a V8 in it, it has been widely reported that the new M V8 weighs about the same as the I6, due to light weight materials and design

This is a lightweight car! It is less than the Corvette C6 which is about 3200 lbs.

 

[///M SPEED]

QUOTE "///M Speed" : I just wonder how much the final weight of the car will be...

No the Z4 weighs a little over 2 tons this will way 2 and a half! You have to get out of the past the Z3 is dead and over, god man get out of the 90s!

What are you talking about? Your comment makes no sense. Show me one place where I made a comment about the Z3 and/or where I even gave a statement about what I believe the weight of the car to be? Hmmm, you can't huh? What does my comment have anything to do about the Z3 or the "90's"?

Another thing the Z3 is not, "over". Just because you don't prefer to own one and believe the car is a, "girls car" does not mean everyone here has the same mentality and beliefs.

My comment on the weight of the ZM4 is a valid one even if you think it is not. You don't know what the final weight of the M version of the Z4 is nor do I. Two and half tons, you've got to be joking. My 3 series M doesn't even come close to that.

"get out of the past the Z3 is dead and over, god man get of the 90's" Be for real. I am sure a lot of current and past owners find this statement ridiculous. I know I do.....

 

[aNoodle]

It's getting hot in here. LOL

I can't imagine driving from the back seat of my car....that's basically what's going on with the Z4. I don't mind the radical styling on a two seater, which I think should make a statement.

 

[Andi]

Just read in a german car magazin:
For the new M3 and the Z4M they will chop off 2 cylinders of the new M5 10-cylinder-engine. It is rumoured to have something like 420HP.

 

[Chesty Bonds]

Pity about the V8... Nothing beats a big straight-six. This is why I hate the huge emphasis on power these days.

 

[Kirby]

Evolve or become obsolete and die - that's why BMW is moving to higher power V8 engines in the ///M cars. They HAVE to. Everyone needs to remember that the ///M cars were ORIGINALLY designed and built for spec racing, and they STILL are TODAY, not for daily drivers in California traffic jams.

The specs of the ///M cars are greatly influenced by the needs of various racing series - DTM, SCCA, World Cup, Grand Am, etc. If you watch any of these series, you will discover that the ///M3 is not nearly as competitive as it used to be. For example, this year it is getting EATEN in Grand Am racing by the new Mustang. The BMW ///M3 drivers are admitting that the horsepower of the Mustang V8 is giving them a tough time. You can see it for yourself - watch the rerun of the Fontana, CA race on SpeedTV this week.

Or would you prefer that BMW stay nostalgic with the I6 and become a "has been" and fade into racing history?

V8 and V6 cars are beating the I6 in the Grand Am Series: http://www.grand-am.com/CONTENT/Docs/PDF/2005/cali Cup Mfg Points.pdf

 

[Chesty Bonds]

I think what you say is right to an extent. But I have to argue that cars such as the M3 and M5 really have nothing in common with their racing bretheren. The M3 GT-R race car had absolutely nothing in common with the road car full stop. The Audi DTM race-cars that you see share their bonnet with the road car and that is basically it. Most racing cars that we see are the same.

To say that BMW needs to go to a V8 to keep up its racing pedigree in non-production car events doesn't really make sense for the reasons that I've already highlighted. To me, the new power wars between the manufacturers is basically just for bragging rights, not for real driving involvement. I know it doesn't work like this but people really shouldn't give a toss whether or not an E55 can smoke an M5 from the lights. What people should care about is the immediacy of the controls, the feedback etc, etc. Similarly, I would argue that there really aren't many engines that will offer the same enjoyment as an S38 from the E34 M5. More power sure, but more character? That's what I'm not sure about. I think people are pushed into a sense where they think having the most power is a substitute for character and flair - something that a big I6 has in abundance.

Just my two cents, of course.

 

[Kirby]

Actually many of these series (DTM obviously not included) have ALOT in common and require the same base chassis, body and drive train as the production car. They can change brakes, wheels, strip the interior, possibly change body panels. But the car must be a production car that you can buy at any dealer. Any M3 off the production line could have become a race car in these series.

The M3 is designed for RACING, people choose to drive it on the street. IMHO, your arguments apply to cars intended primarily for street use.

I follow several of these series pretty closely and have seen the rules. For example, Speed World Challenge Rule Book:

The purpose of the SCCA SPEED World Challenge Championships is to provide teams, manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers a competitive production-based race series in which to prove their products.

Here is the SCCA specification for a World Challenge M3. It even lists exact BMW factory specific part numbers (block, crank, head, etc.) that must be used.

American Lemans has similiar rules:
IMSA “SUPER SPORT” (S2) is defined by the INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SPORTS
ASSOCIATION (IMSA).
It is a front-engine, closed car having an aptitude for sport with 1 or 2 doors per side, 2 seats side by
side in the front and 2 seats side by side in the back, which can be used legally on the open road and is available for sale through the dealer network of a manufacturer recognized by IMSA.

This is to keep costs down and racing competitive:
2.1.4 - The use of the following technical specifications makes the eligibility of a car impossible:
2005 IMSA CODE AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES -- STANDING SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS
60 Revised 01/010/05
a) Parts of the suspension fixed on mechanical components: engine, gearbox, etc;
b) Carbon fibre, titanium, magnesium (apart from wheels and standard production mechanical parts as
listed in the Homologation form), etc., or unless specified in these regulations;
c) Rear diffuser;
d) Air ducts integrated into the doors or/and into the doorsills, except for the cockpit ventilation and for the exhaust system cooling.


Here is why cars like the M3 are developed and have factory racing parts:
5.2.5 - The following modifications are forbidden save on the road car available for sale :
• Variable valve timing (*) • Variable length/diameter inlet systems (*) • Variable geometry
turbo/superchargers (*) • Titanium apart from connecting rods, valves and valve retainers, heat shields
• Magnesium apart from standard production mechanical parts which are described in the IMSA
Homologation form • Ceramic components • Carbon or composite materials, except used in clutches
and non stressed covers, lids or ducts.
(*) These devices cannot be modified