The BMW Z4 is a rear-wheel drive sports car that began its life back in 2002 before receiving its second generation in 2008. It is offered in both coupe and roadster forms.
The current model Z4 is powered by a choice of two engines. The first is a 3.0L I-6 producing 255hp and 220 lb-ft of torque, while the second is a 3.0L twin turbo I-6 producing 300hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. These engines are mated to a six-speed manual, a six-speed automatic, or a seven-speed automatic transmission.
In the year since BMW Motorsport launched the 2010 Z4 GT3, the race car has achieved great success in the GT3 class series, including a ground-breaking win at the Dubai 24 Hours earlier this year. But despite the car’s competitiveness, BMW knew that it still needed a few improvements. So, the Bavarian automaker let loose and built the new and improved 2011 Z4 GT3 racer.
According to BMW, the goal for the latest version of the Z4 GT3 racer is to primarily improve its aerodynamic efficiency to make it more competitive against its rivals in the GT3 class.
Noticeable improvements done on the new version include an elongated bonnet, a long wheelbase, and the narrow wheel arches. The car was also given a steel body courtesy of the BMW plant in Regensburg, Germany and a safety cell made of sturdy steel tubing that’s welded into the body. Likewise, BMW made good use of carbon fiber reinforced plastics, dressing up the car with the strong yet lightweight material on the front and rear wings, the bonnet, roof, and fenders, among other components.
Another difference between the standard road-going Z4 and the racing variant is the powertrain. Whereas the former came with a six-cylinder engine, the latter was given a more powerful 4.4-liter V8 engine mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox.
The car is now being sold to racing teams for €315,000, which is about $454,000 based on current exchange rates.
Now that the 2011 Geneva Motor Show has come and gone, it goes without saying that the event was arguably the biggest and most successful auto show since the 2009 IAAs in Frankfurt, Germany.
Some might contend that, but as far as we’re concerned, its been a while since we had an auto show that has been as widely attended by almost all automakers in the world quite like what we saw in Geneva.
And while we may have been introduced to a lot of the cars that were launched in Geneva beforehand, there were still some models, mostly of the concept variety, that took us by surprise.
Most of these models weren’t previewed before the event so when the Geneva Motor Show opened its doors, just about everybody in attendance and those keeping tabs over the Web didn’t see these cars coming.
But now that they’re here, we can take a look at the models that made the 2011 Geneva Motor Show that much more interesting.
Check out the list after the jump
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After their last one-off project - the golf club-inspired BMW Z4 ‘Slingshot’, which received great acclaim - it seemed like it was just a matter of time before the people of MWDesign Technik would return for yet another tasty dishing of a one-off BMW Z4.
Apparently, these guys are true to their word.
Inspired by the work done on the Slingshot Z4, a client of MWDesign requested the tuning firm to work their magic on his brand new BMW Z4. Not one to turn down an opportunity, the boys from MWDesign took the offer and began working their magic.
Just like the “Slingshot” Z4, the BMW Z4 “White Flame” draws inspiration from another golf club, the Taylormade R-11 driver. In designing the car, MW Design made sure that it translated some of the key design cues and coloration of the club into the car. Seeing as the R-11 features a white, red, and gray theme, MWDesign decided to put in the same color scheme in the Z4, albeit in a subtle fashion to maintain the car’s sleek and clean look.
Details on the BMW Z4 White Flame after the jump.
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Next to the impressive Vision ConnectDrive concept, BMW has also revealed an impressive package for the BMW Z4 at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. Called Design Pure Balance, the new equipment package comes with striking interior and exterior options, and will go on sale in the summer of 2011.
The BMW Z4 Design Pure Balance is painted in a Mineral White metallic finish offered exclusively for this package. This color offers fine metallic pigmentation for a brilliant impression. However, if the white metallic hue doesn’t tickle your fancy, the new package can also be combined with other non-metallic and metallic exterior paint finishes.
Typically, a white exterior look is combined with a black interior, but BMW has gone against the grain with Cohiba Brown leather contrasted by Lotus White stitching for the seats and the same Cohiba Brown for the dashboard. Black isn’t far behind, though, as the rest of the leather trimmed elements are found in black with Umbra seams. Fineline Anthracite wood and sports seats come standard with the package.
With a name like Design Pure Balance, there is no way BMW would think to touch the inner mechanical workings of the Z4. That leaves us with the standard 3.0L I-6 engine producing 255hp and 220 lb-ft of torque.
Now if only the BMW Z4 Design Pure Balance came with Cohiba brand premium cigars. Then we’d be in business!
The Geneva Motor Show is ready to crack itself open in just a few hours, but AC Schnitzer has decided to release some details on its line-up for Switzerland a little early.
The first package from the German tuner is called the Z4 99d and uses a diesel engine that delivers 190 HP and 420 NM of torque. With this amount of power, plus a weight reduction of 230 kilos (507 lbs.), the tuner has managed to obtain a 0 to 60 mph sprint time of just 6.9 seconds, while top speed is 146 mph. This performance is accompanied by a fuel consumption of 3.8 liter diesel per 100 kilometers and a CO2 emission of just 99.18 g/km.
AC Schnitzer also spent some time on the exterior of the BMW Z4 with an interesting paint job. We don’t know just how we feel about the green, blue, and black swirl paint yet, but it may just fit the BMW nicely.
UPDATE 02/28/2011: This review has been updated with the BMW Z4 99d’s full specs, as well as new images.
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