[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

New BMW Z4: Preproduction Tests Provide Key Insights Into Its Performance

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June 3, 2018... Munich. Long bonnet, short overhangs, low centre of gravity, soft top: the sporty two-seater doing its laps at the BMW test centre in Miramas in the south of France is instantly recognisable as a purebred roadster. The new BMW Z4 is currently undergoing another particularly important stage of the process towards serial production maturity, in this case involving driving dynamics testing of a heavily disguised prototype. This will provide key insights into the performance properties of the new model, whose genuine roadster characteristics, pure driving pleasure and captivating sporty flair will soon go out on public roads.

Trials at the Autodrome de Miramas are focusing on fine-tuning of all drive and suspension systems – the basis for the sporty driving experience offered by the new BMW Z4. The most intense form of new dynamic roadster performance is embodied by the BMW Z4 M40i. A new, extremely powerful in-line 6-cylinder engine, a lowered sports suspension with electronically controlled dampers, a newly developed front axle, M light alloy wheels with mixed tyres, an M sports brake system and an electronically controlled lock in the rear axle differential create an overall package that sees the BMW M Performance model setting a whole new benchmark for driving pleasure in the roadster segment.

"The vehicle concept of the new BMW Z4 is geared consistently towards agility and driving dynamics," explains Jos van As, Head of Application Suspension. "The high level of body stiffness and the very rigid suspension attachment provide the perfect basis for a set-up that guarantees the performance qualities of a genuine sports car in terms of steering precision as well as longitudinal and transverse acceleration."

Like the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, the Miramas test centre offers perfect conditions for the new BMW Z4 to demonstrate its driving dynamics potential. Used by BMW to develop and test new models for more than 30 years, the centre comprises a long asphalt oval and a motorway ring road for high-speed tests as well as slalom, serpentine and circular tracks and a number of handling courses and circuits featuring highly diverse types of surface. These are currently being used for detailed analysis and optimisation of the roadster's acceleration, steering and brake response. For example, the final form of the adaptive M suspension as it interacts with the rear axle limited-slip differential is developed on a circuit that is also used for testing purposes by BMW Motorsport.

This intense testing process already indicates that the new version of the roadster concept will offer a tangible increase in sporty flair in the new BMW Z4. The new generation will particularly introduce effective enhancements in terms of agile handling, spontaneity and precision when changing direction and accelerating in dynamic style out of bends – without losing out in the comfort disciplines.

BMW Z4 Preproduction Testing

[M3 Adjuster]

Pro Tip to BMW AG: consider an M Version

[supra93]

In the press release it says "A new, extremely powerful in-line 6-cylinder engine". Does that mean we're going to see a new engine being used, and not the B58 as many have speculated?

I just thought it was interesting because MKV's insider said this a few weeks ago.

Originally Posted by A70TTR

Turns out car does not have a B58 or S58 and is instead a totally new design, but I cannot give details aside from it being an I6 sourced from BMW.

I thought it was gonna end up being new architecture, but I thought it would be derived from an existing design; apparently it is not.

[MrOhnoez]

Man if they came back with a Z4M Coupe I'd be stoked!

[TeinBMW]

I'm buying the supra, unless they come out with a z4m competition coupe

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by supra93

In the press release it says "A new, extremely powerful in-line 6-cylinder engine". Does that mean we're going to see a new engine being used, and not the B58 as many have speculated?

No, it refers to the B58 TU. You have to be attuned to BMW marketing-speak which is typically stylized in such a way as to hyperbolize the facts to the absolute highest degree.

The engine is the B58B30O1 which is the new top dog sitting above the B58B30M* (currently M0 {M5 with PPK}, should become M1 with the TU).

[DeeKay]

Really have to get used to the feeling of a Z4 without the iconic BMW corona rings.

Guess it's a bit like the i8 with its atypical BMW headlights

[JayPichardo]

382HP on the Z4 M40i same as M340i

[michal12]

Originally Posted by NH_F36

382HP on the Z4 M40i same as M340i

Anyone else noticed the EU version will only have like 340hp due to WLTP??

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by DeeKay

Really have to get used to the feeling of a Z4 without the iconic BMW corona rings.

Guess it's a bit like the i8 with its atypical BMW headlights

They are still there only stacked.

Just like the concept

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by michal12

Anyone else noticed the EU version will only have like 340hp due to WLTP??

Yes, apparently so. ynguldyn had discovered this a few months ago.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by supra93

In the press release it says "A new, extremely powerful in-line 6-cylinder engine". Does that mean we're going to see a new engine being used, and not the B58 as many have speculated?

I just thought it was interesting because MKV's insider said this a few weeks ago.

well... it doesn't say " All new".... it's probably not.

Lord knows they have been trying to OVERemphasize that on all their new products.

the " ALL NEW " M2 competition
the "ALL NEW " M5 competition.
the " ALL NEW " X2 ... blah blah blah...


Does the ALL NEW Z4 simply have a " new" motor.. ?

[raysspl]

The M version is where this is gonna be at!

[ried]

M Coupe with a manual, please! The Supra variant is automatic transmission-only.

I need a new M Coupe!

[Bigmouth Studio]

As a Z4 fans, I must say the new G29 has retained most of the successful element for a roadster. However, this time I have a little bit reservation to put my money to the dealer right away.

9 years ago, I put my deposit to the dealer for a new E89 just after I saw the photo. I think this was the most beautiful roadster I have even seen. No test drive, no question about the spec. I am still driving my E89 everyday because the beautiful outlook and most importantly the hard top.

G29 returned back to soft top, I think it is a regression. Modern open top should be hard top rather than soft top. Furthermore, the head protection system looks the same. A cover like the concept car will be much appearing. Furthermore, the power train still based on normal gasoline engine. Hybrid should be the basic for modern day.

I know BMW wanted to have a high performance roadster. I totally agree. But without significant modernized progression, I think the sales number will not be great. By the way, the new cockpit is very nice. However this is not the first BMW fully digitized cockpit, X5 will be the first one. This further diminished the selling point of G29!