As BMWNA prepares for Monday’s relaunch of four cylinder motors in the US we wonder how the mainstream press and consumers will react.
You have to go back to mid-nineties ill received 318ti to find a four cylinder that made it across the Atlantic. By the time the 318ti came to market the US was in a state of relative prosperity and consumers wanted more. More refinement, more power and more luxury.
“It has to speak the language of people. Not the language of product.” – Exterior Designer Juiane Blasi
That quote is why we love the latest Z4 here at BF. In our minds it’s on par with the BMW’s best roadsters over the years (including the 507 and Z8). And one of our favorite parts? It’s BMW’s first car design led by women inside and out. In this video we get a chance to see exterior designer Juliane Blasi describing the ideas behind what we see in the E89 Z4. We also get a behind the scenes look at some of the actual work that went into the final product.
The meanest looking race car of the modern Motorsport era just got a little meaner…
Official Release: The modified BMW Z4 GT3 has survived its baptism of fire: the GT customer sports car proved itself in a series of intensive tests in recent weeks. The goal of the latest modifications was primarily to improve aerodynamic efficiency in order to ensure the car’s competitiveness in the many, hard-fought GT3 classes.
Look for this to come to the US in the form of a package much like previous design packages for the current generation Z4.
Official Release: A further interpretation of the successful BMW Z4, the leader in the premium roadster segment worldwide, can be seen at the Geneva Automobile Salon 2011.
Here, the new equipment package Design Pure Balance is on show, specially tailored by designers to suit this successful model.
The interior has been generously fitted with leather in the attractive new colour Cohiba Brown, with contrasting seams in Lotus White. The package is rounded off with additional black leather features featuring seams in Umbra, Fineline Anthracite wood and sports seats as standard.
The paint finish Mineral White metallic is also available for the first time in the BMW Z4, exclusively in connection with the new package Design Pure Balance. Thanks to its fine metallic pigmentation it leaves a brilliant impression in the true sense of the word. Alternatively, the new package can also be combined with other non-metallic and metallic exterior paint finishes.
The new equipment package can be ordered from summer 2011. (more photos after the break)
What do you get when you take a Z4 that BMW Motorsport has modified, powered with the famed motor used in the ///M3, a team of talented drivers and enter it a 24 hour race? A dominant victory of course.
We have been huge fans of the BMW Z4 GT3 since we first laid eyes on it- it is mean and lean while still being effective. BMWAG is not racing this car but offering it as a customer race car. The Swiss Schubert Motorsport team is sponsored by Need For Speed this year and with a big sponsor comes big name drivers, like Tommy Milner (formerly of ALMS BMW Rahal Letterman Racing), BMW WTCC factory driver Augusto Farfus and team regulars Claudia Hurtgen and Edward Sandstrom.
BMW new 4-cyl coming this year in Z4 roadster. Replaces nat asp 6, so at least 200 hp
It sounds right to us. Here’s the logic. We know that the 28i model in all BMWs will be changing over to a turbo four in the years ahead. In fact we’ve done so much as say that the current 328i will be the last naturally aspirated 3 series for the foreseeable future. And course that should also extend to all BMW models with that engine. So why the Z4 first? It’s been in production the longest of all the current generation cars that will see the update so it makes sense to start there. But what other cars would get the turbo four cylinder? We’re guessing the F10 5 Series, F30 3 Series and of course the forthcoming F20 1 Series.
Maybe the title is a bit misleading but in reality if you have $400,000 and some time on your hands you could build the fixed roof race car from what is basically one giant Erector Set. BMW supplies you with a complete knock-down kit, all the parts in a lot of boxes and then you and your team have at it. You would think for that kind of money the car would be turn key; allowing the 480 hp V8 to rev freely and you able to shift through the 6 speed sequential manual when the car is dropped off at your shop, but that is not the case.
Team West Coast Racing (from Switzerland NOT California) recently received their boxes more than likely via DHL and spent a total of 600 hours putting the car together. Luckily for us they kept the camera rolling and we have a time lapse video to gawk at.
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We believe in the old school BMW ownership experience. We believe in garage nights with a six pack and some friends. We believe in 2002s, in E30 M3s and E34 540s with the 6 speed. We believe in progress in both design and engineering but we haven't lost sight of what made the brand and its products great all those years ago. And yes, we believe in the manual transmission.
We long for the days of the wave and for the days of roll-up windows. Yet we love the gadgets on the inside and the xenons on the outside.
In short, we can't get enough of BMWs. This is BimmerFile.
Sections: E36/E37 Z3 Roadster/Coupe, E89 Z4 Roadster, EfficientDynamics, Opinion Apr 16th, 2011 9 Comments 
