why the M roadster is the only Z4 we’d purchase
November 1st, 2005(Actually we’re waiting for the stiffer, more precise, more beautiful M Coupe but please read on…)
BMW has finally released details on the M roadster we gave chase to (and bloged about) over a month ago.
We’ve never considered the current Z4 a true BMW mostly due to its artificial electric steering, rough and slippery run-flat tires and quake inducing high unsprung weight. (This despite classic cues like squat under acceleration and a manual gearbox far easier to shift smoothly than the E46s…)
Apparently BMW agrees:
Unlike the ‘standard’ Z4 that uses an electromechanical steering system, the new Z4 M Roadster uses a hydraulic power assistance system. The ‘standard’ car also uses Run-flat tyres as opposed to the M Roadster’s non-Run-Flat items — both features that M, as a separate division, believes give the car its own ‘M’ character. These features are reinforced by BMW M’s floating compound high-performance braking system, originally conceived for the BMW M3 CSL… source: BMW
The fact that the car will also include a lower-redline version of the M3’s 3.2L I6 and its trick Variable M-differential lock
only solidifies things.
(Its a shame the steering and tire changes don’t apply to the whole line – the magnesium alloy block NG engines are much lighter on the nose than the cast iron M engine).