Premiere: The all new BMW Z4 sDrive35is

While I agree with the first part of your post, it's quite easy to sum up what ///M stands for: Best driving experience in class. That's true for the M3 (IMO), for the M5 and also for the XM5/6 models. Though, regardless the badge, that can't be true for the Z4.

Let's face it another way. BMW made a sporty E85 Z4 which didn't sell that well. So, after realizing that they can't beat P at their own game, they decided to take the comfy route with the new Z4. Nothing wrong with that per se, it's just not sporty. The idea of bringing a Z2 sounds good, but it will neither be as light nor as powerful as necessary for a 'true Z3' successor.

With the M5 sedan being out of production now, the M5 touring getting out of production within the next months and the M6 models also following some time next year, the 2010/2011 lineup is pretty much the M3 and the trucks. Time to rush the F10 M5!

All the marketing and brand perception gossipping aside, BMW would develop and build a supercar if they had the money. They just can't afford it (right now!?), so they go on telling people that they don't need it. Would pretty much fit into the neighbor kid comparison, either.

BTW: It's the M3 GTS


Best regards,
south

Z4 was much more expensive then Z3 - therefore the sales were lower. Not to mention the styling wasn't everybody's cup of tea. And the fact most BMW roadster buyers wanted more comfort - therefore Z4 instead of Z3, and more comfy E89 than E85. It's what people want. And that's what they get-

True. Soon there will be M3 & the trucks availably ony - until new M5 & M6 hit the showrooms.

Are you saying BMW have been without money since M1 retirement? They have plenty of cash in the mid 2000 - but still no supercar.

It's all about prioritizing. BMW sporty image can live on even without a supercar. It's been almost 30 years without supercar in BMW model portfolio - and surprise: BMW is still considered as sportiest brand in the segment - ex. the Porsche which has always been above BMW.

Of course. :eusa_doh:

I agree with everything but this.
Between 1999 and 2007, BMW had all the money in the world to make a supercar if they really wanted to do so. Maybe they have no money now, but they sure did some years ago. Back then it was not needed to have a supercar, now they can't make one even if they wanted (due to the crisis)...

+1

The whole thing with BMW "not wanting to make a supercar" is EXACTLY the same with SMG vs dual clutch or the retractable hardtop.

Back when VW-Audi was developing DSG, BMW went with SMG claiming it's the best solution but NOW, guess what ? SMG is DEAD. BMW has DCT.

Back when Mercedes was having retractable hardtops for the SLK and SL, BMW went with soft-top claiming that it's the better solution but NOW, guess what ? Z4 : hardtop. 3er : hardtop. Next 6er : hardtop.

PLEASE. The only reason BMW did not have dual clutch, retractable hardtop or a supercar is because they did not have the technology. Now when they have it, suddenly they embrace dual clutch and retractable hardtops. But for the supercar, it's too late now because they cannot afford one so they have their marketing telling people that no one needs a supercar.

Yeah right tell that to Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, AMG and Audi.

BMW is more of a competitor of Lexus now : who builds the best and the most SUV and crossovers.

Regardless sDrive35is will be over priced for the current or foreseeable market. If BMW intends to compete with Lexus, the price strategy has already lost. Not to mention Lexus has all the budget to develop supercar (e.g. LFA).

No, I'm saying that there might have been a time where they considered such a supercar not being necessary, but this time is long gone. The latest step to date was the M1 hommage, but the feasibility and/or the prospective sales scared BMW off. The result of the feasibility study on the VED might be similar, the risk of building it most likely is higher than they could take. You call it priority, others call it lack of means. Also, having neither a brand like Lambo nor incredible large synergy effects throughout the range make it even harder to do a supercar.


Best regards,
south

That is so true. I stand corrected. Lexus does make a supercar. And so does Nissan.

that's a load of BS

Why Z4 35is wont be offered with manual gearbox

With the release of the Z4 35is BMW will be offering only one transmission; the DCT. Our understanding is that the manual 6 speed Z4 (specifically the clutch) can’t handle the torque that comes with the engine upgrade in the car.
BimmerFile Archive Why BMW Chose DCT for the Z4 35is

Is this true?

The M5 V10 is offered with a manal too (520 Nm, old E39 gearbox I believe), and if anything would break down, it would be the DCT before a manual gearbox???

I take it that is a question, in which case I'll answer and say "I wouldn't have thought so, necessarily". Just because it's new technology and there are more things to go wrong it doesn't mean it's more likely to go wrong. For a start, there is no possibility of human error with DCT and making a bad change, therefore less wear and tear.

finally some decent press pics from BMW, these look great. Maybe it's the angle, they take the pictures more down low with the Z4, should try that with their saloons, maybe those pictures would turn out better than.

by this measure, its imminent that the next m5 will not be available in manual.

I don't think anybody thought it would be.

Scott did mention that unlike the current E60 M5 which was sloppily fitted with a manual transmission for the sake of NA market, the forthcoming F10 M5 would be developed from the ground up to cater for both manual and sequential transmission.

Really? I don't ever remember reading that.

Ferrari 458 wont be available with seqventiell gearbox either. Doubt next M5 will be offered with it unless people make a big deal of it.

The floormats in the si are pretty cool with the text there