Z Series Premiere: The all new BMW Z4 sDrive35is

[south]

^ The folding hardtop Z4 35is weighs pretty much exactly the same as the Audi TT RS cabrio, without a hard roof (but with AWD). It really is not as heavy as people want to make it sound. 1580 kg for a car with 340 hp and 500 Nm isn't bad.

1580kg for a small roadster is pretty bad IMO. Only 20kg less than the E92 335i, a medium sized coupe that seats 4.

Porsche Boxter S weighs 100 kg less, but is much slower, is a 10 year old platform (meaning next gen will be considerable heavier, like always), and has a fabric roof.

...and still has a slightly better power to weight ratio, an optional LSD and a mid engine layout. It's debatable if the 35is is quicker and more agile than the TT-RS, though.


Best regards,
south

 

[Zafiro]

Let's face it. New Z4 is no Porsche killer until the Z4 gets fixed roof and LSD. But I'm all positive about sdrive35is, its going to make the new Z4 more entertaining to drive.

BTW this is the name X6M should have gotten, IS

 

[chonkoa]

does anyone know if the 3.0 NA engine will get any increase in performance compared to the non "M-pack" version?
would be interesting if it did.
If I lived somewhere without 3-4 months of snow and bad roads, I would so get this car.

There has been no mention of that sort AFAIK.
Mind you, the power figures of the N54 varies; Europe gets a higher power rating than NA.

 

[klier]

1580kg for a small roadster is pretty bad IMO. Only 20kg less than the E92 335i, a medium sized coupe that seats 4.

TT RS with less power and as a smaller car with smaller engine and without a folding hardtop weighs the same, so it's not bad. I'm not saying it's a lightweight car, but they kept the weight pretty low considering this car is an E92 with a different body. Maybe with two seats less, but the hardtop compensates for that.

...and still has a slightly better power to weight ratio, an optional LSD and a mid engine layout. It's debatable if the 35is is quicker and more agile than the TT-RS, though.

True, the Boxter S weighs 100 kg less. Still the 35si packs quite a bit more power, and will be faster in real life situations. It will be faster than TT RS too, and Centurion saying it competes with a simple TT S is imo silly. Like I said, TT RS roadster is 0.1 seconds faster to 100 km/h, and that probably is due to AWD. After 100 km/h, I think the Z4 sDrive35is will be faster in ALL acceleration tests.
Z4is engine >>>>> TT RS engine.

BTW this is the name X6M should have gotten, IS

Yep. Very silly they name this car 'is', and the X5 M 'M', even when it's less of an M car....

 

[bmer]

It's nice but BMW still needs a Z4 Coupe and a real Z4 M based on it.


Engine output comparison


Car: Audi TTS / Audi TT-RS / BMW Z4 sDrive35is / MB SLK 55 AMG / MB SLK 55 AMG Black Series / Porsche Boxster S / Porsche Boxster Spyder

Power: 200 kW / 250 kW / 250 kW / 265 kW / 294 kW / 228 kW / 235 kW

Torque: 320 Nm / 450 Nm / 450 Nm (with boost: 500 Nm) / 510 Nm / 520 Nm / 360 Nm / 370 Nm

 

[south]

TT RS with less power and as a smaller car with smaller engine and without a folding hardtop weighs the same, so it's not bad. I'm not saying it's a lightweight car, but they kept the weight pretty low considering this car is an E92 with a different body. Maybe with two seats less, but the hardtop compensates for that.

Fair enough, but does this make the Z4 a light car, or just the TT-RS an equally heavy car? I'd be willing to live with the cons of a 2 seat roadster offering little space if it was traded for razor sharp handling. I just don't see this in the Z4.

True, the Boxter S weighs 100 kg less. Still the 35si packs quite a bit more power, and will be faster in real life situations. It will be faster than TT RS too [...]

Faster than the 987 in a straight line, yes. Faster around a track, no.

Yep. Very silly they name this car 'is', and the X5 M 'M', even when it's less of an M car....

A car with an engine only having a higher boost (exaggerated, I know) compared to the Z4 35i can't be named ///M. Some say the X5 M only has a beefed up N63, but boy did they change much about the engine compared to this model...


Best regards,
south

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Porsche Boxter S weighs 100 kg less, but is much slower

It's not how fast you go, but how you get there that counts.

I enjoy driving my Boxster S more than my M3.

 

[SKY]

It's not how fast you go, but how you get there that counts.

I enjoy driving my Boxster S more than my M3.

I´ve never driven any of them, what are the main differences?.

 

[Cashmere]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Zafiro]

I've driven the new M3 and Z4 3.0si and new Z4. I get as much fun with a Z4 as I get with the M3. Small cars feel more agile and with better road feel. Size do matters Put the M3 V8 engine in the Z4 and we have perfect combination.

 

[south]

I´ve never driven any of them, what are the main differences?.

Until Betty chimes in: I'd say it's way more responsive and agile to drive. You realize the lower weight, the lower center of gravity and the shorter wheel base. Whereas that's not making things better on high speed drives as far as the stability is concerned, it's a big advantage when cornering in the twisties. I'd prefer the M3 on the Autobahn, but the Boxster/Cayman on the backroads. So, Betty does it right and has both cars...


Best regards,
south

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I´ve never driven any of them, what are the main differences?.

It's as South and Just Me have said. M3 is a great car, faster than my Boxster S, but it's weight and levels of grip (it takes a lot of effort to make it understeer) means you have to be at silly speeds on the public highway to reach the cars limits. The Porsche, on the other hand, doesn't have as much grip, yet has much better steering feel, which means you know exactly what the front wheels are doing and you know immediately when you've reached the cars limits. On top of that, being mid-engined means it has fantastic balance (not that the M3 isn't nicely balanced either), so when you are negotiating a round-a-bout and you lose grip, all four wheels lose it together. It inspires confidence to take the car to the edge of adhesion, and even a bit further. I didn't know what car journalists were talking about when they mentioned "steering feel".....until I drove the Porsche.

M3 = At it's best storming down the autobahn at 240km/h, flicking the paddle from 5th to 6th. (Downside, not much chance to do this day to day).

Boxster S = At it's best negotiating a twisty section of road at 90km/h.

And the Porsche sounds great too, as does the M3.

 

[Mii]

The rims on this model looked bigger, deeper and wider IMO, I like it better.

 

[klier]

Faster than the 987 in a straight line, yes. Faster around a track, no.

We'll see about that. They are going to test these cars against eachother for sure, and I'm willing to bet the Z4 will be faster on a track too.

But let us get back to this lovely Z4. I'd much rather have this Z4 than the wannabe 911 hairdresser car (even though it handles great)

 

[Betty Swollocks]

But let us get back to this lovely Z4. I'd much rather have this Z4 than the wannabe 911 hairdresser car (even though it handles great)

There must be a lot of satisfied hairdressers driving around.

 

[Batoussai]

What a marveluos car... It seems to be perfect from any angle any aspect. Is it wrong to say "I love this car"? xD

 

[Betty Swollocks]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Oh my God! That is the funniest voiceover ever! Who on Earth heard that and thought, "yep, that's just what we had in mind." I couldn't stop laughing to be honest.

At time 0:57 ".....heading for bins"?! ***?

At time 1:37 ".....it's time to take it on the road".

 

[Mii]

BMW Z4 sDrive35is Detail Video

No commenter voice, just the joy of engine sound and acceleration.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[rollo]

We'll see about that. They are going to test these cars against eachother for sure, and I'm willing to bet the Z4 will be faster on a track too.

But let us get back to this lovely Z4. I'd much rather have this Z4 than the wannabe 911 hairdresser car (even though it handles great)

Your kidding, right? I know that your a big fan of BMW (me too BTW), but the Z4 over a 911, not a bloody chance! And if one of those two cars were characterized as a hairdresser car, it wouldn't be the 911.

 

[klier]

I meant the Boxter as the 'wannabe 911'. It's not really a hairdresser car like the TT or SLK, but it tries too much to be a little 911.