• M version of the E89 Z4 still under consideration by BMW - Head of M products states there was no business case earlier

                    
      		   
      Published on 10-25-2011 06:00 AM
      26 Comments Comments
      We aren't sure what there is to debate really, do it already. Albert Biermann (Head of M product development) told Insideline the following on the Z4 M, "There are days when it hurts not to have one, but there was no compelling business case at the time when the decision was taken." Uh, but there was a business case for the X5 M? The X6 M? The 550 GT? The X6 hybrid that was already canned? Yet the platform that has the potential to be the best drivers car in the BMW lineup that BMW Motorsport has already been racing doesn't make sense? Are you serious Biermann?

      Insideline actually gets this right when they state, "The absence of a Z4M is made more surprising by BMW's decision to develop a customer racecar based on the roadster." BMW is already racing an M version of the Z4. They produced an M version with the previous generation. They produced an M version with the Z3 that preceded it. Do M SUV's really make more sense than a dedicated sports car? For the BMW M division? The world has flipped upside down.

      If the folding hardtop were to be ditched to make a new M coupe not only would the car be significantly lighter than it is, we would have a modern BMW sports car offering far greater agility and rigidity than the Z8 could have ever dreamed of even at a much higher price point. This is the car BMW should already be making. The fact it is still being debated internally shows how far BMW M has gotten from their principles. Throw the 550 GT off a cliff (nobody will miss it) and bring us something like what is pictured below. Just give it a real M motor (4.4 liter S65 from the M3 GTS would be what the real M we used to know would do) and your first customer is right here.





      This article was originally published in forum thread: M version of the E89 Z4 still under consideration by BMW - Head of M products states there was no business case earlier started by Sticky View original post
      Comments 26 Comments
      1. Yukohama's Avatar
        Yukohama - 10-26-2011, 12:11 AM
        i would definitely want one if they came out with it. I love the e89 body style
      1. deemo319's Avatar
        deemo319 - 10-26-2011, 02:44 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        Same argument can be made that they already sold a 1M, just needed to add an LSD.

        I'm saying manual and DCT should both be options, like the E92 M3.

        I just don't believe if they do it they will give an S65. The old BMW M would have already made it and already put that motor in there...
        Good rendering but need more aggression.

        Click here to enlarge
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 10-26-2011, 05:37 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by deemo319 Click here to enlarge
        Good rendering but need more aggression.

        http://www.bimmerboost.com/images/im...ndering1-1.jpg
        Not bad.
      1. Remonster's Avatar
        Remonster - 10-26-2011, 07:40 PM
        I live on SoCal, too, and spoke to a few sales rep friends of mine at three different BMW dealers around San Diego. They can't keep the X M cars on the lot, but as I said I would way rather have them focus on cars for us enthusiasts but the truth of the matter is, these are high margin cars that sell well which can only mean more R&D money for future M products which is a great thing.

        Like it or not, Americans LOVE performance SUVs, Porsche's best selling model was the Cayenne for several years (not sure if the Panamera has changed that, I haven't looked at the numbers recently) but all that meant for Porsche was more money to spend making the 991 truly epic.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 10-26-2011, 10:24 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Remonster Click here to enlarge
        They can't keep the X M cars on the lot
        You would think that would mean they should be able to produce enthusiast cars thanks to all the extra cash flow. Uh, didn't Porsche do this with the Cayenne?
      1. Shipkiller's Avatar
        Shipkiller - 10-27-2011, 07:46 AM
        While I would not give up my ///M Coupe', I think a hard top E89 with a V8 would make it a nice garage mate...... Hardtop only, since you cannot take a folding hardtop on the track....
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