PressClub South Africa · Article.
The new BMW Z4 M Roadster.
Tue Dec 04 14:00:56 CET 2012 Press Release
The all-new BMW Z4 M Roadster is the high-performance ultra-sports version of the Z4 Roadster so many cus¬tomers have been waiting for – particularly in South Africa. Extending BMW’s roadster family in no uncertain performance terms, this unique car takes up and continues the brand’s tradition in a seg¬ment originally created by BMW M in the first place: Back in 1997, the BMW Z3 M Roadster, a model unfortunately not sold in South Africa, marked the world’s first high-performance production roadster.
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Edward Makwana
BMW Group
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Author.
Edward Makwana
BMW Group
The Z4 M Roadster: Awe-Inspiring Performance in Every Respect.
Boasting BMW M’s straight-six power unit, the Z4 M Roadster features
a high-performance engine unparalleled in the roadster market.
In 2005 this unique engine received the highly respected and
acknowledged “Engine of the Year Award” for the fifth time in a row,
setting up a record never seen before. Through its high-speed concept
and virtually optimum transmission ratios, this outstanding power unit
generates enormous thrust and performance across the entire rev range.
Its specifications alone are very
impressive: six cylinders,
3,246 cc, 252 kW at 7,900 rpm, 365 Newton-metres at 4,900 rpm and
maximum engine speed of 8,000 rpm.
Two other figures perhaps say even more about the engine’s outstanding performance: Output per litre is 106 hp (77.9 kW) and the power-to-weight ratio is 5.9 kilos/kW. On the road this means acceleration to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds, with the same short time of 5.0 seconds required for intermediate acceleration in fourth gear from 80–120 km/h. Top speed is limited electronically to 250 km/h.
The Joy of Shifting Gears Six Times Over.
The high-speed engine concept is simply ideal for a sports car when it’s offerind in combination with a short overall transmission ratio, since this allows the conversion of engine power into optimum thrust on the rear wheels. Thus combining the M final drive with a six-speed manual gearbox, the engineers at BMW M are able to fulfil this requirement to the highest standard.
Short and crisp shift travel, supreme running smoothness, and precise guidance of the shift lever, with sensitive feedback ensuring that the gear is properly in mesh, are typical fortes of this transmission.