Auto Blitz: BMW Z4

Showing posts with label BMW Z4. Show all posts

VIDEO: Top Gear Shooting in Israel with BMW Z3, Mazda MX-5 and Fiat Barchetta

Thanks to one of Carscoop's commentators, we can now show you a video of Top Gear's trio of power obsessed presenters -that would be Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond- filming an episode in the Holy Land. As noted in our previous article with the scoop pictures, the cars of choice for Top Gear's latest escapade, are a trio of older generation roadster models - the BMW Z3, Mazda MX-5 and Fiat Barchetta.

There's also a guy with a white racing helmet driving what looks like an old Suzuki Alto, but we're not sure if he's part of the Top Gear crew or if some fans of the show decided to make fun of The Stig. As always, any help with the translation, would be welcome. Watch the video after the jump.

The crew from Top Gear [the original, not the US clone that some are persistently trying to shove down our throat - we get it, it's coming...], was snagged chilling at the border between Israel and Jordan.

According to one of our tipsters, Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond drove their specially modified BMW Z3, Fiat Barchetta and Mazda MX-5 roadsters from Jordan to Israel and their next stop will be at the Golan Heights and at Nazareth. Maybe we'll get some new photos from the shoot, but for now, enjoy some high-res pics after the jump.

Bulgarian teen Denislav Shishev seems to have all the right connections and one hell of a commitment to BMW. After all, one doesn't convert a battered and bruised Z3 Coupe into a V10-packing pocket rocket without a little love for the Roundel.

With the M5's 10-cylinder putting out a claimed 442-horsepower to the wheels, this should be one mega step up from the E30 M3 he currently takes to the track.

Interested in trying something like this yourself? Check out the pics below, or for the full photo album how-to guide, head on over to dude's site. You should also probably get your checkbook out.

A new and rather aggressive advertising campaign regarding the Nissan 370Z and GT-R sports cars has kicked off in Britain. The company launched a series of poster and print adverts highlighting the fact that both sports cars are better in terms of performance yet cost less than their equivalent German rivals.

And mind you, Nissan isn't being polite as the automaker is using tongue-in-cheek phrases in the ads such as "The Winner Hans Down," "The Germans Came Off Wurst," "Kaisers Chiefed" and "Deutschland Deutschland Über-Rated".

To further frustrate its German adversaries, the Japanese company took an Audi TTS bearing the slogan "More expensive, slower and less powerful than a Nissan 370Z" around the streets of London. It was joined by a Porsche Cayman adorned with the words "I dream of being as fast as a Nissan 370Z". Ouch...

Sometimes inspiration can come from the most unlikely sources. Take MWDesign, for instance. For their latest project based on the BMW Z4 E89 hardtop-roadster with straight-six turbo, the Vancouver-based tuning shop drew their design inspiration from Nike's Slingshot golf clubs series.

The tuner started out by adding an AC Schnitzer front spoiler complete with custom carbon fiber lower splitters, 3D Design matte carbon fiber rear diffuser and boot lid spoiler, BMW Performance kidney grilles, a carbon fiber hood strip and a set of 20-inch Modular alloy wheels with glossy black outer rims.

MWDesign's next assignment was to apply lime green accents on the front air-ducts, the alloy wheels, the tail pipe surrounds and the twin roll bars. The custom carbon fiber exterior accents with primer grey on the hood, the trunk and the retractable hardtop along with the matte black tailpipes complete the visual makeover.

Starting from September, BMW Z4 buyers will be able to outfit their roadster with a new styling package called Design Pure Impulse. The Bavarian automaker's new pocket digging scheme adds unique style to the two-seater model through a combination of colors and materials featured on interior elements, based on the recommendations of the BMW design team.

Japanese tuner 3D Design has come out with some new aero bits for owners of the E89 Z4 (that's the latest one with the retractable hard top).On the show car here you'll see the new urethane front lip and trunk spoilers and a diffuser made out of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP).

Seventy years ago, BMW's racing division celebrated its greatest racing triumph so far in the world of motor sports by winning first, third, fifth and sixth places at the 1940 Mille Miglia with its classic 328.

To honor this anniversary, BMW Group's Italian arm has created a special edition version of the firm's hardtop roadster called the Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia, of which only 99 examples will be sold in Italy.

Based on the standard Z4 sDrive35is that's powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six with 340HP, the Mille Miglia edition comes equipped with an M Sports aerodynamics package and 19-inch alloy wheels in a dark chrome shade, while the body is finished in a matte silver color called 'Polaris'.

Hamann, creator of some of the world's more excessive BMWs, is going to be releasing a tuning kit for the E89 Z4.

The lowered Hamann Z4 features the usual tuner appointments: a new front bumper with integrated LEDs, side skirts, a spoiler, and rear apron. All standard fare, until you realize how mean they make the Z4 look.

Wearing a Hamann sports exhaust and electronically tuned to 360 horsepower (265 kW), the car will reach a de-limited 177 mph (285 km/h). Torque peaks at a hearty 398 lb ft (540 Nm).

BMW has delivered the first examples of its Z4 GT3 racer to private teams that will prepare them for use in various national and international championships.

Developed by the Bavarian automaker's Motorsport division, the Z4 GT3 swaps the standard model's straight-six for a 4.0-liter V8 engine with 480HP similar to the unit used in the M3 GT2 racer. The power is transmitted to the rear-wheels through a six-speed, sequential gearbox with "Quick Shift" function.

After showing us its initial offerings for the new BMW Z4 that were limited to a few alloy wheel options, a dual-pipe exhaust system and a new speedometer, Hartge has taken one step further by releasing a new set of upgrades for the hardtop roadster.

For the exterior, Hartge has created a new front apron that covers the air inlets, carbon fiber mirror caps, a discreet boot lid spoiler, a wind deflector, pin stripes and a four-piece exhaust system.

Customers can also give the hardtop roadster an even sportier stance with the addition of Hartge's alloy wheels that are available in numerous designs in sizes 18- to 20-inches, and a suspension lowering kit.

A set of aluminum pedals, a new instrument cluster and specific floor mats are some of the options offered for the interior.

Those that are interested in juicing up the Z4's powerplants will have to wait until next year when the company is expected to reveal its engine kit program.

BMW Motorsport Ushers in New Z4 GT3 Racer with M3-Sourced 480HP V8

Finally, a Z4 with the M3's V8 engine? Well, yes and no. See, while the Z4 GT3 does indeed get a tweaked version of the M3's V8, it isn't a street-legal model like the M3 GTS but a thoroughbred racing car that has been developed for private teams by the Bavarian firm's Motorsport division. Now that we've cleared that up, let's see what the Z4 GT3 is all about.

While we don't have any photos of the Z4 racer yet (the standard Z4 sDrive35i is pictured here), BMW Motorsport has revealed numerous details of the car on its dedicated website.

The Z4 GT3 has been designed to compete in international and national championships in accordance with GT3 regulations including the FIA GT3 European Championship, International GT Open and the ADAC GT Masters as well as in 24-hour endurance races.

The hardtop roadster is powered by a specially-prepped version of the M3's 4.0-liter V8 engine producing 480-horsepower which is channeled to the rear wheels through a specific sequential, six-speed gearbox.

Other upgrades include are said to include special alloy wheels with locking and safety clips, as well as a racing ABS system.

BMW Motorsport stated that the Z4 GT3 racer will go on sale for private teams fron the second quarter of 2010 at an estimated price of €298,000 or about US$430,000, not including taxes.

Via: Worldcarfans , Source: BMW Motorsport

Photos: BMW Z4 sDrive35i at the 2009 Bahrain Grand Prix

VIDEO: The M-Sports BMW Z4 sDrive35is 340HP on Film

After details and first official photos of the new BMW Z4 sDrive35iS were released on Sunday, the Bavarian automaker has now followed up with a bunch of promotional videos showing off the hardest version of the roadster to date that will make its world premiere at the 2010 Detroit motor show in January.

It might not be an 'M' model, but the Z4 sDrive35is comes equipped with a tweaked version of BMW's 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight six pumping out 340 ponies as well as a 7-speed double clutch transmission and the M Sports Package that includes an adaptive suspension and numerous M-Sports upgrades.

BMW Launches New M-Sports Package for 2010 Z4 Hardtop Roadster

The unveiling of the BMW Z4 sDrive35iS with its tweaked twin-turbocharged straight six that produces an output of 340 ponies was accompanied by the announcement of the release of a new M-Sports package with aerodynamic, interior and suspension upgrades for the entire Z4 range.

The M aerodynamic body styling kit adds a newly designed front bumper and a reworked rear bumper with insert in Anthracite metallic. The exterior package is rounded off with 18-inch M light alloy wheels.

Inside, the Z4 M Sports models benefit from an array of features including leather upholstery as standard, body-hugging sports seats, anthracite head lining, special trim on the dashboard and door panels, M leather gearknob, a thick-rimmed steering wheel and M designation door sills and floor mats.

From what we gather - BMW's press release was quite vague on this - all Z4 M Sports models will also be able to be equipped with the adaptive M Suspension that lowers the hardtop roadster by 10 mm or almost 0.4 inches.

The M-Sports package for the Z4 will go on sale from March, 2010 with pricing to be confirmed in the new year.