Tuesday 22nd December 2009

BMW Z4 GT3 Racer Coming In 2010

Motorsport division announces 480bhp V8 track car

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Z4M racing at the Dubai 24hrs last January

BMW Motorsport has announced a new turn-key racing version of the Z4. The Z4 GT3 will feature a race-tuned version of the 4.0-litre V8 from the M3.

The Z4 GT3 will be eligible for numerous GT3-level formulae including the FIA European GT3 championship, and is designed to be bought and raced by private teams and individuals.

A six-speed sequential gearbox helps put a claimed 480bhp on the tarmac, and technology from other racing BMWs, including a Type-408 racing ECU and a Power400 Control Unit, helps to maximise the grunt. Racing ABS is also standard, and there's optional air conditioning for endurance races and hotter climates.

BMW will take orders for the Z4 GT3 from the second quarter of 2010, at a rather serious price of around 298,000 euros (£266,082).

[vdubbin]

One word.


Homoglation.

[paulm3]

mmmmmmmm

[Crusoe]

so the m3 v8 does fit in the front of the z4... yes please

[Great Pretender]

vdubbin said:

One word.


Homoglation.

If there's a God, I hope he's listening.

[Dakkon]

vdubbin said:

One word.


Homoglation.

One word:

Want one...well two actually

[Eviltad]

Could we have a HQ version of that Z4 for POTW?

[Fidgits]

Crusoe said:

so the m3 v8 does fit in the front of the z4... yes please

so.. Z4M V8

[Slurms]

Fidgits said:

Crusoe said:

so the m3 v8 does fit in the front of the z4... yes please

so.. Z4M V8

Hmm isn't it more likely they will just give us a sneak preview of the next M3 by turning up the wick more on the turbo 6 thats already under the hood?

[TheStoat]

vdubbin said:

One word.


Homoglation.

Here's another word - homologation

[theJT]

So, that's the next M coupe then. Win.

[vdubbin]

TheStoat said:

vdubbin said:

One word.


Homoglation.

Here's another word - homologation

Bah, I was trying to get the first post in!

[RobM77]

Great Pretender said:

vdubbin said:

One word.


Homoglation.

If there's a God, I hope he's listening.

If they can make this thing for the road it would be utterly fantastic. Sadly I heard on this forum a while ago that the fancy folding hard top adds only 30kg to the weight of the car, and it's the increased dimensions that have caused most of the lardiness. I fear with the heavier V8 on board it wouldn't be a sports car anymore (over 1600kg).

Here's hoping for a 1400kg fixed head V8 Z4 though. That would be really quite something

[E21_Ross]

TheStoat said:

vdubbin said:

One word.


Homoglation.

Here's another word - homologation

sadly, i don't think bmw will make a z4m, i bloody hope they do though without a stupid heavy metal folding roof! V8 or highly tuned straight 6 i don't care, would be nice to get one! probably the best looking bmw out there at the moment; but they seem too busy building X3's

[E21_Ross]

RobM77 said:

Great Pretender said:

vdubbin said:

One word.


Homoglation.

If there's a God, I hope he's listening.

If they can make this thing for the road it would be utterly fantastic. Sadly I heard on this forum a while ago that the fancy folding hard top adds only 30kg to the weight of the car, and it's the increased dimensions that have caused most of the lardiness. I fear with the heavier V8 on board it wouldn't be a sports car anymore (over 1600kg).

Here's hoping for a 1400kg fixed head V8 Z4 though. That would be really quite something

30kg!? thought it was way way more than that! i know over the coupe M3, the metal folding roof one is over 300kg heavier....

i would just rather have a coupe with a glorious, high revving straight 6 than a V8 one with a metal roof. though a coupe with a V8..... hmmmm

Edited by E21_Ross on Tuesday 22 December 12:39

[chevronb37]

What are homologation numbers for GT3? I don't really understand BMW's approach to GT racing. They made the V8 E46 M3 which cleared up in ALMS but was ineligible for LM and FIA GT. Now they've got the E92 M3 which is again ineligible for FIA GT2 in its current form. Their latest machine is another engine transplant. I can't see how they will find a way around this without producing the necessary numbers of road cars - it's not as if SRO is short of entries as it is.

[RobM77]

E21_Ross said:

RobM77 said:

Great Pretender said:

vdubbin said:

One word.


Homoglation.

If there's a God, I hope he's listening.

If they can make this thing for the road it would be utterly fantastic. Sadly I heard on this forum a while ago that the fancy folding hard top adds only 30kg to the weight of the car, and it's the increased dimensions that have caused most of the lardiness. I fear with the heavier V8 on board it wouldn't be a sports car anymore (over 1600kg).

Here's hoping for a 1400kg fixed head V8 Z4 though. That would be really quite something

30kg!? thought it was way way more than that! i know over the coupe M3, the metal folding roof one is over 300kg heavier....

i would just rather have a coupe with a glorious, high revving straight 6 than a V8 one with a metal roof. though a coupe with a V8..... hmmmm

Edited by E21_Ross on Tuesday 22 December 12:39

The only place I heard the 30kg was on a similar thread to this a few weeks ago. You may like to do a search. I'd love to know if that's true or not. If it adds more then there's a good chance a new Z4M coupé would weigh a similar amount to the old one and therefore be a great driver's car.

[GTRene]

lovely, maybe they can make it as a Z4M CSL V8 coupe using carbon for the fixed roof ala black series SLK...and max 1350kg for the road version.

[RobM77]

GTRene said:

lovely, maybe they can make it as a Z4M CSL V8 coupe using carbon for the fixed roof ala black series SLK...and max 1350kg for the road version.

That would result in me getting sleepless nights working out where I'd get the money from to buy one!

[KILLBILL]

Diggin' it

[kambites]

So is this based on the old Z4 or the new one?