[ORIGIN M.]

Vaporware Front Page News No Doubt.

The Z5 is up next.

You'll see !

[SCOTT26]

If you are making assumptions based upon what you see so far then please be advised that the car is heavily disguised with vacuumed formed plastic drilled on to the body underneath the actual camouflage.
As can be identified by the close-up of the Z5's fake nose.
Dimension are around the size of the F-Type.

[N & M]

Originally Posted by 5against8

According to the M2 project lead, M will not be involved in the upcoming Supra/Z5/whatever it will be called project. A little bit disappointing but not surprising I guess. Still excited to see the cars that come out of this collaboration.

Excerpt and link to the full article below.

"My recent chat with the leader of BMW's M2 project revealed that while the cooperation between Toyota and BMW will indeed result in new vehicles and shared hybrid-electric technology, BMW's upcoming sports car, which will likely debut as a roadster, won't get the M treatment."

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...tas-new-supra/


Attachment 1445768

Amazing how Toyota will use this car to prop up its sports credentials while BMW still insists on modifying saloon/sedan based platforms to be sports cars. To me this is just plan strange.

[N & M]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Z5 is an unknown quantity as its being placed a little higher than the current car, mainly against the Jaguar F-Type.
So it is a full relaunch of a new model aimed at enticing more Sports car owners from the more accessible Z4.
That is why there is an advanced programme of development with Toyota on the new car as both companies can pool resources on one car.
BMW see the relaunch of the Z series similar to the BMWi cars with a new genre of sports cars using a lightweight philosophy although aimed at performance rather than sustainability.
Should the car initially be successful? Then we will see progress.

Usually the halo cars inspire the ordinary sales not the other way around. This could be yet another missed opportunity. First no coupe and now no M on a purpose built sports car. Inspired! Bravo!

[AKRAPOVICOWNS]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

If you are making assumptions based upon what you see so far then please be advised that the car is heavily disguised with vacuumed formed plastic drilled on to the body underneath the actual camouflage.
As can be identified by the close-up of the Z5's fake nose.
Dimension are around the size of the F-Type.

Glad to hear that the dimensions are close to the F-type.

For the guy above, it has been pretty much confirmed that the Z5 will spawn a coupe variant. An M version not so sure at this point.

[Red Bread]

Will it be as fat as the F Type? Really hoping G series cars lose some weight, not just maintain weight with more content.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Z5 is an unknown quantity as its being placed a little higher than the current car, mainly against the Jaguar F-Type.
So it is a full relaunch of a new model aimed at enticing more Sports car owners from the more accessible Z4.
That is why there is an advanced programme of development with Toyota on the new car as both companies can pool resources on one car.
BMW see the relaunch of the Z series similar to the BMWi cars with a new genre of sports cars using a lightweight philosophy although aimed at performance rather than sustainability.
Should the car initially be successful? Then we will see progress.

Did you actually say " lightweight " ?

I don't think anyone at BMW AG knows the definition of those two words any more

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Will it be as fat as the F Type? Really hoping G series cars lose some weight, not just maintain weight with more content.

The BMW answer to weight is More powah!

[3M TAPE]

Roadster M car? Pass anyways

[raysspl]

Of course there's going to a M version

[lemetier]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

Did you actually say " lightweight " ?

I don't think anyone at BMW AG knows the definition of those two words any more

Yes lightweight. The target is in the low 1000kg range.

[adc]

Originally Posted by deemo319

There will be a Z5 M... And they should make a track version (Club Sport?) with a fixed roof, improved cooling option, anchor points for a harness and lightweight wheels.

Amen. I'd buy it. I'd line up my deposit for the first batch of euro deliveries...

[jdhiro]

Serious question, why does a "sports car" need a "sports version"? (Edit: I don't mean a hardcore version, that's another debate.)

Perhaps this has been the problem with Z cars all along. The base models have been quite pedestrian, and never held a stick against the industry benchmark Boxster. The M variants, while neat, have largely been small volume compromised afterthoughts.

What if Z was a sports car marque in it's own right? //M has really been an in-house tuner badge for all cars other than the M1. What if the Z was a real sports car out of the gate without the need for a tuner badge?

I wonder if this is what SCOTT means when he says Z is relaunching as it's own brand. I would really appreciate that approach.

Whatever is in the card for Z, I hope something is competitive with the Boxster. I've been close to jumping to that camp for a while now.

[aajami]

Validates my decision to not wait for a Z5M and move onto a GT4.

[Inablur]

Originally Posted by JasonNW

Serious question, why does a "sports car" need a "sports version"? (Edit: I don't mean a hardcore version, that's another debate.)

Perhaps this has been the problem with Z cars all along. The base models have been quite pedestrian, and never held a stick against the industry benchmark Boxster. The M variants, while neat, have largely been small volume compromised afterthoughts.

What if Z was a sports car marque in it's own right? //M has really been an in-house tuner badge for all cars other than the M1. What if the Z was a real sports car out of the gate without the need for a tuner badge?

I wonder if this is what SCOTT means when he says Z is relaunching as it's own brand. I would really appreciate that approach.

Whatever is in the card for Z, I hope something is competitive with the Boxster. I've been close to jumping to that camp for a while now.

It would be nice if BMW would apply this philosophy....something like what Mercedes has done with AMG and the AMG GT car.

This would really liven the BMW brand imo.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Z5 is an unknown quantity as its being placed a little higher than the current car, mainly against the Jaguar F-Type.

If this is true, then I sincerely hope that product planners are working tirelessly right now to put a V8 in the car. Because, although the F-Type is great even with the V6, the V8 model is the one that makes it relevant and puts it in the conversation when you talk about AMG GT or Corvette for example.

This vehicle architecture is good enough for a neo-Supra, so it should be more than capable as the underpinnings for a world-class sports car that could be measured up against the cars I mention above and others. I sincerely hope they can make the business case for actually using the chassis to its full potential, and then giving it the power under the hood it deserves.

[SCOTT26]

Just as the BMW i8 showcases its power with a three cylinder albeit assisted.
It further cements the BMWi philosophy of being lightweight whenever possible.

The Z5 will receive a four cylinder and a six cylinder but the output will be exclusive to this model. Therefore retaining the lightweight philosophy but for high performance. That is what the new Z cars will offer.

[dmboone25]

Do we know if it will be hard top or soft top?

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

Do we know if it will be hard top or soft top?

Soft top.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1216427

[spiceyxi]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Just as the BMW i8 showcases its power with a three cylinder albeit assisted.
It further cements the BMWi philosophy of being lightweight whenever possible.

The Z5 will receive a four cylinder and a six cylinder but the output will be exclusive to this model. Therefore retaining the lightweight philosophy but for high performance. That is what the new Z cars will offer.

Hopefully it really is lightweight enough to pull off the I4. Hearing that BMW is looking to move the Z4 up market when that strategy failed last time (E89) and trying to compete with the Jag F-Type with an I4 kind of disappoints me. This disappoints me as both an e86 owner and a stock holder of BMW.

Please prove me wrong, but a higher market Zed with an I4 just doesn't sound appealing. Let's see how much that I6 is going to cost. Anywhere near the F-Type price is going to be a really tough fight especially if it gets close to the v8 F-Type.

[ZeroSum]

Well that sucks. I was hoping they would be involved with something that would actually be interesting for M to do rather than another SUV.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Soft top.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1216427

I think that's a good thing - they've already got the M4 hardtop vert - this can be differentiated in a meaningful (aka performance-based) way.