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The BMW Z4 is a car in a shrinking segment, and if its co-development with Toyota is anything to go off of, the German automaker isn’t too keen on dumping money into the platform. That’s probably why, as CarBuzz reported, a high-performance M version probably isn’t happening.
The news comes straight from the head of the Z4 project, Michael Wimbeck. He says that it just didn’t pencil. The engineers wanted it, it was carefully considered, the engine fit for the job—the S58—exists of course, but it just couldn’t be justified financially. Meanwhile, BMW apparently was able to justify the recently unveiled, updated M Competition versions of its mid-size X5 and X6 SUVs.
Sports cars aren’t as popular as they used to be.
All of this being said, the previous E89 generation Z4 didn’t get an M version either. The highest trim of the old car was powered by the 3.0-liter twin-turbo N54, which made a respectable 335 horsepower in its most aggressive state of tune. The new Z4 is also no slouch as-is. The B58 in the M40i version of the latest G29 car, an engine two generations ahead of the N54, produces 382 hp.
For reference, the original Z4 M from the 2000s could only muster 338 hp from its 3.2-liter naturally-aspirated straight-six, and the new roadster is also a similar weight to the original, hovering around 3,000-3,300 pounds.
So, while an M version of the current Z4 isn’t in the cards, we are still getting performance on the level we would expect of an M car. Also, the Toyota Supra exists, which can be had with a stick shift. These days, a two-door sports car is a lot to ask for. We should be thankful we get two, regardless of what badges they wear.
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