Z2 BMW's Miata Me-Too
With BMW’s newest Z4 hiking the roadster’s size and weight, Auto Motor und Sport says the Bangle-less Bavarians are planning a downsized Z2 Roadster for 2011 (planned European release). And they waste no time making Mazda Miata comparisons. The Z2 will be built on a downsized Z4 platform, but don’t expect a trademark straight six. It seems that nothing larger than a two liter four-banger will make it into this lightweight roadster. This translates into about 150 hp from a 1.8 liter four cylinder engine at the entry level, and up to 300 hp from a possible turbocharged M version of the two liter four. There’s even talk of a hybrid version. Active steering and suspension and dual-clutch transmissions will be standard, but despite all the techno-frippery the top will be fabric. Interestingly, Auto Motor und Sport lists the price in dollars rather than euros. And they say fewer than 30k of them will make a Z2 yours. Look for an auto show debut sometime in late 2010.
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I will look forward to see what comes. The new Z4 will push up in price-point leaving room in the lineup for a lower priced model. Remember that this car won't need lots of horsepower to make it a successful car and I'm sure BMW figures if people want performance...they will move up to a Z4. A lightweight 'fun' roadster does not necessarily require high horsepower IMHO. I would also point out that historically, convertibles are not targeted towards high sales volume. As far as lightweight....we'll see. I used to own a 2000 M Roadster (based on the Z3). Stock, it was pushing 0-60 in low 5's and weighed 2900 lbs if I remember right, so they can do it. I had a couple minor mods that pushed it to 300 HP and it times it felt too light for the HP. But it was a blast!
An overpriced Miata. It's what I've always wanted! On a serious note, I'm excited about this. BMW can (did?) build good performance vehicles, and maybe some of their engineering abilities will shine through in the Z2. Oh, and I hope they don't botch the styling ...
While the Z3 and first-generation Z4 were built in South Carolina, the current Z4 is built in Germany. With the replacement of the cloth top by a metal one, the current Z4 is both expensive and not a particularly great performer, even with the twin-turbo 3-liter. The prior version M roadster was significantly quicker. I think the problem is that the current Z4 is an expensive two-seat "touring car" and the market for them is very, very small . . . and already well-occupied by Mercedes. The original (4cylinder) Z3 was more or less targeted at the Miata. However, it was a little bigger, a little heavier and signficantly more expensive. So, with the 4-cylinder, that didn't work. The addition of the 2.8 liter and 3 liter six solved the power problem but, as numerous commentators have noted, stuffing increasing amounts of power into the Z chassis (e.g. the M cars) increasingly showed the limitations of that chassis, only partially fixed by such tricks as the staggered wheel sizes. For my money, the 2.8 liter Z3 (with, IIRC, 180 hp) is the best balanced car of the bunch, even though I own the 225 hp 3.0 liter model. My car does not have that "light on its feet" feel of the Miata; it wants to be "horsed" around the curves. IIRC, my Z3 roadster comes in at 2700 lbs. Even with a lighter 4-cylinder engine, I wonder if BMW will be able to build something that weighs less but is acceptably rigid and meets current safety standards. Certainly, they will be able to beat the current Z4, which has gotten pretty porky.