German Car Zone

Sadly, BMW has confirmed that it has canceled the Z4 M.

The automaker said the economic downturn and a lack of customer interest in the model ruled out going forward with an M version of the Z4.

But it seems odd to cite the crisis hitting automotive sales as a reason for killing the model when the company is also going forward with the X5 M and the X6 M and a whole host of new products that are large, expensive and not very economical on fuel costs.

So maybe the second reason cited was a larger factor than they are letting on, the lack of customer demand. Hard to imagine that of all the new upcoming BMW models, including the 5-series GT, that the Z4 would be the one where customer interest in an M version hasn't been piqued enough.

A BMW spokesperson was quoted by iMotor.co.uk as saying,"Given the current economic crisis there is no business case for a full-on M version of the Z4." The spokesperson also admitted that the X5 M and X6 M were given the go-ahead before the collapse in sales which, in many cases, have hit premium brands just as hard as the volume automakers.

The consolation prize will be an M Sport package for the Z4, like the one for the 135i. That would include a few M-badges tucked here and there but mainly on the steering wheel, a more tightly tuned suspension, a body kit and bigger alloy wheels. Couple all that with the BMW's 3.0 liter, twin-turbo with 306 hp and it should pack enough of a punch. What else do you want? Don't you know there's global economic crisis?

[Source: WCF]

Hope this is all bull!

This is very expected as an Z4-M doesn't slot in anywhere now when the M3 might return to it's 6 cylinder glory and a potential M1 is lurking in the grass. It would not be economically viable for all three to be rocking 6 cylinder engines without the hierarchy of the M3 being compromised.

Thats ok, we have the X6M instead.

BS, like most of your posts about BMW/M. Z3/Z4 M always shared the engine with M3 and it did nothing to 'hierarchy', both co-existed just fine.

As for the new Z4 M being axed, well they said the same about the existing one also. I think it is pretty much standard modus operandi for BMW to deny an M version of everything when the base model launches.

BMW is just scared about the next AMG SLK.

They said this before, in fact the said that they wouldn't do a M Z4 and then it appeared. Best to just wait and see what happens.


M

Yup, they've said it before with the previous generation and with X5 too. It's also possible that this only concerns the Z4 Roadster as I think scott has previously said that the M-model will be based on the upcoming Z4 Coupe.

The Z4 M version was always close to one entire generation behind the M3, and there has not been any problems because the progression with engines have been forward and not backwards. Imagine if BMW introduces a V8 Z4 in 2-3 years it might be perceived as more exotic than a 6 cylinder M3 making an entry just a few years afterwards. One way of dealing with that could be gifting the new M3 with hybrid for a boost of power and KERS too. They are excellent ways of making up for the downsizing.

I think the engine might be a problem here. Like stated here before, the Z3/4 have always used M3 engines, but also quite some time after it was introduced in the M3. This time around that would probably have worked out just fine if all of a sudden the environment had not become such an issue. Then we would have the Z4M with the 4L V8 in a few years, maybe around 2010 with the next M3 comming a year or so after that. Now BMW will have to use something new, efficient and clean.

So, since there is no such M engine to pull of the shelves, I don't really know what they will do. Sure, the Z4 M would be twisted with the V8 but I guess that will not happen.