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BMW launched the Z4 roadster on 22 October 2002.The production of the new Z4 Roadster started in 2003 to replace the old Z3. In the beginning only the powerful 6-cylinder 2.5 & 3.0 models were available. The Z4 was designed by Chris Bangle & produced at BMW’s Spartanburg, South Carolina. BMW’s newest roadster has a much stiffer chassis than his predecessor by using a more advanced multi-link rear suspension.

Just two years after the production began the 100,000th Z4 was completed and shipped to Germany (Jena , Leipzig) . It was an individual Phoenix Yellow Z4 and had also matching Phoenix Yellow/Anthracite leather interior,18 inch lightweight alloy wheels and aluminum silver interior trim.

Later on the Z4 became more attainable with the arrival of a new 2.2-litre.The production of this third Z4 roadster started in October 2003 and ended in 2005. It was replaced by the new 2.5 with less horsepower than the initial 2.5.

In 2005 the new 2.5si & 3.0si replaced the old 6-cylinder engines. The most attainable Z4 : the 2.0 also introduced in 2005 is a quite powerful car. It’s power is supplied by a 4-cylinder 2.0-litre putting out 150 hp. The latest additions to the roadster family, the updated Z4 and the all-new Z4 M Roadster, began production in January 2006. Production of the Z4 Coupe and Z4 M Coupe began in April 2006.

Five-speed manual gearboxes were standard on all models except the 3.0 L and the M Roadster, which has a 6-speed getrag. 5-speed automatic are available on all cars except for the 2.0 4-cylinder.

A Sport package is also available, with a stiffer and lower suspension, larger wheels with run-flat tires, and DDC_II (Dynamic Driving control ), BMW’s stability control system.

Initially, the Z4 was available only as a roadster , but in 2006 the new coupé was officially launched.
The Z4 M Roadster and the Z4 M Coupé were introduced in 2006. They feature the (In the US) 330-horsepower 3.2 L S54B32 engine. A new six-speed manual transmission is used .

It’s the only transmission available and its final gear ratios are virtually the same as in the M3. The M Roadster has a 6-speed getrag manual box .Production of the BMW Z4 Coupe and M Series Z4 Coupe began 4/4/2006.;

The upgraded BMW Z4 : First European Cars to Offer THX
The recently-updated BMW Z4 includes the first THX-certified sound system from any German manufacturer .
Available on the Z4 Coupe and Roadster, the Premium Sound System has 10 speakers, a 7-Band Graphic Equalizer, digital ten-channel audio amplifier and digital sound processor, two sub-woofers with an output of 100 Watts located behind the seats, two woofers each developing 40 Watts at the front of the car, and six midrange loudspeakers and tweeters.

Total output is 430 watts. During the certification process, THX worked with BMW engineers to analyze speaker layout and positioning, and acoustic and equipment performance in the Z4 to make sure they were optimal for distributing sound throughout the vehicle.

The world’s first look at the Z8 concept was the Z07 design study displayed at the 1997 Tokyo Auto Show and shortly thereafter at the1998 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Again encouraged by favorable public reaction, BMW decided to build the Z8 in limited numbers. BMW 507 designer Count Albrecht Goertz has paid the Z8 the ultimate compliment: “If I were to design the 507 today, it would look like the Z8.” Vastly different from the esthetic of current exclusive high-performance cars, the front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car features a long hood, tapered overhangs, a cockpit positioned toward the rear, and a low beltline.

The front-fender air vents or “gills,” here with integrated fiber-optic turn signal lights, are a design element usually associated with the classic 507 even though the concept dates from earlier BMWs. In a world of sharp-edged, angular sports cars, the Z8 is romantically curvaceous.

The roadster’s advanced lighting technology includes Xenon lowbeam headlights with dynamic auto-leveling and, concealed in the leading edges of the headlamp covers, high-intensity washers. The Z8 is the first car ever with neon turn signals and brake lights that illuminate ten times faster than conventional bulbs, giving other drivers more time to react. Another example of the attention to detail the designers lavished on the Z8 is the two round red lenses bracketing the rear license plate. The left one is a rear foglight; the right one is a backup light that, despite its red lens, illuminates white for reversing.

Building the Z8 in Germany is as unique a process as is the car itself. Z8 bodies are constructed and painted at BMW’s Dingolfing plant, approximately 60 miles northeast of Munich; the front and rear bumpers are manufactured at the nearby Landshut facility. Completed bodies are then shipped to the former pilot-plant area of the company’s Munich factory for final assembly. There, a small team of highly skilled craftspeople largely hand-build Z8s in 31 assembly steps. The complete construction and finishing process takes about 10 times as long as that for a 3 Series sedan.

The Z8 cockpit continues the theme of a modern re-creation of the 507. Thus in the tradition of great sports cars, the Z8 has a pushbutton starter for its engine. The ignition switch is mounted on the dash, just above the starter button instead of in the traditional steering-column location. A new electronic steering lock, along with BMW’s Coded Driveaway Protection, helps deter theft. Other standard equipment includes heated leather seats, a power roadster top and a removable aluminum hardtop with heated rear window. The extensive Nappa leather upholstery and trim is accented with body-color painted surfaces and aluminum control knobs, all connoting -5 -more- astounding attention to detail. Interior trim consists of aluminum and colorkeyed painted surfaces; among the few changes for ‘02 are new choices for combining trim colors with the four available upholstery schemes.

There was never any question about what engine should power the Z8. The 3.2-liter aluminum V8 that powered the original 507 was, at the time, BMW’s most powerful engine. For a car that personifies BMW’s passion for driving, only the most powerful road engine in BMW history, the S62 5-liter V-8 - also found in the M5 sedan - would do. Delivering 394 horsepower and 368 lb-ft. of torque, the Z8’s aluminum engine is completely civilized in traffic and around town, thanks in part to its infinitely adjustable, electronically controlled valve-timing system.

Called High-Pressure Double VANOS 1, the system varies valve timing on the intake and exhaust valves of both cylinder heads - thus on all four camshafts - helping optimize power, torque and emission control. The “high-pressure” designation signifies the fact that this engine, like other BMW M engines but distinct from regular production BMW powerplants, includes a dedicated oil pump for the VANOS system. The engine’s “drive-by-wire” throttle system operates eight individual intake throttles and includes M Driving Dynamics Control, which allows the driver to select between Normal and quicker Sport response characteristics. A unique g-sensitive engine-lubrication system automatically ensures proper oil circulation in hard cornering situations. Because a V-8 engine’s cylinder heads are canted at a 45° angle, there could be insufficient natural oil flow out of the heads under extreme cornering loads. In addition to the usual pressure pump, there are two scavenging pumps, one for each cylinder bank. In straight-ahead driving, these pumps pick up oil from the rear of the 1 - VANOS = VAriable NOckenwellen Steuerung = variable camshaft control, or variable valve timing. -6 -more- engine and return it to the sump. In hard cornering (0.9g or more), the Dynamic Stability Control system’s lateral-g sensor switches magnetic valves to different pickup points, at the curve-outer side of each head and the pan.

The original 507’s body was aluminum. Taking up that tradition in a 21st-century form, all the Z8’s body panels, except its bumpers and door hinges, are aluminum. Here BMW has taken the use of this lightweight alloy a step further and designed an entire space frame in aluminum. This concept combines moderate weight with body rigidity that is unparalleled by any other open sports car in this category. The monocoque frame is made of extrusion-pressed beams much like the trusses of a timber house. Nearly 1,000 rivets and 190 ft. of fused welding seam (MIG) hold the frame and body panels together. The frame is made largely in-house at BMW’s Dingolfing plant, where the existing aluminum processing center also makes the 3 Series convertible hardtop, M3 hood and 7 Series hood and front fenders. The space frame, which is 30 percent lighter than if it were made of steel, provides exceptional torsional rigidity to eliminate most of the body or -7 -more- “cowl” shake usually associated with an open-top car: “The chassis is rigid enough,” commented Car and Driver in April 2001, “to harness [the engine's] thrust without any creaks or groans.” This also provides an extremely stable platform for precise suspension tuning, and contributes to excellent driver feedback. The central frame’s stiffness also allows much lower side sills than is normally the case for a roadster. Pairs of unique aluminum “Y” arms that connect the Z8’s front and rear sections to its space frame provide much of the torsional rigidity and accident protection. In a crash, the arms are designed to crumple, absorbing energy and transferring forces to the sturdy center floor pan. In simulations of the rigorous European Union’s 40-mph offset crash test, the Z8’s passenger cell remained completely intact. “Smart” 2-stage airbags, safety belts with force limiters and automatic tensioners, twin Rollover Protection hoops behind the seats, and a reinforced windshield frame provide additional protection.

The Z8’s impressive technology also includes Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), one of the most advanced vehicle control systems in the industry. Scenarios where DSC could help “save the day” include those where the driver might have misjudged a traffic situation; failed to match speed to road conditions; had a lapse of attention; or been confronted with an unavoidable or critical situation. With wheel-speed sensors and a powerful microprocessor at its heart, DSC incorporates a range of functions that facilitate full and effective use of the Z8’s immense performance and handing capabilities with an added measure of safety. It incorporates all-speed traction control; electronic brake proportioning for always-optimum distribution of brake force among the four wheels; antilock braking; Dynamic Brake Control, which assists the driver in obtaining the shortest stopping distance in an emergency; and enhancement of vehicle stability during hard cornering and accident-avoidance maneuvers. In this last function, figuratively speaking, DCS could be described as a “giant hand” gently exerting its influence on a car to help stabilize it when the driver’s abilities or actions might not be able to do so. DSC employs its highly sophisticated technology of sensors, computing power and actuating systems to achieve stabilizing effects that can be likened to such a “hand.”

Ordering and taking delivery of a car as exclusive as the Z8 should be a memorable experience; BMW has taken steps to ensure that it is just that. Owners awaiting delivery of their roadster will be offered a high-quality scale model of the Z8. A handmade book will be presented to the owner of each Z8 upon delivery, including photographs of his or her car in production and actual paint and upholstery samples from the car. Z8 owners are offered the opportunity to take delivery of their roadster at BMW headquarters in Munich, Germany, where they may even watch the final assembly of their roadster. Munich delivery also includes a tour of the Z8 assembly area, and an optional European tour is offered. Alternatively, delivery is also possible at the BMW Performance Center at Spartanburg, South Carolina. The purchase of a Z8 includes a special driving course at the BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Maximum power is an impressive 245 hp. The interior of the Z9 is a showcase of ground-breaking technology and ergonomic design. The concept of operating the Z9, which BMW calls Intuitive Interaction Concept, allows the driver to easily activate functions while driving without the need to constantly examine and manipulate conventional controls.

The Z9 has only a starter button and light switch on the dashboard. An electronic key is used to activate the driver’s controls. Then, a simple starter button starts the engine. The instrument panel folds out when prompted. Classic, circular dials provide feedback to the driver.

A large, 8.8-inch monitor in the center of the dashboard displays all the information the driver needs, apart from the speedometer and tachometer, which are conventional analog instruments. The monitor is positioned within the driver’s field of vision, allowing it to be viewed while focusing attention on the road ahead. Drive or reverse gears can be engaged with a dash mounted lever.

The Steptronic transmission can also be operated with steering wheel mounted buttons. These buttons can be used for manually shifting gears. One of the most striking features of the Z9 is the gull wing door. But, these doors can also be opened like a conventional hinged door! How is this possible? The conventional doors are actually fitted into the gull wings, allowing the doors to function in both ways.

The full-length gull wing doors can be opened automatically at the press of a button on the electronic key. Depressing the button on the remote control will both open and close a door.

In fact, holding the button down will cause the door to repeat the procedure indefinitely; in effect, like flapping it’s wing!

Car Specifications:
Make: BMW
Model: Z9
Acceleration: 5,0 sec.
Top speed: 250 km/h.
Transmission: n/a automatic
Design: 3,9 litre V8 engine
Displacement: n/a
Maximum Bhp 245 hp / 1750 rmp
Tires Front: 245/45 20
Tires Back: 285/40 21
Length: 4760 mm
Width: 1970 mm
Height: 1280 mm
Weight: n/a

One of its major new upgrades is it new, powerful 6- cylinder power unit. In fact, the 3.0-litre straight-six a.k.a Inline 6 that lies in the BMW Z4 Roadster 3.0si is presently the most original engine in its group, setting the bar and the highest standard possible in motoring enhancement and including a very dynamic performance along with it. And the major point of the engine is to further strengthen the engine’s increased yield per liter, keeping a fantastic power-to-weight proportion, and also the smallest amount possible of fuel utilization. Maximum output registers at an amazing 265 bhp at 6,600 RPMs, also its highest peaked engine velocity is measured at 7,000 RPMs, and the engine upholds its greatest torque of 232 lb-ft that is maintained perfectly from approximately 2,500-4,000 RPMs. It also boasts an engine displacement of 183cc, which is considerable. But it also has an added plus, in the form of both the ULEV II and EU4 criterias, making this marvelous power unit, an existing and evolving role model for the environment.

Other than is striking looks it has positively the best striking features, and this endorsement comes from the drivers point of view, which is in total contrast with the previous BMW engine. The newfound delight exists in the sporting aspect of the engine; the receptiveness of the fresh, new power unit that collaborates perfectly with a rousing engine sound off every time the driver summons up its lying potential. But in addition to its roaring capabilities, it possesses the cultured aspect of motoring traditions and absolute sophistication when just casually breezing along the roadways or even just cruising right from the start.

The BMW Z4 Roadster’s improved power output and its low body weight indicate a natural and lean, top-quality efficiency and performance ratios: The BMW Z4 Roadster 3.0si accelerates rapidly from 0- 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds, and a continued acceleration from 50-75 mph in the car’s 4th gear comes of in just 5.5 seconds.
But in similarities with the BMW Z4 M Roadster, the BMW Z4 Roadster 3.0si is also definitely restricted electronically, in the sense of an occurring top velocity of just 250 or 155 mph. The car’s fuel burning up when merged together with the EU cycle, scores with a mere 8.6 liters, which is equivalent to 32.8 mpg imp.
All newer models of the BMW Z4 Roadsters come standard equipped with a 6 speed manual gearbox. And the characteristic muscle of this enhanced transmission are the very concise and decisive gearshift movement, with a draw on the superior side; an efficient successive smoothness and very accurate direction of the gearshift handle in the mid section, with shift energy staying impossibly effortless and reliable at every instant. This is allowed by the special design of the six gears, which come incredibly close together with every move, and with only minor augmentation in between them, and in addition to the sizeable space between the lowest gear and highest gear, which allows the driver to always having idealist choice for the best gear movements, and a ratio between gears that works rapidly and smoothly, especially when driving dynamically and fast.

With the automatic transmission in the BMW Z4 Roadster 3.0si and 2.5si coming in the stylish Tiptronic shift paddles placed on the steering wheel. This transmission style all in concurrence with the all new system of the transmission, this exceptional gearshift provides even the most experienced enthusiast of automatic transmission a energetic practice of sporting functioning in the BMW Z4 Roadster, devoid of having to sacrifice the first-class luxury of an automatic gearshift, which also sheds light on another BMW first of the new sport automatic.

In their latest redesign, the modernized 2006 BMW Z4 Roadster time after time, persist with the distinguishing design architecture of BMW’s pedigree roadster theory: The 2006 BMW Z4 Roadster claims of reasonable updates, including, a well tailored front sector moved downward closer to the road. And other newer smaller features include fog-lamps and the stylish reflectors that are so very emblematic of the car.

The drivers of the Roadster and all other roadway drivers will gain from newly constructed tail lights with incorporated light amplifiers as well as many more horizontal lines internally, and the bodly alterations at the backend gives the car an even lower, wider and more well-developed look. Highlighting the higher sophisticated, select materials that were used on the interior and the use of additional colors, making the interior is genuinely superb in its appearance without in any aspect giving up its sportiness, and traditionalist character.

And all of BMW Z4 Roadsters come standard equipped with a tremendously compressed convertible roof where the front, stiff portion moves down over the fabric roof and possess as a cover and gently fastens into location, level with the body of the BMW Roadster. The roof is very easy to operate with just the flip of a switch, and the conducted rear window is especially made of a special scratch-proof mineral glass.
The 2006 BMW Roadster is a unique car that entirely symbolizes the emblematic roadster. The genuinely superb design of the 2006 BMW Z4 Roadster is what makes this sports car so exceptional, attractive and a real must-have.

Car Specifications:
Make: BMW
Model: Z4 Roadster
Acceleration: 5,0 sec.
Top speed: 250 km/h.
Transmission: 6 - speed manual
Design: 3,0 litre V6 engine
Displacement: 3246 cc
Maximum Bhp 343 hp / 7900 rmp
Tires Front: 225/45ZR18
Tires Back: 255/40ZR18
Length: n/a
Width: n/a
Height: n/a
Weight: n/a