bmw z4

MINI Speedster Spotted in Tests

Luxist sister website Autoblog reports that a MINI "Speedster," long talked about as an addition to the MINI lineup, has been spied in Germany making test-drives by BMW/MINI engineers.

The car is only weakly camouflaged, and just in the rear. The Speedster is a Cabrio version of the forthcoming MINI (hard-top) coupe.

The two-door convertible is likely to be priced above the Mazda Miata, but certainly below the BMW Z4. And we expect there to be a base model, as well as a more performance tuned and fitted version done by John Cooper Works, MINI's official tuner.

Tags: BMW Z4, John Cooper Works, Mazda Miata, MINI coupe, MINI Speedster

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BMW Z4 Silver Top Edition

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

If you live in Japan and have an extra 6 million yen just kicking around, you might want to contact your local BMW dealer, because the German automaker's Japanese importer has just announced a rather enticing special edition.

It's called the Silver Top edition, and is based on the Z4 sDrive23i. It's powered by a 2.5-liter inline-six with a six-speed automatic transmission, but what sets it apart is the color combination: A silver retractable hard-top (with matching door mirrors) contrasting the black body and a red leather interior. Gorgeous, but it's only available in Japan and only 15 examples will be made.

Gallery: BMW Z4 Silver Top Edition

Tags: bmw, bmw z4, BMW Z4 Silver Top Edition, limited edition, silver top, special edition

Racing into History: BMW Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia Limited Edition

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia Limited Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery

To properly celebrate the 70th anniversary of its unlikely victory back in 1940 at the Mille Miglia automobile race in Brescia, BMW has announced that it will build a new version of the Z4 sDrive35is fittingly called the Mille Miglia Limited Edition.

Each of the 99 Mille Miglia Limited Edition models will be painted matte Polaris Metallic and will feature a blacked-out front grill along with an M aero kit and 19-inch wheels finished in Dark Chrome. Driver and passenger seats will get a dash of red stitching, as will the steering wheel. Finishing it all off will be a unique set of badges both inside and out.

BMW's standard 340-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six will provide power, and a a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox will send those healthy ponies to the rear wheels

BMW has also announced that it has recreated a classic 328 Kamm Coupé that will be taking part in this year's Mille Miglia race. Read more about BMW's historic racing efforts after the break.

Gallery: 2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia Limited Edition

Gallery: BMW 328 at the 1940 Mille Miglia

[Source: BMW via BMWBlog]

Tags: 2010 bmw z4, 2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia Limited Edition, 2010BmwZ4, 2010BmwZ4Sdrive35isMilleMigliaLimitedEdition, bmw, bmw 328, bmw z4, bmw Z4 sDrive35is, Bmw328, BmwZ4, BmwZ4Sdrive35is, mille miglia, MilleMiglia, z4

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BMW launches Z4 GT3 for the Gentleman Racer

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Sports

Mario Theissen and his crew at BMW Motorsport have had some extra time on their hands. First they pulled out of Formula One, selling their team back to Sauber. Then they streamlined their World Touring Car Championship teams, eliminating several cars in the process. So what have they been doing with their newfound spare time? You're looking at it: the BMW Z4 GT3.

Designed for the "gentleman racer", the GT3-spec Z4 gets a heart transplant courtesy of the M3's 4-liter, 480-horsepower V8. Coupled to a six-speed sequential and managed by Munich's ECU408 control unit, that ought to be enough to quicken the heartrates of Bimmerfiles worldwide. But wait, there's more! Like competition-spec ABS, a full roll-cage, central-locking rims and a new front axle with adjustable tubular stabilizer. Oh, and significant weight has been shaved through the use of carbon fiber for the wings, hood, roof and fenders.

BMW will sell you a race-ready car – eligible for such series as the FIA GT3 European Championship, International GT Open and Germany's own ADAC GT Masters – for €298,000, or about $400k in American funds.

Gallery: BMW Motorsport Z4 GT3

Tags: bmw, bmw motorsport, bmw motorsports, bmw z4, bmw z4 gt3, BmwMotorsport, BmwMotorsports, BmwZ4, BmwZ4Gt3, gt3, z4, z4 gt3, Z4Gt3

BMW Debuts Top-of-the-Line Z4 sDrive3.5is Roadster in Detroit

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Enthusiasts have been waiting patiently for an M version of BMW's latest Z4 roadster, and that day has finally arrived, in everything but name. The new – if awkwardly named – Z4 sDrive3.5is is the top-of-the-line roadster from the Bavarian automaker. Unveiled this week at the Detroit auto show, it packs the company's highly-rated 3-liter twin-turbo inline-six with 340 horsepower. 0-60? 4.8 seconds. And to bring it closer to M Roadster territory, there's an M-sport appearance package available, together with a revised suspension and bigger brakes.

Gallery: BMW Z4 sDrive3.5is

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Tags: 2010 naias, bmw, bmw m power, bmw m sport, bmw z4, bmw Z4 sDrive35is, BmwMPower, BmwMSport, BmwZ4, BmwZ4Sdrive35is, detroit, detroit 2010, detroit auto show, naias, north american international auto show, z4

BMW Z4 Gets a V10 Heart Transplant Courtesy of Manhart Racing

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Looking for a new toy? May we recommend something with a big engine in a small roadster. It's a guaranteed recipe for fun.

As if the BMW Z4 M wasn't fast enough, a German tuning firm called Manhart Racing has taken the diminutive convertible – which usually comes with a six-cylinder engine – and dropped in the 5-liter V10 from the BMW M5. Still not enough? They've modified the engine further to deliver a whopping 550 horsepower that, in a 1450kg car is good for a supercar-rivaling sprint to sixty in just 3.9 seconds. That's some truly epic acceleration that's sure to embarrass the big boys.

Gallery: Manhart Racing BMW Z4 V10