BMW targets the S2000?
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,063
Likes: 364
From: Redondo Beach
Was thinking about this a little more, and I'm going to make a disappointing prediction about the production Z5: >=2400 lbs, <=220hp. Best guess: 2500 lbs, and 215 hp.
Why? Several reasons, most of which come down to brand and model "identity" concerns that I'm guessing will be held by the bean-counters in corporate management. Specifically:
1) The target 2200 lbs and high-revving I4 would make for a very noisy cabin; just not in keeping with BMW models, especially coupes.
2) 240 hp from an I4 (esp. 2L) would mean revs, revs, revs; i.e. lots of "no torque" complaints from BMW buyers used to other BMW motors. So, they'll use at least the 2.2L for low-end torque, which will a) take them further from their weight goal, and b) could impede their ability to get high-rev power.
3) Having already broken their weight goal by using the biggest I4 they can find, they'll have even more noise problems, so they'll sacrifice even more weight for soundproofing.
4) The Z3 3.0 makes 225hp from its 3.0L inline-6; make much more power than that and they'd be "stepping on the toes" of the 3-series models. (You might argue, "The Z5 is a 5-series so it can't step on the toes of the 3-series", but I'd respond, "At $30K it's dead in the 3-series' price range, and besides what 5-series buyer wants a lightweight, noisy 2-seater with a 4-banger?". It's a 5-series in name only.)
Bottom line: a light, taut, 240hp, 2200lb Z5 is not luxurious enough to be a marketable BMW; but adding luxury (and torque is a luxury) increases weight and risks taking sales away from existing models. The compromise is a conservative, "entry-level-luxury" coupe that has decent mid-range torque but is ultimately underpowered.
Sorry to burst your bubbles.
We could always hope for an M version (but would that steal sales from the existing M coupe?)...
John
Why? Several reasons, most of which come down to brand and model "identity" concerns that I'm guessing will be held by the bean-counters in corporate management. Specifically:
1) The target 2200 lbs and high-revving I4 would make for a very noisy cabin; just not in keeping with BMW models, especially coupes.
2) 240 hp from an I4 (esp. 2L) would mean revs, revs, revs; i.e. lots of "no torque" complaints from BMW buyers used to other BMW motors. So, they'll use at least the 2.2L for low-end torque, which will a) take them further from their weight goal, and b) could impede their ability to get high-rev power.
3) Having already broken their weight goal by using the biggest I4 they can find, they'll have even more noise problems, so they'll sacrifice even more weight for soundproofing.
4) The Z3 3.0 makes 225hp from its 3.0L inline-6; make much more power than that and they'd be "stepping on the toes" of the 3-series models. (You might argue, "The Z5 is a 5-series so it can't step on the toes of the 3-series", but I'd respond, "At $30K it's dead in the 3-series' price range, and besides what 5-series buyer wants a lightweight, noisy 2-seater with a 4-banger?". It's a 5-series in name only.)
Bottom line: a light, taut, 240hp, 2200lb Z5 is not luxurious enough to be a marketable BMW; but adding luxury (and torque is a luxury) increases weight and risks taking sales away from existing models. The compromise is a conservative, "entry-level-luxury" coupe that has decent mid-range torque but is ultimately underpowered.
Sorry to burst your bubbles.
We could always hope for an M version (but would that steal sales from the existing M coupe?)...John
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,144
Likes: 1
From: Austin, Texas
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!
This was bound to happen... even Pontiac is getting into the game (although reliability will be anybody's guess there!).
And, there will be even more basic sports cars than ours - the Elise is coming here in 2003.
This was bound to happen... even Pontiac is getting into the game (although reliability will be anybody's guess there!).
And, there will be even more basic sports cars than ours - the Elise is coming here in 2003.
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