Showing posts with label z4. Show all posts
Showing posts with label z4. Show all posts

Saturday, April 1, 2023

My FH5 Log: Clone Slasher

By the time the BMW Z4 G29 and the Toyota GR Supra were unveiled, the motoring world caused a stir rather than celebrating their arrival, probably because both of these sports cars have the same bits and bobs, meaning they behave just like them rather than looking different.


Yes, both the Z4 G29 and the GR Supra are like two sides of the same coin. They may look different but they were built by the same master because, as they say, it's the economy, el bimbo. Anyway, how did they get through?


The Z4 G29 came first when it went on sale in the first quarter of 2019. Apart from its concept-inspired exterior design, the new model brings back the soft-top roof that was absent from the previous model and it can be folded up or down in approximately ten seconds even at cruising speeds. Seen here is the range-topping M40i model with the 3.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo engine producing 340PS of power, and 500Nm of torque, and when mated with the 8-speed AT, it does 0-100kph in 4.5 seconds and electronically limited to 250kph.


The Toyota GR Supra marked the beginning of Reiwa-era JDM sports cars when it went on sale in May 2019, a month after the beginning of the Reiwa era in Japan. It's built in collaboration with BMW so most speedo boys call this Supra a BMW because it runs on the same specs as the BMW Z4 G29. With the design borrows inspiration from the FT-1 Concept, the GR Supra shares most of the engines from the BMW Z4 such as the 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo engine and the 3.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo engine for the range-topping RZ variant producing 340PS of power and 500Nm of torque. All of the engines are mated to an 8-speed Steptronic gearbox.



With their quick introduction done, it's time to find which of these two clones is the superior one and with that, I'm heading to the Horizon Mexico festival site to bring this heated debate into action. Before I had a chance, I had a problem.

Checking at the specs, it looks like the Z4 G29 has superior specs compared to the GR Supra. Don't ask me, ask the producers. I was going to say such specs will make the Z4 G29 the winner of this comparison but that would be premature. After careful consideration, the quick lap duel between the two clones is on. Bring it!


After a quick lap around the festival circuit, here are the results;

Z4 G29 - 1:18.545

GR Supra - 1:18.478

This is the closest result they've ever pulled. A near-second gap between them and looks like the Z4's Japanese clone, the GR Supra, is the winner. Just.


I guess I underestimated the GR Supra's potential even though it's basically a BMW Z4 underneath. For a Japanese car that has the same blood as its German equivalent, the Supra of the Reiwa era always comes on top. 


At this point, I was going to end this Clone Slasher but because of the Supra's potential, it's time to reward this...clone slasher the biggest challenge of all; The Marathon. Yes, The Marathon is the toughest street race in the Horizon Festival. Before getting ready, it's time to give the GR Supra the makeover it needs.




Mirrored in! See what I did?


With the GR Supra mirrored in and beefed up on steroids, it's ready to take on The Marathon, Horizon Festival's toughest street race. Do your best, my little BMW...errr....Toyota. Toyota! Yes! Just rooting for your Supra-ness in this ultimate street race!

Anyway, without further ado, The Marathon is on!


The Marathon of Horizon Mexico starts at the Horizon Street Scene site, then goes through the streets of Guanajuato, outside the stadium, the festival site, the Autopista, and then you'll fight through the stretching finale at the Gran Puente bridge. Endurance is key in this ultimate street race and a slight mistake will slip you out of the race. This ultimate cannonball run will be the true test for the GR Supra's potential as it tries to live up to its predecessor's street cred, you know what I say.

Having fought our way through this ultimate cannonball run, it looks like I and the Supra made it through the Gran Puente finale and won The Marathon. Well done!


The GR Supra...even though it's as German as the BMW Z4, it still lives up to its predecessor's street credentials and this is why most speedo boys ended up being on the Supra side rather than the Z4's side even though they're built on the same factory in Austria. Why? It's Japanese. Every speedo boy in the world loves Japanese sports cars nowadays even before The Fast and The Furious movies came out.

With The Marathon behind me now, it looks like I have one last challenge to take on Horizon Mexico. It's the big one; The Goliath. Better get ready because this is the biggest challenge I'll ever take on, even if it costs me.

The journey continues...

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Forza Horizon 4: Der neu Z4

After a lengthy battle through the Spring Horizon Playlist, I got my hands on an all-new Bimmer which arrived in the world of Forza for the first time ever since it recently went on sale. Want to guess what that shiny new Bimmer is?



If your answer is a new Z4 G29, then you are correct. It really is the BMW Z4 G29, the latest generation of BMW's open-top roadster commonly driven by good-looking men around the horn.



So this is the new BMW Z4 Roadster, in case you didn't know what that Bimmer is, and this third-generation model is Z4 at its best. Apart from its concept-inspired exterior design, the new model brings back the soft-top roof that was absent from the previous model and it can be folded up or down in approximately ten seconds even at cruising speeds. Seen here is the range-topping M40i model with the 3.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo engine producing 340PS of power, and 500Nm of torque, and when mated with the 8-speed AT, it does 0-100kph in 4.5 seconds and electronically limited to 250kph.



Like most festival goers, I got the chance to experience what's like to drive with the new BMW Z4 via the monthly rivals challenge and now here I am, battling my way through the Spring Horizon Playlist to get my hands on my own G29 Z4. Having learned from the Rivals event, the new Z4 feels relatively superior on the dynamics stakes and thanks to its 50-50 weight distribution, clever suspension setup, dramatic brakes, not to mention the M Sport differential, Adaptive M Sport suspension, M Sport brakes, and high-performance tires on this M40i, the new Z4 is on a totally different league with modern sports cars and it delivers a knife edge drive that will massively satisfy even the quirkiest of drivers. Quirk or no quirk, the new Z4 slices rather well.

Speaking of a knife edge, I got a bit of a brain wave to get the most out of the new BMW Z4 G29, and with that, it's off to the makeup room to prep the new Z4 with something special.





It may be like bringing a knife in a gunfight but this is rather like bringing a knife in a swordfight but anyway, with a piece of starlight shining through the new Z4...



...looks like our top star is ready to take on other modern sports cars just to show who has the right to be called the top star. So, without further ado, let battle commence.



Not the knife in the swordfight I was expecting it to be but here we are, a top star is born.



So, having a blast in the new Z4, the question that stands between everyone and the car is do they love the new Z4 or not? I mean come on, I read some juicy facts about the new Z4 as well as its Asian relative but does everyone consider the new Z4 as their favorite car for the moment? Love it or hate it, a Z4 is a Z4 and even when its Asian relative's several miles away from the gridlock, it performs just like its relative and there's no arguing about that.

That is the bottom line I can really conclude about my time with the new Z4. Enjoy your new ride.

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

BMW Z4 G29 vs. 8-Series Cabrio G14

BMW shook the world with the introduction of the new, third-generation, Z4 G29 roadster, and this new model is starting to regain its true form as a no-frills open-top sportscar that caters to even the most discerning car enthusiasts everywhere. So, what's it all about?

2020 BMW Z4
2020 BMW Z4

So this is the all-new BMW Z4 and what's not to like about the all-new model that is better than the previous Z4? The first Z4 is heavily made for the heartthrobs trying to woo the ladies with its sportscar charms that match the macho men of today while the second Z4 takes a more sensible approach with no hardcore stuff in sight. This new Z4 though is starting to return to its true form in new and exciting ways to entice Bimmer drivers that this is the sportscar to go for despite the Axis Powers connection between this car and a certain Japanese maker I can't spit it out until later.

First and foremost, the design, and while it draws inspiration from the concept car as seen from the 2017 Concours d'Elegance at Pebble Beach, the exterior design feels a bit more toned down compared to the concept but while it has some ups and downs its design process, it still appeals like the first Z4 made and by such demand, the soft-top roof that was absent from the previous model returns and it can be folded up or down in approximately ten seconds even while cruising on residential zones. With or without the roof, the new Z4 really shows its sportscar charisma, making it the ideal head-turner on the road.

2020 BMW Z4 interior

On the inside, the driver-focused interior really matches the Z4's charisma although most speedo boys will be having a hard time getting used to the new dashboard layout, the two-zone climate control, the Harman Kardon surround sound system, ambient lighting, and other high-tech stuff but as long as they're not bothering with any of the dashboard stuff, the true beauty of the Z4 lies within its driving experience.

2020 BMW Z4

The new Z4's starting price is 40.950 Euros for the base sDrive20i Advantage Steptronic, the one with the 197PS 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo engine mated to an 8-speed Steptronic with 7,3 l/100km of fuel economy on the WLTP scale combined but to get the most out of the new Z4, there's the high-end M40i variant, priced at 60,950 Euros, with the 3.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo engine producing 340PS of power, 500Nm of torque, and when mated to the same gearbox I mentioned above, it does 0-100kph in 4.5 seconds and electronically limited to 250kph.

Apart from the engines, the new Z4 is becoming more enjoyable to drive thanks to its new chassis design as well as its new suspension setup comprising of a double-joint spring strut axle at the front and a five-link rear axle, a first for a BMW roadster. With this setup as well as its lightweight design, the optimal weight distribution makes it a more enjoyable car to drive full-stop, not to mention its dramatic braking feel thanks to its lightweight braking system and other useful features, including the Performance Control function. In the M40i variant, however, this is a completely different story thanks to its M Sport differential, Adaptive M Sport suspension, M Sport brakes, and high-performance tires stuff like these makes it more like getting jabbed by a sweaty high-school girl several times. That hurts but that experience really makes it special.

So, the new BMW Z4 really is a driver's car that appeals just like the original but drives in a way it hasn't done before but for some gentlemen drivers, the new Z4 is much of a fluke because they had something better than the new Z4.

2019 BMW 8-Series Cabriolet
2019 BMW 8-Series Cabriolet

What this is is the new 8-Series Convertible, an open-top version of what is known to be the successor to the old 6-Series and since today's 8-Series is now based on the current 5-Series, it wasn't made to compete against grand tourers like the Bentley Continental GT. In fact, this is now an unrivaled grand tourer in its class, and for this convertible version, you can expect the same choice of engines as the coupe equivalent but the V8-powered M850i Cabrio with the 530PS 4.4L V8 Bi-Turbo is the only choice they had because the diesel variants are not friendly to European drivers right now.

2019 BMW 8-Series Cabriolet interior
2019 BMW 8-Series Cabriolet interior

Of course, while this is basically heavier not just the hardtop equivalent but also the new Z4 because it has an xDrive all-wheel-drive system and the same 8-speed Steptronic as the new Z4, not to mention every M Sport stuff mentioned above for the M850i variant, the new model chews the Z4 for breakfast, lunch, and tea, not because it has a 0-100kph time of 3,9 seconds but only because it has a lot of traction and grip to cleanly get past the Z4 like it was nothing happened. What a trump card this grand tourer has and unlike the Z4, this has two extra seats in the back but sadly, it's hard to squeeze through, meaning only your peripherals can fit into the rear seats following your trips to the rummage sale.

So, there we are, the 8-Series Cabriolet is by no means the ideal open-top BMW fit for gentlemen drivers everywhere but because of the 108,000 Euro price tag, looks like the Z4 wins because you can afford two for the price of one 8-Series Cabriolet while having some spare change for some stuff to do. 

The new Z4 is all about delivering old-school thrills to its new form while the new 8-Series Convertible is a grand tourer that handles almost everything on the road and on the track but either way, these new models will make the grand tour more interesting in the spring season and we can't blame either of these two for what they are capable of. Still, even though the new 8-Series Convertible's got the muscle for its start dash sensation, the new Z4 is still the best pick not only it's cheaper than the 8-Series Convertible but also much more enjoyable to drive full stop.

Photo: BMW AG

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Forza Horizon 2: Meet the starters!

A few days ago, I finally picked my own copy on the XBOX One version of Forza Horizon 2 and I can't wait to see what it's like to enjoy the Southern European landscape by driving coast to coast with over two hundred of the world's scorching hot rides. As I began my Southern European journey on FH2, I have a choice of three starter cars to choose from, each with their own distinctive tastes and challenges await in each.

These are the starters:

 - 2011 BMW Z4 sDrive35is - The second-generation of BMW's open-top roadster offers a well-balanced breed of speed and mobility.



- 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS Coupe - This classic muscle car from Chevrolet offers straight-line performance.



- 1998 Toyota Supra - One of Japan's most iconic sportscars from that decade and one of the most iconic tuners of all time even post-discontinuation.



With three starters to choose from as they began their quest for fame at Southern Europe, it's very difficult to decide which is which but you know what, it's not quite difficult to decide because some would go for the Z4 because it's a well-balanced car, others for the Camaro because of its power, and some would want to go with the Supra because it's a popular tuner for many and they can spend their cash tweaking on its performance figures.

As for me, which of these three did I choose?



I chose the Z4 because, well don't get me wrong, but this car is well suited for this landscape and since I was starting with the Z4, I can't help but trying out this German roadster for a joyride.



Be it rain or shine, the Z4 never fails to impress me and since this is FH2, I want my car to be well suited for this occasion and for that, it's time for this car to get the Horizon makeover courtesy of extensive use of the game's design creator!



Voila! My Z4 is wearing its tradition Bimmer colors and notice those M-inspired stripes I made. It's done to give out the true BMW joy from within. I've even added some of my handmade Horizon Festival racing numbers on my car and I gave it an 89 because this is the E89 model.

After extensive makeovers, I sent my Z4 to take part in the first ever championship suitable for this car somewhere in the Castelletto area of Italy.

 

Having completed my first championship, looks like I'm now primed and ready for my Southern European journey on Forza Horizon 2.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Welcome Back: 2011 BMW Z4 sDrive35is

This game, Forza Motorsport 4, is the natural home of the quad-cam 84-litre carnivores. From the Murcielago to the Raptor, they have them all. They even have keepers to tame them, Forza Motorsport 4 is JURASSIC PARK but no dinosaurs involved and I'm in a middle of a spring watch...

Z34 and E89 doing jurassic practices

The BMW Z4 E89 is the latest incarnation of the Z4. The first generation BMW Z4 was in a form of a soft-top roadster but this second-generation Z4, launched at the 2009 NAIAS in Detroit, is now a hard-top roadster. It was built in Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany.

Unlike the old Z4, it is 148mm longer, 9mm wider, 2.5mm in wheelbase and it's 150 to 235kg heavier. The retractable hardtop can be folded up or down in 20 seconds.

The Z4 sDrive 35i has a new 7-speed double-clutch transmission. Models like the 23i and the 30i comes with a six-speed AT with Steptronic. Most models have 6MT standard.

Seen here is the sDrive35is model of the Z4 E89, it has a twin-turbocharged N54B30 engine that produces 340PS of power and 450Nm of torque. It comes with an M Sports Package including M Aerodynamics Package and adaptive M Suspension featuring electronically controlled dampers.

Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the BMW Z4 E89 on Top Gear alongside the Nissan 370Z (Fairlady Z Z34). With The Stig, it set a lap time of 1.28.2, slower than the Nissan Z34.

It was featured on Richard Hammond's Top Gear Uncovered DVD as part of a lesson on how to make a Top Gear Road Test. It even have a drag race against a jet-powered RC toy car and the Z4 won against the RC toy car, which ended up exploded the Vauxhall Omega, the Top Gear training car.

Monday, November 14, 2011

BMW Z4 GT3 in FM4

Shooting for a next Top Gear episode
featuring the Z4 GT3!


What is the Z4 GT3?
The BMW Z4 GT3 is a track-only version of the BMW Z4 E89 that was made to satisfy customers, mostly private racing teams, to compete in various championships in accordance with GT3 regulations. As of January 2011, it achieved big when Claudia Hurtgen, Augusto Farfus, Tommy Miller, and Edward Sandstrom won the Dubai 24 Hours for Team Schubert. It's the first win in a marathon race, proving its potential with wins in its first appearance in the FIA GT3 European Championship. It was powered by a 4.4L V8 engine that produces 530HP of power and 383lb-ft of torque. Because most of its components are made of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP), the BMW Z4 GT3 weighs 2,646lbs and it has a 50:50 weight balance, capable of being a proper decent handling racer.

The Stig tries out the Hatsune Miku Good Smile BMW Z4!

Forza player, Akasaka Mitsuke, recreated the Hatsune Miku Super GT BMW Z4 used in the 2011 Super GT season and most Japanese Forza 4 players were so impressed why did this FM4 player spent most of the time recreating the Super GT racer used in the 2011 season packed with everything Miku and Good Smile Racing. So good, even the Japanese otakus start asking how did a Forza player recreated this Super GT masterpiece.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

BMW Z4 (E89) - Forza 3 Owner's View

This is how a bad businessman parks...


The Japan-only BMW Z4 Silver Top has arrived!

FINAL IMPRESSION: The second generation BMW Z4 (E89) is definitely one of my favorite Bimmers in the Forza Motorsport franchise. When it was debuted on this game via the Jalopnik Car Pack, we weren't surprised that we have gotten a chance to try out the E89.

If it wasn't for its good looks and cunning agility, none of us would have been addicted to the E89. Speaking of which, remember the special edition, Japan-only, BMW Z4 Silver Top? Yes you can mimic that by painting the E89's roof silver and the whole body black. There are tons of customization that are welcomed to Forza players who fell in love with the second generation BMW Z4. It's worth attempting it.


Saturday, April 2, 2011

BMW Z4 E89 in a Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin episode

BMW Z4 E89 and a pre-MC Toyota Fortuner in
a Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin episode


Well I'll be darn...

The second-generation BMW Z4 E89 appeared next to the "before minor change" Toyota Fortuner in a Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin episode.

It seems joy is what it wants to make pansin on TV dramas.

What do you guys think?

Friday, March 18, 2011

The Ultimate Heartthrobs' Machine

Edward Fuentabella's car in Green Rose


The first generation BMW Z4 can be sometimes a common show-off in some Asian dramas and movies. Lee Dong-gun (as Gerry) drove one in the Korean drama Stained Glass, Rico Blanco (as Lucas) drove one in Imortal, even Jake Cuenca (as Edward) drove one in the Philippine version of Green Rose. Also, this car appeared incidentally on the 2011 comedy drama movie "Who's That Girl?" and this was driven by Luis Manzano, who is the main character on that movie.

The first generation Z4 previously made its first Gran Turismo appearance at GT4 on PS2, then later on it was carried on Gran Turismo PSP and now Gran Turismo 5 on the Playstation3. With the required level of 2 and the cost of about 38,600 credits, GT5 players can add the BMW Z4 '03 model to their ever expanding garage full of race cars and yes its a Premium Tier car.

TOKYO R246 DRIFT!

My BMW Z4 on GT5 is fully tuned to about 383hp/6900rpm, weighs 1136kg because of the weight loss, and its Performance Points is a modest 506. Upon taking a spin on the heartthrobs' machine, it reminds me of the good old days of Stained Glass. Hah! I could often get used to this Autobahn roadster more than often but for those who think the regular BMW Z4 '03 model is not good enough, the high-revving BMW Z4 M Coupe '08 model is for them.

The Z4 M Coupe is fast and curious

The Z4 M Coupe is its first appearance in the Gran Turismo series but most video games featured this car. Players who reached A-Spec/B-Spec level 7 can buy this car at the cost of 69,500 credits. In standard tune, the BMW Z4 M Coupe has a power output of 338hp/7900rpm, weighs 1495kg, and the Performance Points is 469. Thanks to the credits spent in tuning, I accumulated my own Z4 M Coupe to a power output of 422hp/8500rpm, lost 250 kg of weight, and it has 513 Performance Points. How to tune its LSD and Suspension is up to you.

This car stands still at Red Bull Hangar-7

Just like the regular Premium Tier Z4, the Z4 M Coupe is a Premium Tier car. You can change its rims, add aero parts, install carbon fiber hood, or go Photo Travel with this car! Just like mine, I take a picture of this car at Red Bull Hangar-7, which is one of the photo travel locations only Premium Tier cars can take a picture at.

The duel between the two Z4 models

Who knows? Both the BMW Z4 '03 and the BMW Z4 M Coupe '08 can be the fiercest rivals and it's up to you to decide which Z4 is your pick. I personally think that the fully tuned Z4 M Coupe has a higher power output than a fully tuned BMW Z4 3.0i but the max tuned BMW Z4 3.0i is lighter than the max tuned Z4 M Coupe. This is going to be a neck-to-neck experience when I try them both and deciding which is which may probably take some time. Still, the first generation BMW Z4 is definitely the ultimate heartthrobs' machine and the Z4 M Coupe is the ultimate thrill-seekers' machine.

It's up to you to decide...

Sunday, November 7, 2010

A special joy of BMW Z4...unless if you're in Japan...

If you were a Bimmer fanatic reside in Japan, then BMW Japan launched a special, limited-to-15-units, edition of the second-generation BMW Z4.

2011 BMW Z4 Silver Top

Dubbed the BMW Z4 Silver Top, this limited edition, Japan-only, BMW Z4 offers a silver roof, black body, and red interior.

Scoop:

Guess we may never going to get this special joy because the joy of the special-edition Z4 is for Japanese consumers only and its limited to just 15 units. Luckily we might be able to have one of these thanks to Forza 3.

BMW Z4 "Silver Top" on Forza Motorsport 3

See what I mean? A BMW Z4 Silver Roof made by leopauldelrosario on Forza Motorsport 3, to replicate the look of the Japan-only BMW Z4 Silver Top limited edition. It's obvious that Forza fans can replicate everything they saw!

Pricing of the BMW Z4 Silver Top limited edition costs around 5,590,00 Yen (about below $50,000 or 6,850,000 Pesos, not that accurate, but depends on the import tax) and its limited to just 15 units.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

New BMW Z4

Since 2003, BMW's top of the line roadster known as the Z4 is truly the replacement of the aging BMW Z3 and it’s known to be one of the best European sports cars ever built. It even make its appearance on Japan's Super GT and its popular by Japanese racing fans because of its unique design that may find others conceiving. Now, on its second generation, the BMW Z4 is now sleeker, stylish, aggressive, and sexier than ever.






To make things easier for BMW, they turn the Z4 from the soft top roadster and coupe into a roadster equipped with power retractable hard top. That’s right folks; it’s now a hard top roadster, meaning that BMW don’t need the coupe variant because of its combined quality of the open roadster and the hard top roadster at the same time.







At first, the Z4’s equipped with three straight-6 engines such as the sDrive 2.3L, sDrive 3.0L, and the top of the line sDrive 3.5L High Precision Injection and Twin Turbo that blasts the three hundred horses within reach. Not only that, 7-speed automatic double clutch automatic transmission or 6-speed manual transmission, aluminium front axle, Dynamic Driving Control, Adaptive M suspension, Dynamic Stability Control, 50:50 weight distribution, and a rigid body shell for added toughness also added in this roadster.







For safety, the Z4 has all the safety features that no other sports car should ever possess with; run-flat tires for tire durability that can keep you away from costly tire changes, roll-over system, high performance braking system for maximum stopping power, adaptive headlights that is suitable for dark areas, and more.







On the inside, the Z4 remains the same like the previous generation, but it now has a sophisticated look that only a man can fit in. That is not all; the BMW Z4 is equipped with the iDrive system that provides the driver several options to choose from while driving. For the perfect outer view, the Z4’s hardtop provides the panoramic view, as you have never been experienced from your whole life.

HOW IS THAT?

Despite being a two-seater sports car, the performance is quite fierce and blood thirsty like the Kamandag and gentle like the sirens. It is good to say that the new Z4 is truly the beauty of the beast in the world of sports cars. Once you had it, you might be yourselves to do it for another round, and once you are done with it, you might keep it as the perfect road killer to topple off against other sports cars in the industry.

Photo: BMW