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BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW Z2 Roadster Under Consideration, on FWD Platform

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When BMW decided to rename the BMW Z3 to Z4 about a decade ago, it made for a gap in BMW's lineup. While the Z4 moved up the status ladder it also lost some of the virtues the old BMW Z3 had, like low weight, agility and outright fun. The current Z4 for example weighs almost as much as the F30 3 Series.

It comes as no surprise then that BMW is said to be considering the introduction of a smaller roadster filling the gap the Z3 left when it went out of production. If Autocar's report is to be believed, they got information on the new Z2 by an official yet unnamed BMW source:

"We are considering a car in the spirit of the original Z3,” a BMW official revealed to Autocar. “It is of similar size to the Z3 but is planned to use the front-wheel-drive platform to keep costs down and achieve a margin level that ensures it is sustainable at comparatively low production volumes."

You might remember that we've been mentioning a possible Z2 for quite some time, so we are inclined to believe this report. The only downside is that -- contrary to early reports about the Z2 -- the car BMW is now considering has to share its underpinnings with BMW's new FWD platform. While we do not doubt the abilities of small, light, and not too powerful FWD cars, a RWD Z2 would have made for all the more fun. Also, with a RWD 2 Series Coupe and Convertible lineup on the horizon (see our spyshots and info compilation HERE), we were hoping the Z2 would follow their lead.

BMW apparently doesn't share our sentiment as Autocar is quoting another BMW official:

"We are moving with the times to diversify our customer base [. . .] There is no reason why a front-wheel-drive car can’t offer a similar dynamic experience to a rear-wheel-drive car. The advancement of various driving aids, with features such as electronic differentials, virtually eliminates the influence of drive forces on the steered wheels when done properly.”

There's still plenty of time to speculate about this car as BMW won't be rolling out the Z2 before 2015. We will keep you updated either way.

[Source: Autocar via Autoevolution]

[ts61gogo]

Originally Posted by southlight

"We are moving with the times to diversify our customer base [. . .] There is no reason why a front-wheel-drive car can’t offer a similar dynamic experience to a rear-wheel-drive car. The advancement of various driving aids, with features such as electronic differentials, virtually eliminates the influence of drive forces on the steered wheels when done properly.”
[/bpnews]

So why don't they build all of their cars on the FWD platform? Would make sense, wouldn't it?

[bavarian19]

So BMW basically saying they are creating a car to fill a market spot, not to actually produce something worth driving.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by ts61gogo

So why don't they build all of their cars on the FWD platform? Would make sense, wouldn't it?

Then we can call them "Honda"

[alex2364]

If they build this, I hope it's a sales flop and show BMW it was a huge mistake. A FWD roadster?? I'd rather buy a Miata or BRZ/FR-S.

[sonicbimmer19]

Not too long ago, Scott27 said roadsters were going to go through name changes when he went through the UKL platform I think
He basically said:

Z1: fwd compact/smaller roadster
Z3: similar to current Z4 but with soft top. Also going back to very popular name
Z5: up-marketed current Z4. A bit bigger and hardtop (more of a gran turismo)

Is it going to be Z1, 3, 5 or Z2, Z4, Z6??
I prefer 2, 4, 6 just because I feel like even numbers mean coupe or sportscar even though "Z" already means a roadster. I don't mind if bmw makes an exception to fwd being only contained to "1" series

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by bavarian19

So BMW basically saying they are creating a car to fill a market spot, not to actually produce something worth driving.

+1

[Who?]

girls will love it

[ES_TRADER]

There are plenty of people in this world that will buy this for the look, price, and/or brand and have no clue what the difference between fwd and rwd is. BMW knows this and they know how to make money

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by alex2364

If they build this, I hope it's a sales flop and show BMW it was a huge mistake. A FWD roadster?? I'd rather buy a Miata or BRZ/FR-S.

I thought the success of the BRZ in particular was what might have convinced BMW to finally build the Z2 -- and if Subaru can sell that car for $25K, BMW should also be able to make a Z2 that's both RWD and inexpensive. The BRZ truly is amazing, purely looking at the "smiles per mile" factor I think it actually matches my M3 despite costing a whole lot less, which is exactly why I hoped BMW would offer their variant of that formula.

But maybe as someone else said they're more interested in making a high profit margin on a chick car that looks cute and drives merely ok -- or to capture some of that 1 Series customer base that didn't even realize their car was RWD.

[SCOTT26]

The purpose to this car is to provide an additional model alongside the more sportier and individual MINI Coupe/Roadster replacements to provide a symmetrical link between BMW and MINI.

At BMW the current focus. Is on the UKL cars because they will provide an extra 800,000 combined BMW and MINI units to overall group sales.
The Active Tourer showed how this family will develop in terms of appearance and individuality. The biggest issue of the UKL BMW was how to make this car drive like a BMW. Something the engineers have accomplished.

[BMW269]

How many FWD Z2 will sell? Not many, just like MINI Coupé/Roadster. I saw only one on the road since it was released. I see more MINI Clubmans/CrossCountries.

[bimmerjph]

BMW.... I am disappoint. When BMW sells 2 million cars will they stop whoring out to FWD or is this something we are going to have to get used to?

What I don't get is that this is going to be a low-volume seller, so its unlikely this was done to increase the economy of scale for the UKL platform. I have also never heard anyone say "Damn if only that sports car was FWD I would buy it", so its not like there is a demand for it. BMW needs to realize that people buy sports cars to be sporty, not because of their efficiency, practicality, or space.

And Scott their is literally no way any engineer has made a FWD car act like a RWD car in every situation. The only thing that can be done is decrease on power understeer, but there is literally no way in hell they have made it oversteer on power without creating other serious problems (i.e. having bicycle sized rear tires and a seriously strange suspension set up and even then I am not sure its possible).

[Zeeman]

Originally Posted by ts61gogo

So why don't they build all of their cars on the FWD platform? Would make sense, wouldn't it?

F'me....that's probably where they're headed! BMW is starting to lose me.

[stickshifter69]

Originally Posted by sonicbimmer19

Not too long ago, Scott27 said roadsters were going to go through name changes when he went through the UKL platform I think
He basically said:

Z1: fwd compact/smaller roadster
Z3: similar to current Z4 but with soft top. Also going back to very popular name
Z5: up-marketed current Z4. A bit bigger and hardtop (more of a gran turismo)

Is it going to be Z1, 3, 5 or Z2, Z4, Z6??
I prefer 2, 4, 6 just because I feel like even numbers mean coupe or sportscar even though "Z" already means a roadster. I don't mind if bmw makes an exception to fwd being only contained to "1" series

I don't believe that Scott guy anymore. What happen to the inevitable M-Roadster?? LCI is coming out without an M-Roadster in the line-up...

[CanAutM3]

FWD roadster

[14trd]

Front wheel drive is fine for the cheaper 1 series, that will gain improve fuel economy as there's less drive train power loss and will mostly just put around town but a convertible roadster that's front wheel drive, I am outraged they could even think of such a strange concept. Sure there have been some good ff roadsters but in my opinion if u want a truly fun roadster it needs to be basic light and rear wheel drive. bmw has missed all of those objectives IMHO. Stop focusing on gay electronics and cutting costs just get back to making the ultimate driving machine like u guys have done so well in the past. My rant is now over hehe.

[misterbeemer]

Originally Posted by bavarian19

So BMW basically saying they are creating a car to fill a market spot, not to actually produce something worth driving.

Same thoughts. Sad, but very likely. Half their new cars are to fill some market "gaps", mostly which we never knew existed. When a company starts to think this way, you know something's wrong in the higher ranks. Furthermore, half their cars look downright obnoxious. The elegance and beauty is gone out the window - don't know where they get their yuppie designers from (the same goes to others too - Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, MB, Audi, etc.). Not to mention, they get not so good reviews for steering feedback, braking, suspension, even in the new M cars.

Seems like they are going in reverse. They might as well start calling themselves WMB.

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

The purpose to this car is to provide an additional model alongside the more sportier and individual MINI Coupe/Roadster replacements to provide a symmetrical link between BMW and MINI.

At BMW the current focus. Is on the UKL cars because they will provide an extra 800,000 combined BMW and MINI units to overall group sales.
The Active Tourer showed how this family will develop in terms of appearance and individuality. The biggest issue of the UKL BMW was how to make this car drive like a BMW. Something the engineers have accomplished.

This is the biggest bunch of BS I have read in a long time. FWD car that drives like a BMW? So all the marketing BMW has shove down our throats about RWD being the Ultimate Driving Machine is nothing but lies?

This is nothing but a bean counter, brand dilution move by BMW. The Finance and MBA guys are taking over. I know they still will offer RWD cars, but these FWD cars are not "true" to the brand, and this is not good. Alienate enthusiasts and in the long run BMW will suffer. I remember reading articles about Honda losing its way/mojo, well it feels like BMW is following the same path.

[hellrotm]

Instant fail...German Toyota.

[Dr.Sommer]

Will it have a 3 cylinder twin-power-turbo engine with a single scroll turbo and artificial engine noise as well?

[smashhell]

Originally Posted by ES_TRADER

There are plenty of people in this world that will buy this for the look, price, and/or brand and have no clue what the difference between fwd and rwd is. BMW knows this and they know how to make money

Exactly, if they price this right.
A ton of people is going to buy it, regardless of FWD RWD.