US BMW Z4 M40i Gets 40 More HP Than European Model, Quicker 0-60
It’s so rare for Americans to get more power than Europeans and it’s now becoming clear that that was due to lax European emissions rules.
Now, though, as European automakers wrestle with Europe’s new VW-imposed WLTP standards, America is finally getting a more powerful BMW than Germany.
As we previously reported, the Z4 M40i, first introduced at Monterey Car Week this summer, will 382 hp, 40 more than the European model. Along with the power comes a slightly improved 0-60 time (4.2 seconds, rather than 4.4) and 369 lb-ft of torque from 1,600 to 4,500 rpm.
The rest is largely the same, though BMW has also released details of models farther down the trim hierarchy. The Z4 sDrive30i (ugh), for instance will feature a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with two turbochargers creating up to 350 bar of pressure, helping to make 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.
The 4-pot Z4 (the Z4-pot, if you will) jumps off the line and up to 60 in a respectable 5.2 seconds and boasts a perfect 50:50 weight distribution. It’s also 3.3-inches longer, 2.9-inches wider, and half an inch taller than the E89 Z4 it replaces.
Both engines are paired to an 8-speed Steptronic Sport (automatic) transmission. The transmission has been tuned to have shorter ratios in the lower gears to improve acceleration and operate more efficiently. The M40i has been configured to shift more aggressively, though, to better suit its M badges.
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BMW has been focused on agility, though, suspending the front of the car with a new double-joint spring strut unit and a new five-link suspension in the back. BMW promises that the new setup will walk the line between sporty and comfortable, since this is a roadster, not just a trackster. BMW promises good turn in and (surprisingly) acoustic qualities thanks to the stiff front subframe (which I guess acts as a tuning a fork), while aluminum control arms and swivel bearings reduce unsprung weight.
Adaptive M Sport suspension (10 mm adjustability in ride height, electronic dampers) and the M Sport differential (which includes an electric motor to better allow the Z4 to power out of corners) can improve performance further. An option on the sDrive30i, both M Sport options are, as you’d expect, standard on the M40i.
A full suite of BMW’s latest gadgetry is also on offer here, including the seventh generation of iDrive, BMW Live Cockpit Professional, compatibility with Amazon Alexa, as well as BMW’s spectrum of safety features.
A version of this story originally appeared on Bimmerfest.
Sam McEachern holds a diploma in journalism from St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, and has been covering the automotive industry for over 5 years. He conducts reviews and writes AutoGuide's news content. He's a die-hard motorsports fan with a passion for performance cars of all sorts.
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..."creating up to 350 bar of pressure,"...really? 1 bar = 14.7psi, so two turbos creating roughly 5076psi is not going to happen...maybe you meant 2 turbos making 3.5 bar or 50.7 psi [using an internet conversion application]...I suspect editing in this article must have been right after lunch...