• Autocar claims a front wheel drive entry level BMW Z2 roadster is coming for 2015 - Picture rendering

                    
      		   
      Published on 01-21-2013 01:01 AM
      4 Comments Comments
      A lot of Z2 rumors are floating around the web right now and Autocar is also getting into the mix claiming the model is planned and coming for 2015. Autocar states they talked to unnamed "BMW officials" one of whom stated, “We are considering a car in the spirit of the original Z3." Convenient that this supposed official can't be named. The original Z3 however was not a cheap front wheel drive vehicle borrowing parts from Mini so this car will be nothing like the original Z3 which was 100% BMW.


      No doubt if this comes BMW will essentially be re-skinning a Mini roadster. It will help keep costs (and weight) down and the BMW official is justifying it thusly, “It is of similar size to the E36/7 [the codename for the Z3 produced between 1996 and 2002] 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.”

      Does not sound like a Z3 successor to BimmerBoost. Doesn't really sound like a BMW roadster at all. It sounds like something that belongs in the Mini portfolio not in the Ultimate Driving Machine portfolio. Supposedly an "engineering source" as Autocar stated said that there is no reason front wheel drive can not offer the same driving dynamics as a rear wheel drive car. No, seriously, they are claiming a BMW engineer said this, "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.”

      BimmerBoost finds that statement a little tough to swallow. Making front wheel drive cars for cost and volume is one thing. Claiming it will be just as good as the rear wheel drive BMW Roadsters and offer the same driving dynamics as a rear wheel drive is just sipping kool-aid. It's really tough to know if Autocar is just making this up or if a BMW engineer really said that. With no name given (how convenient) who knows.

      The one saving grace is that all wheel drive *may* be offered as well. Will that stop it from understeer and being nose heavy instead of the traditionally 50/50 balanced BMW? Who knows at this point.

      This car is currently rumored to debut at the Geneva Show in 2014. If one wants a preview, go drive a Mini Roadster. Same driving dynamics, similar platform, similar engineering, different badge. But not a BMW and not offering BMW rear wheel drive driving dynamics.

      Source
      This article was originally published in forum thread: Autocar claims a front wheel drive entry level BMW Z2 roadster is coming for 2015 - Picture rendering started by Sticky View original post
      Comments 4 Comments
      1. cisi's Avatar
        cisi - 01-21-2013, 02:54 AM
        z1 would make more sense. The 1series is going FWD so X1 will do that too(saw an article somewhere about that) and a Z1 would only make sens on that very same platform.
        And therefor a Z2 based on the 2 series platform would make sense. If the Z2 comes as FWD it would be somehow against their new naming system.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 01-21-2013, 11:52 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by cisi Click here to enlarge
        z1 would make more sense. The 1series is going FWD so X1 will do that too(saw an article somewhere about that) and a Z1 would only make sens on that very same platform.
        And therefor a Z2 based on the 2 series platform would make sense. If the Z2 comes as FWD it would be somehow against their new naming system.
        Logical regarding the naming but nothing is logical about a front wheel drive BMW roadster.

        Economy cars, fine. A roadster though?
      1. cisi's Avatar
        cisi - 01-22-2013, 06:55 AM
        well, my hope was that the FWD would just settle in the "1 series plattform", so the bmw 1series(the future one), mini, next X1 and all future derivates of that platform.
        But as it seems the FWD is already spreading like a cancer towards the higher numbers. Cant wait to see the first 3 series with a FWD.
        Maybe a 3 series based Family-VAN (A bigger version of the 1series FWD-Van) Click here to enlarge
        Or a FWD 4series-GT Click here to enlarge, everything is possible down this road bmw is going now.
      1. 654's Avatar
        654 - 01-22-2013, 12:28 PM
        Looks cool, is light and quick. I'm going to get one of these for a summer fun car.