No MZ4 in the plan for BMW

I spoke with Tom S., M Product manager of BMWNA.

While the M roadster is close to his heart, Tom stated in today's presentation at the LA Auto show, that for now there are no plans on BMW coming out with the MZ4. His reasoning is quite clear as BMW corporate has other priorities in mind. The new 5 series, as well as the X3, and the new 6 series keep operations quite busy and simply the company is not big enough to bring out so many models at once. For 2002 Year ended, BMW sold 225,000 cars, and with other models in the pipeline he expects this to soar. He also confirmed there will be no M3 sedan. Also representatives from Alpina were there to answer questions about the Z8 Alpina roadster. With 20" wheel standard, this rocket will be limited 450 made.

Tom Jefferson, manager for the 6,7,8 series stated that the new 6 is coming. He could not divuldge on when or what engine will be in the car. The 760Li will be coming out with a V12 and will be able to do 0-60 in 5.5 seconds.

The key is "for now". What about next year ? Prototypes of the M Z4 have been made. My guess is that we'll see the M Z4 after the Z8 goes out of production, and it'll have a V-8 engine.

Originally posted by Dan Wang
Tom Jefferson, manager for the 6,7,8 series stated that the new 6 is coming. He could not divuldge on when or what engine will be in the car. The 760Li will be coming out with a V12 and will be able to do 0-60 in 5.5 seconds.

Correction to the above...Thomas Jefferson is the manager for the Z8 not the 8 series.

I agree with the Other Tom that there will be an M version of the Z4 (but we rarely disagree- right Tom? :-)

"but we rarely disagree- right Tom? :-)"

Right

Originally posted by Dan Wang
I spoke with Tom S., M Product manager of BMWNA.

While the M roadster is close to his heart, Tom stated in today's presentation at the LA Auto show, that for now there are no plans on BMW coming out with the MZ4.

The specific question that I asked in the 10:30am seesion was "Has any final decision been made on a M model for the Z4 series?" Tom seemed to catch the exact wording of the question regarding a "final decision."

As I understood Tom's answer, it was "we're too busy in model year 2003. And we're also too busy in model year 2004."

Reading between the lines (since Tom cannot give a formal answer to this question)..... MY reading between the lines was "not before model year 2005 at the earliest." He did not say "no MZ4." He did not say "a final decision has been reached."

PS: Thank you Louis for the BMWCCA tickets -- it was a fun event, and my guests had a good time, too.

I plan on purchasing a 3.0 in '04. They will probably announce the M, right after my April Performance Center delivery.

Ron, maybe you should move that April date to early September and the start of the 2005 model year.....??

Of course this is all pure speculation because I doubt even BMW has made up its mind on this model decision at this point.

Heck, based on all the Z4s sitting at the local dealers lots, in 2005 there might not BE a Z4.

phrider and I got to talk to Tom S. a little bit after the presentation, and I posed to him the same question on the MZ4. His answer: "We (meaning M division) are going to keep fighting for it."

Besides Pinecone's statement, do any of you know if the Z4 is doing very well? My father's salesman at South Motors BMW told me that they were selling like hot cakes (i live in Miami) but is that the story with you guys?

Originally posted by AmericanPsycho
Besides Pinecone's statement, do any of you know if the Z4 is doing very well? My father's salesman at South Motors BMW told me that they were selling like hot cakes (i live in Miami) but is that the story with you guys?

Im in Tampa http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...threadid=18183