2006 BMW Z4 M Roadster - Car and Driver
We've been waiting for the M division of BMW to work its magic on the Z4 roadster since the two-seater debuted in '03. We spent 40,000 miles with a 2003 Z4 3. 0-liter, and when we weren't exasperated by the dimwitted Sequential Manual Gearbox... Apparently, the M guys were thinking the same thing but were too busy developing the V-10-powered 500-hp M5 and M6 to have time to perform what essentially turned out to be a sex-change operation on the Z4 roadster. When the M5 debuted, we noted the M division had left many of BMW's latest innovations on the shop floor. M cars are purged of run-flat tires, active steering, electric power steering, and active anti-roll bars. A traditional six-speed manual gearbox borrowed from the M3 is the only way the roadster will be sold. Over the road the Z4 M roadster is more compliant and composed and less jarring than the base run-flat-equipped Z4 with 18-inch wheels. That and the absence of SMG had us already falling for the M roadster, and we hadn't even zinged the inline-six to its 7900-rpm power peak. If you're thinking of slipping into something black to mourn the three-horse loss, this would be a good time to point out that the engine has roughly 200 fewer pounds to deal with here than it does in the M3 coupe. Source: www.caranddriver.com
