2019 BMW Z4 Roadster: Stand On It Stroker Ace!

Well, the first thing I can say about the 2019 BMW Z4 Roadster is that it is much better looking then the one it replaces. Seriously, I don’t know what on Earth BMW has to do to get their design mojo back, but, A) they need to, and, B) they haven’t yet. At least not fully.

The next thing I thought was, “Boy, it looks a lot like the current Fiat 124 Spider that’s based on the Miata.” Better not say that in front of any BMW employees. Probably lead to my Arsch getreten werden.

Supra Skin

Which it shouldn’t, since both the Miata and the 124 are fantastic little sports cars. And I’m sure the latest Z4 will be fantastic as well. I mean, come on, this is a German car company we’re talking about here. The other contributing factor to the 2019 BMW Z4 Roadster’s potential greatness is that, under the skin, it’s a – gasp! – Toyota Supra.

The latest Z4 was developed in cooperation with the Japanese auto giant, the fruits of that leading to both the Z4 and the soon-to-be-released (and much anticipated) Supra. Ergo, we’ll have some commonality of parts, and the two minds are better than one philosophy leading to the summation of two very fun vehicles.

How fun? Let’s run the numbers.

Power & Performance

The 2019 BMW Z4 sDrive30i is propelled by a new TwinPower Turbocharged engine. The engine has a new High Precision Injection system, 255 horsepower, and nearly 300 lb-ft. of torque. 60 mph comes up in 5.2 seconds. Nett! Life gets even better with the Z4 M40i Roadster, thanks to a 3.0-liter in-line six-banger offering a 47 horsepower escalation over its predecessor. By comparison, the Z4 M40i makes a whomping 382 horsepower.

BMW added a water-cooled exhaust manifold that’s integrated into the cylinder head, along with a quicker-spooling turbocharger and direct injection. Yeah, I know, water cooling the manifold sounds like an expensive stress point, but we’ll let the second and third owners worry about that. And, with 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft. of torque living under the hood, you’ll hit 60 in 4.4 seconds. Super nett!

2019 BMW Z4 Roadster. Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.

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With 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft. of torque living under the hood, you'll hit 60 in 4.4 seconds.
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Transmission & Chassis Tech

Both receive an eight-speed Steptronic Sport box with Launch Control and shift paddles on the steering wheel. There’s a wider ratio spread with shorter ratios in the lower gears for stronger acceleration.

The chassis has a perfect 50:50 weight distribution, with a double-joint spring strut suspension up front and a new five-link suspension out back. The front suspension’s sub frame and control arm mounting points are extremely rigid for more precise cornering, according to BMW. Aluminum control arms and swivel bearings further reduce weight. The rear suspension also uses a lightweight aluminum and steel design.

Added to all this are (by now usual) the computer-controlled gizmos that might turn all of us into Sebastian Vettel (as if!): Dynamic Stability Control, Anti-lock Braking System, Dynamic Traction Control, Cornering Brake Control, and Dynamic Brake Control.

Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.

Pricing & Availability

And sure, both of the upcoming Z4s have lots of navigation and infotainment features, and all that high-tech glop. But if you really care about stuff like that, this (probably) won’t be the car for you. Screw stuff like that! Drop the top, pull down your hat, and stand on it Stroker Ace! This is a sports car. Go out and be a sport.

How much? The Bavarians do not say, but we know the 2019 BMW Z4 Roadster will hit dealerships around March of next year.

Weit draußen, Mann!

Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. His forthcoming new book The Future In Front of Me, The Past Behind Me will be available soon. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz

2019 BMW Z4 Roadster Gallery

Photos & Source: BMW of North America, LLC.

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Double Vision: Two Yamaha XS650 cafe racers from Hookie

The correct answer to ‘How many bikes?’ is always ‘one more.’ And these two dapper Yamaha XS650s from German wunderkind Nico Mueller and Hookie Co. illustrate the point beautifully.

The Dresden-based outfit landed the build commissions from two different sources. But since the briefs came in at almost the same time, and were so similar, the guys decided to tackle them as a pair.

“Both clients wanted a classic cafe racer,” says Nico. “A parallel twin with clean lines and some modern electronic components. As soon as all the CB750 builds in our garage were finished, we hooked straight into it.”

That’s why you’re looking at two almost-identical bikes, separated only by paint and a few small tweaks. Even the donor bikes were a match—they’re both 1981 Yamaha XS650 Specials. (The Special was the ‘cruiser’ of the XS range, with goofy pullback bars and a teardrop fuel tank.)

Neither donor was in particularly good condition, so Hookie Co. rebuilt both motors and treated them to fresh finishes.

The carbs were refurbished too, and re-jetted to run with pod filters. Each bike was then upgraded with a set of stainless steel exhaust headers, terminating in aftermarket reverse cone mufflers.

Next it was time to fiddle with the frames. They were stripped, de-tabbed, shortened and looped at the rear, and then coated black.

“The Yamaha XS650 has a perfect stance right out of the box,” says Nico. “The frame is very simple, and we got a nice clean look after removing all those brackets and holders.”

Hookie fabricated a pair of matching bum stops and seats, and embedded a small LED taillight in each rear frame loop. Underneath the seats you’ll find custom-made electronics trays, with the batteries lurking further down, near the swing arm.

The bikes have naturally been rewired too, and now run Antigravity Lithium-ion batteries, with control units and keyless RFID ignitions from Motogadget.

The similarities continue: both XS650s have had their forks rebuilt and lowered 2”, with new YSS Eco-Line shocks fitted out back.

The stock hubs have been re-laced to Sun Remo aluminum rims, which are wrapped in Shinko E270 tires. Hookie rebuilt the brakes too, and installed new front master cylinders.

The most apparent change—other than color—is in the handlebar set ups. One wears traditional riser bars, while the other wears clip-ons. Both feature Biltwell Inc. grips, and Motogadget bar-end turn signals and switches.

The speedos are from Motogadget too, and sit on brackets from Hookie’s own aftermarket parts catalog. And yip, the 5 1/2” Bates-style headlights are also a match.

With so much in common, Hookie needed two distinct liveries to set the bikes apart. “And so the characters of ‘Whippet’ the dog and ‘Bengali’ the cat were born,” says Nico. “One of the customers is a big cat lover, and has a Bengel cat as a daily companion.”

“We loved the idea that he will bring his cat when he collects his bike from us! Starting from this idea, we designed the personality of each motorcycle, reflecting the character of the dog and cat.”

For their makeovers, the stock XS650 tanks were sent off to the well-known German artist Chiko’s Pinstriping. One came back deep and textured, the other one more geometric in nature.

“Bengali got the same color as the irises of the cat’s eyes, and the grey of Whippet is flat, with a frosted look.”

A few more subtle touches help refine the concepts. Bengali gets a pop-up gas cap, a brown leather seat, and black and silver finishes on its motor. Whippet gets a black Alcantara seat, and a combination of black and anthracite engine finishes.

Hookie Co. have proven once again that they have a sharp eye, and a well-honed set of skills. The XS650 wears both outfits extremely well, and we’d be hard-pressed to pick a favorite.

How about you: would you take home Bengali, or Whippet?

Hookie Co. website | Facebook | Instagram

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Letter From The UK: Technology Will Save Us All. (Or Not). Part 2

• Words like “technology” and “revolution” are often used in tandem to describe a brighter future.
• But are we actually better off? Despite modern technological advances, our roads are not any safer.

The second in two-part series, Geoff Maxted examines how our greatest technological promises face immense challenges and glaring drawbacks. Part one here. 

Recently, a headline across our national newspapers trumpeted the phrase variously, “Ministers unaware of the effects of police cuts.” If you lived in this country you would have been staggered by this news. Government ministers, responsible for running the country, were “unaware” of the rise in stabbings, robbery, murders, street theft or the total loss of confidence in our law enforcers, despite it being all over the press for the last couple of years.

It would be funny if it were not so serious. Consequently it must be therefore assumed they were also unaware of the rise in drunk driving accidents and fatalities?

An Acura RDX A-Spec press photo shows the rear cargo area of the vehicle. Photo: Acura.

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It would be funny if it were not so serious.
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Drinking & Driving

This is something we thought had finally gotten through to the thick-headed, boorish drunks of the UK. It seems not. There has been a seven percent rise in car accidents, “where at least one driver was under the influence of alcohol.” Remember, this is the 21^st Century.

One of the primary causes of this is the reduction in the rank and file of our police service. In the last eight years the number of active serving cops has reduced by over 22,000. You would think, wouldn’t you, that someone would realise this could only have an adverse effect on society, but you would be wrong. The authorities clearly did not have a clue.

The cuts were “forced” upon the government because of financial austerity measures. That’s the excuse, and I would remind readers we are talking law and order here. Instead the politically correct police chiefs insist that more officers are needed at computers because crime has gone online. This is disingenuous.

Certainly, there is more international crime but the public also expect to see police “on the beat” as we say here. Instead they use cameras.

Candid Cameras

Cold, glassy eyes in the sky now watch our every move on the roads of Great Britain. Exceed the speed limit under their gaze and you will be fined and given “points” on your driving licence. Twelve points and you’re out. Off the road for usually one year, sometimes more. These so-called safety cameras are ostensibly there for road safety reasons but this again is specious. Not for nothing are they known as “speed cameras” by motorists because we know (and they know) this is really about revenue.

Many millions of British Pounds are taken off motorists over the course of a year and it goes straight into government coffers. It perhaps would not be so bad if this money was spent on improving the road network and making it safer yet this is not the case. Our roads generally are appalling.

Worst of all, a camera can catch speeders, even those who make a genuine error, but it cannot catch drunks. Since our highways no longer have police cars at strategic points, or police officers on foot in our towns and cities, drunk drivers pretty much have free rein.

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Not for nothing are they known as speed cameras by motorists because we know (and they know) this is really about revenue.
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Screens For Everybody

In-car technology has become the latest USP for car makers. The personal opinion of this writer is that cars are becoming increasingly dull and boring as manufacturers continue to believe that we, the car buyers, want more and more high-tech gadgetry as standard. Nevermind the performance, feel the dashboard.

While all this is happening we have seen the rise of the distracted driver. Here in the UK, stupid individuals choose to break the laws of the land and use their mobile devices when driving because there is nobody around to stop them (See police above). It gets worse:

Motorists are fiddling with their touchscreens on the move. The infotainment menus in vehicles today have become more evolved and involving. As someone who drives for a living I see it all the time, everywhere. It’s called distracted driving and there are laws against it so what do car manufacturers do?

Do they install cut-offs to prevent drivers changing the selected set-ups when on the move? No. They add more screens. Yes folks, that’s the new trend; the new gimme. It’s just like having two televisions in one room. Now there are three things to look at: Screen A, Screen B, and the road ahead. Spare me.

2018 Ford Expedition interior layout. Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Human Touch

So, although technology can help us clean up the atmosphere (maybe), stay safer in our cars and monitor crime online (including your Twitter feed if you live here), it is not the be all and end all. Society requires a level of human contact, and it demands such personal freedom.

That’s why, here in blighted Britain, more and more motoring colleagues are enjoying the simple pleasures of older cars; those old-stagers whose “classic” days are yet to come but still provide what we all want. A nice drive. Can’t we just have that?

Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite

Cover Photo: Volvo Car Group.

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Porsche 911 Speedster Concept: Should We Hold Our Breath?

• The Porsche 911 Speedster Concept shows a “new equipment range” from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur.
• Porsche says the concept’s engine revs to 9,000 rpm. 
• Will it come to market? We will find out soon enough. 

Ah, the Porsche Speedster. It’s a name that means so much, but, by their own hand, has been sort of maligned by Porsche themselves. This latest version, which Porsche says is only a “concept” for now, looks to be the business.

But whether it is or not – or whether Porsche will even build the thing – is pretty much up in the air. To begin, there are two things at play here: a car and a wristwatch.

Designer Dog Dishes

Leave it to Porsche to make a fairly simple thing (“Hey! We’ve got this concept car you should check out!“) into something needlessly complicated (“Hey! We’ve got this concept car you should check out! Oh, and this wristwatch, which is kinda the same thing! Oh, and here’s the needless backstory!“).

For those that may not know, there’s a thing called Porsche Design. Porsche Design does all sorts of stuff. Sunglasses and watches and stereo gear and pen sets and other hideously, overpriced knick-knacks. They are a separate entity, but they occasionally collaborate. Such is the case here, but we’ll only go into the friggin’ watch portion of this stuff if space (and my patience) permits.

The car portion of this stuff, the actual Speedster itself, is well worth your time. The concept Speedster had its North American premiere at the recent Rennsport Reunion VI at Laguna Seca. And, so they say, the crowds were very impressed. Then again, Rennsport Reunions are a Porsche-only affair, and Rennsport crowds would be impressed by a Porsche dog dish.

So take all of that with a grain of salt.

Porsche 911 Speedster Concept. Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

Heritage Design Packages

This Porsche concept is based on the current 991 generation of the evergreen 911. Porsche says it’s a preview of a “potential new equipment range from the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur.” Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur is their in-house “we can make it that way just for you (for a hefty price)” shop. Sort of the latest version of the old Porsche Sonderwunsch Programm. The Speedster also is being used as a canvas to show off the company’s Heritage Design packages. If customers go for this idea, then Porsche will consider providing a modern interpretation of their distinctive themes as far back as the 1950s.

Personally, I like this whole idea of painting new cars like they were old racers. I hope this catches on.

Flying Colors

The Porsche 911 Speedster Concept is a two-tone GT Silver Metallic and White. The white note flashes are reminiscent of the red and white schemes found on the first Porsche 917 to win at Le Mans. The whole car was a collaboration between Porsche Motorsport, Style Porsche, and Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur.

It’s hard not to like the overall look, with the laid-down windshield, twin headrest fairings, retro paint job, and those gorgeous, Talbot-esque rearview mirrors (chrome, natch).

Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

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It’s hard not to like the overall look, with the laid-down windshield, twin headrest fairings, retro paint job, and those gorgeous, Talbot-esque rearview mirrors.
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Proof In The Pudding

The Porsche 911 Speedster Concept is powered by a naturally aspirated flat-six engine (duh!) putting out “over” 500 horsepower. This plant, which Porsche seems to have the infinite capability to develop and get more and more out of, can rev to 9,000 rpm. Which is way up there. Really way up there. Like, that would be a lot of fun to hear on a regular basis. All those Pferde get to the rear wheels and only the rears via a six-speed manual transmission.

The development focus was on creating a pure and exhilarating driving experience says ze Deutschers, but at this stage there’s no real way of knowing. If you want us to be sure, oh great engineers of Zuffenhausen, then drop one by One Automoblog Towers, Detroit, Michigan, and we’ll let you know what we think. Ask for Carl.

Limber Lumber Wagons

Yes, the Porsche 911 Speedster Concept is just that: a concept. So talking about its performance potential is kind of beside the point. But it does give us the opportunity to say that if Porsche really wants to create a pure and exhilarating driving experience, they have to go against their recent trend. Porsches back in the day were essentially hot-rodded VW Beetles with swoopier bodies. They were light, tight, and handled . . . well, not right, but in a fun enough way. Until you spun it into a ditch because of the weight distribution and tractor-derived suspension.

But lately, for the past couple of decades, Porsche has gone light, tight, and handles not all that bad. Now they’ve gone bloated, feature-laden, and computer-controlled, but the handling is better (thanks to all those binary nannies).

If Porsche wants to make a new Speedster for the 2020s and beyond, it should weigh close to a Miata but still keep that “over” 500 horsepower. But no. Our customers want features. Our customers expect luxury items. We have to add 158 airbags. Yadda, yadda, yadda.

Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

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But lately, for the past couple of decades, Porsche has gone light, tight, and handles not all that bad.
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Availability

A decision about a production version of the Porsche 911 Speedster Concept is forthcoming. Hopefully that decision will be Nicht nur ja, aber Hölle ja!

As for the watch that compliments the car? That’s the “Porsche Design 911 Speedster Concept Chronograph.” Got it? Not a watch, a concept chronograph. People will buy anything, won’t they?

Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. His forthcoming new book The Future In Front of Me, The Past Behind Me will be available soon. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz

Photos & Source: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

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