Press Release
Drivetrain
The 3.0-litre power unit featured in the BMW Z4 Coupé is the consistent, ongoing development of an engine already widely lauded and winning numerous awards: This straight-six has received the Engine of the Year Award, the engine “Oscar� in the industry, several times in acknowledgement of its outstanding qualities.
Now, in its latest configuration, the new engine excels as the most innovative six-cylinder in its class, setting the standard worldwide in terms of motoring culture. Further superlatives are the highest output per litre, the best power-to-weight ratio, and the lowest level of specific fuel consumption.
Maximum output of this outstanding straight-six is195 kW/265 hp at 6,600 rpm, with an equally impressive peak torque of 315 Newton-metres or 232 lb-ft maintained consistently between 2,500 and 4,000 rpm. The engine’s emission behaviour is equally impressive, complying in full with the EU4 and ULEV II emission standards.
Weighing just 161 kilos or 355 lb, this six-cylinder is the lightest engine in the world in its performance class. The power-to-weight ratio, in turn, is 1.21 kW or 1.65 hp per kilo, again an advantage of consistent lightweight technology using innovative production methods. The crankcase, for example, is made of a composite aluminium/magnesium structure, the bedplate and cylinder head cover are made almost entirely of magnesium.
VALVETRONIC for even more efficient combustion.
VALVETRONIC masterminds the opening period and timing of the intake valves infinitely and as a function of gas pedal position. This minimises the energy required in the cylinder charge cycle and ensures optimum fuel efficiency as well as even better engine response.
BMW VALVETRONC is combined with infinitely adjustable BMW double-VANOS, variable camshaft adjustment for both the intake and outlet valves. The VANOS adjusters and the sprocket on the adjuster unit are made entirely of aluminium.
Other revolutionary innovations are the electrical water pump operating independently of engine speed only when the engine really requires cooling, as well as the camshafts made in an internal high-pressure moulding
process pressing them into their appropriate waved configuration under 4,000 bar water pressure.
Weight-saving, defect-resistant single-belt drive of all ancillary units as well as the three-stage resonance intake system minimising flow losses and maximising the cylinder charge for even more torque at lower engine speeds, are further highlights in technology deserving special mention.
High-calibre performance and efficiency all round.
The BMW Z4 Coupé 3.0si sets the standard also in terms of performance and efficiency, accelerating from 0–100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and completing the 80–120 km/h sprint in fourth gear in an equally impressive 5.2 seconds. Top speed is limited electronically to 250 km/h or 155 mph. And despite this outstanding performance, the Z4 Coupé makes do with just 8.6 litres premium plus/100 km in the EU test cycle, equal to 32.8 mpg Imp.
The supreme spontaneity of the engine will thrill the driver from the beginning when barely stroking the gas pedal – especially as this thrilling experience is further enhanced by BMW’s Dynamic Drive Control: Pressing the DDC button, the driver activates the sports mode for even more spontaneous engine output and performance, with engine management following an even more sporting gas pedal control line. If the car is fitted with automatic transmission, in turn, the sports mode revs up the individual gears to an even higher speed and shifts gears even faster without any noticeable interruption in the flow of power. Even the car's steering characteristics are more direct and offer even greater agility in the sports mode.
Unmistakable sound.
An authentic engine sound is essential to the sports car enthusiast – and with BMW the sound of the engine is indeed one of the main brand values. Precisely this is why the straight-six power unit offers a unique sound of power, sporting and superior performance throughout its entire range of engine speed. So with its precise and spontaneous acoustic feedback, as well as a certain touch of “roughness� in its sound, the BMW Z4 Coupé is extremely impressive not just to behold, but also to hear.
Six gears – manual or automatic.
The Z4 Coupé comes as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox boasting short shift travel, superior running smoothness, and precise guidance of the gearshift lever with operating forces remaining consistent at all times. With the increments between the six gears being kept to a minimum, and with the large range of ratios between the lowest and highest gear, the driver benefits from an ideal transmission ratio at all engine speeds. So whether he wishes to set off dynamically, accelerate all-out, or overtake another vehicle in powerful, superior style, the transmission helps to provide a truly sporting driving experience in every respect.
Automatic sports transmission with gearshift paddles.
BMW’s automatic sports transmission available as an option also offers all the enjoyment of driving a genuine sports car – much more so, indeed, than the experience of a conventional automatic transmission.The special six-speed sports automatic in the BMW Z4 Coupé changes gears with a truly dynamic spirit, interacting with the close increments between the six gears and the large range of gear ratios between the lowest and highest gear to offer superior, dynamic performance right from the start even in the D mode and thus improving the car’s dynamics particularly when setting off and accelerating.
A further advantage of the automatic sports transmission is the freedom it gives the driver: Paddles on the steering wheel allow him to shift gears quickly and safely through manual control. And like in the automatic mode, the gearbox shifts up and down manually with interim gas faster than a conventional automatic transmission. As an alternative, all the driver has to do is briefly flick the selector lever forward or backward in order to shift gears manually through the integrated Steptronic function.
To activate the automatic transmission for this purpose, the driver merely moves the selector lever to the appropriate gearshift lane or presses the paddles appropriately. The automatic mode will then re-activate itself whenever the driver does not touch the paddles or the selector lever within the next 12 seconds.
