Time for part 2 of our series looking into BMW’s unwillingness to be a big brave car manufacturer or instead their willingness to chase the wrong damn things.
This time we’re going to be looking at the BMW Z4, and how BMW failed to capitalise – again.
The BMW Z4 has always been a car that has always been there, but has failed to capture people’s hearts.
The first-generation was a retro-inspired, and retrospectively handsome roadster built very much to BMW’s traditions. Engine in the front, drive to the rear wheels, six-cylinders (in some) and a willingness to rotate, flatter and bite in equal measure.
They even made the lairy Z4M which is rightly being identified as something of a future classic, and a bit of a cult all at the same time.
Then came the second generation Z4. As expected, the Z4 grew but still retained both it’s identity and handsomeness. It was quite a neutrally-styled car, with long swooping proportions, but never dipping too far into either masculinity or femininity. It was a serviceable roadster, and relatively interesting.
Somewhere along the line however, a person, or group of persons decided to pervert the little Z4.
The result was the Z4 GT3. A bolshy, be-winged, splittered and slatted GT racer, designed to compete under GT racing regulations in both the USA and Europe.
Powered by a 4.0 Litre V8, the Z4 GT3 was a remarkably good GT3 car and was run by BMW factory squads for quite a length of time whilst claiming some decent victories.
The most notable thing about the Z4 GT3 was its size. Compared to some of the more supercar-based GT3 cars, the Z4 GT3 looked tiny. A narrow, low and howling coupe amongst big V12 Astons and V10 Audis.
But the opportunity BMW really missed was making a road car version of the Z4 GT3.
As it stood, the most exciting version was the, breathe in, BMW Z4 sDrive35is with a respectable 355bhp, but a decidedly unfocused chassis.
How much harder would it have been for BMW to put the 4 Litre V8 in a road car, stick some wings and sticky Michelins on it and make some money?
Too hard, apparently.
In a decision probably made in order not to upset the M hierarchy the Z4 GT3 road car never came to fruition. The thing is BMW could have made a really bespoke, near-as makes no difference road racer like the M3 GTR, which was as big an outlier in the M-brand strategy as there ever was.
Instead of the cool M3 GTS, BMW could have made a Z4 GT3, charged big bucks for it, and taken the fight directly to the front doorstep of the 997 GT3 RS.
Instead they didn’t, and the Z4 GT3 is relegated to the memories of only the few.
Kerbside 