[Silver E90]

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BMW and RLL are down at Daytona today to unveil the new Z4 GTE. The car is not yet homologated by the ACO but that seems to be close.

BMW Z4 GTE Launch - B Roll Footage





Live Look and Listen [Video]





New Wallpapers:

On Tuesday, BMW Motorsport and BMW Team RLL presented the car and drivers for the new season at the “Daytona International Speedway”.

Supported by Premium Partner Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, guests from around the world were given the opportunity to inspect the BMW Z4 GTE at close hand, talk to those responsible for the team, and experience the iconic racetrack in Florida from the cockpit, courtesy of taxi rides with the BMW ALMS drivers.

“As we approach the start of the ALMS season in mid-March, so the anticipation is gradually rising,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “All of us at BMW Motorsport and BMW Team RLL are very curious to see how the first few races pan out with the new BMW Z4 GTE. We are setting out on a development year, but are very confident we have once again developed a car that has the potential to win races and titles in the form of the BMW Z4 GTE. Seeing our drivers at this event, you could tell how much they are looking forward to the first race in Sebring. I would also like to say a big thank you to our Premium Partner Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts for its fantastic support here in Daytona.”

Team Principal Bobby Rahal added: “Obviously I am very excited to enter this new year with the BMW Z4 GTE. There is a lot of enthusiasm in the team for the new car. Certainly there will be a development period involved but ultimately I see no reason why we can’t be competitive with the great competition that exists in the GT category in the ALMS. Although this might be a development year in many respects, with the level of driver talent we have on the team – including the two new exciting additions with Maxime Martin and John Edwards – I think that ultimately we can have success and do much as we did in 2009, the first year of the BMW M3 GT, and work hard toward achieving maximum results in its first year. One aspect of the launch that is very exciting is not just the introduction of the BMW Z4 GTE and our drivers, but also the collection of historic cars that were the cars that began the success story of BMW in North American racing.”

The guests had travelled to Orlando on Monday, and were welcomed that evening at a dinner in the Crowne Plaza Universal Orlando by Jens Marquardt, Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO of BMW of North America, BMW Team RLL Team Principal Bobby Rahal and BMW NA Motorsport Manager Gordon McDonnell. On Tuesday, the ALMS drivers took them on a series of taxi rides in historic BMW racing cars. This was followed by the unveiling of the BMW Z4 GTE.

BMW Motorsport also announced the driving pairs for the coming season. Car number 55 will be driven by Bill Auberlen and ALMS rookie Maxime Martin. Dirk Müller will contest all the races in the number 56 car. Joey Hand and John Edwards will alternate as the two-time ALMS GT champion’s driving partner. Edwards will stand in for Hand when he is unavailable due to his parallel commitment in the DTM. Jörg Müller (#55) and Uwe Alzen (#56) will bolster the squad at the endurance races at Sebring and Road Atlanta.

The BMW Z4 GTE will contest its first season in 2013. In July 2012, BMW Motorsport engineers in Munich began work on developing a GTE version of the BMW Z4 GT3, which would comply with ACO regulations. The BMW Z4 GT3 itself has enjoyed many years of success in high-class GT series around the world. The regulations stipulate that electronic aids that may be used on the BMW Z4 GT3, such as ABS and DSC, are not permitted on a GTE car.

The BMW Z4 GTE is considerably more compact than its successful predecessor, the BMW M3 GT. All the dimensions of the BMW Z4 GTE have been modified to comply with ACO regulations. The new car took to the racetrack for its maiden test outing in the second half of January. BMW Team RLL was integrated in the process throughout the entire development period. Engineers from the USA travelled to Munich in December to play their part in the assembly of the BMW Z4 GTE.

The car is not the only important new thing BMW Team RLL can look forward to in the coming season: Michelin is the new Tyre Partner of BMW Motorsport in the ALMS. In contrast, Premium Partner Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts is something of a constant. The successful cooperation will continue in 2013. Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts belongs to the InterContinental Hotels Group. IHG maintains, runs and owns over 4,400 hotels and more than 658,000 rooms in approaching 100 countries.

Technical Specifications BMW Z4 GT3.

Length: 4,395mm (excl. rear wing)
Width: 2,010mm
Height: 1,205mm (depending on set-up)
Weight: 1,245kg (according to ACO regulations)
Tank capacity: 110 litres (according to IMSA classification)

Chassis/body: Steel body with welded safety cell

Transmission: six-speed sequential sport transmission, operated via shifting paddles mounted on the steering wheel, multiple ZF Sachs clutch

Front axle: McPherson axle with pushrods and wishbone, additionally with adjustable shock absorbers, H&R coil springs

Rear axle: Longitudinal links with wishbone, adjustable shock absorbers, H&R coil springs

Brake system: hydraulic dual circuit brake; monobloc multi-piston light alloy brake callipers, innver-vented steel brake discs, seamless brake balance adjustment (front and rear) by the driver

Wheels: BBS forged aluminum wheels, front axle: 12,5x18“, rear axle: 13x18“)

Tyres: Michelin, front axle: 300-680-18, rear axle: 310-710-18

Engine type: Eight-cylinder, V-configuration, four valves per cylindre, mandatory air restrictor (2x29.4mm)

Capacity: 4,400cc
Max. output: approx. 480bhp (with mandatory air restrictor)
Max. torque: approx. 480Nm

Cylinder block: Aluminum cylinder block construction

Engine management: BMW Motorsport ECU 408, without fuses, central display

And here is a farewell video I found of the M3. Going to miss that car!
http://drivestv.com/downloads/BMW_Mo...Goodbye_sm.mp4


BMW Z4 GTE

[BlackJetE90]

Great...based off an imaginary car that doesn't exist in show rooms.

Congrats to others teams that have followed the spirit of the homologation rules and haven't begged sanctioning bodies.

[Duck360198]

This is so f-ing gorgeous it makes me scream for a new Z4M! It's unbelievable to me how ridiculously TAME the M3 looks compared to this. I can't wait to see this monster perform. GO BMW!

[1MOREMOD]

pretty cool.

[Finnegan]

I can't wait to see this car in action at Laguna this spring! Pure sex on wheels.

[M3_WC]

Since BMW got a lot of waivers to run this car.

Other makes should turn their GT3 cars intro GTE class cars. Benz should convert their SLS GT3 over to GTE spec.

[ManiacGT]

homologated I love that word... why not just use 'approved'?

[CPWINCH]

can someone explain the tire sizes? and what engine is in it exactly

[red-sauerkraut]

I dream of a V8 Z4M Coupe.

[Curt2000]

BMW GTE cars = Pure sex

[Advevo]

This car has 4.4 V8 high rev atmo engine.


I am very curious when we see such a car with a turbo engine. When the M3 is replaced by the M4 it's done with the high rev atmo engines.

[mkoesel]

Does this mean BMW will continue to use naturally aspirated V8s in ALMS indefinitely, or did the fact that the engine is still in production currently play a big role in getting it through the approval process?

The car looks great, but I think I'd rather see the non-production car/engine-type pairings left to the tube-chassis series'.

[flinchy]

It's a z4 with an s65b44 and it's allowed to race in homologate classes?

LOL

stupidly wide!

strangely stretched on tires though? That added wheel width is just dead weight? Can anyone explain that design choice?

A 300mm tire on a 12.5" wheel sounds like 'stance'.. Let alone on a 13" Does the stiffer stretched sidewall help with handling?

Can anyone explain the sizing though? 300/680/18? Overall diamter rather than 'profile' ?

[speedfan]

Tyres: Michelin, front axle: 300-680-18, rear axle: 310-710-18

Can somebody explain the tire side please?

300in is the width. the next number is measurement for the tire's sidewall, which is the percentage of the tire's width.
So, according to my calculation, the tire's sidewall is 2,040in tall. WTH?!?! *confused*

[flinchy]

Originally Posted by speedfan

Tyres: Michelin, front axle: 300-680-18, rear axle: 310-710-18

Can somebody explain the tire side please?

300 is the width. the next number is measurement for the tire's sidewall, which is the percentage of the tire's width.
So, according to my calculation, the tire's sidewall is 2,040inch tall. WTH?!?! *confused*

I'm guessing it's overall diameter.. But yeah, it's still pretty stupid.

300mm wide, 680mm total diameter on 18"?

18" is 457.2 and i cbf working out the 'profile'.. Anyone else care to? Lol

[bmwmmm]

BMW bending the rules again. This is 2000 all over again.

[bmwmmm]

Originally Posted by flinchy

It's a z4 with an s65b44 and it's allowed to race in homologate classes?

LOL

stupidly wide!

strangely stretched on tires though? That added wheel width is just dead weight? Can anyone explain that design choice?

A 300mm tire on a 12.5" wheel sounds like 'stance'.. Let alone on a 13" Does the stiffer stretched sidewall help with handling?

Can anyone explain the sizing though? 300/680/18? Overall diamter rather than 'profile' ?

The engine is called P65 not S65, its a tuned S65 basically like how the S63 is a tuned N63 etc.

[Kinder]

Originally Posted by CPWINCH

can someone explain the tire sizes? and what engine is in it exactly

Tyres: Michelin, front axle: 30-68-18, rear axle: 31-71-18

300mm wide (contact patch can be smaller or larger)
680mm total diameter
18in size of the rim

same for rear axle.

[DreamerM6]

Hot Hot Hot!!!

[flinchy]

Originally Posted by bmwmmm

The engine is called P65 not S65, its a tuned S65 basically like how the S63 is a tuned N63 etc.

Ah fair enough

Well it makes about the same power as an s65 4.4 lol.. I guess since that's all the m3 gts is, a homologated gt3 car..

BUT as far as i read the rules... It means there'll be a v8 roa going z4 for sale soon?

LOL

Ed: though reading up on the p-motors.. They're not even fully forged? At least not in their spec list.. Strange design choice for what should be a lightweight race motor :/

[Kyle B]

Originally Posted by BlackJetE90

Great...based off an imaginary car that doesn't exist in show rooms.

Congrats to others teams that have followed the spirit of the homologation rules and haven't begged sanctioning bodies.

My thoughts exactly.

Remember when the DTM M3 was the same car you bought at the dealer?

[mose121]

It's too bad that the Z4 GT3 bodywork looks 1000 times better that the GTE spec car. Especially the rear end. The GT3 car looks waaayyyyy more bad ass.