Is the BMW Z4 M40i faster on track than its Toyota...

Exceeding Expectations

So yeah, we had been hesitant to check this luxo-cousin to the sporty Supra on observe, fearing there was nothing to be realized from seeing the extra sedate tackle a well-known {hardware} bundle get stomped.

Boy, are we glad we modified our minds.

On observe, the Z4 is a delight, equaling the newest Supra we sampled–additionally with the handbook six-speed field–on the clock, on the information charts and within the seat of our pants. Truly, we’d be arduous pressed to say the Z4 didn’t provide the popular observe expertise in most areas, because it felt extra composed than the Toyota. 

Timewise, the Z4 clocked its finest lap a scant 0.3 second slower than the Supra’s finest–1:18.35 versus 1:18.63–though these exams had been carried out almost two years other than one another. Don’t sweat the three-tenths of a tick too arduous. It’s simply as honest to name it a tie.

1. The Supra (blue hint) and the Z4 (pink hint) had similar acceleration in third gear. On this lap, which was our greatest for the Z4, we shifted to fourth gear and because of this in all probability misplaced some momentum to the Supra, which stayed in third. On laps the place we saved the Z4 in third, nevertheless, errors elsewhere and observe circumstances saved us from beating this finest lap. 2. Fascinating anomaly right here, because the Supra outpaces the Z4 in acceleration the place they ran head-to-head in different areas. Ambient climate variations? 3. General, we’re ready to name this a lifeless warmth, particularly once we see the Z4 outpacing the Supra on the tough entrance to Flip 8. These charts are far more alike than they’re completely different.

Throughout that almost all current check of the Supra, we praised the dealing with but in addition felt the chassis appeared slightly edgy, at the least when it got here to really feel and suggestions. Nicely, the Z4 delivers related traits, nevertheless it additionally appears to blunt the sting and make the automobile really feel much less nervous on observe. In each instances, the VBox knowledge didn’t actually decide up any twitchiness perceived from behind the wheel. As a substitute, it confirmed good, strong pace curves with little variation by way of corners.

The truth is, it’s tough to take a look at the information and say conclusively why the Supra was a couple of tenths sooner than the Z4. The Supra has higher pace by way of a few sluggish corners and is persistently sooner at turn-in on the FIRM’s sq. right-hand Turn5, however that might simply be as a result of observe situation anomalies and never materials automobile variations. 

The Z4 can also be persistently sooner by way of the early and late sections of the FIRM’s Flip 8, which has three distinct cornering phases. The early turn-in part affords a reasonably good decide of really feel and suggestions–extra confidence often means extra corner-entry pace. The center part reveals a automobile’s pure road-holding means because the chassis sits in regular state for a few seconds. The ultimate stage sees the street camber go away simply earlier than throttle software, making for a fancy exit because the entrance traction is balanced with thrust from the rear tires. 

The Z4 barely outpaced the Supra in these extra complicated sections, which appeared barely out of character with its problem maintaining within the slower, squarer corners the place transitional means was additionally necessary. That’s why we’re inclined to name the observe session a useful draw. The variations weren’t coarse sufficient for us to attract actual conclusions, and the time and situation hole of the observe had been in all probability greater elements than something.

Curiously, the Z4 and Supra used completely different strategies to realize their quickest laps. The Supra’s finest lap got here by staying in third gear for a lot of the 1.55-mile FIRM circuit, whereas the Z4 delivered its quickest time once we shifted from third to fourth simply earlier than the quick right-hand kink of Flip 4. 

The info exhibits that we misplaced acceleration thrust by going to fourth, however we obtained a greater entry and mid-corner efficiency out of the Z4 in fourth than in third. The VBox knowledge exhibits that the combination time by way of that part was almost similar, and a lot of the benefit of the quickest lap got here in a bit the place each automobiles had been in the identical gear. So yeah, not a lot to glean there aside from the truth that the B58 engine is splendidly versatile and easy, is probably going underrated at 382 horsepower, and could be a nice asset on observe whether or not you’re lugging it and utilizing the prodigious torque and minimal turbo lag or letting it wind to 7000 rpm. 

We additionally sampled varied settings from the journey management, which might be blended or matched with settings for shock stiffness, throttle response and exhaust observe. Our greatest laps got here within the Consolation or Sport modes, with Sport+ having too aggressive a throttle curve for easy energy supply and an excessive amount of shock compression stiffness to take in the curbs which might be integral to a quick lap on the FIRM. 

Consolation and Sport provide good compromises, with each delivering nice road-holding whereas the softest shock setting takes only a bit extra time within the transitions. The steadiness right here might all change with correct observe tires and a extra aggressive alignment, however we nonetheless desire essentially the most relaxed throttle setting in all instances. The B58 is snappy, responsive and impossibly versatile. It merely doesn’t need assistance from a very aggressive throttle opening.

Plush Efficiency

The Z4 options all the posh objects anticipated in a contemporary BMW, but the automobile nonetheless ran almost as quick as the newest Supra. Take away any statistical noise, and we’d name it a tie. 

So, what’s our conclusion right here? Nicely, look, most people who find themselves selecting a automobile for observe use are nonetheless going to go for the Supra, and so they’re not mistaken. It’s three low cost Miatas inexpensive with a hard and fast roof and fewer weight. 

We didn’t discover a variety of aerodynamic variations in our testing–acceleration appeared principally constant between each automobiles to and past 100 mph–however our check observe doesn’t have the lengthy straights of a Street Atlanta or Street America. Because the pace will increase, we will see the Supra’s slipperier traces paying off. 

And actually, the entire level of the Z4 is to not function a observe weapon just like the Supra–which, by the way in which, nonetheless comes with a complimentary NASA membership and observe day. However we’ve realized that, regardless of its extra luxurious focus and barely swankier appointments, the Z4 provides up little to nothing to its extra hardcore cousin within the efficiency division.