BMW has unveiled a special version of its facelifted Z4 roadster. Dubbed Pure Impulse, it gets mild styling tweaks inside and outside and runs on a manual transmission never before used with a six-cylinder engine. The production starts in Graz, Austria in March.
The new gearbox has been developed specifically for the Z4 with a number of M components inside. For a more vivid driving experience, it features a special external shifting mechanism. The engine outputs its regular 340 PS (335 hp / 250 kW) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque.
It takes 4.6 seconds to launch the manual roadster 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) – just one-tenth of a second longer than the 8AT version.
The chassis benefits from differently tuned springs and new sway bars. The adaptive shocks stay the same physically, but the control software has been optimized. Custom ABS and rear diff settings round off the tweaks in this department. The wheels are staggered – 19-inch at the front and 20-inch at the rear.
The exterior sports only mild updates, the most notable of which is a Cognac Red leather trim exclusive to the Pure Impule Edition. New exterior finishes are also available.
Six-cylinder Z4 roadsters constitute over 30% of all Z4 sales worldwide and nearly 50% of their sales in Germany. Despite the apparent popularity, the company had never offered manual transmission with this engine. To drive stick, you had to buy the cheapest version of the roadster with a 2.0-liter engine rated at just 197 PS (194 hp / 145 kW).
The new BMW Z4 M40i starts from €75,300 – a €6,000 premium over the standard 8AT spec.
