How much faster is a race car than a street car? To find out, Matt drove BMW’s newest version of the Z4, the Z4 sdrive35i, and then jumped into a championship winning Z4 that was built by Turner Motorsport.

BMW NA has issued a recall for certain 4-cylinder powered 20i and 28i models for potential brake power assist problems. Here is the recall information from the NHTSA.

The affected models/years are as follows:

BMW/320I/2012-2014
BMW/328I/2012-2014
BMW/428I/2014
BMW/528I/2012-2013
BMW/X1/2013-2014
BMW/X3/2013-2014
BMW/Z4/2012-2014

NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V-627 (14V627000)

Components:
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Potential Number of Units Affected: 8,988

Problem Description:
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports … CONTINUED

Check out this one-off “Z4 Red Carbonic” by Carlex Design. Especially impressive is the custom bespoke alcantara interior.

BMW inside Scott26 dishes on the future BMW Z roadster lineup, including the Z1, Z3 and Z5.

The new Z models take their BMW design from a progression of the Vision ConnectedDrive Concept Car like the car below with a more angular and technical language recently seen on the BMW Vision Future Luxury.

All BMWs will retain the essential BMW roadster cues such as being so close to the road and the seats almost on the rear axle. A long bonnet and short rear overhang and … CONTINUED

Check out this E89 Z4 build by PSI. Words by Sean@PSI:

Every so often, as we trek through life, we really score big. Perhaps not in the traditional sense of a bank heist or lottery win, but in an area that truly matters to us. Looking back, we wonder how we came to be so fortunate. While sometimes owning a car can be mundane or even frustrating, occasionally there is such a highlight that everything else pales in comparison.

By way of illustration, have a … CONTINUED

AutoMotor und Sport is reporting that new next Z4/Toyota project WILL have a turbo six gasoline engine.

BMW spokesman Kai Lichte said:

Whether the hybrid powertrain is also used in the BMW, or whether the Z4 gets four-wheel drive, but it was “too early to talk about it,” as the BMW spokesman told an Australian newspaper says. “First, we will have a six-cylinder, that’s for sure. Everything else comes later maybe.”

The next Z4 will be jointly developed with Toyota and BMW. One possibility is a Toyota … CONTINUED

There was to be no happy ending for the BMW Sports Trophy teams at this year’s Nurburgring 24 Hours (DE). Despite strong performances and leading at times, the podium eluded BMW as the endurance classic was held for the 42nd time in front of a total of 205,000 spectators. BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert, with the number 20 BMW Z4 GT3, was embroiled in a fascinating three-way battle at the head of the field with an Audi and a Mercedes until two hours from … CONTINUED

Another great BMW related trip journal by Rick focusing on The Civil War, Slavery, and Abraham Lincoln in Washington, DC and Maryland.

With a last lap pass in the final turn of today’s TUDOR United SportsCar Championship race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Bill Auberlen, driving the No. 55 BMW Z4 GTLM, secured the fourth consecutive BMW Team RLL podium finish of the 2014 season.

The runner-up finish keeps Auberlen and co-driver Andy Priaulx at the top of the driver points standings and BMW Team RLL in the lead in team points. The duo completed 84 laps during the two-hour race, finishing 4.710 seconds behind the winning … CONTINUED

Today, BMW launched their 2014 DTM Motorsport event inside the BMW Welt, in a spectacular fashion! BMW Motorsport and the factory employees at the BMW AG plant in Munich ( DE) , as well as the many fans(watching) in(and outside) the BMW Welt , the program for the DTM 2014 season kicked off!

Just over a week before the first DTM race will be held at Hockenheim ( DE ) BMW Motorsport, presented an awesome event, all eight DTM BMW M4 race car’s and their … CONTINUED

BMW is recalling a 156,137 vehicles, both luxury cars and SUVs, to make sure bolts holding a component in their six-cylinder engines can break loose and cause stalling or engine damage.

BMW says it has told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that in rare cases, bolts holding the variable camshaft timing unit may come loose or break, causing the engine to go into a “safe mode.” If the problem continues, it can lead to stalling, engine damage – and it may not start.

Drivers will … CONTINUED

Endurance fans at the qualifying race for the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (DE) will be witness to a world first on Sunday: after BMW announced the first-ever use worldwide of laser light technology in a production vehicle, BMW Motorsport is now also the first manufacturer to compete at a race with this innovation. The four BMW Z4 GT3s run by BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert and BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS are being equipped with innovative headlamps, similar to those which will … CONTINUED

BMW Motorsport and BMW Team RLL experienced a successful start to the United SportsCar Championship (USCC), securing an impressive podium result in what was the start of a new era in American motor racing. The number 55 BMW Z4 GTLM crossed the line second in the GTLM at the 24-hour race of Daytona (US), after completing a total of 679 laps of the iconic “Daytona International Speedway” road course. Bill Auberlen (US), Andy Priaulx (GB), Joey Hand (US) and Maxime Martin (BE) struggled to … CONTINUED

BMW drivers swept the top-four finishing positions in Grand Sport class and the top-two spots in Street Tuner class in today’s BMW Performance 200, the opening round of the 2014 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.

“An ultimate start to the year, “said Gordon McDonnell, BMWNA Motorsport Manager. “We know the BMW is strong at Daytona and a 1-4 in GS and a 1-2 in ST is fantastic – especially in the BMW Performance 200. Congratulations to all the BMW teams and I hope this kind … CONTINUED

The timescale works absolutely in favour with the new BMW M3 and BMW M4 Coupe because a gap of two years allows establishment and progress. By this time there will be the Competition Package for the M3 and M4 and there will also be progress for the two cars in an additional specification.

Then you have to think about the next M5 and its leap in technology , lightweight and power increase to just over 600 PS. Granted the M5 won’t be on the market … CONTINUED

Tokyo Auto Salon 2014, the major Japanese tuner/aftermarket show, is currently underway in Tokyo and we are there to bring you the BMW models on display!

The F30/F32 3 Series and 4 Series dominate this year’s array of BMWs, but there are still plenty of M3, M5, 5 Series, Z4 and E90/E92 3 Series being trotted out by major tuners.

Enjoy the views!

Back in January of this year, BMW and Toyota signed an agreement to cooperate on joint development of a fuel cell system, joint development of architecture and components for a future sports vehicle, collaboration on powertrain electrification and joint research and development on lightweight technologies. The two companies have now decided upon and agreed to develop a joint platform for sportscars, BMW’s development chief Herbert Diess told a German newspaper.

“We have agreed on a joint architecture for a sports car. What is important is … CONTINUED