Performance Review: BMW Z4 sDrive28i E89 - [2011]

Figures & Specs Summary:

BMW Z4 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the BMW Z4 sDrive28i E89 is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2011. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the 2011 SSC Tuatara 6.9L V8 Twin Turbo.This particular BMW Z4 has a 1997cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The Z4 shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Z4's Rear Wheel Drive, Cabriolet combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1475 kgs (3251 lbs) this makes the BMW Z4 sDrive28i E89 in the same weight category as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Circuit Edition 1.6 Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The BMW Z4 shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp)

In terms of power the 1997cc 16V St4 engine produces 242 bhp (180 kW) @ 5000 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp) or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD (266 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 258 lb-ft (349.8 Nm) @ 1250 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Circuit Edition 1.6 Turbo (273 lb-ft) or the 2022 Toyota Corolla GR 1.6 Turbo (273 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the BMW Z4 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 1968 Alpine A110 1300 (188.8 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the BMW Z4.

The BMW Z4 has a Power to weight ratio of 164.0 bhp per ton and 174.9 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2011 Z4 competing with the 1968 Alpine A110 1300 (188.8 bhp per ton) or the 2009 BMW Z4 35i sDrive 2d (188.7 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the BMW Z4 generating around 174.9 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1962 Lincoln Continental 7.0L V8 (199.7 lb-ft per ton) or the 2006 Volkswagen-VW Golf GT TDi 170 (199.5 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.50 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 5.7 secs, this made the BMW Z4 sDrive28i E89 as fast as the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost (5.50 secs) the 2017 Honda Civic Type R 2.0i 16v Turbo - FK8 (5.50 secs) the 2017 Seat Leon SC Cupra 300 (5.50 secs) the or the 2017 Seat Leon Cupra 300 DSG (5.50 secs). This BMW Z4 sDrive28i E89 is also faster than the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Arteon 2.0T AWD (5.60 secs) the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Arteon 2.0T (5.60 secs) the 2020 Maserati Ghibli GranSport Petrol Hybrid (5.60 secs) the and the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range (5.60 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Z4 and the 1992 Mitsubishi 3000 GT

When talking about the performance of the BMW Z4 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.93 secs @ 91.6 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1992 Mitsubishi 3000 GT (14.86 secs), the 1971 Dodge Dart Demon Sport Coupe 5.5 V8 340 (14.86 secs), and the 2014 Seat Leon Cupra 265 DSG (14.87 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2011 version of the BMW Z4 sDrive28i E89 has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2011 Z4 equals the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2011 BMW Z4 sDrive28i E89 then how about the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph), the 2022 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (166 mph), or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 5.0 V8 (166 mph).

Related Links:

2011 Z4 Rivals List.

A Brief History of BMW

Car Comparison