Schnitzer Makes Mad Diesel Z4

You know how BMW loves extolling their principle of Efficient Dynamics? Well, German tuning company AC Schnitzer has just coined a similar tagline. Efficient Performance is what they’re saying. But it all sounds a bit tongue-in-cheek, because the subject of this descriptor is a little… ridiculous. Here’s what they did. They took a standard Z4 sDrive23i and performed an impressive engine transplant, with the mill from the monstrous 5 Series M50d.

As if that wasn’t enough, they also upped the standard power output. It now makes 318kW and 840Nm versus 280kW and 740Nm. Then, they decided to lift the rear axle gear and limited slip differential from an E92 BMW M3. All this results in a 0-100km/h time of 4.5 seconds and it laps the Sachsenring (it’s a bit like the Nurburgring’s less famous cousin) in 1:37.22 seconds – which has earned it the title of fastest diesel around the track. For some perspective, a Ferrari 458 Italia clocked a time of 1:34.30 seconds at the circuit, undergoing testing by German publication AutoBild.

But you know that AC Schnitzer is pretty good at the art of holistic tuning, so it’s not just power that received attention. An extensive weight reduction programme was also rolled out. So the folding roof and the boot lid were replaced with composite items – which account for a 90 kg saving. And the 23 kg standard exhaust system was ditched for a 4 kg unit. A further 25 kg was lost, thanks to replacing the factory wheels with AC Schnitzer’s Type VIII forged alloys.

And it wouldn’t be complete without the aesthetic bits, which are in ample supply as you can see from the press photography. The bad news is that it’s not for sale. According to AC Schnitzer, the exercise was a learning platform. The company says it would cost € 113 965 (R1 481 670) if it were to be sold however. But the good news is that you can have the brakes, suspension and styling bits for your own Z4 from an AC Schnitzer retailer. JSN Motors in Bryanston, Johannesburg is the authorised outlet for our market.

-IgnitionLIVE Reporter

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