[andrew 330i]

~ old news but still cool to view... much better lines...

Press release

3 November 2005 – SEMA Show, Las Vegas, Nevada

BMW Tuner and Sport Car Racing Team, TC Kline Racing Inc. is proud to introduce the Carbon Roadster, the first complete car offered by the company. The Carbon Roadster is a focused ultra high performance sports car based on the already excellent dynamics of the BMW Z4. TC Kline’s passionate adherence to the fundamental principals of light weight and dynamic performance has resulted is a true sports car.

The Carbon Roadster weights 2,680 lbs., has 346 hp and corners with 1.06G grip. Take a minute to soak that in. The CR weighs 150 lbs. less than a Honda S2000, has the HP of a Porsche 911, and has wider wheels and tires than a Ferrari F430. Incredibly, the CR weighs 700 lbs. less than a BMW M3 while maintaining the same power.

The Body: The entire skin of the CR is manufactured from Carbon Fiber Composites. The changes to the Z4 bodywork are a direct result of the application of the principals of "form follows function". Walk around the CR and you will not find any body lines which do not serve as an extension of function. The Carbon Roadster body work incorporates aerodynamic performance enhancements with a front air dam, front wheel house vents, side skirts, and rear diffusers. The body also has all four fenders flared I" to accommodate wider wheels and tires. The use of carbon composites to make the body reduces the weight of the CR tremendously while maintaining a strong durable skin.

Interior: TC Kline has contracted with Recaro to produce a one piece shell performance seat specifically for the CR upholstered in Alcantera and Leather. These light weight performance seats feature cutouts for a driver harness and will have exceptional support while maintaining excellent driver comfort. These Recaro/TC Kline seats are similar to those found in the E46 BMW M3 CSL or the Porsche Carrera GT.

The Drive Train: On the 25th of October, 2005, BMW AG introduced the Z4 M Roadster. The Z4 M Roadster incorporates the E46 M3 Drive train. The TC Kline CR is based on that car and shares its 3.2 liter motor, 6 Speed Transmission and M Lock Differential. TC Kline upgrades the drive train with an Aluminum flywheel for quicker throttle response, improved acceleration and lighter weight. TC Kline has also developed a thin wall stainless steel exhaust system for the CR. This exhaust system is significantly lighter than the stock system, improves horse power by 13 and has the outlet in the center of the rear bumper between the two Carbon Fiber Diffusers.

The Suspension: KONI Double Adjustable Coil-Over struts and rear shocks valved to TC Kline Specifications are already accepted by the BMW enthusiast as the standard for street and track performance and directly contribute to the 1.06G cornering grip the CR develops. The suspension springs for the CR are made in Germany from a light weight alloy steel and TC Kline has a variety of spring rates available which allow the owner to tune the CR to their personal taste. The CR front struts are topped off with TC Kline designed front Camber Plates for quicker turn-in and steering feel and Delrin bushings replace the standard rubber bushings in the front lower arms and rear trailing arms for quicker response and markedly improved feel. These TC Kline components significantly reduce the unsprung weight resulting in a more responsive suspension.

Brakes: Performance Friction Corp. has created extremely rigid and light weight aluminum MonoBloc calipers for use on the CR. The front caliper is a four piston design with four brake pads for superior modulation and high brake torque and the rear caliper is a two piston design sharing the same pads. The large floating rotors have aluminum hats for light weight. The front rotor diameter in 345 mm, and 328mm rotors are on the rear. The PFC Carbon Metallic Brake Pads offer exceptional brake loads for extremely short stopping distances. These ultra performance brakes also contribute significantly to reducing the unsprung weight of the Carbon Roadster.

Wheels and Tires: The final design for the wheels has not been determined, however, the specifications have. As on this prototype, all four wheels will be a one piece forged aluminum design for the lightest weight and strength. The CR standard front wheels are 19x9.5" and the rears are 19x10.5". Optional wheels in 18x9.5" and 18x10.5" will be available in forged aluminum as well for those drivers who want to take advantage of a larger selection of ‘R’ Compound tires and/or are interested in a more comfortable street ride. Magnesium forged wheels will be offered in 18x10" front, 18x11" rear for optimum track performance. The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup is currently the highest performance tire available for the street. The standard sizes for the CR are 265/30x19 front and 295/25x19 rear, (Not yet available). These Sport Cup tires produced 1.06 G cornering in a Car and Driver test driving a TC Kline Z4 using the same suspension as supplied on the CR. The Michelin PS2 Ultra high performance tire will be available in both 18 and 19" as a no charge option. The PS2 tires offer extended wear with less grip than the Sport Cup tires.

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With some detail changes, the CR prototype you see here will be offered for sale in the late spring or early summer of 2006. The TC Kline Carbon Roadster will be assembled in the TC Kline Racing Shop in Columbus, Ohio. The CR will be available in all of the BMW Z4 M Roadster colors, and any special color can be accommodated for a small extra charge. The CR will be limited by production capability to 100 cars. The final price of the Carbon Roadster is not set. However, expect the price to be in the mid $90,000. range.

There will be two option packages for the CR.

Soft ride package: This package will use the new self adjusting KONI FSD (frequency sensitive damping), technology dampers for a softer ride with minimal sacrifice in grip, softer spring rates, 18" wheels, Recaro Sport Seats and Michelin PS2 tires. This suspension will maintain the factory rubber bushings in the suspension. This is a no cost option.

Track Attack Package: This package offers 18x10" front, 18X11" rear forged Magnesium Wheels shod with 265/35x18 front and 295/30x18 rear Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Tires, Competition rate springs, PFC Slotted Rotors, High Temp. SRF Brake fluid, Recaro Racer SPG Driver Seat, Driver and passenger racing harnesses, and TC Kline Spherical Ball Joint Suspension. The cost for this option package has not been set at this date.

For further information you can go tcklineracing.com, or call TC Kline Racing at 614-771-7744.


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TC Kline Racing
"Uncompromising BMW Performance"
TC Kline Carbon Roadster

Specifications
Body: TC Kline Carbon Fiber Composite skin over steel unibody

Dimensions: Length 161.5"
Width 70.1"
Height 50.2"
Wheel Base 98.3"

Track: Front 60.2"
Rear 61.4"

Weight: 2,680 lbs (unladen)

Interior: Recaro/TC Kline Custom light weight one piece shell seat w/ Alcantera and Leather upholstery
Optional – Recaro Sport Seats of Recaro Racer SPG Racing Seats

Engine:
BMW 3.2 L inline Double overhead cam 6 Cylinder w/Iron Block and Aluminum Head - 346 hp @ 7900 rpm - 232 lb/ft torque at @4900 rpm

Exhaust: TC Kline Thin Wall Stainless w/center outlet

Flywheel: TC Kline 11.2 lbs Aluminum

Transmission: BMW 6 Speed Manual

Gear Ratios: 1)4.35 2)2.496 3)1.665 4)1.23 5)1.00 6)0.851

Differential: BMW M Lock Limited Slip
Final Drive Ratio 3.62

Suspension: Front TC Kline/KONI Dbl Adj Struts
TC Kline light weight 60mm ID Coil Over Springs
TC Kline Adjustable Camber Plates
TC Kline Delrin Lower arm Bushings

Rear: Multi-Link Trailing Arm
TC Kline Dbl Adj Shocks

TC Kline Light Weight Coil Springs w/Adjustable Spring Lands
TC Kline Delrin Trailing Arm Bushings (Spherical Ball Joint or BMW Rubber Optional)

Brakes: Front
Performance Friction 4 piston MonoBloc Aluminum Calipers
345mm Floating rotor w/aluminum hats

Rear
Performance Friction 2 Piston Aluminum Calipers
328mm Floating rotor w/aluminum hats
PFC Carbon Metallic brake pads

Wheels and Tires:
Light Weight One Piece Forged Aluminum w/Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Tires
Front – 19x9.5" wheel with 265/30x19" tire
Rear - 19x10.5 wheel with 295/25x19" tire (not yet available)

Optional:
18x9.5 front and 18x10.5 rear Forged Aluminum
18x10 front and 18x11 rear Forged Magnesium

Copyright ©1999-2005 TC Kline Racing, Inc. All rights reserved

[aapriadi]

mean lookin!!!

[EVO_S4]

never really a fan of the Z4, but that one looks hot

[ska///235i]

Whoa!

[ward]

that's probably my next mod planned.....



hot car though!!!

[BMW320i]

Wohooooooo hot !!!!!!

did they say the estimate 0-60 ??? guess it would b F A S T...

[bavarian06]

why the tiny exhaust pipes? surprised. everything else screams beast.

[andrew 330i]

Originally Posted by bavarian06

why the tiny exhaust pipes? surprised. everything else screams beast.

~ it was the only thing that wasn't changed prior to press... under development & didn't arrive in time... they are now indeed much much larger as a finished product.

[bavarian06]

what does the finished product look like? they should just integrate it into the bumper

[ALPINE6SPD]

interior pics?

[ZStig]

Old ass thread bump.

I just did some power to weight comparisons for fun:

At 500hp crank, and around 3300lbs, my weight to power ratio is 6.6lbs/hp
If I got my car down to 2700lbs with this kit, it would be 5.4lbs/hp

or the same as jumping to 611hp on 3300lbs.


The body costs $21k + seats + exhaust + flywheel, but a man can dream, right?