AutoBild, recently did a comparison of the BMW Z4 and the Opel GT (Saturn Sky) in Europe to see if the cheaper by $14k Sky could hold its own against the Z4.
The Opel delivered 264 horsepower and had a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds, while the Z4 had 265 horsepower and a 0-60 time of 6.1 seconds. Those numbers are nearly identical. For the test they chose the BMW Z4 3.0si and the Opel GT 2.0 turbo. Although the Opel had similar horsepower and 0-60 times to the BMW, its overall bulkiness and extra weight held it back.
Comparing the U.S. versions of these roadsters also yields close performance results. The Z4 3.0si has 255 horsepower with a 0-60 time of 5.6 seconds, while the Sky Red Line has 260 horsepower and a 0-60 time of 5.5 seconds. These numbers are interestingly faster than the 0-60 times in Europe. The Sky Red Line also weighs 62 lbs less than the Z4.
So what does all this mean? The Z4 costs $43k vs $29k for the Sky. Even though the Sky does have a price advantage, does it mean that it will steal sales away from the Z4? Most likely not. You have to remember that you are comparing a Saturn to a BMW and in most cases, most people would rather fork over the extra money for a BMW. Hopefully the lower priced Saturn will prompt BMW and it’s German counterparts to look into building a lower priced Miata/Sky/Solstice competitor. There have already been rumors circulating that BMW is going to build a smaller roadster in 2010, possibly called the Z2.
