Wiesmann is back, Friedhelm Wiesmann to be exact. Under the brand name Boldmen he builds cars again and they are just as expensive and exclusive as the Wiesmanns of yesteryear. We are going on the road with the CR 4 roadster.
When the lights finally went out at sports car manufacturer Wiesmann in 2014, it didn’t just hurt the enthusiasts. The sympathetic company did not deserve such an end. We also miss the models it built. Classically styled sports cars with BMW technology, a unique appearance and endless possibilities for individualisation. You simply won’t find such a successful mix of past and present with other car manufacturers.
But there is hope. Models like this are making a comeback, even if under a different name: Boldmen. The idea behind it comes from Friedhelm Wiesmann, who uses the expertise of the Käs family from Welden, near Augsburg (Germany), for the technical part. Boldmen’s head office is also located there. Father Harald Käs takes care of the entrepreneurial part, son Michael leads the development and production. The company has plenty of experience in new car development and carbon fiber handling. For example, it has already put the Everytimer on its wheels, an open eye-catcher in BMW 02 style based on the 1-series Convertible. The fact that both partners have a relationship with BMW naturally helps in choosing a suitable basis. The CR 4 was once a Z4 M40i, with an output of 340 hp.
You have to look very closely to find out that basis, because every body part has been completely redesigned and manufactured in a complex way from carbon fiber. This reduces the weight of the car to less than 1.5 tons. Especially when you close the door, you notice that this car has undergone a significant slimming cure. Compared to the Wiesmanns of yesteryear, the technical specifications of the Boldmen deviate much less from its donor. This is because the technical components of modern cars are much more closely linked than they were back then. The control units do not like far-reaching interventions. Still, the company wanted to develop a car with its own face as far as possible, and it succeeded thanks to the original design. The track has increased and the rear has also become wider, while the distinctively shaped front extends far forward.
Half segment higher
If you didn’t know better, you’d rate the CR 4 half a segment higher than the Z4 it’s based on. The fact that the performance level has been increased significantly helps with that. At Boldmen they mention a time of 3.9 seconds for the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h, and we believe them after the first test drives. The extra 68 horses are clearly palpable, the forward drive is astonishing. The completely newly developed exhaust system underlines the whole with a crisp, but not too obtrusive sound. The adjustment of the chassis is also convincing. The CR 4’s suspension is stiff, but not stiff. Irregularities are also well processed. It drives more dynamically than a Z4, steers accurately, barely tilts and when accelerating out of corners the rear fans out a bit if you want. The reupholstered steering wheel also convinces; it somehow feels more manageable, while it can’t differ much from the BMW steering wheel that served as the basis. The rest of the interior in the First Thirty version driven by us is completely covered in leather and fitted with body-coloured trim. The possibilities for personalization are endless. That is also allowed, because in Germany this car already costs at least €184,900. That’s a lot of money, but Boldmen has upgraded the technical foundation of the Z4 so that it is more a competitor for a 911 Cabriolet than a Boxster. Lighter, more power, a top chassis, a striking appearance: this new round certainly offers new opportunities.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl