Z Series Next generation BMW Z4 E89 - part II (first FEP pics incl. !!!)

[EnI]

and the world debut of the BMW 7er Individual.

This will be interesting.

I'm hearing some great stuff about F01/F02 Individual.

The know-how from Goodwood has been very successfully integrated into Individual division. And the results are fantastic! Cant wait to see the babies.

And even harder to anticipate: the production version of Gran Turismo by Individual.

 

[SCOTT27]

You are too generous...

More dynamic shots of driving across areas of the 90 mile beach , car looking good on film even from the arial shots the car totally sticks to the road especially on those high drop dramatic New Zealand cliffs.
Agile Dynamics brought to you courtesy of BMW "S" Drive and not something to go into now but the time will come.
After The beautiful lands of New Zealand , familiar territory in Cape Town , South Africa. Plenty of coastal scenic roads in the planning but also permission for a Sunday morning blast through a deserted city , roads closed and inbetween the high rise buildings the city will be alive with the sounds of turbo charged Six cylinder power. Similar to what was done in Sydney except that was a cruise just to raise the roof.

Sports car? what truly makes a decent sports car is it handling?, agilty? , performance? , acceleration like a bullet fired from a gun? All the bases have been covered with the Z4. Without reference to the weight , there is some very innovative techniques used within this car to counteract such claims. Maybe we got things round the wrong way with "The dawn of a new era" and could have used this with the Z4. As both cars are effectively giant leaps from their previous incarnations.
Truth be told though this term could also apply to the Z4 also as the sun sets on the E85 The countdown to sunrise (E89) begins.

Next : This is your 5am alarm call...

 

[Mr Robert]

Thanks Scott,

I think that while "Handling and Agilty" are very important parts of the mix that is a sportscar, lightness it the single most important feature of a sportscar.

 

[onehots2k]

The conv hardtop is going to make this a pricey machine. BMW needs to be very careful. Paying 45k for a 230hp 3500lb conv dosent sound too appealing. I dont see a base Z4 coming in less than that.

 

[tigera333]

The conv hardtop is going to make this a pricey machine. BMW needs to be very careful. Paying 45k for a 230hp 3500lb conv dosent sound too appealing. I dont see a base Z4 coming in less than that.

45 Kwhat for a base price ??? K$ or K€ ???

If you mean 45 k€, I think a reminder is necessary !!!

The current Z4 base price is 29900 € ! 45000 € means + 50% !!!!! For still a z4, we're not talking about a z6 !

and:
The SLK 280 (231 HP) costs 41 850 €
The Audi TT 3.2 Quattro (250 HP) costs 43 800 €
The Porsche Boxster 2.7 (245 HP) costs 45 700 € and it's... a Porsche !!!

I absolutely love BMW and I do think it's a wonderful brand but there's still a little gap to reach Porsche's image and legend...

And to say the truth I was about to buy the e85 when I heard of the e89 and wanted to buy it right after its launch but if the price is 45k€, I'd rather buy a Boxster for the same price...

Frankly if BMW really increases the price like that, I bet that this z4 sales will be really catastrophic...

I really cross fingers for BMW... and for me !

BTW, Eni or Scott, I suppose you're not really in this kind of matters (I mean pricing) but could you give us any clue on that ?

 

[jkish]

I'm keeping my eye on this one.

In my dreams, the new Z would come in at <3200lbs with a 340+hp twin turbo inline 6.

Well I can dream, right...

 

[GCfan]

45 Kwhat for a base price ??? K$ or K€ ???

If you mean 45 k€, I think a reminder is necessary !!!

The current Z4 base price is 29900 € ! 45000 € means + 50% !!!!! For still a z4, we're not talking about a z6 !

and:
The SLK 280 (231 HP) costs 41 850 €
The Audi TT 3.2 Quattro (250 HP) costs 43 800 €
The Porsche Boxster 2.7 (245 HP) costs 45 700 € and it's... a Porsche !!!

I absolutely love BMW and I do think it's a wonderful brand but there's still a little gap to reach Porsche's image and legend...

And to say the truth I was about to buy the e85 when I heard of the e89 and wanted to buy it right after its launch but if the price is 45k€, I'd rather buy a Boxster for the same price...

Frankly if BMW really increases the price like that, I bet that this z4 sales will be really catastrophic...

I really cross fingers for BMW... and for me !

BTW, Eni or Scott, I suppose you're not really in this kind of matters (I mean pricing) but could you give us any clue on that ?

Base model (2.0i) too which you refer only came in after 2,5-3 years. Lowest engine at introduction was 2.5i, price must have been around 33-34k euro (depending of country). I expect the 3.0i and 3.0i tt to start at a price of around 40k (3.0i) and 45k (3.0i tt) euro this time.

 

[Mr Robert]

45 Kwhat for a base price ??? K$ or K€ ???

No, that would be $. $45k = €30k

Cars are very cheap in the US.

 

[tigera333]

Base model (2.0i) too which you refer only came in after 2,5-3 years. Lowest engine at introduction was 2.5i, price must have been around 33-34k euro (depending of country). I expect the 3.0i and 3.0i tt to start at a price of around 40k (3.0i) and 45k (3.0i tt) euro this time.

The 2.5i costs 32.900 € today (Germany) and was indeed the first introduction engine, but today, considering the economic situation, the ecological matter, oil prices and low émissions reglementations, I think they will introduce a 2.0 from the beginning, but I could be wrong...

And well your prices would be really fair: 40k for the 3.0i and 45k for the 3.0ti.

But I really think it will be more... Much more ! The 3.0si costs today 42.250 € so It will be at least 50 k€...

For me 5000 € increase would be fair, that would mean the 2.5i at 38 k€...

 

[GCfan]

The 2.5i costs 32.900 € today (Germany) and was indeed the first introduction engine, but today, considering the economic situation, the ecological matter, oil prices and low émissions reglementations, I think they will introduce a 2.0 from the beginning, but I could be wrong...

And well your prices would be really fair: 40k for the 3.0i and 45k for the 3.0ti.

But I really think it will be more... Much more ! The 3.0si costs today 42.250 € so It will be at least 50 k€...

For me 5000 € increase would be fair, that would mean the 2.5i at 38 k€...

You have to compare the original 2.5i with the current 2.5si (35.900 euro in Germany). The current 2.5i is the successor of the 2.2i (6 in line).

The current 3.0si costs indeed already 42k+, but i think that the 3.0i in the new Z4 might be the low-power version as used in the 125i and 325i, so you have to add more or less 5k euro to the current price of a 2.5si. Don't know ift they will introduce immediately the 3.0i in the higher power version since he gap with the 3.0i tt is too narrow, even with the tt in 326hp configuration. Don't forget they will add a metal roof, which is more costly to produce.

BMW has the policy to introduce first the larger engines and after a couple of years the smaller engines (smaller margins). However, they are sligthly changing this policy, for example the E92 and E93 got the basic engine already after 6-months.

Since petrol engines are becoming again more popular in Germany (% sales of diesel cars has gone down the latest months), BMW should introduce asap the 2.0i tt, otherwise al lot of potential buyers might switch over to Volkswagen related products (even their 1.4i tt outclasses the BMW's 2.0i in every single test). Maybe the Z4 will be the first one using this engine in a year or two?

 

[onehots2k]

Sorry, I mean $45,000 US. A base Cayman comes in at round $50,000US but the car has totally engine layout and it weighs 2800lb.

 

[conan_55]

I really do not think there will be 2.0L/2.2L 4-cylinder engine for this generation, simply because there will be the smaller soft-top roadster.

I think only inline sixes for this generation. No V8 or M model either because there will be the bigger roadster.

 

[tigera333]

I really do not think there will be 2.0L/2.2L 4-cylinder engine for this generation, simply because there will be the smaller soft-top roadster.

You have a good point here but I'm not so sure, first because the z2 will probably not be ready before 2 years

And also because the 1 serie exists but that didn't prevent BMW to give a 2.0i with the convertible 3 serie (E93)

 

[Mr Robert]

Sorry, I mean $45,000 US. A base Cayman comes in at round $50,000US but the car has totally engine layout and it weighs 2800lb.

Kids, I wonder when we will have a brand new Cayman on sale for about €33.5k (today €49k or some $73k) here in Europe? I know I would have bought one tomorrow...

I say: Let the Americans support our purchases instead of the other way around.

 

[SCOTT27]

Shades of Gold,White,Blue and Green.

Unfortunately looks like the weather is stopping play. Moved up the coast and resting in Nelson where we will be utilising the Abel Tasman National Park for some film and photography. Dark Clouds not exactly the right mood we were wanting but it could turn out to be an advantage.

We have covered the basis to what we can of what is outside but how is the inside? Well effectively the original Z4 had a typical BMW quality . soft textured panels and nicely damped controls of the auto aircon , entertainment system etc. The new model is more egronomic friendly with now aircon controls closer to the driver , the idrive screen (Idrive will be available for this Z4) is faired in similar to the X6 and 7er , The long paneled dash remains giving that contemporary roadster look.
The seats are effectively more sport orientated as they cocoon the driver . New leathers and interior surfaces will be available to reflect the overhaul in quality that the new Z4 will feature - Ozone Silver - A new color to the Z4 reflects the dynasm of the new design showcasing all the detail in a milkish silver color , This car rides on new 18" wheels as effectively steered by the FEP pictures again like the previous model there will be very design orientated wheel specifications. Including the design as shown on the GINA concept car.
Go back to the M Roadster , The Z8 and even the GINA Concept and you will see how the new Z4 shows of it's wide track clothed in a well proportioned body The good thing is that the proportions as balanced by smaller rims has a tendency to look under developed. This has effectively been banished.

Next Time, How Chassis adaptions make the Z4 more agile than ever.
And aluminium makes the Z4 more lighter than before.

 

[Sunny]

And aluminium makes the Z4 more lighter than before.

Sounds very promising, if true despite the hard top or maybe there is a soft top variant.

 

[Deleted member 25]

The good thing is that the proportions as balanced by smaller rims has a tendency to look under developed. This has effectively been banished.

This is the mark of very good designs.

 

[tigera333]

about the new aircon controls, if they are those we saw in the interior spyshots, they seem directly coming from the 70's...

Not sure that matches the "modern sportscar" image BMW wants to give to this new baby...

 

[Brookside]

We have covered the basis to what we can of what is outside but how is the inside? Well effectively the original Z4 had a typical BMW quality . soft textured panels and nicely damped controls of the auto aircon , entertainment system etc. The new model is more egronomic friendly with now aircon controls closer to the driver , the idrive screen (Idrive will be available for this Z4) is faired in similar to the X6 and 7er , The long paneled dash remains giving that contemporary roadster look.

An early photo with molded felt over the dashboard. Note the clever way this fetching lass has pointed out the new idrive controller.

 

[onehots2k]

Next Time, How Chassis adaptions make the Z4 more agile than ever.
And aluminium makes the Z4 more lighter than before.

Wait wait wait, hold the phone. The next-gen Z4 is going to be lighter than the current even with a folding hardtop? That really dosent make much sense. I'm so confused. The new 7 series is 80lb lighter than the former version so we'll see.