Z Series Next generation Z4 (spy pics & info)

[RikfromBelgium]

Hi, found these on autoscoops EU
Eni, are these the Z4 or a cleverly disguised 1 series cabrio?





leftlanenews

 

[LaArtist]

Re: New Z4

wow this might turn out to my liking..
as the rear seems more square and the rear lights sit higher..
wich is my only issue with the existing Z4

PS
no hardtop sadly.. meaning that it will still suffer againt a car like the SLK

 

[Osnabrueck]

Re: New Z4

Somehow I can't imagine the next Z4 coming to market without a hardtop. Especially given that the car isn't due for a couple more years. Perhaps there's an explanation.

 

[Deutsch]

Re: New Z4

This car looks hott!!!! Love the more masculine proportions, this car will be an absolute stunner!!! What a world of difference this car will be from it's predecessor.

 

[EnI]

Re: New Z4

This is the Z4 successor (E89?), coming in 2009.

You can see the prototype testing uptuned N54 engine.

Warning: camo is very heavy, so do not expect the car to be so wide & long (although longer & wider than current Z4). Also the creases on the door are fake.

Btw, marketing dept. is considering rebadging Z4 sucessor to Z6, while Z2 could adopt Z4 name. Nothing decided yet.

Also: the new car will follow current soft top roadster + hardtop coupe configuration.

While new Z8 is planned to be a hardtop roadster - unless the proposed roof solutions will not match BMW standards (regarding net weight, 50:50 weight distribution, torsional stiffness, driving dynamics etc). In that case Z8 roadster will get canvas soft top, and then additional Z8 hard top coupe. Still the final design is even not chosen yet (too early).

 

[Osnabrueck]

Re: New Z4

Also: the new car will follow current soft top roadster + hardtop coupe configuration.

Dangit. I really wonder why they wouldn't go for a hardtop when they've gone that route with the 3er cabrio. I'd be seriously interested in the next-gen Z4 if a retractable hardtop was part of the package.

 

[RikfromBelgium]

Re: New Z4

PS
no hardtop sadly.. meaning that it will still suffer againt a car like the SLK

suffer? It's doing very well against the SLK thank you

 

[LaArtist]

Re: New Z4

yeah suffer in terms of useability and appeal to a market where weather isnt lovely all year around..

PS
Not talking about sales.. ( wich i do belive is higher of the SLK..not sure though)

 

[NarutoRamen]

Re: New Z4

Well Eni, even with the heavy camo, this car already looks way better than the current Z4. I wonder if the desiners are going to keep the Z crease on the fenders by the door?

 

[SCOTT27]

Re: New Z4

The Soft-Top is fake the new Z4 will actually get a folding hard-top roof like the 3er Cabrio and then the next generation 6er Cabrio. the reason being that BMW plan to launch a smaller roadster when the Z4 does a transitional shift similar to the 3er Coupe and move up a segment leaving the ground work for a smaller BMW Roadster which by all outcomes could be produced in it's key market the USA.

Z4 is more likely to remain as BMW do not want to overcrowd and make things difficult for the 6er product range. But the overall design will remain as headturning and modern with a futuristic slant similar to when the
Z4 was launched. To understand that the roof is indeed fake look at the additional side window as the Z4 and the Z3 did not have such a feature.

Huckfeldt has done a nice image previously but since then some details have been changed but the look is very similar.

 

[EnI]

Re: New Z4

Dangit. I really wonder why they wouldn't go for a hardtop when they've gone that route with the 3er cabrio. I'd be seriously interested in the next-gen Z4 if a retractable hardtop was part of the package.

Mind that roadsters are more sporty performance models, while cabrios are more luxury performance vehicles. So, it is much more important to keep roadster weight down & balanced - especially when BMW are going to attack Boxster / Cayman duo more seriously with the new Z4 / Z6.

3er cabrio metal folding roof fits more to luxury position of 3er. So will F13 6er cabrio - even E66 was set to get metal folding roof, yet suppliers weren't able to design a roof to fit in E66's back (no much place due rear axle design). Now F13 is designed to get a metal folding roof.

Regarding Z8: since it will be BMW's top sporty performance vehicle it is planned to get tour-de-tech special lightweight hard top folding roof. Yet there are some technical & even cost omissions - despite Z8 will be a cost car. In the case that engineering of this roof will fail (as it was the situation in E66 case), Z8 will get a canvas roof, and a Z8 coupe version.

 

[EnI]

Re: New Z4

The Soft-Top is fake the new Z4 will actually get a folding hard-top roof like the 3er Cabrio and then the next generation 6er Cabrio. the reason being that BMW plan to launch a smaller roadster when the Z4 does a transitional shift similar to the 3er Coupe and move up a segment leaving the ground work for a smaller BMW Roadster which by all outcomes could be produced in it's key market the USA.

To understand that the roof is indeed fake look at the additional side window as the Z4 and the Z3 did not have such a feature.

Are you sure????

My sources told me a different story: Z4 definitely getting a canvas roof, and a Z4 Coupe twin (like in E85 / E86 case) - because this was the only way to match Boxster / Cayman driving dynamics.

 

[vabboud]

Re: New Z4

well looking twice at the roof in the pic, scott's idea is plausible, the roof does seem too bulky for simply canvas, can it be metal wrapped in a canvas?

 

[SCOTT27]

Re: New Z4

Not any more - The success of the SLK has spurred BMW to introduce it's "Mid" range Roadster with such a feature. It's no secret that soft-tops (like the Z4) do not sell as well as the folding hard-top rivals in some markets so BMW on the behest of marketing and consumer demand have put forward their plans to recooperate their market share in this segment. BMW will again introduce a Coupe model the folding hardtop will be lightweight steel similar to the 3er Cabrio , The reason why the car is out early is that the engineers want to completely change the perception of such a car and make it dynamically superior The car has been submitted a very challenging dynamics programme.

- when this car is replaced the Boxster will be well on it's way towards it's
3rd generation model

 

[NarutoRamen]

Re: New Z4

So what does the timeline for this look like Scott?

 

[EnI]

Re: New Z4

So what does the timeline for this look like Scott?

It's coming in 2nd half of 2009.

Regarding the metal folding roof: looking at the pics the cut lines of boot lid make me think metal folding roof could be there (also E93 3er was first tested with a canvas roof). But eg. E66 6er also has similar boot lid cut lines, and a very similar canvas roof (side view).

Yet my sources told me Z4 roadster successor will definitely come with a canvas roof. I'm a bit confused now.

 

[Choleric]

Re: New Z4

I personally would never want a metal folding roof on any sort of sports car. Thats so much extra weight, and they usually look bad, buy the coupe version if you want a metal roof.

 

[chonkoa]

Re: New Z4

Well Eni, even with the heavy camo, this car already looks way better than the current Z4. I wonder if the desiners are going to keep the Z crease on the fenders by the door?

I agree with you.

 

[SCOTT27]

Re: New Z4

Clues :
Side Window - More found on folding top roadsters. 4 seater cabrio it can work but it does look severely out of place on a 2 seat roadster.
Rear deck - You can see the opening in the camouflage for the roof - similar to the E93.
The folding roof will not be as "complex" as the 3er just a simple Folding top.
Canvas roof - No harmony or shape looks much more bulkier than current Z4 top .

I'm a bit confused now.

Deep down you know what it will turn out like...

The top end engine for the Z4 will be the 335i's twin-turbo tweaked further until the M car comes along in 2010/2011 - That would probably receive the upcoming M3's V8.
For now that engine remains exclusive to the 335i in europe only . Unlike the USA which will get a 535i .

 

[EnI]

Re: New Z4

Deep down you know what it will turn out like...