Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertibles, Coupes, BMW
Spy shots: BMW Z4
by Jonathon Ramsey on Sep 17th 2008 at 9:31AM 
The next gen BMW Z4 has been caught wearing black and white paisley instead of body armor, and much of the current car's drama definitely looks to have been toned down. The car hasn't been stripped of visual interest, but the angles-meeting-angles has been nixed for what looks like more gentle curves, swells, and strakes. The top is down in all of the shots, so we can't say anything more about the potential hardtop option, because it looks like the current car's cloth roof tucked in back. If not revolution, it looks to be a pretty serious evolution. Click the link to get more spy shots of the next Z4 topless. Thanks for the tip, Alex![Source: Z Post]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
G-Meister 9:49AM (9/17/2008)
Wow, that is some sweet camo tape
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Kumail891 9:52AM (9/17/2008)
happy to see some flare added to the car. like how it's coming out.
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xpolarx 12:26PM (9/17/2008)
Agreed. The body lines are definitely drawing from the design concept, which can only be a good thing.
Bluestreak 10:01AM (9/17/2008)
Finally BMW is returning to its senses with regards to styling. The new Z4 appears much classier-- the present one was a sad departure from the handsome-if-not-flashy Z3.
Best use of non-armour camo I've seen to date.
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MikeMidd 10:03AM (9/17/2008)
Hard to tell exactly what the angles/cuts will look like. It does seem more evolutionary than revolutionary, which might be okay, given what the last revolution turned it into.
I'm scared of 6 Series style tail-lights, which I think are heinous.
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Bluestreak 10:07AM (9/17/2008)
The 6 Series in general is heinous, but I strongly agree with you. It shocks me that the company that brought us the 2002 can make such ugly cars that still sell. Lucky for BMW their cars are great performers.
Mike 10:28AM (9/17/2008)
So can we all agree then that Chris Bangle is the worst thing to happen to BMW in a long time?
Serge 10:04AM (9/17/2008)
Looking pretty good at this pint... but I felt the old car was pretty flimsy in a lot of ways. Our family friends had one and traded it in for a SLK 280 and said they'll never go back. While I havent driven the SLK, the Z4 was sort of like a Miata: felt like it was made out of styrofoam... but I'm used to bigger cars in general, sople people love it :)
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Ebc 12:21PM (9/17/2008)
Styrofoam?? Have you ever driven a Z4 in anger? If anything, the suspension and chassis tuning is too stiff for the runflats that bmw insists we all need. Chassis rigidity is not one of the cars faults.
Serge 12:28PM (9/17/2008)
No, just around the block... but maybe you're right. It was just the impression I got from it, and the owners said the SLK has a better ride and feels more rigid... this again could be because of the excessive spring rate and runflat tires (excessive rattling and slightly unsettled)... the runflats I don't understand at all, we have 40-60mph speed limits everywhere.
elfjuice 10:07AM (9/17/2008)
Kind of looks like the Sharpie Lambo from Miami. Anyone notice the little side window just to the rear of the doors. Should make for a nice "Top Up" look.
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homunculus 10:09AM (9/17/2008)
i hope they deleted that godawful, heinous side badge on this z4.
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RG 10:11AM (9/17/2008)
This is all hunky dory until we see the curb weight.
I wouldn't be suprised to see this Bavarian monster weigh 3500 lbs.
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Justin 1:49PM (9/17/2008)
He did design the Z3...
kpizz13 10:39AM (9/17/2008)
I think I may throw up...just what the world needed; a mini 6 Series. It still looks like the designer fell asleep once he got past the rear quarter of the car. That hideous line across the trunk that practically makes a right angle with the ground is such a turn off.
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V8Please 11:05AM (9/17/2008)
Did anyone notice the dual exhaust? I hope it has a V8 and in another shot looks like there is a intercooler. Sweet!
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MikeW 11:31AM (9/17/2008)
Maybe for an M version, but otherwise why?
BMW can put the N54 322hp twin turbo inline6 and the 268hp N53 inline6 gas engine
and the most recent version of the serial-sequential twin turbo 3.0 diesel (hopefully about 300hp 450ft-lbs)
V8Please 12:32PM (9/17/2008)
Yes, I would like to see a V8 for the M, twin turbo for top of the line Sport models, and N53 for the others.
Patrick 11:05AM (9/17/2008)
Paisley works even better than black and white popcorn that Ford uses! And this car looks nice, but I'd rather have the 3-door hatchback 1-series behind it as the "Z3 Coupe" successor instead of the Z4 Coupe that we have now (even though that car's baby Aston Martin styling is pretty cool too).
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spacegravity4me 12:22PM (9/17/2008)
I like extreme designs, so them toning this car down is something I find very lame. I love the current car's design. I guess to some people moving backwards is moving forward.
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