Rumormill: 2009 BMW Z4 rumored to debut next month, Z2 on the way
One of the vehicles that was teased in the run-up to the LA Auto Show, but never made it to the floor, was the redesigned 2009 BMW Z4. Rumors of the Z4's impending arrival have been circulating for months, and according to a source inside BMW, the automaker might reveal the restyled coupe and convertible next month.
Drivetrain choices will include either a naturally aspirated or twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, found in the 328i and 335i, respectively, with an M version packing the M3's V8 and a carbon fiber roof. In addition to new front and rear fascias, a lower roofline and a ducktail spoiler, BMW is expected to employ a handful of stylistic differences to separate the Z4 coupe from its folding hardtop sibling. For 2009, BMW is expected to drop the soft-top Z4 and only offer the folding hardtop.
The rumored Z2 is currently in the works and could be available in both coupe and cabrio variants, and equipped with some form of BMW's EfficientDynamics system. The 1-series-based two-door is expected to be powered by either a naturally aspirated or turbocharged 2.0-liter four, and there's also talk of a hybrid version utilizing BMW's eDrive system.
UPDATE: BMW has put together a Dexter-inspired teaser site for a new model set to be revealed in 19 days. We'll know what's up on December 14th.
Gallery: BMW Z4 and 7 series - spy shots
[Source: GermanCarZone via BMWBlog]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Meatface 18 8:22PM (11/25/2008)
Is it just me or is BMW becoming redundant now?
1 Series and 3 Series (with same engines as far as I know)
3 Different SUV's (specifically X5 & X6)
M3 sedan when M5 is avaliable...(okay thats not too bad)
And now two two seat roadsters competing against presumably the TT and the SLK??
They are however missing an M7 (Audi and BMW both have S and AMG variants of their high end sedans), a high end competitor to the SL-Class, and in true BMW tradition, a supercar! R8, SLR...
Then again Benz is the real redundancy factory. E-Class coupe coming soon, while the CL still exists....so stupid.
Then again GM.... nevermind.
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Hamhock 8:53PM (11/25/2008)
Maybe the Alpina B7 could be considered something of am M7....
I want to see a z2 with the N54!
Brent 9:45PM (11/25/2008)
@ hamhock
Don't we all
Enok 8:28PM (11/25/2008)
I lost track of Mercedes nomenclature long ago. Now I'm losing track of BMW. What next? Porsche? Actually ...
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big L 4:24AM (11/26/2008)
So what happens at "new model planning"?
Engineers and product planners sit around to figure out how to make proposal heavier and larger and more complex? Who cares where the model fits in the line-up? Just as long as it can be optioned up to 40K-$50,000.
Looks pretty good,tho. I hope it is not too heavy.
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Torrent 8:33PM (11/25/2008)
If the coupe keeps that roofline, I will kill myself..
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klitorisaurus 4:43AM (11/26/2008)
Call me strange, but I've always loved the Z coupe roof line. I like the Z3 based M coupe too, but I didn't like the roadsters.
LloydChiro 8:39AM (11/26/2008)
I love the coupe. I think it's the most singular car on the road today. Too rare, though.
Will 8:54PM (11/25/2008)
that is HOT
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Brent 9:10PM (11/25/2008)
I'd take this over a boxter, TT, S2000, and SLK. Any day.
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LloydChiro 8:45AM (11/26/2008)
If the boxer was in a Boxster, I would take the Boxster over the Z4, but it certainly is a close call. I think the Boxster will age better.
Jake B 9:18PM (11/25/2008)
Maybe if the Z4 were a 2+2 convertible and the Z2 was a true two seater.
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Brent 9:30PM (11/25/2008)
no I'd rather them be both 2 seaters but be like this
Z2 = SLK class
Z4 = SL class
Davin Black 8:26AM (11/26/2008)
WTF? Get a 6-series.
hdragoonh 9:48PM (11/25/2008)
so much better looking than the old one.
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kevin 9:50PM (11/25/2008)
The Alpina B7, as gorgeous as it is, is a tuner car, not a BMW factory product.
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Fooman 3:46AM (11/26/2008)
So RUF is a tuner??? Or is Shelby a Tuner?
NO, they are not they are all a little different.
G-Meister 6:58AM (11/26/2008)
At some level, Shelby certainly is a tuner. Ruf is little more than a tuner.
RG 10:20PM (11/25/2008)
I'm waiting for the weight on this next Z4 to be in the 3400-3600lb range. Now THAT would be rich!
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duo 11:11PM (11/25/2008)
If BMW sticks to M's tradition of rev-happy engines this could be the best thing to happen to small roadsters since the S2000. Direct-injected turbo fours will do nicely on the base model. Where do I sign up?
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