Detroit 2009: BMW pulls the cover off the new Z4
by Sam Abuelsamid on Jan 11th 2009 at 2:05PM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 BMW Z4
BMW had a Cirque du Soleil wannabe hanging upside down from a curtain to pull the sheets off of the 2010 BMW Z4 at the Detroit Auto Show. The Z4 is the third generation of BMW's small roadster since the original Z3 debuted in the mid-90s. This time around, the company is moving production from South Carolina to Europe to make room for the next gen X3 at Spartanburg. The new Z4 gets a retractable hardtop in place of the soft top, and with only two seats to cover, the proportions don't look as goofy as other hard top convertibles.
The flame surfacing of the last Z4 has been dramatically toned from the last generation, giving a much cleaner look overall. Under the hood, US versions of the Z4 are restricted to 3.0L six cylinder engines with and without turbochargers. No word yet on an M version, but given recent statements from BMW it seems more likely to get a more highly boosted version of the six rather than the M3's V8. The Z4 goes on sale this summer. Expect pricing to be released closer to the sale date.
Gallery: Detroit 2009: BMW Z4
Gallery: 2009 BMW Z4
Live Photos copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Bob 2:07PM (1/11/2009)
Very nice! BMW hits another one out of the park!
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zamafir 2:16PM (1/11/2009)
Indeed, it looks quite a bit better in these photos than the press release. Tough, post X6, 7 series, 1 series, I'd sat this is one of the first true knock outs from BMW in a while.
firstplace 3:45PM (1/11/2009)
Now that the bangle thing ran its course it kind of evolved into something good looking.
Farris 2:18PM (1/11/2009)
"The Z4 is the third generation of BMW's small roadster since the original Z3 debuted in the mid-90s."
Do they consider the Z1 to be part of the roadster heritage as well?
I have to say, I love the way this Z4 looks almost Aston-esque.
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Bob 2:21PM (1/11/2009)
I would say the Z1 isn't in the same class because it's rather large. I think they are specifically refering to small roadsters.
The best Z4 is the coupe. For some reason I really love that strange looking thing.
ckm 2:29PM (1/11/2009)
@bob:
The Z1 rather large? You've got to be kidding, it's smaller than any of it's successors....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Z1
Travis 2:28PM (1/11/2009)
Blech, not impressed. Bigger, heavier, and only roof choice is a heavy retractable hardtop? What happened to the fun, lightweight, relatively inexpensive roadster? I know that this has to go upmarket so that they can (rumor) bring out a new Z3, but I'm just not feeling the love for this.
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number1carman 2:48PM (1/11/2009)
That Z4 badge on the back has to go. I don't there is a place on the back it could go and look right.
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Korben Dallas 5:52PM (1/15/2009)
LOL. Hyuindai-"I have a soft hammer"-school of design in it's ugly glory! What is it with Germans these days? Germans, please, understand, you are _engineers_, not designers. Just hire your former Italians back already to do the exteriors! How long will it take you to understand that you just can't design anything, neither internally nor externally. (At least we don't have to look at the internal design, just fix it weekly, if not daily :)...
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JDMlover 3:06PM (1/11/2009)
Still dont know how i feel about any of BMW new cars.....
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Charlie 3:18PM (1/11/2009)
No thanks. This thing is bland. Looks a lot like the previous Z4 with all the character and personality removed.
The era of great, innovative and adventurous car designs is long over, because now even supposed car lovers have such safe, boring taste.
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Tagg 3:42PM (1/11/2009)
I love it! The long hood looks great and the dark blue really compliments the styling feature. The beige color is not fit for anything but the largest Buicks or a Grand Marquis. It just doesn't look sporting at all.
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firstplace 3:37PM (1/11/2009)
A near perfect car. Relatively affordable, engine capable of 400hp with minimal tweeks ($
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PJ 4:15PM (1/11/2009)
Gorgeous.
Any word on whether they've recalibrated the electric steering that marred the first-gen Z4? Or, better yet, switched back to a hydraulic rack?
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Aki 4:56PM (1/11/2009)
Newer BMW removed the tackiness of Bangle, which is good.
That said, still have mixed feelings about this car. My fav is the coupe though, so I'd havta wait and see for that.
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plop 5:11PM (1/11/2009)
Bmw's so far from reality that they release promos of an already ugly car in gold paint.
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strangway 5:12PM (1/11/2009)
Adrian Van Hooydonk is Belgian, not German. Chris Bangle is American. A lot of car companies hire designers not by nationality (which is considered discrimination in most civilized nations) but by taste/merit. The designer of the Ferrari Enzo is Japanese, and educated in America.
I don't think Bangle is good at micro-managing design, but he had the right idea about the creased flame-surfacing. Hooydonk was just the guy to make it work. And so were the guys at Audi and Mercedes to copied that radical style. I think Audi does flame surfacing much better than BMW, ironically.
This Z4 will be much more successful than the previous one.
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P.V. 6:10PM (1/11/2009)
I really like this, as the Z4 seems to really have returned to its roadster roots with those classic roadster proportions (longer nose, cabin set farther back).
Score one for BMW! Now can you please make the CS and kill the X6 and X1 as a favor? Thank you!
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JD 9:27AM (1/12/2009)
@number1carman:
I agree with you. The Z4 logo in the back should go. I'd rid of it if I got this car.
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JSams4131 12:56AM (1/12/2009)
i just feel like a lotta companies (Nissan wrap arounds, Dodge, etc) are just keeping the front and rear ends the same and just deciding whether to weld a 2 door or 4 door together...particularly I'm talking about the almost identical headlamp and tail light housings .
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