REPORT: BMW Z2 gets green light, concept headed for Frankfurt
by Jonathon Ramsey on Mar 26th 2009 at 10:58AM 
A little more information is out on the BMW Z2 that looks to be shown at this year's Frankfurt Auto Show. According to Auto Bild, the roadster built on the next 1 Series platform will be joined by a coupe variant, just like the previous Z4 – but unlike that car, the Z2 will be a radical rethink.
The car is the standard-bearer of BMW's Project i family, a front-engined, rear-drive car with a target weight of 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) and containing cost-effective green and weight-saving technologies. Powerplants are expected to be a 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo with direct injection and anywhere from 150 to 200 horsepower, a range-extended hybrid, and an all-electric setup with lithium-ion batteries.
According to one estimate, the base Z2 is expected to start at about €30,000 (nearly $41,000 USD), with the electric version going for €50,000 (almost $68,000 USD), largely because of the additional cost of the battery pack. (Note that all figures are based on Europe's comparatively inflated pricing structure).
The car is due for sale in 2012 or 2013.
[Source: Auto Bild (translated) via BMW Blog]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
me 11:02AM (3/26/2009)
sign me up!
Reply
Mazda FTW! 11:03AM (3/26/2009)
"a front-engined, rear-drive car with a target weight of 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds)"
Yeah...ok.
Reply
superman211 1:05PM (3/26/2009)
Problem?
naggs 5:03AM (3/27/2009)
we have heard this bs before
is it even possible to meet minimum safety standards in any rwd car that light?
Affalterbach 11:04AM (3/26/2009)
Finally! The Ultimate Driving Machine.
I for one welcome our new lithe FR sports cars.(new RX-7, 086A, Z2)
Reply
swimstarguy 11:08AM (3/26/2009)
If it were priced a little lower I'd be all over that thing.
I love the weight, if only that would actually happen...
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Patrick 11:10AM (3/26/2009)
Look, it's the BMW Solstice! It shares the same big nostrils on a rounded flush bumper, and coupe and convertible body styles available. Hopefully they will give it some usable storage space though, because I'm sure that was a contributing factor to lower than expected Solstice sales.
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Bloke 11:32AM (3/26/2009)
Looks more like the spiritual successor to BMW's own Z1 to me.
Epyx 11:54AM (3/26/2009)
It does have a resemblance to the Solstace Coupe, mainly the orange one from the rear. The roadster not as much but I do see where you are coming from.
Too bad it does not have those crazy Z1 pocket doors. The doors are sweet even though the Z1 is rather homely for a BWW.
Dondonel 2:56PM (3/26/2009)
Solstice is what I had in mind as well. Even the coupe looks very similar.
I don't like Z4, this seems to be promising.
retro1011 11:13AM (3/26/2009)
Show them, BMW.
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homunculus 11:12AM (3/26/2009)
can't wait till they make the x version of it! x1? x2? build them all.
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Tessai 11:22AM (3/26/2009)
Hrmmm... Do I get the BMW, or spend the same ammount of money and buy two Miatas?
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rizzer 11:19AM (3/26/2009)
"base Z2 is expected to start at about €30,000 (nearly $41,000 USD), with the electric version going for €50,000 (almost $68,000 USD),"
Only the germans can sell american morons overpriced, underpowered carts.
I'll rather get the toyobaru and be faster, reliable and still keep my house and my left kidney with me.
du bist eine doof.
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Bloke 11:31AM (3/26/2009)
The sooner people on here start to realise that forex rates are not an accurate measure as to how much a car will cost, the better.
MikeofLA 12:01PM (3/26/2009)
Let Me CLEAR Something up...
A BMW 335i, well equiped in Germany is 52,000 EURO, which comes to about $70,000 US Dollars.
I bought a BMW 335i, in the states for $48,000 = 35,500 Euro equipped more then the one I just built on the German BMW website.
IT IS NOT A STRAIGHT CONVERSION!
Velo 3:18AM (3/27/2009)
Boy do I feel screwed! A well equipped 335i over here costs around 70,000 Euro.
Fazzster 11:21AM (3/26/2009)
Same old story from BMW...too expensive.
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MajorGeek 11:24AM (3/26/2009)
I like the Roadster, its a beautiful design, not a fan of the other two.
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Rev 11:39AM (3/26/2009)
I wish the front features weren't so pinched. Except the foglights. Them's kinda big.
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