Autoblog

BMW to build limited edition Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:22:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Convertible, Performance, BMW, Luxury, Racing

2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia Limited Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

In celebration of the 70th anniversary of its historic victory in the famed Mille Miglia automobile race in Brescia, when the classic BMW 328 not only finished in first place but also in third, fifth and sixth places, thereby ensuring overall team victory as well, the German automaker has announced that it will build just 99 examples of the limited edition Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia.

Setting this car apart from other Z4s, each Mille Miglia edition will be finished in a coat of matte Polaris Metallic with a blacked-out front grill, an M aero kit and 19-inch wheels finished in Dark Chrome. Inside, the seats and steering wheel will get a dash of red stitching. And of course, the limited edition model will also get unique badging inside and out.

Power will come from the standard 340-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six, mated up to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. In somewhat related news, BMW has also recreated a classic 328 Kamm Coupé to take part in this year's Mille Miglia festivities. Check out the press release after the break for more.

Gallery: 2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia Limited Edition

Gallery: BMW 328 at the 1940 Mille Miglia

[Source: BMW via BMWBlog]

Continue reading BMW to build limited edition Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia

BMW to build limited edition Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 May 2010 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Top Gear pits BMW Z4 against Nissan 370Z

Chris Shunk — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Videos, BMW, Nissan

Click above to watch video after the jump

The Nissan 370Z and the BMW Z4 are two seriously sporty offerings headed in two different directions. The Z4 is softer, heavier and more stylish than its predecessor, while the 370Z is harder, lighter and takes some risks with its exterior. The 370Z is a coupe (although it available in a drop-top), and the Z4 has a stow-able aluminum roof. The BMW is a genuine luxury car offering, while the 370Z sits on the lot next to the Quest and the Versa. However, the two vehicles share similar dimensions and performance numbers, and both contain the letter "zed," giving Top Gear enough reason to pit the two coupes against each another on the test track.

Make the jump to see how the duo of Zs fare in Clarkson's review while we try to figure out how the BBC can afford Jurassic Park-style CG.

Continue reading VIDEO: Top Gear pits BMW Z4 against Nissan 370Z

VIDEO: Top Gear pits BMW Z4 against Nissan 370Z originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2009: Eyes on Design Awards for best concept, best production vehicle

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Supercars, Audi, BMW, Cadillac

Click any image above for a high-res gallery

Each year, the Detroit Auto Show plays host to the Eyes on Design Awards, where a group of judges descend into the bowels of Cobo Hall to pick their favorite vehicles from the show. The nominees are predictably divided into two categories: Design Excellence for a Concept Vehicle and Design Excellence for a Production Vehicle.

This year's ceremony was MC'd by our very own John McElroy from Autoline Detroit, with judging duties handled by BMW design head Chris Bangle, Harley-Davidson chief styling officer Willy G. Davidson, and transportation design chair at the College for Creative Studies Larry Erickson. The two winners for production vehicle were the Audi R8 5.2 FSI and the 2010 BMW Z4, while Audi Sportback and Cadillac Converj took home the best concept awards. Check out all four vehicles in the galleries below and let the judges know your own picks in the comments.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI

Gallery: Detroit 2009: BMW Z4

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Audi Sportback Concept

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj

Detroit 2009: Eyes on Design Awards for best concept, best production vehicle originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2009: BMW pulls the cover off the new Z4

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 14:05:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Coupe, BMW

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

Detroit 2009: BMW pulls the cover off the new Z4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: 2010 BMW Z4 hits the road

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, BMW

Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 BMW Z4

After releasing photos and information on its new Z4 roadster yesterday, we now have a pair of videos showing the Z4 in action. In the first clip BMW Automobile design head Adrian van Hooydonk and exterior design head Anders Warming discuss the new design. The operative word in the new Z4's design appears to be "Joy" although how joyous this car will be remains to be seen. Certainly the new look should make observers a lot happier than old one but ultimately any car is about the driving experience. Here the second video demonstrates how you can use the Z4 for the automotive equivalent of finger painting. The videos are after the jump. Thanks to Alberto for the tip!

Gallery: 2009 BMW Z4

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading VIDEO: 2010 BMW Z4 hits the road

VIDEO: 2010 BMW Z4 hits the road originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: 2009 BMW Z4 rumored to debut next month, Z2 on the way

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, BMW, Rumormill

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]

Rumormill: 2009 BMW Z4 rumored to debut next month, Z2 on the way originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered Speculation: V8-powered BMW Z4 hardtop

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:04:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, BMW, Rendered Speculation

AutoExpress' artists worked their magic on the next generation BMW Z4 and even though the exterior is more appealing than its predecessor, what lies beneath the evolved flame-surfacing has us aching to get behind the wheel.

As reported before, the next Z4 will feature a retractable hard top, but a cloth roof will continue to be offered on entry-level models. Motivation will come in several different flavors, beginning with naturally aspirated four- and six-cylinder powerplants. A diesel is also being considered - a first for the Z4 - and there's no doubt that the 3-series-based roadster will come packing the twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline six that's proliferated throughout BMW's lineup. More importantly, rumors are beginning to swirl that the M version will be equipped with the 4.0-liter V8 currently found in the M3. If that happens, it's all but guaranteed that the twin-clutch gearbox will find a happy home in the transmission tunnel.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Rendered Speculation: V8-powered BMW Z4 hardtop originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SPY VIDEO: 2010 BMW Z4 replacement at the 'Ring

Noah Joseph — Thu, 01 May 2008 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Videos, BMW

UPDATE: Video removed at request of spy videographer. Click here to view.

BMW is hard at work on the replacement for the current Z4 roadster, and a developmental test mule has been caught on video running laps around the vaunted Nurburgring. Despite the heavy camouflage, we can tell from the footage - which seems to follow the test mule around the Ring and into a nearby garage with conspicuous "look at me" accuracy - that the new roadster, due in 2010, will retain the current model's long nose and short rear decklid. Styling is expected to follow the theme set down by the Concept CS unveiled in Shanghai last year, but the real clincher is that the new roadster will feature a retractable hard top. That means it will be heavier than the outgoing model, but will keep up on the marketplace with hard-top competition from above (Mercedes SLK) and below (Mazda MX-5). Follow the jump to watch the video.

[Source: Motor Authority via PistonHeads]

SPY VIDEO: 2010 BMW Z4 replacement at the 'Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 May 2008 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next generation BMW Z4 to get folding hard top, possibly M3's V8

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 06:57:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, BMW

We're seen the spy shots, so the revelation that BMW's next generation Z4 will be equipped with a folding hard top isn't much of a surprise. The mules undergoing testing show a two-piece metal unit that should be able to fold neatly into the trunk, while not infringing too heavily on luggage space.

More importantly, the new Z4 will be sporting a range of engine offerings, including an array of four- and six-cylinder mills, including the much-loved twin-turbo, 3.0-liter six found in the 135i, 335i and 535i. Additionally, AutoExpress dropped the bomb that a diesel engine will be fitted to the Z4 for the first time and that BMW might try to squeeze the 4.0-liter V8 found in the M3 into the Z4's lengthy hood.

All new Z4s will come equipped with BMW's Efficient Dynamics systems, featuring start/stop engine technology and some form of regenerative braking to boost electrical efficiency while reducing C02 emissions. The Z4's length is expected to increase by around an inch and it's due to hit dealers sometime in late 2009.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Next generation BMW Z4 to get folding hard top, possibly M3's V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 06:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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