[MalibuBimmer]

Originally Posted by stefan

Fisker karma design language

Fisker -- kissodeath.

[supra93]

Rear-wheel-drive two-seater boasts fresh styling, revised engines and a new soft-top; it previews a production Z4 due next year

BMW has revealed the Concept Z4, a preview of the German firm’s third-generation roadster, at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California.

Boasting a fresh look, new underpinnings and a revised range of engines, the two-seat soft-top has been developed 
in a joint engineering programme with the new Toyota Supra, which will be offered exclusively in coupé guise.

The appearance of the Concept Z4 comes more than six months before BMW plans to unveil the production version at the Geneva motor show in 2018. UK sales will be under way by the middle of next year.

While some of the more flamboyant design features will be toned down, the overall styling and detailing of the concept is claimed to be 
very close to the production car. Design boss Adrian van Hooydonk said the car “expresses the new BMW design language from all perspectives and in all details”.

The Concept Z4 is bigger than the current model, with a longer wheelbase and wider tracks. BMW rethought the proportions in a bid to provide it with a more focused look. “A shorter bonnet and crisp overhangs ensure the driver sits closer to the centre of the car than in previous BMW roadsters,” said van Hooydonk. The approach signals BMW’s determination to shift the Z4 further upmarket. During the car’s development, BMW board members considered renaming it. However, the German car maker’s naming system groups even numbers among its coupés and cabriolets, so the long-mooted Z5 badge was never seriously considered.

A BMW source said: “We would have had to call it the Z6. And while there has been a move upmarket, it’s not quite big enough to warrant that name. In the end, we settled on retaining the Z4 name.”

The Concept Z4 features another interpretation of BMW’s signature kidney grille, seen recently on the Concept X2 and Concept 8 Series.

In place of the customary vertical bars, the insides of the kidney grille feature a new mesh that van Hooydonk said was inspired by the functional treatment used on early BMW roadsters, including the iconic 328 Mille Miglia.

The long bonnet, meanwhile, retains the clamshell design of previous Z4 models. On the concept, it features two vents. However, these are unlikely to make production, according to Autocar’s sources.

Certain licence has also been taken with the concept’s windscreen, which does not have the sturdy surround of the production version, and the two metallic domes conceived to act as rollover protection will be replaced by more conventional rollover hoops on the production roadster.

Although BMW has yet to officially confirm it, the new Z4 eschews the folding hard-top of today’s model for a traditional fabric hood. Already sighted on prototype versions of the two-seater, the hood folds and stows underneath a dedicated tonneau cover at the rear of the cabin.

BMW has provided a clear glimpse of the look and layout of the new Z4’s interior. The production car will have a flowing dashboard and relatively wide centre console resembling those of the concept. Features such as the digital instrument panel and head-up display included in the show car will also make their way on to the new roadster. However, the brushed aluminium and carbonfibre trims will be replaced by more cost-effective composite plastic materials.

Accommodation is said to have improved thanks to the car’s increased overall dimensions. Boot capacity is also claimed to top the 310 litres of the outgoing Z4.

The new Z4 is underpinned by BMW’s CLAR (cluster architecture) platform. It is already used by the 2, 5 and 7 Series and is also set to be adopted by the upcoming 8 Series and the successor to today’s 3 Series. The CLAR platform is allied to a multi-material body structure, featuring a combination of high-strength steel, aluminium and magnesium. Insiders suggest the new roadster will tip the scales at under 1400kg in its most basic form, despite the increase in dimensions.

An internal BMW document seen by Autocar revealed that the new Z4 will be offered with a choice of two petrol engines from the start of sales. The first is a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit expected to develop around 181bhp in the Z4 sDrive20i and 248bhp in the Z4 sDrive30i. The second engine powers the Z4 M40i and is the latest incarnation of BMW’s B58 turbocharged 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder engine. It is rumoured to develop the same 355bhp as it does in the X4 M40i.

A full-blown M version of the roadster, running the BMW performance car division’s 425bhp twin-turbo 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder, has also been mooted, but it has yet to be officially confirmed by BMW.

True to tradition, the three initial Z4 models retain the rear-wheel-drive layout that has been part of the two-seat roadster’s appeal since its introduction in 2002. Buyers are set to be offered the choice of a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic in combination with all engines.

Production of the new Z4 and Supra will start at the plant of Austrian manufacturing specialist Magna in early 2018.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/c...oming-roadster

[ron_jeremy]

So basicly, the production Z4 is 86% accurate from this concept study, we all know there are bits that will be left out. So i hope the overall lines will make it, use the 8 series front lights, keep the end as is, smack in the manual and a M version and we will "all" be pretty happy i think.
:-)

[vladberca]

Looks great!
M40i model should be pretty agile

[iburinga]

Nice car but i don't know how this picture made it into the press, it kinda looks like they want to promote the concept to zombies too:

[Bowser330]

Twinzies?

[phoenixbmwlife]

Originally Posted by MSups6

Yes and no.

They wont be able to charge double of a Supra, and that sucker should start at sub 40k. The shared development should have cut costs, even bmw's highly blind fanbase wouldn't tolerate double the price, or maybe.

Sub $40k? Sorry but that's really funny.

[phoenixbmwlife]

Originally Posted by NickyC

If I had to guess, base will be $60k, and if you want the better engine w/options you're looking north of $75k. No way BMW drops a bargain on us at this point in time (or hell, anything that's even remotely close to being a worthwhile value).

As long as some low mileage Z4Ms are still out there that I can jump into as the years go by, I'm fine.

I think the Z40i MSRP will price at a little above the M2 MSRP

[phoenixbmwlife]

Originally Posted by ORIGIN M.

Over $70k base price

I think that's too high for a base price. If they do an M Performance model it might start close to there but a regular Z40i should not have an MSRP that high.

[eleniki]

It does remind me a lot of Fisker Karma - especially in kidney-shaped grille and the overall shape of the car.

[iburinga]

Originally Posted by eleniki

It does remind me a lot of Fisker Karma - especially in kidney-shaped grille and the overall shape of the car.

The resemblance is no surprise, as Mr. Fisker, before building the Karma under his own brand, was a BMW design executive, merely responsible for the Z8. So, where do you think he got the idea of a sort of kidney-shaped grille from in the first place?

And if you set a picture of the Maserati convertible next to the Fisker, Jag, etc. you will find resemblances too, they are all 2 door convertibles...

[Patrik]

Originally Posted by Thescout13

I wonder what the Race Stop buttons on the steering wheels are for?

Pretty sure they are for the lap timer on the bottom of the wheel. There's even a picture of lap times in one picture of the central screen. Look pretty cool, but would never make it to production, as they'd just be in the way most of the time. Just a concept car gimmick.

[antzcrashing]

I like it. Grills are excessively big, but bmw does that nowadays

[MSups6]

Originally Posted by phoenixbmwlife

Sub $40k? Sorry but that's really funny.

What you think a Supra will start at 70k

370Z COUPE
FROM:
$29,990

But a bmw badge does add 30k right Its a toyota, they will need a sub 40k entry model. They can still do as bmw does and milk the buyer for another 20k with options which most should be standard.

Though id love to see the bs bmw spins to justify why their version cost near double.

[cb804]

It's about time for someone to Photoshop the car in different colors. Not liking the matte color in the press photos.

Here's a 60 second attempt at red...

[CeEl]

I like how good it looks in the non-professional pics!

[CeEl]

Originally Posted by IvanLZ

The real life pictures look even better than the high resolution ones. I can only imagine seeing it in real life. If bmw keeps most design cues from this concept then they will have a stunning car to compete.

Yes! Agree! Any car can look good with professional photography, but the fact that it looks great under cloudy skies photographed with a phone speaks volumes!

[CeEl]

Originally Posted by skier219

Concept looks great, but if you look at spy shots of the test mule, it's obvious that the production car's styling is going to be a lot different. Like about 90% different. It may still look good, but I bet we'll only be seeing the design theme of the concept and none of it's real flash or pizazz. For one thing, a lot of the stuff we see on the concept isn't realistic when it comes to things like ground clearance, safety, crash performance, etc. Those are many of the things that give the concept its visual presence.

Shorter wheelbase, less overhang on the test mules. But other design elements ('shark nose') may still make it into production.

[CeEl]

Originally Posted by NickyC

If I had to guess, base will be $60k, and if you want the better engine w/options you're looking north of $75k. No way BMW drops a bargain on us at this point in time (or hell, anything that's even remotely close to being a worthwhile value).

As long as some low mileage Z4Ms are still out there that I can jump into as the years go by, I'm fine.

I hope they price it like a Corvette, not like a Boxster.

[CeEl]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

It really looks the part. A very attractive sports car.

Hopefully, aside from the "speedster" look and the wacky interior color scheme, most of the rest makes it to production.

I like two tone interiors, but I don't get this ting-yang theme either. Now the motifs (tattoos?) on the black seat I like. Would love for something like that to become an option in the production version!

[CeEl]

Originally Posted by yousefnjr

Yum. Pretty good, headlights have grown on me I won't lie. Really digging the profile and rear

Agree! First I thought aww, no. But they start to grow on me, especially from the side. The car has a great totally pissed off, get out of my way facia that should look great as it fills out the rear view mirror of the car in front.

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by phoenixbmwlife

I think that's too high for a base price. If they do an M Performance model it might start close to there but a regular Z40i should not have an MSRP that high.

Agreed. $55K tops for the base model. Here's why.

In 2006, a nicely optioned up Canadian (bear with me guys) Z4 3.0si was $68K Canadian (see https://www.theglobeandmail.com/inco...rticle1107422/) . Flash forward to 2015 when a Z4 Sdrive 28i, loaded, was still $68K Cdn MSRP (at my local dealer, so I know first hand). So between 2006 and 2015, the Canadian price hardly changed at all. My 2006 Z4 3.0si is a US car and is optioned up like the one in the afore-referenced Globe and Mail article. Its MSRP was $49,345 US (I still have the price sheet for it). So on that basis, and assuming US and Canadian prices move more or less in lock-step, a 2015 US E89 should have been about $50K. Now if we are to take BMW at its word that the G29 will be priced around the same as the E89, its price shouldn't be more than 10% higher as anything more than 10% price increase is not "about the same". So that gives us $55K US for a nicely optioned up G29 30i.