Time flies when you're having fun. It has been just over two years since we drove the
BMW Z4, yet the car feels bang up to date. Admittedly this has been assisted by the recent range enhancement, though the tweaks to the car were all but ignored thanks to the announcement of the new
BMW Z4M Roadster and the car we can finally bring you official pictures and full pricing information on; the keenly anticipated BMW Z4 Coupe.
BMW first wheeled out the Z4 Coupe in concept format at the
Frankfurt Motor Show in 2005, no doubt with an eye on stealing the thunder from the brand new
Porsche Cayman S, also debuting at the Frankfurt Show. It was clear to us all that the new BMW Z4 Coupe was destined for production. Just four months later, BMW has released details of the production car, with customer deliveries starting in August 2006.
Unsurprisingly, the styling of the production model is unchanged from the 'concept'. Sadly, there is no sign of the gorgeous, intricate alloys fitted to the show car, nor the satin-finish paintwork. The distinctive roofline is maintained, along with the extra side window. The treatment of the rear spoiler and wheelarches give the Z4 Coupe a look all its own, quite apart from the Z4 entire Roadster. The roof features a neat double-bubble shape that could theoretically help accommodate a pair of helmets.
It is not difficult to see parallels between BMW and Porsche here. Porsche sells plenty of Boxsters, and though it is a proper sports car with a delicately balanced chassis, its image has more to do with delicately manicured nails. The BMW Z4 is not really known as a car for people in the business of cutting hair, but it comes in for a bit of stick on the image side too. Porsche launched the Cayman S, supposedly just a hard-top version of the Boxster, but it turns out to be so much more than that. BMW must be hoping to do the same with the Z4 Coupe, set to appeal to driving enthusiasts as well as fans of the BMW propeller.
At launch there will be just two engine options, though they certainly tick the boxes of most enthusiasts. The entry-level model is powered by BMW's excellent magnesium-alloy 3-litre straight-six. We've driven this 265bhp engine in the
3-series and
6-series and it really is a gem. It should make light work of pushing the Z4 up the road. BMW claims 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds, with the top speed limited to 155mph. Both Sport and SE versions of the BMW Z4 3.0si Coupe are on offer, for £32,900 and £31,375 respectively.
The star of the range will be the new BMW Z4 M Coupe, launched at the same time as the Roadster version. We can't say just yet if this car will be as good to drive as the sublime Porsche Cayman S, but on paper, the BMW is a deadly rival. The Z4 M Coupe undercuts the Porsche with a £41,240 price tag and the sensational 343bhp straight-six engine from the
BMW M3. Allied to BMW's 50:50 weight distribution, and a decent level of standard specification, the Cayman S will have its work cut out.
We hope to get behind the wheel of the new BMW Z4 Coupe this summer, though we should have more images of the interior well before that. Watch out for the full review on the
BMW Road Tests page, and the public launch of the car at the forthcoming
Geneva Motor Show.
At a glance:
BMW Z4 3.0si Coupe SE / Sport
- BMW Z4 3.0si Coupe SE: £31,375.
- BMW Z4 3.0si Coupe Sport: £32,900.
- Magnesium-alloy straight-six 3-litre engine. 265bhp at 6600rpm. 232lb.ft at 2750rpm. Combined cycle fuel economy: 31.7mpg.
- Top speed electronically limited to 155mph. 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds.
- Six-speed manual as standard. Six-speed automatic an option with paddle controls.
- 340 litres of luggage space (more than the M Coupe).
- Alloys as standard: 18-inch on Sport; 17-inch on SE.
BMW Z4 M Coupe
- £41,240 on-the-road in the UK.
- 3.2-litre straight-six engine with 343bhp at 7900rpm and 269lb.ft of torque at 4900rpm. 23.3mpg on the combined cycle.
- Claimed performance: 0-62mph in 5 seconds. Top speed limited to 155mph.
- Exclusive paint colours.
- Subtle body styling tweaks differentiate the M car.
- Choice of four different Nappa leather colours.
Shane O' Donoghue - 25 Jan 2006
