2010 BMW Z4 (with 50% less hideousness)

[exigeracer]

Did they use a 3-year old to model the driver in the press photos? He makes the car look huuuuuuuuuge.

 

[YSSMAN]

I'm going to agree with homeforsummer, the ol' Z3 is still the better-looking of the three generations of roadsters. I mean, yes, this is an improvement in some respects, but I still kinda feel like the origional Z4 may have had its looks in good places as well.

To be honest, this really makes me wish that Honda would have kept updating the S2000.

 

[Robin]

I think the BMW Z8 still beats all of them in terms of looks. Pity is was a limited run though.

Robin.

 

[Eric.]

Something occurred to me after I read that.

I recalled that the Z4 was one of the top 10 cars who's owners were women. With 60.31 percent female drivers, it was 6th on the list.

I believe that this redesign caters more towards that market.

Just a thought.

I'd assume you could say that about nearly any convertible, especially when they are from premium marques.

 

[Giancarlo]

How impossible must it be to park that thing head-in?

Looks a lot like an SL now.

 

[TheCracker]

I'm liking the revised look down the sides - none of that stupid broken sill look that the previous one had.

The nose is awful though, it makes the car look a bit 'special'. The rear treatment is too bland IMO, i used to really like the Ferrari 550/575-esque rear of the out going Z4.

Does the folding hard top mean an end of the coupe version?

 

[DaddyVDUB]

I agree with you Robin that Z8 is PERFECT!

 

[homeforsummer]

Does the folding hard top mean an end of the coupe version?

That's something I hadn't considered - they better bloody not. The coupe version, in contrast to my thoughts on the soft-top, looks fantastic. Will be most dis-chuffed if they get rid of it. Still, it'd become a classic all the more quickly if they didn't replace it.

 

[Pupik]

I prefer the original one. It looks unique, sharp and edgy in all the right places while still having nice curves. This one looks really watered down and tame, especially at the back end. The front looks too much like the rest of the cars from the BMW range IMO. At least the previous Z4 looked unique...

Word-for-word my feelings on the old Z4, too.

Maybe the 2-dimensional screen image is fooling me, but this new Z4 looks longer and more derivative.

 

[LongbowX]

I'd assume you could say that about nearly any convertible, especially when they are from premium marques.

Well, we will never know, really. But, even so, this list makes the Z4 the highest female percentage for ANY convertible.


Top 10 Cars Driven by Women:

10. Chrysler Pacifica: 59.81 percent female drivers
9. Hyundai Tiburon: 60.18 percent female drivers
8. Mazda CX-7: 60.19 percent female drivers
7. Honda Pilot: 60.28 percent female drivers
6. BMW Z4: 60.31 percent female drivers
5. Nissan Versa: 60.58 percent female drivers
4. Toyota Yaris: 61.86 percent female drivers
3. Hyundai Elantra: 64.28 percent female drivers
2. Kia Spectra: 66.48 percent female drivers
1. Honda Fit: 80.46 percent female drivers

http://www.egmcartech.com/2008/05/05/top-10-cars-driven-by-women/

 

[Danny]

Is that list actually what women drive, or what women buy?

 

[TheCracker]

Is that list actually what women drive, or what women buy?

Do you think they'd be much of a difference?

 

[Danny]

Do you think they'd be much of a difference?

I reckon so, what about if a woman buys the car for the family, and it ends up being the husband who drives it every day?

Or if a gentleman buys it seconds hand from said lady.

 

[Tornado]

No Eos?! No Sebring?! No V6 Mustang?! Madness!

 

[Duke]

Am I the only one who is amazed at how giant that thing is, for a 2-seater?

It's not bad looking (I don't know yet if I like it better or not) but they sure could have shown it off in a a more charismatic color than some old leftover Camry paint.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

I really like it, I think it looks great. I do think that all the current BMWs look good, except the 3 series (apart from the coupe/M3) could do with some new tail lights which don't look like they're from a cheap Korean car.

 

[ceiling_fan]

It's not bad looking (I don't know yet if I like it better or not) but they sure could have shown it off in a a more charismatic color than some old leftover Camry paint.

+1, looks awful, the car looks much cooler in the blue pic above. Looking at it still makes me want to punch a kid in the nose.

 

[JCE]

I really like it. Especially the rear portion. 👍

 

[Tornado]

From what I have read; this bland, not-at-all-any-better-looking-yet-far-more-anonymous Z4 may only be offered with a hard top. Boo!

 

[harrytuttle]

It's like cat's cradle: each generation gets more complex lines than the one before. I think we're only two generations away from a Tipo 61 without the bodyshell.

 

[///M-Spec]

I'm surprised by the amount of love the outgoing Z4 is getting in here. Amazed, really

I think it's a fairly successful updating of the car. But your thread title leaves a lot to be desired, Olsen.

It a simple evolution of the Z4 theme, a general smoothing over and tweaking of the details; just like the E36 to E46 change. It looks softer, more graceful, and dare I say feminine. The interior looks great.

I'm ambivalent about the removal of the front fender cutline that continues the windshield's sweep down the side of the car. On one hand, it's design for design's sake, which runs counter to my tastes. But on the other hand, it is the one feature that makes the E85 Z4 utterly unique and original.

Since every single post in the thread is a styling commentary, I'll throw in some technical info pertinent to this car.

-The DIN weight for the top dog turbo version is 3,480ish lbs. Which would put US curb weight (no driver and luggage) to the low 3,300 lbs. range. That makes it roughly 350 lbs. heavier than the outgoing Z4 3.0si and 150 lbs. heavier than the Z4 M.

-3 transmissions will be offered: 6-speed manual, 6-speed auto and a 7-speed dual clutch box based on the M-DCT from the M3.

-Adaptive M suspension is an option; I presume this is the same Delphi sourced Electronic Dampening Control as found on the M3, Corvette and various Ferraris.

-No mention of an LSD, so I presume it will have an open-diff just like the 335i.

Why did they expand the kidney grille? It's like you're staring up someone's nose.

Most likely to satisfy the new EU pedestrian safety standards that requires hoods to be higher off the ground. Thus BMW is slowly going back to the shark-nose look of the late 60s to early 80s.

I think the BMW Z8 still beats all of them in terms of looks. Pity is was a limited run though.

Pity it was well over 100k when new and still commands 80%-120% of it's original sticker

Does the folding hard top mean an end of the coupe version?

I hope not.


M