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[Images removed - IB Staff]

U.S. Models
Z4 roadster 2.5i
Z4 roadster 3.0i

Base Price USA Port of Entry*
$33,795
$40,945

STEPTRONIC Transmission
1,275
1,275

Graphite Finish Trim 1
150
150

Fully Automatic Power Top
750/PP
750/PP

Dark Beige Softtop 2
NC
NC

Grey Softtop 2
NC
NC

Sycamore Wood Trim
500
200

8-Way Power Seats with 3-way Driver Memory
995/PP
995/PP

Heated Seats
500
500

Foglights
260/SP
STD

Bi-xenon Headlights
700
700

Cruise Control
475/PP
STD

On-board Computer
300/CV
STD

Navigation system 3
1,800
1,800

Premium Sound System
875
STD

Metallic Paint
475
475

Cloth/Leather Combination Upholstery
850
NA

Leather Upholstery
1,150/PP
STD

Extended Leather
NA
1,200

Packages
Premium Package (PP)
2,900
1,500

Convenience Package (CV)
1,050
850

Sport Package (SP)
1,500
1,200


*Includes $695 destination and handling
PP = Premium Package
CV = Convenience Package
SP = Sport Package
STD = Standard Equipment
NA = Not available or not applicable
NC = No Charge

1 Includes door Handles, roll bars and steering wheel; also gearshift knob on 3.0i only.
2 Requires Fully Automatic Power Top or Premium Package
3 Requires On-Board Computer or Convenience Package, 2.5i only.

Packages Z4 roadster 2.5i
Z4 roadster 3.0i

Premium Package (PP)
- Fully Automatic Softtop

- Power Seat Adjustment with

Driver Memory

- Cruise Control

- Leather Upholstery
- Fully Automatic Softtop

- Power Seat Adjustment with

Driver Memory

Convenience Package (CV)
- Auto Dimming Interior/Exterior

Mirrors

- Storage Package

- Rain Sensor

- Automatic A/C

- On-board Computer
- Auto Dimming Interior/Exterior

Mirrors

- Storage Package

- Rain Sensor

- Automatic A/C

Sport Package (SP)
- Sport Button

- 17 inch Turbine Wheels,

Style 106

- Foglamps

- Sport Suspension
- Sport Button

- 18 inch Mixed-Width “Ellipsoid”

Wheels, Style 107

- Sport Suspension

gavriil

Even more of a closer look:

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The Next Roadster Is Here

Any new car launch from BMW is eagerly awaited by the legions of BMW fanatics. The wait for the new roadster however, reached a fever pitch, as BMW cruelly withheld any comments on the new car. Finally, the car was unveiled to mixed opinions as any BMW car these days is bound to be. Falling into two camps seems inevitable, some of us dislike (to put it mildly) the new 'flame surfacing' while others hail it as the next great leap in design. All we have to say, is: give it time, see it in the flesh, and get more details.

Here's what BMW had to say from the floor of the Paris Motor Show, the official venue for the launch of the newest drop top from Munich.

The BMW Z4: Sheer driving pleasure at its best!

The BMW Z4 has everything a genuine roadster really needs: perfect proportions, modern design, powerful engines. And it has everything other motorists also dream of: up-to-date technology conceived and built with only one objective in mind to give you sheer driving pleasure of the highest standard.

The new BMW Z4 certainly means business: This is exactly what a BMW roadster must look like, this is exactly how it must drive. The Z4 is sporting performance in perfection. And clearly bearing out BMW’s new design language, the Z4 sets a new benchmark in many areas.



BMW’s new two-seater is making its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in the guise of the BMW Z4 3.0i and the BMW Z4 2.5i. Both models will be entering the US market in autumn 2002, arriving in Europe in spring 2003.

Design: a clear pledge to driving pleasure.

With its long, sleek and stretched-out engine compartment, the snug cockpit wrapped around the driver and passenger, and the short, muscular rear end, the BMW Z4 boasts all the attributes typical of a classic roadster in unique proportions: Despite its wheelbase measuring 2,495 millimetres or 98.2 inches, the Z4 is still a compact car due to its short front and rear overhangs, with overall length of 4,091 millimetres or 161.1 inches. Impressive width of 1,781 millimetres or 70.1 inches, in turn, accentuates the car’s sporting ambitions. So there can be no doubt about it – this roadster is a genuine athlete without one single gram of fat!

In its powerful and striking design, the BMW Z4 appeals to all your senses: You can literally see and feel all the sculpted lines, the edges, the soft, rounded-off corners and the deep recesses in the body creating a perfect interplay of contours, shadows and reflections all accentuating the perfect proportions of the BMW Z4 from every angle, from every perspective.



The BMW Z4 has two waistlines: The lower waistline extends down gently from the front and back up again behind the door, accentuating the feeling of powerful, dynamic performance and bringing back the memory of the classic sports roadster of days gone by without doors at the side. The upper waistline, by contrast, extends in a powerful arch from the beginning of the engine compartment lid all the way to the back of the door on each side, then curving out again over the rear wheel arch. Pure dynamism accentuates the door line clearly extending into the A-pillar and interrupted by the direction indicator light at the side highlighting yet another refined idea: Each time you activate the direction indicators the brand logo is highlighted in all its unique style.

Streamlining and design: minimum resistance, maximum fun.

Apart from excellent streamlining and aerodynamics, the designers creating the BMW Z4 sought to ensure well-balanced and sporting driving behaviour by minimising lift forces on the car’s axles. And in elaborate wind tunnel tests they also succeeded in combining the pleasure of driving in the open air with the reduction of draughts to a minimum – even at speeds above 140 km/h or in cool weather.

The cockpit: a perfect fit.

Unlike driving the Z4, getting into the car does not require a sporting attitude thanks to the wide doors and extra-low doorsills. And once you are inside, you will immediately enjoy that typical roadster posture, sitting down very low and right at the back. Particularly in bends, this seating position behind the car’s centre of gravity and point of rotation ensures that very special “go-kart kick”. The seats are comfortable and ergonomic in design, they offer very good side support and adjust to drivers of all sizes, whether very tall or very short. The steering column, finally, is adjustable for both reach and angle.



The concave and convex surfaces of the car’s exterior design are repeated inside the cockpit of the BMW Z4, blending perfectly with the classic circular dials beneath their tube-like hoods. The on-board computer display is integrated in the speedometer, the fuel gauge and water temperature gauge are housed in the rev counter. In between is the gear display for the automatic transmission and the telltales giving the driver important information. The heating and air conditioning are controlled from the centre console, with the radio or HiFi directly above. The Z4 offers the driver and passenger lots of storage space: one glove compartment, two storage pockets in the doors, and a box in the rear bulkhead between the seats with a capacity of approximately 10 litres. The cap on top of the box is locked together with the central locking, the opening mechanism is dampened by a special hydraulic fluid.

Four interior lines for customised style and individual perfection.

The Z4 2.5i comes as standard with the seats in Free Spirit cloth upholstery (leatherette in the USA). The door linings are made of a special, high-quality synthetic material, with the inner lining made of cloth or leatherette, the instrument panel and centre console are decorated in painted plastic trim.

The standard interior of the Z4 3.0i is in Oregon finish, with the seats, door panels, knee- and armpads, steering wheel and gearshift lever all finished in leather, providing an even more sophisticated touch also around the centre console. The Active Sports cloth/leather line as well as the New England range of extended leather, with seats in gloss leather, and the Chrome Line interior with gloss leather and high-gloss metal appliqués, are all available as an option, providing an even higher standard of beautiful looks.

Z-shaped folding mechanism saving space and offering extra convenience.

To enlarge the luggage compartment from 240 to 260 litres with the roof closed, the roof compartment folds up conveniently, providing ample space for two golf bags or four crates of bottles. Then, opening up to give the driver and passenger fresh air, the roof folds in Z-configuration, the frontmost section of the roof folding over the soft top like a cover and resting flush on the body when fastened in position, meaning that there is no need for a tonneau cover or a panel opening and closing whenever the roof moves in. All the driver has to do, therefore, is open and close the roof by hand at one central point on the windscreen frame. The heated rear window is made of scratch-proof glass and the new BMW Z4 is the only roadster in the world also available with a power roof: All you do in this case is press a button to unlock, fold and fasten the roof in position, proceeding in exactly the opposite order when closing the roof.

A wind deflector system available as an option helps to reduce draughts to a minimum. Whilst the nets incorporated in the wind deflector are fitted permanently in the two rollbars behind the headrests, the transparent polycarbonate screen folds down and can be removed completely whenever necessary. Starting in autumn 2003, the Z4 will also be available with an optional hardtop featuring an airflow spoiler at the rear to further increase downforces on the rear axle and improve the car’s driving qualities accordingly.



The “hearts” of the BMW Z4 roadster: prize-winners all the way.

The BMW Z4 is entering the market with prize-winning engines: In May of this year BMW’s famous and renowned straight-six power unit again won the highest laurels in the International Engine of the Year Award. And the BMW Z4 comes with the two top versions of this highly successful engines:

The 2.5-litre developing maximum output of 141 kW/192 bhp at 6,000 rpm and the 3.0-litre with maximum output of 170 kW/231 bhp at 5,900 rpm. Clearly, engines of this calibre give the BMW Z4 the performance of an outstanding sports car: Acceleration from 0–100 km/h in 7.0 and, respectively, 5.9 seconds, top speed of 235 km/h (146 mph) and, respectively, 250 km/h (155 mph).

Infinitely variable bi-VANOS, camshaft control, four-valve technology, adaptive knock control and individual coils are the high-tech features standard on both of these 6-cylinder power units. The 2.5- and 3.0-litre engine are further optimised to comply with the ULEV and, respectively, EU4 emission standards qualifying the car for tax exemption in Germany.

Electronics with engine characteristics geared to individual, variable requirements.

To allow the driver to “dose” the gas pedal even more precisely in stop-and-go traffic and at the same time to provide maximum engine power spontaneously whenever required, both 6-cylinders come with an all-electronic throttle butterfly able to “see” in which gear the car is currently running. This ensures a smooth transition from overrun to part load and vice versa, also when driving with cruise control featured as standard in the Z4 3.0i.

Dynamic Drive Control – more power at the touch of a button.

Just by pressing a button, the particularly ambitious and enthusiastic driver can enjoy an even bigger kick at the wheel of his Z4: Dynamic Drive Control (DDC) available as an option activates full engine power at an earlier point and applies a more sporting and dynamic engine control map. The steering also becomes more direct in the process, and on cars fitted with the SMG Sequential Mechanical Gearbox or with automatic transmission gears are revved up to a higher speed and are shifted even more quickly and dynamically.

Electric Power Steering for a unique experience at the wheel.

The Z4 is the first BMW with electric instead of hydraulic power steering: Electric Power Steering (EPS) conveys steering forces through an electric motor, a worm gearbox and a steering layshaft to a mechanical steering transmission turning the front wheels via tie-rods. This makes the steering highly flexible, with an optimum damping effect and feedback from the road.



A further advantage is the smooth return movement of the steering wheel without any bumps and vibration. Whenever the driver uses Dynamic Drive Control in the sports mode, steering assistance is reduced accordingly to provide an even more direct feeling at the wheel. And in contrast to conventional hydraulic steering, EPS does not require any energy when driving in a straight line without any movement of the steering wheel. In practice this adds up to 0.25 litres of fuel saved every 100 kilometres versus a conventional steering system.

Shifting gears even more quickly: shift-by-wire with SMG.

The Z4 2.5i is fitted with a five-speed manual gearbox and comes as an option with the six-speed transmission of the Z4 3.0i, reducing engine speed in top gear. The big advantage for the driver is the reduction of noise and fuel consumption by up to 4 percent.

The six-speed gearbox is also available with SMG technology, this shift-by-wire system enabling the driver to shift gears manually on the gearshift lever or via two paddles on the steering wheel. And while shifting gears the driver can leave his foot on the gas pedal in the interest of all-out performance. SMG appeals above all to the sporting and ambitious driver, allowing him to shift gears with absolute precision in just 0.15 seconds. The gearshift process is always sequential, and not, like on an H-pattern, with a random choice of gears in – virtually – any combination. This avoids the risk of making mistakes when shifting gears but still allows the driver to skip one or several gears whenever appropriate. And another big advantage of the paddles is that the driver always keeps his hands on the steering wheels.

The ideal program for optimum acceleration.

Pressing the DDC button, the driver can switch to a sporting and dynamic gearshift program whenever he wishes. He can also deactivate DSC Dynamic Stability Control to make use of the car’s full acceleration. All the driver has to do in this case is press down the brake pedal quickly and energetically in order to increase start-off speed to approximately 4,000 rpm before the system closes the clutch – otherwise the system will engage the clutch at approxi-mately 1,300 rpm under normal conditions. The kick-down function is particularly suitable when overtaking other vehicles. An automatic gearshift function makes sure that the engine cannot be over-revved by the driver choosing an inappropriate gear.



Over and above its dynamic qualities, SMG also offers superior comfort: In the Drive mode it shifts gears automatically as a function of road speed, the position of the gas pedal, and the car’s acceleration. When manoeuvring in confined spaces, in turn, DDC offers a special crawl function requiring the driver to merely shift to one of the forward gears or to reverse, then taking his foot off the brakes without giving gas.

The chassis and suspension – handling at its best.

In its dynamic performance, agility and sporting behaviour, the BMW Z4 rests quite literally on a chassis designed and built without compromises for supreme handling. The equal spread of weight front and rear offers perfect conditions for superior driving pleasure, rear-wheel drive providing decisive benefits particularly with a sports car. The steering free of any drive forces offers the driver supreme steering precision and an absolutely clear feedback. And thanks to the very wide track of the wheels compared with the dimen-sions of the body as well as the use of anti-roll bars front and rear, the Z4 takes even tight and difficult bends smoothly, safely and without the slightest inaccuracy. This effect is further enhanced by the reduction of unsprung masses to a minimum, the share of light alloys in the chassis amounting to approximately 60 kilos or 20 percent by weight. The driver in search of even more dynamic, sporting performance, in turn, can opt for the M Technic sports suspension lowered by 15 millimetres or 0.6´´.

DSC with DTC: more driving pleasure all the way.

The BMW Z4 comes as standard with DSC Dynamic Stability Control even though the chassis and suspension have ample safety reserves in every respect, requiring DSC to intervene only in really dangerous situations (for example on slippery roads, where DSC applies the brakes specifically on individual wheels in abrupt manoeuvres).

Integrated in DSC, ASC Automatic Stability Control takes back the throttle and applies the brakes individually on the drive wheels to avoid any loss of traction. Now this function has been extended by the addition of BMW’s Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) allowing more slip on the rear wheels up to a speed of approximately 70 km/h (50 mph) or lateral acceleration of roughly 0.4 g. The wheel spin thresholds are also adjusted individually to the car’s current driving conditions by applying additional control data, thus maintaining all DSC safety functions in full. Indeed, the BMW Z4 featuring DTC offers all the agility of a car equipped with a limited-slip differential without endangering the DSC functions when driving to the limit.



The bodyshell: very strong and extra-light all in one.

The BMW Z4 was conceived and designed from the ground up as a classic roadster. Offering torsional stiffness of 14,500 Nm/degree, the Z4 ensures a level of body rigidity and strength never seen before in the convertible and roadster segment. The results are even less body “twist”, absolutely no rattling noise, and an even more intense feeling on the road. Clearly, this provides the perfect answer to the usual conflict of interests between saloon-like vibration control and a dynamic, sporting set-up of the chassis and suspension.

The bodyshell features a Y-shaped load-bearing structure with the chassis legs extending from the bulkhead down the sides along the sills and the propeller shaft tunnel. Reinforcements in the underfloor, between the spring strut domes and on the windscreen frame serve to enhance torsional stiffness to an even higher standard. Weight reduction and lightweight technology where really appropriate make the Z4 2.5i a top-flight athlete weighing a mere 1,260 kg, with the Z4 3.0i weighing in at an only slightly heavier 1,290 kg. By comparison, both models are able to carry a load of up to 300 kilos, depending on their level of equipment, which is very generous indeed for a roadster.

Passive safety: well-coordinated safety systems.

The extremely stable body structure forms the backbone for the high standard of passive safety offered by the BMW Z4. Providing a rollbar covering the entire width of the car, the A-pillars and the roof frame are reinforced by high-strength steel tubes. Two steel rollbars behind the seats are welded to the body crossmember for extra stability, and optimised foot support panels largely prevent any intrusion of objects from outside into the passenger compartment. Long deformation elements are welded on to the front chassis legs, which in turn are connected to the bumper system. This helps to protect the body in collisions, reducing the cost of repair accordingly. And last but certainly not least, four airbags protect the driver and the passenger in the Z4.

Introducing light conductor technology as part of the Advanced Safety Electronics (ASE) concept, BMW is once again setting new standards in the world of motoring safety. Like the ISIS network in the BMW 7 Series, satellites are used in this case to individually control activation of the airbags. The modules measure and calculate data independently, respond on-demand to individual requirements, and monitor one another. The decision as to when which component is to be activated in what way is therefore no longer taken exclusively by a central control unit. The combination of the satellite concept and light conductor technology ensures clear recognition of crash forces and accurate activation of the airbags required whenever necessary. A further feature integrated in the system is the reliable disconnection of the safety battery terminal. And in the interest of child safety, the driver can fit a child seat complete with ISOFIX fastening whenever required.

Optimum illumination and extra safety in the case of a puncture.

The BMW Z4 comes as standard on runflat tyres providing an ongoing range of up to 150 km or 90 miles in the event of a puncture. Should the tyre be losing air gradually, on the other hand, the driver is warned in good time by the tyre pressure control system.

Featuring H7 high-beam headlights combined with the optional bi-xenon headlights for both the low and high beam operating in parallel, the Z4 has the best lights technology currently available in the market. To avoid any risk of dazzling oncoming traffic, the headlights are combined with dynamic headlight range control.

Choosing your favourite programme: two high-end HiFi systems.

The BMW Z4 comes as standard with the BMW Business CD radio. As an option, however, the customer has the choice of two HiFi systems developed especially for this car. The HiFi audio system is matched in its dynamic qualities to the driving noise typical of this very special roadster, comprising one 10-channel audio amplifier with four 40 W woofers and six 25 W sub-woofers and tweeters. Introducing the HiFi professional system on the Z4, BMW is for the first time featuring Carver technology generating a high level of sound pressure within a small volume. This system combines the woofer with an extra-powerful terminal stage featuring not only 30 V voltage supply but also the right signal processor to protect the loudspeaker from self-destruction. The layout of the system is the same as with the HiFi loudspeaker system, but with a digital 10-channel sound processor and 100 W bass loudspeakers.

Trendsetting: two navigation systems with DVD memory.

As an option the Z4 can be fitted with a radio navigation system integrated in the instrument panel and for the first time with BMW using DVD data. Combined with a fast processor, the system is able, for example when the driver leaves his original route, to calculate the new route the driver must take from now on. Since the radio navigation system is a fully integrated unit, it can also be used for operating the on-board computer, the radio, CD, and a telephone fitted in the car. Precisely this is why the small monochromatic monitor presents not only the usual navigation symbols, but also SMS messages.



The Professional navigation system available as an alternative comes additionally with a colour monitor. This unit swivels around its own axis and opens up automatically when the driver presses a button or turns a switch on the radio, then closing again when the driver takes the key out of the ignition, merging flush and out-of-sight into the instrument panel. New surface film technology makes the display very easy to read under all light conditions, a special anti-dazzle film avoiding any reflections on the windscreen.

In Closing

These are all the details we have at the time. How well will the new roadster sell? Priced in the United States at $33,795 for the 2.5i and $40,945 for the 3.0i, BMW quietly expects to sell less than the 297,087 Z3 roadsters that were built during that models seven-year life. Expects less, but no doubt hopes for more. Here are the detailed USA pricing charts.

1SICKLEX

Interior from Star Trek but dare I say the exterior looks good to me.

jimcol711

S2000 rip off....way too many styling cues ripped of from the S2000...overall, this thing will be nice, but AS USUAL with BMW...waaay overpriced.... BMW needs to drop about 10-15k off of every single car they sell, THEN it would be in its correct pricing alignment.....65k for the m3?? ripoff....40k for loaded 330Ci? ripoff.....745i for 80 +??? TOTAL rip off....oh well, thats pretencious germans for ya

1SICKLEX

the last M3 could be had for 35k, this new one's price is ridiculous. Z4 for 40k is nuts too.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Hmmm... not too crazy about it. It does look like a mini-Z8 from the side.. which is cool.. but it looks Miata"ish" from the rear.. especially with the top up. It also has a little Audi TT look to the headlights....

Zoot

TT>Z4....but now that the TT has an auto, we should be seeing hella more of them.

BTW, the Z4 comes in only 4 colors: silver, gray, blue, black

DRM600

i saw one of those on the freeway a few days after labor day. it was travelling in the opposite direction so i didn't get a detailed look at it, but it didn't look too bad.

proactive

Neat. The seats in the first interior picture look really comfortable.

Also, I want that man's job. No, I don't care what it pays.