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BMW will unveil the all-new Z4 roadster at the Detroit Auto Show next month,
but there's no need to wait for the show in Motown to see the car in non-spyshot
form, as all the Euro-spec details were officially released when the clock
struck midnight in Munich. We're into the new bodywork, which is pretty
voluptuous compared to the preceding model, with a hint of 507 lineage evident
in the car's lines.European models have three engine selections, and the Z4
employs BMW's ridiculous new naming scheme, as first seen on the X6. The Z4
sDrive23i is probably Euro-only, powered by a 2.5L inline-6 making 204 horses
via a six-speed manual or automatic. Next up is the Z4 sDrive30i, which features
the normally-aspirated 3.0L I6 we're all familiar with. Here, it makes 258
horsepower and 228 lb-ft of torque. That's enough to get it to 62 mph in 5.8
seconds (with the stick). Fun times. the sDrive30i also comes with either a
6-speed manual or automatic. Those of you looking for the ass-kicker Z4 want the
sDrive35i, which gets the excellent twin-turbo 3.0L and 306 horsepower. 0-62
takes 5.2 seconds with the manual tranny, but you shave a tenth off that if you
opt for the 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Inside, the cabin is refreshingly
simple with attractive wood accents, slick-looking new HVAC controls and a
straightforward cockpit layout. iDrive has now made its way into the Z4, but
it's the new, allegedly more intuitive version that was first introduced in the
new 7 Series. The LCD display sinks into the instrument panel when not in use.So,
best Z3/Z4 yet? Probably. We'll crawl all over it next month in Detroit, after
which we'll be impatiently awaiting some real seat time, which ought to be a
kick.
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