2010 BMW Z4

BMW plan to unveil their new Z4 roadster during the Detroit Auto Show next month. Up front, wide double-kidney grilles establish an aggressive face. Out back, the tail is cleaner and more elegant than the current car's, featuring simpler, wraparound taillamps with attractive lighting effects. The biggest change of all, of course, can be found in the roofline. As was the case in the 3 Series, the soft top has been retired in favor of a retractable metal roof. There's a subtle "double-bubble" effect evident when it's in place, and its use reportedly improves outward visibility with the top up.


The BMW Z4 will be powered by a 2.5L inline 6 engine which capable to produce 204 hp by using a 6 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 produces 258 hp and a maximum torque of 228 lb-ft. That's enough to get it to 62 mph in 5.8 seconds (with the stick). The sDrive30i will fitted with either a 6 speed manual or automatic too. 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.

For the interior, 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.