TTAC Photochop: New BMW Z4

Andrei Avarvarii
by Andrei Avarvarii

The Z4 was the vehicle that began the "flame surfacing" controversy, splitting fans of the brand into lovers and haters. And now the new Z4 gets to be the car to end the crisis, apparently. It will feature BMW's new "cooled down flame surfacing." Spyshots of the car are all over the internet showing the sizes and proportions of the new car along with an interesting detail, a folding hardtop. I'm curious if BMW will offer the car with both a soft-top (for the romantic) and a hard-top (for the prosaic). I know they avoided this solution so far because it affects the roof design. However the 3-Series CC with its three-piece folding roof is a design success. It doesn't look as "big in the derriere" as some of the competitors. Now, back to my guess on the Z4 MkII. I've used some influences from the CS Concept (the only thing they showed lately that could give away their future designs) and tried to keep in mind that "simple is better." The little things ensure the car is still a case of "love it or hate it," which I think is how a Z4 (flame surfaced or not) should be. A car that everyone considers to be "fine" is just boring.

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click here]

Andrei Avarvarii
Andrei Avarvarii

More by Andrei Avarvarii

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 12 comments
  • JJ JJ on Apr 26, 2008

    I like the current Z4... This design looks good too, only the headlights are a little un-BMW-like. A little bit Mercedes C-class to me. I just hope the metal folding roof won't mess everything up making it heavy a bloated. Otherwise, it's a BMW, it's a 2 seater roadster, what could possibly go wrong...

  • Joshvar Joshvar on Apr 27, 2008

    I, also, love the Z4 design. I don't think it's a great BMW design, but I love it and wouldn't mind driving one. However, this, wow. I admit I haven't looked at these posts much in the past, but recently, every single one I look at is fantastic from a design point of view, whether I like it or not. But this one, I'd buy it. I'd reskin just about any roadster short of the 507 to look like this :)

  • ToolGuy 9 miles a day for 20 years. You didn't drive it, why should I? 😉
  • Brian Uchida Laguna Seca, corkscrew, (drying track off in rental car prior to Superbike test session), at speed - turn 9 big Willow Springs racing a motorcycle,- at greater speed (but riding shotgun) - The Carrousel at Sears Point in a 1981 PA9 Osella 2 litre FIA racer with Eddie Lawson at the wheel! (apologies for not being brief!)
  • Mister It wasn't helped any by the horrible fuel economy for what it was... something like 22mpg city, iirc.
  • Lorenzo I shop for all-season tires that have good wet and dry pavement grip and use them year-round. Nothing works on black ice, and I stopped driving in snow long ago - I'll wait until the streets and highways are plowed, when all-seasons are good enough. After all, I don't live in Canada or deep in the snow zone.
  • FormerFF I’m in Atlanta. The summers go on in April and come off in October. I have a Cayman that stays on summer tires year round and gets driven on winter days when the temperature gets above 45 F and it’s dry, which is usually at least once a week.
Next