RE: BMW Z4 images leaked

[unpc]

With the usual PH image quality you might as well be looking at a Roman mosaic.

Back to the car itself, it's not terrible but hardly ground breaking. Can't see it getting a second look when parked next to an F-Type. Hopefully the Supra cousin will be less lazily styled.

[Ares]

Guvernator said:

Ares said:

On the second point,"PH has already driven a camouflaged, prototype Z4, describing it as "a welcome return to form no less"" suggests they haven't (ditto the comments on the new 3)

I'll hold judgement on that, the world and this includes motoring journalists seem to be rapidly diverging from what I think a sports car should be but I'll give you a hint, it doesn't include auto boxes and a turbocharged engine with a diesel like power delivery.

But this is 2018, not 1998.

Strange how some people believe bad news, but doubt good news. Sad place to exist.

[Ares]

Front: Crap camera angle, and looks OK, not amazing.

[kambites]

Ares said:

How very odd... it looks like it's been rendered with a fish-eye aspect. At least I hope it has and the proportions aren't really like that!

[Gus265]

Yikes! Looks only its mother could love!

Front of an F-type, rear of a 350Z and the profile of a Honda S2000

All smashed together rather badly!

[unsprung]

the eagle-eyed and ever-enthusiastic PH community already started a thread on this topic -- yesterday

now PH initiates its own thread, making the preceding redundant, cutting off their oxygen really; happens regularly

why do the PH editorial team "run them off the road" like this?

would't it be more community minded to elevate what the community has already begun?

sorry if these questions sound like a bleating ar**

[RacerMike]

Just wait for the outcry when people see the new ‘Supra’. Almost everyone believes that’s going to look like the FT concept thing. It clearly won’t. It will look like this Z4 when a lady part for a front bumper and some terrible attempts at concept styling attached to the rear end.

[kambites]

I wonder if they will finally do a diesel version (or a hybrid). I'd say 70% of the SLCs I see around are diesels.

[Vocht]

I actually really like the look of it and think it will look fab in person. Rarely do manufacturers photos actually do cars justice.

Here are some more leaked images which make it look better imo.





My biggest problem with the car however is the new interior. It really is a dogs dinner. Considering how nice the last gens interior was (and still is) they've missed a beat with this one.
NEW
Old

[Ares]

unsprung said:

the eagle-eyed and ever-enthusiastic PH community already started a thread on this topic -- yesterday

now PH initiates its own thread, making the preceding redundant, cutting off their oxygen really; happens regularly

why do the PH editorial team "run them off the road" like this?

would't it be more community minded to elevate what the community has already begun?

sorry if these questions sound like a bleating ar**

Because PH is more than just the forum...?

[Ares]

RacerMike said:

Just wait for the outcry when people see the new ‘Supra’. Almost everyone believes that’s going to look like the FT concept thing. It clearly won’t. It will look like this Z4 when a lady part for a front bumper and some terrible attempts at concept styling attached to the rear end.

But it's a Toyota not a BMW, so it'll be fine

[anonymous-user]

Such a shame they lost the buttresses and other lovely lines from the concept car.

[Ares]

garyhun said:

Such a shame they lost the buttresses and other lovely lines from the concept car.

Pedestrian & Crash/Roll-over protection/hood logistics issues? Concept cars have none of those!

[K666ADM]

I owned the current Z4 with a 3.0 but not the turbo. It was okay to look at but very unrewarding and uninspiring, kept it for two years and was not sad to let it go. This new one looks mostly like nothing but a few tweaks, throw in some modern tech and some design taken from a Fiat 124 to sprinkle a little retro look. BMW is good at high power saloon and hot hatch; its not got the soul and spirit for sports cars - its just like the last one; a awkward bodied 3 series. Hope Toyota can do better with their part of the deal.

[anonymous-user]

I'm pretty sure the buttresses could have made it as the deck simply folds back.

When I saw the concept I thought this could be my next car, not any more. Shame for me but I'm sure BMW will sell loads.

[Mackofthejungle]

As long as it's small it'll be great. I like the small Z cars. And fk it, I'd rather have a hairdressers car than a faux sports car - nothing worse than a car that takes itself seriously.. Although at least it give you a chance to avoid the bores driving them..

[T1berious]

I'll wait until I see it in the flesh. Pretty sure metallic grey would look better. Hopefully it's sub 1400Kg

[Mr_Sukebe]

I'd like to know if it's another German lard bucket (most certainly NOT aimed just at BMW).

How is it that Mazda can get a car out that's sub-1100kg, but the German brands simply can't.
Porsche are the closest with the Boxster, and used to have the argument of the weight of the 6 cylinder block. Yeah, well that's not there anymore, so they have no excuses either.

Strikes me that they're all chasing marketing lead "specifications", above and beyond the brief that a sports car should be light and fun to drive.

[Ares]

Mr_Sukebe said:

I'd like to know if it's another German lard bucket (most certainly NOT aimed just at BMW).

How is it that Mazda can get a car out that's sub-1100kg, but the German brands simply can't.
Porsche are the closest with the Boxster, and used to have the argument of the weight of the 6 cylinder block. Yeah, well that's not there anymore, so they have no excuses either.

Strikes me that they're all chasing marketing lead "specifications", above and beyond the brief that a sports car should be light and fun to drive.

The Mazda is a tinny, tiny cheap sports car. See also Fiat Spider.
The BMW is a 2-seat convertible version of a mid-sized saloon. See also Porsche/Merc/Audi/Alfa (when it gets here)/etc

[kambites]

With the exception of Porsche, they're in the business of selling heavy refined GTs built on saloon car platforms and they're very, very good at it. Given that people are happy to pay far more for a heavy refined GT than an unrefined lightweight sports car, why would they want to build the latter? Especially given that it would require a bespoke platform so would probably not only sell for less but would cost them more to develop.

By and large the German big-three are very good at giving the market what it not only wants, but what it is willing to pay a hefty premium for.