Replacing the Z3, production started in 2002 at BMW's Spartanburg, South Carolina plant, with both roadster and coupe forms produced.
BMW Z4 (E85)
The first-generation BMW Z4 was designated the E85 in roadster form and E86 in coupé form.
The Z4's design addresses many criticisms of the preceding Z3; the Z4 is larger, and has a significantly stiffer chassis. The Z4 features a strut type front suspension like its predecessor. The rear suspension, however is considerably different from that of the Z3, which was based on that of the E30 BMW 3 Series. Instead of a semi-trailing arm suspension, the Z4 uses a more advanced multi-link suspension. It was built in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Initially, the Z4 was available only as a roadster, but in 2006 a coupé version was officially launched. The last of the first-generation Z4 to be assembled in North America rolled off the assembly line on 27 August 2008.
BMW Z4 Coupé (E86)
BMW unveiled a concept coupe version of the Z4 at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2005. The company announced on 22 November 2005 that the coupe would be available for delivery in the US starting in June 2006, including the return of the M Coupé. Production began at the Spartanburg BMW plant on 4 April 2006, and the production cars were introduced at the New York Auto Show in April 2006.
Unlike the roadster (which was offered in some countries with an engine as small as 2.0L), the BMW Z4 Coupe was only offered in a 3.0si spec with the N52 engine. The M Coupe shares its 3.2 L Inline-6 with the M Roadster. Thanks to its hatch design, the Z4 Coupe offers 10.1 cu-ft of trunk space, as opposed to 8.5 cu-ft for the roadster.
Design:
The E86 Coupe features:
- a fixed hard-top roof which yields additional torsional rigidity
- a 'double bubble' contoured roof which serves as an aerodynamic aid, and offers more headroom than the roadster
- a sleek fastback rear window;
- an integrated spoiler shaped to deliver downforce to the rear axle at speed.
Production:
In total, only 17,094 Z4 coupés (3.0si and M combined) were ever
produced, compared to 180,856 Z4 roadsters.
BMW Z4 (E89)
The second-generation Z4 was announced on December 13, 2008. The car has a retractable hardtop. The new Z4 replaces the previous roadster and coupé versions for the 2009 model year. The top is made of a two-piece lightweight aluminum shell, and takes 20 seconds to fold up or down. Manufacturing has been moved from the United States to Regensburg, Germany.
The new roadster features a completely revamped interior and exterior, a retractable hardtop, and an optional 7-speed double clutch transmission. It is also the first BMW roadster to use iDrive. Compared to the previous generation Z4, the new vehicle has grown 148 mm (5.8 in) longer, 9 mm (0.4 in) wider, 2.5 mm (0.098 in) in wheelbase, and is significantly heavier, adding between 150 kg (330 lb) and 235 kg (520 lb) in unladen weight, when compared to the previous model.
