BMW Released Info About The New Z4

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BMW released photos and technical details of its new roadster, the Z4, on Saturday. The car is going to be unveiled during the Detroit Auto Show, in January 2009. One remarkable feature is that BMW chose to equip the Z4 with a hardtop, instead of the company’s traditional approach to fit softtops to its roadsters.

Yet, BMW insisted that the all-round visibility has increased by 14% compared with the previous generation. The hardtop is made from aluminum and is lightweight. The roof closes and opens automatically in 20 seconds.

The base model, Z4 sDrive30i has an aspirated 3.0L 6 cylinders in line engine and produces 225 horsepower. The top model, Z4 35i is equipped with a twin turbo version of the same 3.0 liter in-line 6 cylinder engine. The engine has a maximum output of 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. Buyers will have to choose between a 6-speed manual gearbox and two different automatic gearboxes for each of the two models. The lower trim model comes with a 6-speed auto and the 35i is equipped with a 7-gear dual clutch sport transmission. The car is based on the 3 Series model.

The 35i model is claimed to go from 0 to 62 mph in 5.1 seconds with the manual gearbox and 5.0 with the 7-gear auto. The maximum speed is electronically limited to 130 mph, even though there is an optional Sport Pack which increases top speed to 150 mph. The new Z4 is 5.8 inches longer and a little wider and lower than the previous generation.