Z-Licious Spy Video: 2010 BMW Z4 in the Arctic Circle
Length: 1:49
Description: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/GeneralFuture/articleId=125390
We've already seen the 2010 BMW Z4 on the streets of Munich and on the Nürburgring, but now we've managed to snag some footage of the upcoming roadster during final cold-weather testing in the Arctic Circle. From low-speed testing on the city streets to higher-speed action on a frozen lake, the engineers at BMW are throwing everything they have at the next-generation 2010 BMW Z4.
Like previous prototypes of the 2010 BMW Z4 that we've seen, these cold-weather test mules appear to have a traditional soft top. Don't believe it, as we suspect it's nothing but clever camouflage designed to hide the fact that the 2010 BMW Z4 is switching to a folding hardtop.
BMW made a similar switch with the 3 Series convertible last year, so it's not much of a stretch to predict the Z4's new setup. It's more than just a prediction, however, as the cut lines at the rear of the car are similar to those found on the back of the 3 Series convertible. The hardtop conversion would also help the Z4 match up more competitively with the Mercedes-Benz SLK, which has featured a retractable hardtop since its debut in 1998.
And like the latest 3 Series convertible, the next-generation 2010 BMW Z4 will get a big boost in power compared to its predecessor thanks to the installation of BMW's latest inline-6. Expect to see a standard 3.0-liter with 230 horsepower, and a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-6 with 300 hp. This new Z4 will need the extra power, as its overall size is expected to expand an inch or two in most dimensions.
Unlike the current Z4, which is built at BMW's plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the new 2010 BMW Z4 will be built in Regensburg, Germany, starting in late 2009.
Author: InsideLineVideo
Source: YouTube
