Look carefully and you won't see a BMW M performance division badge anywhere on this car.
That's not only because it's a disguised prototype but because BMW officials say that a prized M badge won't be going anywhere near it.
Instead, it will be a slightly hotter version of the current Z4 flagship.
BMW engineers have reportedly found more power from the Z4 convertible's twin-turbo in-line 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine. Apparently it pumps out 225kW of power and 400Nm of torque without much fuss and the turbo boost at that level is pretty low.
So those crazy guys from Munich have borrowed a flathead screwdriver and turned up the wick on the turbo (or whatever the computer equivalent of that is).
The power upgrade is likely to be driven by the fact that the regular twin turbo Z4 has proven to be the most popular variant. Of the three types available, the most powerful and most expensive model accounts for almost half of all Z4 sales locally.
The most puzzling thing about these spy photos is that BMW insisted the BMW badges be covered in the company's now famous psychedelic disguise. What, the rest of the car wasn't a giveaway?
It's easy to see why there has been speculation this is an M model; it has a gaping front bumper and no foglights, to get as much air to the engine and gearbox coolers as possible.
But BMW is resisting the urge to put an M badge on the car because it says it is repositioning the Z4 to be more of a cruiser than a razor-sharp track car. However, BMW engineers apparently couldn't help themselves and wanted to at least give the car more power.
According to our well placed sources, we may not have to wait too long for this special "what's-its-name" edition of the BMW Z4. It could be in local showrooms by the end of next year.
BMW better come up with a good name for the new variant. Even if the company won't call it a Z4M, chances are that the media -- and owners -- will call it an M version.
-- with Carparazzi
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