New BMW Z4 gets folding steel roof

BMW has released the first official images and details of its all-new Z4 convertible, which goes on sale internationally next May.

The new Zed's key highlight is the debut of a new two-piece, electro-hydraulically operated ‘Retractable Hard-Top' roof that can be raised or lowered in 20 seconds.

The new Z4 will be offered with a choice of three six-cylinder powerplants, spearheaded by Bimmer's 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged engine (already sampled by the carsales network in the 335i and 135i), which ekes out 225kW and 400Nm.

The range-topping sDrive35i bolts from standstill to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds (5.1 seconds when equipped with the M-DCT dual-clutch sequential transmission) and on to an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.

Joining this model in the launch line-up are the Z4 sDrive23i and the Z4 sDrive30i. Both use the same magnesium aluminium alloy engine with Double VANOS and VALVETRONIC technology, but with varying capacities.

The 2.5-litre entry-level Z4 sDrive23i produces 150kW and 250Nm, which equates to a claimed zero to 100km/h time of 6.6 seconds (7.3 seconds for the Sport Automatic) and a top speed of 243km/h (240km/h for the auto).

The mid-spec Z4 sDrive30i comes with a 3.0-litre six with 190kW and 310Nm, which enables the car to bolt to 100km/h in 5.8 seconds (6.1 seconds for the automatic) and an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.

The new Z4 has grown in all dimensions, measuring 148mm longer and 9mm wider than the outgoing model, which BMW claims has liberated added interior space and luggage capacity.

With the roof up, headroom has been increased by 44mm, claims BMW, while the added width and better packaging are said to have yielded 20mm more shoulder room and 43mm more elbow room.

There's also a new storage facility located behind the seats that can swallow up to 15.5 litres, and there's a net to hold the contents in place.

The boot can accommodate a respectable 310 litres with the roof up -- large enough to stow a full set of golf clubs -- or 180 litres when the lid is lowered.

All-around visibility is up by 14 per cent, says BMW, while, courtesy of the four electric windows creating a larger glasshouse, side visibility is supposedly up 40 per cent.

Externally, the new Z4 seems to have inherited some of its design language from the 6 Series -- particularly in the hindquarter region -- and it has a more distinctly shark-like profile than the existing model, which debuted here in 2003.

It can't come soon enough for BMW Australia, as the existing model has been averaging barely over 10 sales a month this year, while the Volkswagen Eos, as an example, has notched up almost 160 monthly sales.

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