Am I the only one not digging the new Z4?

[gpraceman]

I think I will reserve judgement until I see one in person, which may be awhile.

[krusty]

Does nothing for me - looks like a cross between a Mazda MX5, Lexus and some Nissan with ugly headlights. BMW design has gone to nought. By contrast, Mercs are looking pretty good these days (I just don't like that brand - WWII?!).

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by krusty

Does nothing for me - looks like a cross between a Mazda MX5, Lexus and some Nissan with ugly headlights. BMW design has gone to nought. By contrast, Mercs are looking pretty good these days (I just don't like that brand - WWII?!).

Merc has awful service, at least here in Canada. In 2014, we had to get rid of the wife’s C Class because Mercedes Canada and the head engineers in Germany could not figure out how to fix a transmission clunky shift at low speeds. Car was undrivable in the opinion of the owner of the local dealership. More recently, a colleague of my wife had to get rid of his Mercedes roadster a few weeks ago because Mercedes Canada would not repair under warranty an engine issue causing warning lights to constantly display on the dash. Lost a bundle on it too. In my view, Mercs are high priced garbage.

[krusty]

In case you can't tell the difference, the one on the right is a Mazda MX5.

[racerbruce]

IMO....BMW's Anders Warming's Z4 design broke the mold of sports car design (at least in the non-exotic genre)....from the aero-egg look to a chiseled, angular appearance.

Agreeing with krusty's post re the similarities of how much the Mazda MX5 looks like all others....

I totally get it that design and style changes over time....if they didn't, a new Chevy Malibu wouldn't exist and would look like a 64 Impala.

But....when the lines blur to the extent that you can't tell a BMW from a Mazda....it speaks to how much BMW has lost their way, and are not leading, but following.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by racerbruce

IMO....BMW's Anders Warming's Z4 design broke the mold of sports car design (at least in the non-exotic genre)....from the aero-egg look to a chiseled, angular appearance.

Thats a good description.

[Finnegan]

Does nothing for me. Considering an M2 comp though. That interests me.

[pwnsweet]

I like the design, but I echo the sentiments of some others about the lack of manual transmission. I'm not sure what they're thinking going only with an AT. Doesn't make sense.

[racerbruce]

Was the new Z4 to be unveiled at Pebble Beach yesterday??

[Huz-Z]

https://g29.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1528493

and

https://g29.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1528604

and from an event in Singapore:

https://g29.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1529330

[racerbruce]

Thanks Huz-Z,
IMO....

The kidney grilles look like cheap black plastic along with the black accents on the lower grille area.

The lower grille "air inlets" are too testosterone-driven....tone it down.

The side details are lost on me; think about the subliminal "Z" sharp edged image on the 06-08 Z4 platform in comparison.

The rear tail lights cannot be differentiated from an M3 or 4....what's the point.

And the center area of the dash....should the HVAC air grilles totally dominate the focal point of the interior?? The great "single pod" design of the 06-08 Z4 gauge cluster with the singular bump at the gauges creates an individual racer look.

[unluky]

https://g29.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...g=1115&slide=1

This looks like a wireless charging spot???

[garz747]

Frankly ,the front and rear- from photos are hideous . Overstyled and plasticized, many scoops and inserts. The rear of my E86 M is simple and gorgeous-curvaceous with four nice pipes, good taste never goes out of style. The Supra twin may turn out to be the better looker. Interior looks interesting but will have to see in person.

[3798j]

Here's a coupe rendering. I like.

https://www-motor1-com.cdn.ampprojec...oupe-render%2F

[David70]

Originally Posted by Andyh1

It doesn't move me, my Z4M will be around for a long time.

Same here, the idea of selling my low mileage Z4M (say roughly worth $30k) and throwing in another $30k to buy this car doesn't interest me at all. Assuming it would be faster in a straight line and more reliable but can't see much past that. Then it 5 years it my car and this one will be getting close to being worth the same with my added $30k close to gone.....

Maybe if I was daily driving both of them.

[Nate4641]

This is the best video I have seen so far showing details. It almost looks like they are using the E85 soft top (6:45 in the video) just with added flaps for when the top is down. If thats the case I hope they fixed the drowning hydraulic motor issue.

[gpraceman]

Originally Posted by Nate4641

This is the best video I have seen so far showing details. It almost looks like they are using the E85 soft top (6:45 in the video) just with added flaps for when the top is down. If thats the case I hope they fixed the drowning hydraulic motor issue.

Now, if only someone can come out with a flap like that for the E85.

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by gpraceman

Now, if only someone can come out with a flap like that for the E85.

There are only these now impossible to find snap in covers:

https://www.zpost.com/forums/album.p...ictureid=62640

[gpraceman]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

There are only these now impossible to find snap in covers:

https://www.zpost.com/forums/album.p...ictureid=62640

Yeah, I know.

[racerbruce]

My immediate first impression of the kidney grille is a scene from a Mad Max Thunderdome-Apocalypse movie....I think I saw this grille glued to the front of one of their survivor vehicles.

OK....the front "kidney" grille which is the world visual trademark of it's brand....has been butchered.

This just depletes the new BMW style and as noted previously in this thread....turns it into a Mazda.

[SaltyNC]

I'm with Finnegan; I'd rather have an M2. I was really looking forward to this car, and I liked the concept, but something got lost on the face when it went into production. It lost some aggressiveness somewhere along the way. The sides are fine. The interior is surprisingly similar to our Z4's. The top operation and looks I like. It's just something about the face and maybe the hood that doesn't quite come together for me. I'd still like to test drive one to see how it handles. Performance looks good on paper.

Salty

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by SaltyNC

I'm with Finnegan; I'd rather have an M2. I was really looking forward to this car, and I liked the concept, but something got lost on the face when it went into production. It lost some aggressiveness somewhere along the way. The sides are fine. The interior is surprisingly similar to our Z4's. The top operation and looks I like. It's just something about the face and maybe the hood that doesn't quite come together for me. I'd still like to test drive one to see how it handles. Performance looks good on paper.

Salty

Interesting comment. I read one preliminary review where the reviewers first drove the M2 for a few warm up laps and then jumped into the new Z4. The comparisons of the new Z4 to the M2 were very positive as I recall, so I'm expecting that more comprehensive road test results will be very good.

One critical sales success factor however, is price. Sadly, I'm not expecting BMW to perform well there. They seem to think that they can price as they like. Particularly in some countries like Canada, where cars can be priced 30% higher than in the US after correcting for currency exchange rates. And when you are trying to pull loyal customers away from proven performers like the Boxster, you simply can't do that and expect the car to sell.

Of course, re its looks, beauty is (or isn't) in the eye of the beholder.