Road TestCar reviews - BMW - Z4 - 3.0si CoupeBMW modelsOverviewBMW Z4 coupe ups the ante, sharpens the blade and drops the price21 Feb 2007 By CHRIS HARRIS LIKE many BMWs of late, the Z4 roadster polarised opinions when it was launched with its complex but tantalising ‘flame-surface’ design language, questionable run-flat tyres and electric steering. Many believed the Z4 to be a hairdresser’s trade-up of the old Z3. Roll out the Z4 coupe, a stiffer, harder-edged stablemate which is arguably sexier, certainly tougher, and cheaper than its soft-top twin. With a hatch-style rear opening and decent boot space, the Z4 coupe is also more of a ‘pocket grand tourer’ than the storage-compromising Roadster. Of course, sharing the same DNA unfortunately means sharing the same bad genes too. Model release date: 1 October 2006 to 1 May 2009 All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen Previous modelSold only in M guise in Australia and powered by the revered 236kW 3.2-litre inline six-cylinder from the E36 M3 Coupe and Z3 Roadster, the Z3 coupe was available in various overseas markets with a 144kW 2.8-litre six from 1998 to 2000 and a 172kW 3.0-litre from 2000 to 2002. Like the Z4 coupe of today, the Z3 coupe was a stiffer, better-handling, driver-focused two-seater than its fabric-roofed sibling. Despite its quirky looks (nicknamed a ‘bread van’ and ‘munster mobile’) the Z3 coupe – especially in M form – had a narrow, but hardcore following. |
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