Some PS by TopSpeed:
BMW is preparing an affordable convertible, as a competitor for the very roadster inventor, the Mazda MX-5. With the release of the Z4, BMW made its compact roadster a lot more luxurious and expensive, as it offered the new car only with straight-six engines. Which higher price-tags, the Z4 was never a match in term of sales for its predecessor. The affordable-roadster role will be taken starting with 2011 by the new BMW Z2.
The sales of the Z4 are not at all satisfactory for BMW. It wouldn’t be that the car is not better in any way than the Z3, but it doesn’t offer anymore the cheap four-cylinder engines, that made the top-sales. As the Z4 was placed higher in the BMW hierarchy, there is an unfilled gap, where a competitor for the Mazda MX-5, an affordable, simple and fun to drive car should be.
In order to fill that empty space, BMW will launch a completely new smaller roadster, with less than 4 meters in length. A lot lighter than the Z4, the new model will offer engines with no more than 2,000 cc, but instead will compensate by using turbochargers, that will allow for a top of the range M model to reach 300 bhp.
The low-end model will feature a 1.8 liters, naturally aspirated engine with 150 bhp, not exactly a supercar, but a moderate fast and affordable BMW, capable to deliver driving excitement.
The technical platform will be shared with the next generation Z4, but it will be lighter and slightly simplified for the Z2. Also minimalist in conception, the Z2 will not be entirely stripped down, and will offer goodies such as the active steering, dual clutch transmission or dynamic adjustable dampers.
The BMW Z2 will be priced under the $30,000 range and is expected to make its debut in 2010.
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