New info (or speculation) on next z4

[HBspeed]

http://www.bmwblog.com/2008/11/22/ne...uture-z2-also/

[Deda]

nice.

[epbrown]

What the heck is in December? Previously they said it would debut at the LA Auto Show - when it didn't, I figured NAIAS in Detroit or the Chicago show would be the venue. Is there a major auto show next month?

[Gyrian]

The speculation on the possible next Z4M Coupe sounds sweet! It'd be a nice surprise if anything, I figured that with a hardtop roadster they might not bother to produce another Coupe.

[marcus1701]

the new look is very mature...i like it a lot! If BMW want to put more emphasis on their coupes they should start by designing the coupe first and then making a roadster out of that instead of vice versa.....but all the better for roadster purists who don't want simply a coupe with a chopped roof a la nissan Z, audi tt.

[CalRick]

Originally Posted by marcus1701

the new look is very mature...i like it a lot! If BMW want to put more emphasis on their coupes they should start by designing the coupe first and then making a roadster out of that instead of vice versa.....but all the better for roadster purists who don't want simply a coupe with a chopped roof a la nissan Z, audi tt.

Structurally, we (both roadster and coupe owners) are much better off that it designed as a roadster first. Stylewise, they should be able to consider both cases when they do the original design so that neither looks like an afterthought.

[pmeloche]

Originally Posted by epbrown

What the heck is in December? Previously they said it would debut at the LA Auto Show - when it didn't, I figured NAIAS in Detroit or the Chicago show would be the venue. Is there a major auto show next month?

Where is it written that a car has to be unveiled at an auto show? If BMW is ready now to start production, why wait for a show in February? That would be potentially a loss of sales.

[CalRick]

Originally Posted by pmeloche

Where is it written that a car has to be unveiled at an auto show? If BMW is ready now to start production, why wait for a show in February? That would be potentially a loss of sales.

Marketing likes to make a big splash with their new car intros, and get as much free press as they can, but they would usually choose a major auto show that corresponds with their production schedule and introduction date, not the other way around. I think that this was merely expressing disappointment that the net rumors of the new Z being shown at the LA auto show turned out to be false (what a surprise...)

I would expect that since the new Z is being built in Germany that it would go on sale in the EU prior to the US. That would mean that we would see it first in one of the major European shows before we would see it here.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by CalRick

I would expect that since the new Z is being built in Germany that it would go on sale in the EU prior to the US. That would mean that we would see it first in one of the major European shows before we would see it here.

I think the first Z4 debuted at the Chicago Auto Show, back in the day. The US remains the biggest market for them. The most likely alternative venue I can think of for market appeal would be in the UK, and they've already had their show.

[pmeloche]

Originally Posted by CalRick

Marketing likes to make a big splash with their new car intros, and get as much free press as they can, but they would usually choose a major auto show that corresponds with their production schedule and introduction date, not the other way around. I think that this was merely expressing disappointment that the net rumors of the new Z being shown at the LA auto show turned out to be false (what a surprise...)

I would expect that since the new Z is being built in Germany that it would go on sale in the EU prior to the US. That would mean that we would see it first in one of the major European shows before we would see it here.

The new Z4 is ready for production and was supposed to be unveiled at the L.A. Auto Show but a snafu with the registration of the term "sDrive" caused the unveiling to be scrapped in Los Angeles. There is no reasons for BMW at this point to wait for a big auto show to unveil it and risk losing sales while they wait for their free press.