Wednesday 27th July 2005

BMW plans Z4 coupé

Hard-top version hoped to revive flagging sales

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Hard-top on the way?

BMW is hatching plans to produce a Z4 coupé, according to rumours.

Munich has not sold as many of the convertibles as it would have liked, sales having fallen away from a good start in 2002. We hear that, in 2004, BMW scaled back production drastically by about 40 per cent and, in the first five months of this year, another 28 per cent was lopped off that figure.

As a result it's hoping that the addition of a coupé version -- à la M Coupé perhaps -- will boost late life sales. It's likely to show at the Frankfurt show in September but won't make it to showrooms before mid-2006. The next version of the Z4, which so far has only an internal codename of E89, is not due until 2009.

Looks like a good time to buy and get a discount off a Z4, if you're that way inclined.

• www.autoblog.com

[AndyWoodall]

Yay, another breadvan! I look forward to it, love the old MCoupe.

[havoc]

I'm another who likes the looks of the old M-Coupe.

The photo on the autoblog site...looks good...more coupe-like than breadvan like, for sure, but the curves work...if I had the cash I'd probably be tempted...if they just ditch those run-flat tyres and "sports" suspension!
(No, I'm not into cruising...but I'd like my spine left...it's not THAT difficult to give a hard ride with damping attuned to UK roads...unless of course you fit run-flats!!!)

[r988]

wow that does look quite nice, they should give it an //M engine though, the 3.0L's quick but nowhere near fast enough to compete with Porsche and Mercedes. But then BMW always likes to drag its feet with regard to the //M models, maybe the slow sales will speed them up.

[errek72]

Hopefully they'll depreciate as hard as the old ones, giving us nice trackday fodder.
Any news as to what fish it might resemble this time?

[xm5er]

But wasn't the bread van a really slow seller?

[tekbloke]

I used to have an Mcoupe (one of the later S54 engined ones) and I bought it new!!! I'm not surprised it did not sell well, most dealers I went to did not even know what it was and that I could order one!!!!

The prices seem to have gone backup again since I sold, I know because I entertained the mad idea of getting another one recently. I thought it was a great car,..Ferrari 550 performance in a more suitably sized (for the UK) package...OK it was giving something away to the Fezza in the aesthetics dept I could be tempted by a Z4MCoupe,...esp if they put the new MPower V8 in it!

[cy88]

CWW Car Design has already penned this...

[smele]

Just needs the M V10.

[Broccers]

smele said:

Just needs the M V10.

Doesnt fit and niether does the new M3 motor from what I've read.

M Coupes are crap anyway

[SJobson]

I'm sure the runaway sales success which was the MCoupe and ZCoupe will really persuade BMW to build a replacement.

Maybe if they bothered with a Z4M then they'd sell a few more.

Oh, and that rendering looks like someone's photoshopped a Boxster's rear wings on!

>> Edited by SJobson on Wednesday 27th July 19:35

[summit7]

A very good idea - just don't let Bangle bungle it. I had a part share in a Z3 M Coupe and it was an absolute blast, best car BMW have made in years 'cos it was simple, had no electronics, went well and made people sit up and have an opinion. At least it wasn't aimed at being all things to all men like other modern BMW's are. Make it, put an uckin big engine in it and take away the Idrive and you'll have a cracking car.

[FestivAli]

Munich has not sold as many of the convertibles as it would have liked

That's cause its ugly

[havoc]

summit7 said:

...a Z3 M Coupe ...best car BMW have made in years 'cos it was simple, had no electronics, went well and made people sit up and have an opinion. At least it wasn't aimed at being all things to all men like other modern BMW's are.

And there we have the reason we have so much mundanity in the current market...not just BMW, but EVERY mainstream car mfr is trying to make cars with mass-appeal, rather than "focused" cars...hell, even Honda went soft when they released the Civic Type-R!!!