2009 BMW Z4: Spied!

2009 BMW Z4
Enlarge Photo

Prototypes for the 2009 BMW Z4 have advanced a bit. The production car's true headlights and taillights are now in place, the rear deck is slightly reformed, and the retractable hardtop is now more clear than ever. The Z4 prototypes must have advanced dynamically, as well, since the car has now made its first appearance on the Nürburgring's Nordschleife.

The bulk of the Z4's protective armor is still in place, but the car clearly has a strong stance.  From what we can see so far, the car looks very promising, indeed.

We got our first clear look at the Z4's interior, and although it is disguised with a false foam cover, some details show through: A new round, chrome-ringed air-vent sits to the left of the instrumentation, paddle shifters are clearly visible on the steering wheel, and an iDrive-style controller sits at the driver's right hand. The prototype clearly has a pop-up LCD screen, suggesting that the Z4's driver interface will be getting more complex. The steering wheel on this prototype doesn't look nearly as adventurous as the current car's, but that could change as we get closer to production.

Related Articles

More spy shots from TheCarConnection.com

Luxury Cars Flunk Bumper Test by Bengt Halvorson (8/5/2007)
Pricey damage at low speed across the board.