On the way 2009 BMW Z4

The macho two-seater hardtop has been dropped as the German brand goes for a lighter touch with an all-new Z4 which will reach Australia next June.

BMW has rolled its roadster and coupe into a single car with a much more elegant look and the coupe-convertible body which has become the default setting for European sunshine cars.

Prices will rise slightly in Australia, with a bottom line in the $80,000-plus range, but BMW is promising more go, better value and a range of high-tech equipment including the driver-adjustable performance packing from the upcoming 7 Series flagship.

"The new Z4 will have the same Dynamic Drive Control used in the 7 Series, with three settings to vary the drivetrain and suspension," says Toni Andreevski of BMW Australia.

"The car will be a little more expensive but it will still be very competitive with its competition. We believe it will still be the best value and with the best performance."

The new Z4 has just been revealed in pre-Christmas pictures which are sure to spark an international gift drive, with the first cars expected to hit the road in time for the next European spring.

The shots show a car which will have much more appeal to women, as the previous Z4 — which was launched in the middle of 2003 — hit hardest with men who wanted an M-style muscle machine.

The new Z4 is considerably longer, and a little lower and wider, with a cabin that gives more space for people and luggage. There is a ute- style storage area behind the twin buckets and boot capacity has been raised to as much as 310 litres.

Its two-piece hardtop roof can be raised or lowered in 20 seconds.

The Z4 will only come with six-cylinder engines, with three powerplants up to a 3-litre twin-turbo with 225kW and 400Nm of torque. The basic engine has 150kW and the speedy flagship can make a 0-100km/h sprint in 5.1 seconds.

The cars will have a standard six-speed manual gearbox, with a six- speed auto except for a double-clutch seven-speeder on the 3-litre pacesetter.

BMW is also touting the cars' green ability, with fuel economy as good as 8.9 litres/100km.

But the new Z4 also picks up the crazy new number-and-name system introduced by BMW with the X6, which means the cars will be called the Z4 sDrive23i, the Z4 sDrive30i and Z4 sDrive35i.

BMW says the naming reflects the sports driving of the Z4, where the X6 is called the xDrive, and allows it to highlight the difference between models.

"The badges reflect the performance, not the engine capacity, and give us the ability to differentiate between two engines with the same capacity when one is a turbo," Andreevski says.

A lot of work has gone into the new Z4 on everything from larger side windows and wider-opening doors to improved performance and driving feel.

But the car is 170 kilograms heavier than the outgoing coupe.

The styling is claimed to be more elegant, and has picked up some cues from the limited-edition Z8 roadster used by James Bond before 007 was lured back to Aston Martin. It is considerable longer in the nose, probably in part to satisfy pedestrian-protection rules in Europe.

"It has a long bonnet and you will sit lower and still just ahead of the rear axle. It's classic sports car," says Andreevski.

"The wider-opening doors mean it is easier to get in and out. And visibility has been improved, with more shoulder and elbow room in the cabin."

Standard equipment will include the Dynamic Drive Control and a 12- gigabyte music hard drive, although final details will not be set until just ahead of the Australian arrival.

BMW Australia knows the Z4 will be up against the Mercedes SLK and Audi TT but believes its good looking newcomer will have a couple of crucial advantages.

"It maintains the dynamic lead. And there is a lot more storage space, not just in the boot but also behind the seats," Andreevski says.

The arrival of the Z4 will come during a big push by BMW Australia, which lands the high-performance version of the X6 in January, the new flagship 7 Series from April and the 330d in June, as well as the Mini Cabrio in April.

"The timing means drivers will have it perfectly run-in in time for spring 2009," Andreevski laughs.