At first glance this BMW prototype looks like the upcoming Z9 SL-fighter, but look closer and the details suggest this is the 2009 BMW Z4 instead. Caught just weeks ago in the cold of the Arctic, our latest footage shows the BMW roadster with its top down on the streets of Munich.
A larger size was one reason why this prototype looked like it might be the Z9. When our spies got a little closer, however, it was clear that much of this prototype's girth was the result of clever camouflage. Plastic body panels covered nearly every inch of the car, and most of them were several inches higher than the actual sheet metal. That said, the next-generation Z4 will probably grow in an inch or two in most major dimensions to open up more interior and cargo space. Rumors of a smaller Z2 roadster based on the 1 Series chassis make the Z4's expanding size seem even more plausible.
Although early photos of Z4 prototypes suggested the use of a hardtop similar to BMW's latest 3 Series cabriolet, our latest photos point to a more traditional soft top instead. Cloth seats were also visible, another indication that this was no Z9 flagship. Interior design details were hidden from view by camouflage, but the prototype did appear to have a navigation screen mounted on the dash like the current model.
Expect to see BMW's latest range of 3.0-liter straight sixes under the hood along with the usual mix of manual and automatic transmissions. BMW is said to have a twin clutch gearbox in the works, but we doubt this is the car it will go into first. With up to 300 horsepower from the top-of-the-line twin-turbo model, the 2009 Z4 should easily outrun Porsche's latest Boxster.
Look for the 2009 BMW Z4 to make an official debut early next year with sales in the U.S. starting by the fall of 2008.
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(Enlarge photo)
Numerous character lines are likely false as nearly the entire body is covered in plastic body panels.
(Photo courtesy of KGP Photography)
(Enlarge photo)
It's no accident there are two other compact convertibles in front of this Z4 prototype.
(Photo courtesy of KGP Photography)
(Enlarge photo)
Caught testing weeks ago near the Arctic Circle, the Z4's soft top looks capable of withstanding any environment.
(Photo by Brenda Priddy
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