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.October 15, 2003
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This Week:

• Chrysler Group President Dieter Zetsche Launches Production of All-New 2004 Dodge Durango at Newark Assembly Plant

• Honda Introduces Breakthrough Fuel Cell Stack that Operates at Below Freezing Temperatures

• BMW Z4 roadster: After a successful launch, refinements for its second model year

• Ford, Mazda Announce 21 Billion Baht (US$500 Million) Investment In Thailland

• Herbert Demel Appointed CEO Of Fiat Auto

• Mercedes-Benz Expands Its Market Position in North America and Asia in First Three Quarters of 2003

• General Motors is rewarded by the Asian American Advertising Federation as the Marketer of the year for its quality marketing efforts to the Asian American Community

• MINI Cooper Most Appealing Compact Car For Second Year In A Row

• Philippines To Become Ford's Asean Export Hub

• DaimlerChrysler fuel cell Sprinter to be field-tested by UPS

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BMW Z4 roadster: After a successful launch, refinements for its second model year

Photo: BMW
 

Woodcliff Lake, NJ - When the Z4 roadster was introduced a year ago, it was a significant leap forward from its highly successful Z3 predecessor. Indeed, the Z4's debut was much more than just "successor replaces predecessor," for the new Z4 roadster put BMW in a more elevated, sophisticated segment of the roadster market. To paint the broad strokes: Built on a longer wheelbase than that of the Z3, the Z4 is also wider and longer - while employing advanced engineering to keep any associated weight increase to a minimum. More to the point, the Z4 expresses a traditional concept - that of the two-seat sport roadster - in utterly new terms of unique design, contemporary engineering and comprehensive features.

The Z4 places BMW squarely in the field of sophisticated, full-featured sport roadsters. It comes exclusively with 6-cylinder power and offers a choice of four transmission types. Its chassis engineering is new, encompassing multi-link rear suspension, standard run-flat tires and wheel/tire diameters up to 18 inches. The Z4 offers amenities and options never before seen in a regular-production BMW roadster. Safety engineering and features have been further developed.

As was the Z3, the Z4 Series is produced at BMW's Spartanburg, South Carolina factory, which employs the most advanced production equipment and processes and serves all international markets for the Z4. Two models are offered: the Z4 roadster 2.5i at $33,895 base price including destination; and the higher-performing, more extensively equipped Z4 roadster 3.0i at $41,045. As with all other 2004 BMWs, these prices include BMW Full Maintenance for 4 years or 50,000 miles.

What's new for 2004

The '04 Z4 roadsters are improved in detail for the '04 model year:

• Rain-sensing windshield wipers and automatic headlight control, formerly included in the optional Convenience Package, are now standard.
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• BMW Assist, a suite of convenience and safety services built around an integrated wireless communication and positioning system, is newly offered as part of the Premium Package or a stand-alone option.
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• New multi-function steering wheel for enhanced convenience.
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• Hardtop prep is offered as an option; the hardtop is available for the '04 model year.
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• A new color combination - Dream Red/Black - is offered for the leather interior that is standard in the 3.0i model and optional in the 2.5i, and for the extended-leather interior that is optional in the 3.0i only. This is in addition to the already available Dream Red/Gray combination for both these interiors.

(October 10, 2003)