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BMW Concepts BMW Cars
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BMW: The All-New 2003 BMW Z4 Roadster Roadster Feeling and Pleasure of Driving at its best
Take a seat, fasten the seatbelt, start the engine and drive along on a small and curvy road in the mountains or at the sea - you'll understand immediately what "Freude am Fahren" or "Pleasure of Driving" really means. The all-new BMW Z4 roadster marks another highlight in BMW's new design strategy, and sets new standards for premium roadsters. It's not just a successor to the BMW Z3 which is no longer produced since past June, the all-new Z4 takes BMW and the roadster segment to another level. The competitors are no longer the Mazda MX-5 or Fiat Barchetta but rather the Porsche Boxster or the Mercedes-Benz SLK.
The Z4 delivers everything roadster - two-seater, long and sweeping hood, short front and rear overhangs, low and rearward seating, and soft top - in a modern, athletic and assertive new design. Its surface development features highly three-dimensional forms and interplays between convex and concave. The interior design offers great comfort and perfect handling Getting into the Z4, you realize right away that this two-seater is a truly modern roadster. You will enjoy your ideal roadster position, sitting down very low and far to the rear, behind the car’s centre of gravity and point of rotation. This ensures direct perception of all vehicle movements and, particularly in tight bends, makes for a very special experience on the road.
The seats themselves are both comfortable and ergonomic in design. For further
convenience, the steering column may be adjusted for both reach and
angle, whilst the height-adjustable headrests feature a new kind of
absorption foam significantly reducing the risk of injury particularly
in a collision from behind. |
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An other innovational highlight means the Z-shape folding mechanism of the roof to save space
The Z4 is the first open-air BMW to feature a folding roof in Z design. This folding mechanism takes up very little space and allows the front most part of the roof to extend like a cover over the soft top, merging flush with the body of the car. As a result, the Z4 requires neither a tonneau cover nor a roof lid. And as an option BMW’s new two-seater is available as the only roadster in the world with fully automatic operation of the roof. It can be raised or lowered in about 10 seconds. All you do is press a button and the entire process of opening the roof is completed electromechanically within less than ten seconds, an electrohydraulic mechanism folding up and placing the roof in position. Obviously, the operation is exactly the other way round when closing the roof. Both interior noise and climate comfort have been enhanced to an even higher standard in a specific process of optimization and through the use of an additional inner lining within the soft top.
On the road this means performance justifying the term sports car in every respect: Acceleration from 0–100 km/h comes in 7.0 and, respectively, 5.9 seconds, top speed is 235 km/h (146 mph) and, respectively, 250 km/h (155 mph). The BMW Z4 sets new roadster standards The Z4 is a breathtaking experience on the road appealing to all your senses as a purist automobile for the connoisseur. It not only represents one side of BMW’s new design language, but also sets new roadster standards in many areas. The Z4 offers extremely precise and safe handling ensuring driving pleasure of the most supreme calibre beyond comparison in the market.
The Z4's wide track, extremely low center of gravity, optimum 50:50 weight distribution and very precise electric power steering help give the new Z4 its outstanding agility. Fade-free high-performance brakes, standard Run-Flat tires and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with an on-demand traction mode contribute to outstanding safety in all driving situations. Standard features of the new Z4 include a leather sports steering wheel, sport seats, a rollover safety system, and remote entry system. Options available at extra cost include a DVD-based navigation system with 16:9 display which retracts into the instrument panel, a premium sound system with Carver technology for powerful bass reproduction, and an integrated hands-free phone. The Z4 Series is produced at BMW’s Spartanburg, South Carolina manufacturing facility, employing the most advanced production equipment and processes. Production at Spartanburg began on September 3, and will serve all BMW markets. Two models will be offered: the Z4 2.5i at $ 33,795 base price including destination; and the higher-performing, more extensively equipped Z4 3.0i at $ 40,945. Photos: Automotive Intelligence/ BMW
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