Edmunds: 2009 BMW Z4 Versus Its Family

James Riswick from Edmunds has just posted an interesting comparison between the new 2009 BMW Z4 and previous generation BMW roadsters. We have all seen plenty of Z4 reviews lately, but what we have not seen was someone taking a stand and comparing the new roadster with the previous Z3 and Z4. And since James seems always have been a huge BMW roadsters fan, his review is even more relevant.

“I’ve made it no secret that I’m a roadster guy, especially roadsters with a little spinning blue propeller placed in its side gills. There’s a ‘98 Z3 in my garage, an ‘01 Z8 on my desk and a ‘58 507 in My Pictures. But I always hated the Z4. Its proportions were too exaggerated and it looked horrendously overstyled by a team of cleaver-wielding art students. The original taillights were a joke.

The Z4 was a drastically more modern car than the Z3 it replaced, but like many of its contemporary Bangled BMWs, there was no place in my heart for it. Then the all-new 2009 BMW Z4 (II) showed up in the Edmunds garage. You hear this a lot, but pictures don’t do the Z4 II justice (it’s much smaller than it looks).

Everyone I’ve talked to has been immediately smitten by its marvelous blend of Z8 proportions, Z3 gills and rear haunches (from the 2000 redesign), Z4 I character lines and plenty of GINA concept car. It manages to honor the past while setting forth on a beautiful new course.”

Continued on Edmunds.com