BMW's next-generation Z4 will be a more dynamic sports car than previous iterations of the two-seat roadster, say well-placed company insiders.
BMW is aiming to make the next Z4, due around 2015, more agile and sportier to drive, although the character shift will be relatively modest in order to avoid alienating fans of the current sports car.
But the styling of next Z4 will reflect this change, with the long hood of the current model, which can inhibit fast driving, to be shortened. Again, the change will be relatively modest because U.S. buyers like the current model's long-hood look, so BMW designers plan to go carefully with the cropping.
The handling balance of the next-generation Z4 will also benefit from the bigger role played by the downsized four-cylinder N20 engines recently introduced in the current model, with this lighter power unit producing a more favorable weight distribution.
BMW's design group must also accommodate the company's emerging policy of creating cars that look good for a period of 15 years. The thinking here is that the longevity of modern cars means that older BMWs still have an impact on brand image. So they're now designed with timelessness in mind, avoiding stand-out features that might age quickly. The first model created under this philosophy was the current 5 Series, followed by the 6 and 3 Series.
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