[JHFW89225]

It could be both... testing exterior for M2 (roof and hood) at the same time testing a Z3 chasis under the cover of a freakish 2 series. One stone two birds!

[dmboone25]

Where are all the M badges ?

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by Twitch Massacre

How does Z3 even make sense from a nomenclature standpoint being that BMW now wants every car with 2 doors or a coupe roofline to have an even number. This sounds incredibly arbitrary.

4 door Z3?? Hmmmmmm?

I would like to get into a roadster as well. I like the current Z4 but its price puts me off. I mean, base MSRP in the 50's for one?? Jeeeeez.

[LDSM]

That should've been the height of the 2 series from the beginning

[kdbryce]

Update is somewhat disappointing. I understand that efficiency is a large part of future plans, but we still need a v8 roadster.

Look at Mercedes. Every convertible they have is offered with a v8, many of them only come with a v8. While they are offering high end, fast v8 sports cars like the AMG gt, we are left with these lame i models with tiny, hybrid motors.

Forgive me, but I'll take the noise and thrill of the larger displacement Mercedes from now on.

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

Where are all the M badges ?

In the coin tray.

[EzequielR]

Hmmm... interesting.

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by Twitch Massacre

How does Z3 even make sense from a nomenclature standpoint being that BMW now wants every car with 2 doors or a coupe roofline to have an even number. This sounds incredibly arbitrary.

"Z" is a series as is "X" therefore the standard (Roadster) can use 1,3,5,7 and (Coupe) can use 2,4,6,8 Same as there is an X1,X3,X5 and X7 which will be joined by the X2,X4,X6,X8 eventually.

[karussell]

my guess is its just the updated m235i race car. has the hood pins and looks like no interior other than the recaro buckets. the car had a fantastic first season but the overall complaint from every team running them including mine is its too heavy. the shortened roof height, lighter parts on highest points of the car all address its biggest problem which was weight. shortened wheel base may also help with its tendency to understeer like the street car. also the team swapped rear swaybar endlinks like they were disposable items. hopefully thats fixed as well.

[Tallest]

First thought... This is BMW version of Audi Sport Quattro (short wheelbase version of Audi Coupe Quattro). And I bet if they made this car it would sell great too in limited run.

Z3 / with another 1.8 engine... lets hope this time the power and handling will be up to the standards!

[EnI]

That's a Z4-successor mule. Riding on a slightly modified F22 platform. Very cheap to develop, very cheap to produce. High profits even with low volume sales.

Z2 - if ever greenlighted - will be based on FWD UKL platform - and will share the chassis with potential new Mk MINI Roadster (design based on Superleggera Concept).

Z6 is a sports car developed in cooperation with Toyota. A 911 fighter.

[aajami]

Originally Posted by karussell

my guess is its just the updated m235i race car. has the hood pins and looks like no interior other than the recaro buckets. the car had a fantastic first season but the overall complaint from every team running them including mine is its too heavy. the shortened roof height, lighter parts on highest points of the car all address its biggest problem which was weight. shortened wheel base may also help with its tendency to understeer like the street car. also the team swapped rear swaybar endlinks like they were disposable items. hopefully thats fixed as well.

Did you not read the confirmation from BMW that this is the new Z3 test mule?

[tallshortguy]

Originally Posted by Twitch Massacre

How does Z3 even make sense from a nomenclature standpoint being that BMW now wants every car with 2 doors or a coupe roofline to have an even number. This sounds incredibly arbitrary.

The X series doesn't follow the sedan nomenclature either so clearly it isn't meant for the entire fleet.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by Twitch Massacre

How does Z3 even make sense from a nomenclature standpoint being that BMW now wants every car with 2 doors or a coupe roofline to have an even number. This sounds incredibly arbitrary.

I was thinking this too - why not just keep the Z4 and call this the Z2?

Doesn't seem to fit the current nomenclature...

[Twitch Massacre]

Originally Posted by tallshortguy

The X series doesn't follow the sedan nomenclature either so clearly it isn't meant for the entire fleet.

Actually the X Series does follow the nomenclature. Even numbers are reserved for the coupe rooflines SAVs, while the odd numbers are reserved for the vehicles with standard rooflines.

[Twitch Massacre]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

"Z" is a series as is "X" therefore the standard (Roadster) can use 1,3,5,7 and (Coupe) can use 2,4,6,8 Same as there is an X1,X3,X5 and X7 which will be joined by the X2,X4,X6,X8 eventually.

Still makes no sense. The initial departure from the "Z3" nomenclature has been widely documented as stemming from BMW's executives desire to use only even numbers for cars with 2 doors or, in the case of the Gran Coupes and X Series SAVs, coupe rooflines. This was their plan all along, and where the idea to call the 3er coupe a 4 series originally came from. A Z3 would undo all of that by bringing a odd numbered coupe back into the mix. Looking as how BMW has now purged its entire fleet from odd numbered coupes even by sacrificing the some of the tradition behind its venerated sports coupe, the M3, in favor of calling it M4 to fit the new naming regime, I doubt they will now take a step backward by reviving the Z3 badge.

[EnI]

Originally Posted by Twitch Massacre

Actually the X Series does follow the nomenclature. Even numbers are reserved for the coupe rooflines SAVs, while the odd numbers are reserved for the vehicles with standard rooflines.

Wait till X2 and X2 Sport are introduced. Then there goes your theory ...

[tallshortguy]

Originally Posted by Twitch Massacre

Actually the X Series does follow the nomenclature. Even numbers are reserved for the coupe rooflines SAVs, while the odd numbers are reserved for the vehicles with standard rooflines.

Didn't see you said roofline, either way the Z series has only one vehicle so it has no tradition in it's separation by even/odd. Doesn't scott work for BMW? If he's saying it will be called the Z3, that's very likely what it will be called.

[Twitch Massacre]

Originally Posted by tallshortguy

Didn't see you said roofline, either way the Z series has only one vehicle so it has no tradition in it's separation by even/odd. Doesn't scott work for BMW? If he's saying it will be called the Z3, that's very likely what it will be called.

If Scott works for BMW that's all fine and Dandy, perhaps he may be right. But unless he is a top ranking executive in Munich I will still look at this with some cautious skepticism. Like I said before, the departure from the Z3 nameplate in favor of the Z4 was what set in motion the whole odd/even naming scheme. It would seem like an incredible departure from a newly adopted naming philosophy by BMW if they were to infact revive the Z3 name on a coupe.

[Twitch Massacre]

Originally Posted by EnI

Wait till X2 and X2 Sport are introduced. Then there goes your theory ...

Well this is not a theory I'm making up this has been all over the press from the mouth of BMW on how they wanted every coupe to be even numbered in name. Sounds to me like an X2 would be like a miniature X4/X6 anyways if they were to stick to the naming scheme.

Here's an article by Jalopnik explaining the new naming scheme in detail: http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/a-c...heme-512023074
Granted there are exceptions in models such as the 5 Series GT, but for the most part 99% of the range seems to adhere itself pretty strictly to the new naming scheme. Perhaps the X2 you speak of is such an exception but the Z3 would seem like a blatant departure of a newly adopted plan.

[Matski]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

"Z" is a series as is "X" therefore the standard (Roadster) can use 1,3,5,7 and (Coupe) can use 2,4,6,8 Same as there is an X1,X3,X5 and X7 which will be joined by the X2,X4,X6,X8 eventually.

That's all fine, I only have one problem with the naming structure....



Why? As a fervent defender of most decisions BMW makes, this I cannot get my head around.

[footylad]

Looks like an M2 for me. Dual Exhaust, similar body line...