There’s an old motorsport cliché that if a racing car looks right, it’ll go right.
It’s not entirely true, of course; plenty of ugly racing cars have won championships, while a lot of beautiful ones haven't had the speed to match their looks.
But here’s something that is true: when a car looks right, it’s hugely frustrating when it doesn’t go right.
Style is subjective, of course, but to me the new Z4 looks right, with a design that improves on that of the previous version. It's bold and confident, with extra presence from that big kidney grille — and yet it still looks every bit the small, nimble roadster. I reckon it's an improvement on the last Z4, which wasn't exactly a bad starting point, design wise.
But does that matter? After all, the old Z4 looked the part but couldn’t deliver on that promise when it came to driving. When our road testers assessed it, they praised the second-generation Z4's drivetrains, but bemoaned the "indifferent" ride, handling and steering. It couldn't live up to the promise of its design.
BMW Z4 prototype 2018: first drive of new roadster
To BMW’s credit, its engineers have acknowledged and responded to those frustrations. I had a brief drive in a prototype Z4 earlier this year and met some of the driving dynamics engineers working on the machine. They were absolutely determined to ensure the Z4 was back to being a proper driver's car, a proper sporting machine, rather than simply a sporty-looking one. As a result, as much development time has been spent on honing the Z4’s driving dynamics as has been spent on the styling.
BMW Z4 reborn as 335bhp Porsche 718 Boxster rival
Having driven the Z4 both on the road and on BMW's handling track, I’m encouraged that it was time well spent. Even in prototype form, the car felt composed and balanced, giving you confidence to push on across a range of surfaces.
Obviously, we won’t know for sure how good the new Z4 is until our testers get an extended run in the finished version. But I’m hopeful that it will deliver style and substance.
Read more
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scrap
Let’s hope not. It looks shit
Let’s hope not. It looks shit.
manicm
Yup @scrap you beat me to it.
Yup @scrap you beat me to it. I was gonna say what looks? They should have at least retained the rear roof buttresses from the show car. I maintain Hoydoonk has outstayed his welcome at BMW. Time for him to go.
manicm
Yup @scrap you beat me to it.
Yup @scrap you beat me to it. I was gonna say what looks? They should have at least retained the rear roof buttresses from the show car. I maintain Hoydoonk has outstayed his welcome at BMW. Time for him to go.
scrap
@manicm,
@manicm,
Agreed. Van Hooydonk does not seem to understand the inheritance of BMW design, and is happy to let the kids with crayons do what they want. I am not against fresh talent, but the trashing of a fine design legacy is painful to watch.
jason_recliner
"as much development time has
About half an hour, then?
Ml
Ooooh, dear
What have they done?!, a disaster with a overall forgetable look and all the unique BMW clues in the exterior/interior gone!...I take the old ones and buy a good suspension set plus a diff everytime! Jesss
Ml
The water down of BMW styling...
should not continue.
I believe, firmly in fact, the BMW current design management does not understand BMW heritage, it´s proven after this one...patience is gone.
The styling is too messy of the whole range in fact, with hidious examples...and not enough with that, they are messing as well traditional bmw styling benchmarks that make a BMW what it is...not a Kia, Mercedes.
abkq
What Hoodwink and his team
What Hoodwink and his team should do is to study closely the great (and great-looking) BMWs of the past, (my favorites being the 328, 507, E3, 3.0CSi, first gen 3 series, 2nd gen 7 series) and then do retro designs based on these as a way of getting into the spirit of the BMW design heritage. From these retro exercises something decent-looking might come out.
Bhoyracer
Not sure how much modern
Not sure how much modern safety regulations are partly to blame, but totally agree with above comments.
For me, no subsequent 6/8 series has got close to E24 esp M635CSi and no 2/3/4 series can hold a candle to the E30. Maybe I am just confused by nostalgia?
No new McLaren looks as good as the M6GT either
wheelman
Unusually I agree with
Unusually I agree with Autocar for a change. I think the styling has good agression and is a la mode. Its not timeless design, but it certainly is a car of today.
What amazes me more is the engineering. BMW is claiming torsional stiffness that exceed the M4. Thats is one hell of an achievement and I'd have loved to have read more in the articles about how they've achieved that as that directly leads into the handling and ride dynamics.
Unfortunately, as is the way with Autocar journalists, you get the feeling they've been led by the PR folks again, as not a single mention of Toyota. It is perhaps the biggest reason this car may standout and why the chassis engineering may be the highlight of the new Z4. Why not discuss it?
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