Powered by the 2.8-litre, twin camshaft, 24-valve, in-line six- cylinder engine

The engine develops 141kW at 5300rpm and 275Nm of torque at 3950rpm

A five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission is available

The rear-drive Z3 is made at BMW's factory in Spartanburg, South Carolina

The front end has the BMW face which is dominated by the double kidney grille and dual round headlights covered by a glass panel

The cooling outlet between the front wheel arch and door mimics that of the legendary 507 of the late 1950s.

The canvas roof features a large plastic rear window to improve vision

The rear window can be zipped out for easy replacement

Z3 shares many components and its chassis with the three-door Compact

It features MacPherson struts front suspension and a semi-trailing arm rear end with limited slip differential

17-inch round spoke alloy wheels are standard

There is a power-operated folding roof and wood trim for the dash

To reduce body shake, two elastically connected anti-vibration weights are mounted on both sides of the rear bumper

Four-wheel disc brakes complete with an ABS anti-lock system are standard

BMW's ASC+T traction control system is standard

The bumpers can withstand 4km/h impacts without damage

Standard equipment includes leather trim, sport seat with heating, electric windows, cruise control, trip computer, a six- speaker stereo and air-conditioning

The seats have power fore and aft adjustment while the backrest is moved manually

A "wind blocker" can be fitted between the headrests to stop over-the-shoulder drafts