MOVE OVER Z3: BMW’s sharp new Z4 has landed Down Under, bringing with it more aggressive styling, greater dynamic ability and a higher pricetag. On sale from July 11, Z4 is available with two six-cylinder engines, each offering the choice of a manual or automatic transmission. The entry level Z4 2.5i five-speed manual is priced at $78,500, while the five-speed Steptronic auto is priced at $81,100. The 2.5i effectively replaces the previous Z3 2.2, which was last sold at $74,800 and $77,400 for the auto. Also up almost $4000 on its direct Z3 predecessor is the Z4 3.0i, which is priced at $92,000 in six-speed manual guise, with the five-speed Steptronic 3.0i set at $94,600. The outgoing Z3 3.0 was priced at $88,100, with the Z3 3.0 auto last sold at $90,700.
BMW Z3
Released: January 97
Ended: December 02
Family Tree: Z4THE original BMW Z3 roadster arrived Down Under in January, 1997, as a 103kW 1.9-litre four-cylinder, before adding a 141kW 2.8-litre version in April the same year. The 1.9 four was replaced by the 110kW 2.0-litre six in June, 1999, which itself was superseded by the 125kW 2.2-litre six in October, 2000. A month earlier, the Z3 2.8 was replaced by the 170kW 3.0-litre Z3 which, along with the 2.2, was discontinued in December 2002 before its Z4 successor lobbed six months later.
Super Test
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