SPY PHOTOS: News from BMW

BMW “Z6”

Will BMW’s Z4 become a Z6? The Bavarian car maker is about to develop a replacement for the current Z 4 sports model, which has been on the market since fall 2002.

Sales have decreased considerably in the past, and more and more new competitors have come on the market. The Audi TT, Mazda MX 5 and Mercedes SLK are giving the Z4 a hard time.

The all new successor to the Z4 is schedule for release in September 2009, so there is still some time to go. No prototypes have been sighted on the roads yet, just some speculations and a possible name change into “Z 6” are in the air. Furthermore, talk is that the new coupe will adapt the engines from the new BMW 3-Series Coupe and will again offer room for two passengers.

The computer images suggest how the new model could look like upon its launch.

BMW 6-Series Restyling

The 6-Series came on the market during the summer of 2003 and will undergo a minor restyling for next year. The photos are showing a prototype at Nürburgring featuring a new front bumper with new air intakes and some changes at the rear end, like bumper and brakelight.

BMW Z4 Coupe Glass Roof

Another photo is showing a test car of a BMW Z4 Coupe with some disguise on the roof suggesting that there is a large glass roof hidden underneath, similar to a Porsche Targa. The Z4 Coupe has been on the market since the middle of this year only, so this could become a second variant to the standard model.

BMW M3

The powerful M-version of BMW’s 3-series is scheduled for launch next year.

The 3-series M will be available initially as coupe, and later as convertible and four-door. For the first time power will come from a V8 powerplant, derived from the M5 and M6. It is a 4.0 litre engine delivering 415 HP. Transmission is a seven-speed SMG gearbox. A traditional six speed manual transmission will be offered as an option. The two latest photos are showing a M3 prototype being tested in the US.