BMW Z2 Cancelled - Report

 BMW Z2 Cancelled - Report
BMW Z2 artist illustration / AUTOMEDIA

A BMW source says a Z2 roadster 'doesn't make sense in these uncertain times'

BMW will not build the Z2.

According to Imotormag, a BMW source says that the car is not on the product plan for the next 10 years. The Z2 was to have been a 4-cylinder, compact roadster that came in below the Z4 in the BMW lineup. The source says that there hasn't even been any "inside gossip" about a possible Z2-type vehicle.

Speculation had it that as the Z4 became a more expensive and upmarket car, with a powerful in-line 6 cylinder engine and a significantly higher price than its previous generation, that the market was ripe for a smaller BMW roadster based on the 1-series. But the BMW source disagrees.

Imotormag's source explains it this way: "We have the 1-Series convertible. It's a drop top, has rear wheel drive, is sporty and comes in at less than £20,000. Why would we need to invest a lot of cash in building a niche car like the Z2? It doesn't make sense in these uncertain times."

 

Source: imotormag

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 Joe_Limon Joe_Limon
hmm that's a shame, I would have thought that branding an "eco friendly" roadster would be a hit, and something that BMW is currently lacking. Then again, with development costs it would merely serve as a flag to say the BMW is green too.
April 1, 2009 4:07 pm
 Renegade Renegade
Nahh, the Miata has it's own segment here, why to change it?
April 1, 2009 4:12 pm
 Joe_Limon Joe_Limon
I believe it is called competition.
April 1, 2009 5:59 pm
 blay blay
because some suckers will buy anything that's got a bmw badge.
April 1, 2009 4:24 pm
 Pentium Pentium
Blah Blah...
April 2, 2009 11:27 am
 blay blay
oh really? need i remind you about the 1 series? a 130i or a Golf R32? HMMMMMMMMMM *thinks REALLY hard*
April 2, 2009 4:26 pm
 Imasa Imasa
There was no point to this car to begin with. I'm sure that the pricing would not have placed it much lower than the Z4 to make it attractive.
April 1, 2009 7:09 pm
 BritBoy BritBoy
"Why would we need to invest a lot of cash in building a niche car like the Z2? It doesn't make sense in these uncertain times." How do they explain the X6 and 5-Series GT then?????
April 1, 2009 8:07 pm
 Joe_Limon Joe_Limon
hahaha, yes! You hit the nail on the head :)
April 1, 2009 9:08 pm
 carbonsigma carbonsigma
The X6 is actually selling, surprisingly.
April 1, 2009 9:36 pm
 madness madness
good, it wouldnt have sold anyway...
April 1, 2009 8:57 pm
 effington effington
what badge does it have on the bonnet? yep, a BMW one, therefore it would have sold regardless... "why... invest a lot of cash in building a niche car like the Z2?" errrrm because BMW's new kick in life is creating niche cars!? 5series GT x6 x1... and unfortunately there is probably more to come... whereas this could have been a good mx5 competitor! this rendering is prettier than the z4 as well!
April 1, 2009 11:59 pm
 Ferrariguy Ferrariguy
Exactly, how do explain the X6. The only thing good about that vehicle is the V8 TT. It's probably selling because it's a fad that will eventually wear off off.
April 2, 2009 12:03 am
 Kalos Kalos
BMW, whatever. Who cares - so many people loved you and now you are pissing them of with your clouded future projects. Sissies.
April 2, 2009 4:58 am
 Targa_Florio Targa_Florio
I kind of agree. BMW started dying for me in 2000. The saddest thing is that it now sells more than in the 90s... Currently I only like the 3-series coup?, X5, X6 (handsome but useless as it has both coup? & SUV drawbacks combined, and very few advantages). New Z4 seems to look fine but I haven't seen it in flesh yet. A manual droptop Z2 with 4 cylinders + small 2.5L 6-cylinders on top of the line and/or M version would have been fantastic, with a better value for money than most other BMWs (and even Audis & Mercedes).
April 2, 2009 5:48 am