New Z4 at Brussels Motorshow in Belgium

[Rick Hunter]

An electronic handbrake? Does that mean if you get a flat battery the car f**ks off down the road on its own

Um... more like you won't be able to disengage it manually.

I don't think BMW thought that one through.

[EdP]

This e-brake thing is not something new. Other European car manufactures are using the same system for almost 5 years in some of their models.
I guess BMW uses the VDO system.

http://www.vdo.com/products_solutions/c ... brake-epb/

[Smokin]

Reading that article, seems many of us already have a version of that with the brake holding the car on a hill for 2 seconds so you can get the clutch engaged (although those of use who have driven manual tranny cars for years don't really need it). How do you like they pitch it as relieving us of daily driving routine things by having us push a button rather than ratchet up a handbrake.

[rob davey]

so to hand brake turn you push a button?

[Rick Hunter]

I don't think you can do that anymore, unless the mechanism allows for digital incremental adjustments that mimic analog function. If that was possible, then they should have still gone analog.

Question is... does the system function while in motion (or does the system disable itself while in motion)? If it IS an all-or-none response then it would be dangerous to activate it in motion. Secondly, if it is an all-or-none response then it's only usefulness would be for parking and not for emergency maneuvers.

[EdP]

What I have seen in NON BMW cars it works like this:

Question is... does the system function while in motion

No. You can manually engaged it when the car is not moving.
The brake is also engaged automatically when the car is not moving after some time.
The brake will be disengaged automatically when you start driving.

[melbs]

e brake and the trunk space when top is down's a big turn off

[E85]

An electronic handbrake? Does that mean if you get a flat battery the car f**ks off down the road on its own

HAHAHAHA ... although wouldn't be funny if it actually happened

[E85]

I can fit my set of golf clubs and a push cart in the trunk even the top down right now in the E85. Or I can put 2 sets of clubs with no karts with the top down. Can you even put ONE set of clubs in the trunk with the top down?

[rob davey]

An electronic handbrake? Does that mean if you get a flat battery the car f**ks off down the road on its own

HAHAHAHA ... although wouldn't be funny if it actually happened

As long as it wasn't yours!

[KDB]

(PS there are no car babes at BMW at the Brussels Motorshow)

Any car show babe will do.

Ok, here you can find some pics.... (not all are babes)

http://www.autozone.be/auto_j2ee/acties ... cale=nl_BE

[Breaker]

so to hand brake turn you push a button?

I don't think they would have thought of that as the handbrake turn manoeuvre isn't in the owners handbook on any Z4 is it?

[a11y]

That boot space with the roof folded is a joke, definately rules me out of ever buying the new Z4. Not an issue as I don't like the design anyway. The current Z4 is a much nicer design IMO: the whole car looks like it was designed as one. But the new one isn't a very "flowing" or "complete" design: IMO it's a jumble of design stuck into one car. I too see a lot of Jag influenece in that bonnet, and that shut line between the bonnet and wing is horrific:

New:


Old:


I see a line that flows through the entire car on the current design - from the downwards sloping gap between front bumper and wing, continues with the line between the sill and the wing/door/rear 3/4 panel, then kicks up with the join between the rear bumper and 3/4 panel. Then there's the crease in the front wing which flows into the angle of the A-pillar. They give the impression of a flowing design.

The new design has none of that, at the moment I'm still not impressed

[adambmw]

Need to see one in the flesh, but I am not sure.

The dash looks good, but the lines just don't flow well and it looks too fussy.

[EdP]

I agree about the all those lines. That's why this car looks better (on pictures) in dark colors.