G29 looks peculiar says chief designer

[Zeld4]

I’m sure people have seen this but to me it seems a bit of a cop out, like he’s making excuses for a terrible looking car. All cars have crash safety legislation to deal with but that hasn’t stopped Porsche or Audi or. Alpine from making the front end look good. He even says the front looks peculiar but he thinks it works!! Do we really need to be convinced that it looks good even though it looks terrible? They’ve totally screwed up this time.
https://www.bmwblog.com/2018/08/24/bmw-z4-designer-explains-new-grille-design-reminiscent-of-328-mille-miglia/

 

[Busterboo]

I won't say out loud what a mess the G29 looks until I see one in the flesh.

In the meantime, I'm very glad that (i) I have a 35iS and (ii) didn't order a G29.

 

[Z4 Beemer]

The “peculiar” statement seems to relate to the vertical stacked lights, which are peculiar (unusual) to BMW styling. I didn’t read the article and think he was making any excuses... :?

 

[srhutch]

The “peculiar” statement seems to relate to the vertical stacked lights, which are peculiar (unusual) to BMW styling. I didn’t read the article and think he was making any excuses... :?

That’s how I read it as well.

 

[Angelus666]

Some weird comments from someone who is surely meant to love the car and enthuse about it....things like "sports car like"....err...isn't this meant to be a sports car?! I'd wager that this will have a very early LCI that will completely address the front end.

It would be very interesting to run a poll on here to see how many Z4 enthusiasts will actually be ordering one within the first year. I'd bet less than 5% of the total members.

 

[MrPT]

At least all evidence points towards it being genuinely good to drive. Even the very stoic chief engineer for the Supra (allegedly) said BMW told him they were going to try and make a Boxster beater. The engine and seat position are a better foundation than the previous two generations, for starters. There are other little clues too, like the 255cm front tyre width and that sub-8 Nordschleife time.

 

[Z4 Beemer]

It would be very interesting to run a poll on here to see how many Z4 enthusiasts will actually be ordering one within the first year. I'd bet less than 5% of the total members.

That won't tell you much. The thread I created on the first Sport model in the UK: https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=109478 has got around 600 views. I posted it on another forum and it got over 16,000 views.

A 2-door roadster will always have a limited market, especially at a time with Brexit happening.

I bought the E89 around January/February 2009, before they launched and hit the roads around May 2009. No regrets in doing that.

Not fully decided if I'm going for a G29 at the moment, or later down the line, or in fact which model/engine. BMW haven't released PCP figures either, but I can say there is definite scope for discounts and negotiations.

 

[Nanu]

Having seen this set of images I now think it looks like a slightly larger (And much more expensive) Mazda MX5

 

[Z4 Beemer]

Having seen this set of images I now think it looks like a slightly larger (And much more expensive) Mazda MX5

Overall its larger than the E89... with the exception of the wheelbase. I reckon the proportions overall are better on the G29.

 

[MrPT]

One more for luck!

 

[Z4C_er]

One more for luck!

A work of art....

 

[Angelus666]

It would be very interesting to run a poll on here to see how many Z4 enthusiasts will actually be ordering one within the first year. I'd bet less than 5% of the total members.

That won't tell you much. The thread I created on the first Sport model in the UK: https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=109478 has got around 600 views. I posted it on another forum and it got over 16,000 views.

A 2-door roadster will always have a limited market, especially at a time with Brexit happening.

I bought the E89 around January/February 2009, before they launched and hit the roads around May 2009. No regrets in doing that.

Not fully decided if I'm going for a G29 at the moment, or later down the line, or in fact which model/engine. BMW haven't released PCP figures either, but I can say there is definite scope for discounts and negotiations.

So, in the midst of a full-on global financial crisis, the 2 door roadster was more relevant than it is today with the unknown impact of Brexit.

And...if this largely UK based Z4 community isn't feeling it, then that's massively telling. If I was the marketing director for this Z4 then I'd be worried a fair bit. I guess the reality today though, is if you've got £500 to spend on a fun car by BMW, then you'd really, really need to want the Z4 over the M2 for the same money....not for me though.

 

[Z4 Beemer]

It would be very interesting to run a poll on here to see how many Z4 enthusiasts will actually be ordering one within the first year. I'd bet less than 5% of the total members.

That won't tell you much. The thread I created on the first Sport model in the UK: https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=109478 has got around 600 views. I posted it on another forum and it got over 16,000 views.

A 2-door roadster will always have a limited market, especially at a time with Brexit happening.

I bought the E89 around January/February 2009, before they launched and hit the roads around May 2009. No regrets in doing that.

Not fully decided if I'm going for a G29 at the moment, or later down the line, or in fact which model/engine. BMW haven't released PCP figures either, but I can say there is definite scope for discounts and negotiations.

So, in the midst of a full-on global financial crisis, the 2 door roadster was more relevant than it is today with the unknown impact of Brexit.

And...if this largely UK based Z4 community isn't feeling it, then that's massively telling. If I was the marketing director for this Z4 then I'd be worried a fair bit. I guess the reality today though, is if you've got £500 to spend on a fun car by BMW, then you'd really, really need to want the Z4 over the M2 for the same money....not for me though.

Not sure what point you’re making comparing it to the M2... 4 seater coupe vs 2 seater roadster...? :? Chalk and cheese spring to mind...?

 

[z4pilot]

Overall its larger than the E89... with the exception of the wheelbase. I reckon the proportions overall are better on the G29.

Really? I think the proportions are all wrong. Compared to the E86, the G29 has 25mm less wheelbase, but an overall 32cm greater length? Notwithstanding the compromises that crash regulations have probably driven in the intervening years, I think the BMW design team have managed to make a pigs ear of it. Perhaps it's just not possible to make a good looking front-engined roadster any more given the need to provide crash space around all the hardpoints, although I'd argue that Aston Martin with the Vantage and Jag with the F-Type have managed better silhouettes.

 

[Zeld4]

The “peculiar” statement seems to relate to the vertical stacked lights, which are peculiar (unusual) to BMW styling. I didn’t read the article and think he was making any excuses... :?

It’s harldy a positive article though is it, and the whole narrative of it seems to be that people don’t think it looks great. Although they say most BMW fans like it, I haven’t noticed that amongst people I know. And the designer bringing up the grill and comparing that to the 328 Mille Milia, as that being a reason why the front looks different is just clutching at straws. I don’t think any one gives a hoot about the grill mesh, or would even notice it as making the front end better or worse. It’s the front end, and generall awkwardness of the long over hangs and proportions that have got people scratching their heads and asking “why”?

 

[chasBMW]

Looking at those diagrams its quite a big car now , I followed an E89 this morning still a very striking car

 

[inkey$]

Personally speaking, I think the actual car that BMW have ended up with is a bit of a fussy dogs dinner. To me it's not really doing much of anything, but looks awkward and certainly not sportscar-like. A bit like in the early 2000s when Peugeot made verts - sort of generic and flabby.

And it promised so much as a concept...

 

[Angelus666]

[/quote]

Not sure what point you’re making comparing it to the M2... 4 seater coupe vs 2 seater roadster...? :? Chalk and cheese spring to mind...?
[/quote]

Id guess 95% of people buying BMWs are buying to a budget, so given you can get an M2 competition for the same money and probably much better residual values I'd suggest a lot of people will be considering both as viable options.

 

[Nanu]

Not sure how to set up a poll but lets have one out of interest.

Like or dislike
New, Buying one or not buying one (Assuming prices are around £50K for the top end model)
Would you buy it if it had a hard top
State your current model e85 or e89
I am sure it would make interesting reading for those marketing managers at BMW considering we are all BMW 2 seater owners.

PS Can we have a few images of both roof up and down to vote on (Real images of the actual car if possible)

 

[GuidoK]

I think people who are looking for a roadster is a completely different clientele than people who look for a compact 4 seater/coupe.
The only competitor in the bmw lineup might be a m240i convertible.

I saw the new z4 1,5 weeks ago in the flesh at an organized sneek peak at bmw HQ.

I thought it was a good looking car but not a very surprising or radical car from a design pov. The white colour it was presented in also wasnt a stunner for me (in my eyes it was more 'plain white' than a blueish pearl white).
Its basically a 1/3 series roadster.
The new mercedes styled kidneys (with the metal flakes) is a nice touch, but the side vents were gloss black plastic and looked tacky.
Rear looked good/big.
Overall stance is allright I think. Its not as 'butch' as the e85, which has the lowest 'length/width' proportion (makes for a short, wide car), but the g29 has a better ratio than the e89, which is a fairly long/narrow car in that perspect.

I was mainly interested in the tech. Whats nice about the new z4 is that its the first car in decades (30 years) that can be opted again with a proper lsd, something we havent seen since the e30 (and consequently e36 compact/z3 on some models). And thats something every sportscar should have of course.
From what I understood you can opt it with the diff from the M2 (dont know if it has the same final drive ratio).
Downside is of course that the manual gearbox is now RIP.

Interior/seats looked allright though.

But the other cars that they had on display (new 8 series, and a lovely m4 dtm edition) left a deeper impression.