Bmw Goes To Extremes

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday December 17, 2008

By BRENT DAVISON

BMW has released its first images and details of the new Z4 two-seater ahead of the car's debut at next month's North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

While the new model retains much of the current Z4's styling, the pictures show it to be a bit more extreme, with bigger kidney grilles and deeper flame-surfacing along the sides.

More of a revision than a total rework, the car gets some serious changes under the bonnet with a full six-cylinder engine family, headed up by the sweet 3.0-litre, twin-turbo unit from the 135i and 335i models; a 225-kilowatt, 400-Newton metre beauty capable of delivering performance figures similar to the old M3.

Just below it in the pecking order is a naturally aspirated 3.0-litre engine (190 kilowatts, 310 Newton metres) and, at the entry level, a 2.5-litre unit developing 150 kilowatts and 250 Newton metres.

In terms of transmission choices, the 3.0-litre twin-turbo gets a six-speed manual or optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The naturally aspirated models will be available with a six-speed automatic.

The revised Z4 is expected here in the third quarter of the new year.

Korean engine a winner

SOME magazines are highly respected for their annual car of the year awards, but American publishing company Ward's Automotive Group dispenses with much of the car and focuses on the engines.

In fact, the annual Ward's 10 Best Engines award is one of the most sought-after and respected in the business, such is its status.

This year's award can claim its own piece of history with, for the first time, a Korean-made engine getting an award in an annual ceremony usually dominated by European and Japanese power plants.

The engine in question is Hyundai's Tau unit, a 4.6-litre, double-overhead camshaft V8 fitted to the US market Genesis luxury sedan.

In a very open list of winners, only BMW won more than one gong, walking away with trophies for its 3.0-litre, twin-turbo, in-line six-cylinder petrol and 3.0-litre, six-cylinder turbo-diesel devices.

Other winners were Audi's 2.0-litre direct-injection, turbocharged four-cylinder; Chrysler's 5.7-litre Hemi V8; Ford's 2.5-litre, in-line four-cylinder hybrid; Cadillac's 3.6-litre V6; Toyota's 3.5-litre V6; and Volkswagen's 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.

Motor group changes

SIME Darby Group's recent takeover of Australia's Ssangyong franchise has brought about changes at the top of the national Peugeot importer and distributor.

Peugeot Automobiles Australia managing director Rob Dommerson now becomes managing director of Sime Darby Motors Group Australia after seven years managing Peugeot, a time in which sales of the brand tripled.

Peugeot's national sales manager Ken Thomas now fills the position held by Mr Dommerson.

In other corporate changes, Mark Fowler takes the position of national sales manager, Nick Allan moves into the post of national after-sales manager, Richard Grant takes over as national marketing manager and Andrew Huenerbein becomes dealer development manager.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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