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14/09/2005: "BMW Unveils Z4 Coupe at Frankfurt"

One of the most intriguing-looking cars of the Frankfurt auto show extravaganza kicked off this week at Germany is BMW’s Z4 Coupe concept car, a fixed-roof version of the company’s Z4 roadster.

While the previous-generation Z3 coupe visually destroyed the Z3 roadster’s pleasantly retro lines, the tin-top Z4 arguably improves that car’s aesthetic appeal.

If it makes into production - and it looks likely to do so - the Coupe would be a direct rival to Porsche’s new Cayman S, slotted by the house of Zuffenhausen between the Boxster roadster and the 911.

The Z4 Coupe is equipped with BMW’s new 3.0-liter in-line six churning out 265 horsepower, or just 30 ponies shy of the Cayman’s 3.4L flat-six. Porsche claims a 5.4s sprint from 0-62 for its latest launch, while the BMW is rated at 5.7s.

And in a final coup-de-grace, while the old Z3 coupe’s baby-breadwagon looks were justified as a means of adding utility to the car, the Z4’s raked roofline do not preclude it from having a trunk that’s larger than its predecessor’s…

(this article was written by Casio Cortes for speedtv.com)