BMW planning to produce Z4 coupe; concept version to be shown at Frankfurt show

[ryan]

MUNICH, Germany — BMW will unveil a coupe version of its Z4 Roadster at next month's Frankfurt auto show.

The car will be officially a concept, but BMW will hurry it into production as a rival to the new Porsche Cayman S, a coupe version of the Boxster. Like its predecessor, the Z3-based M Coupe, it will be built at BMW's Spartanburg factory in the South Carolina. But unlike the boxy M Coupe, the Z4 coupe will be a more conventional fastback coupe, with styling similar to the Xcoupe concept of a couple of years ago.

The Z4 Coupe will be powered by BMW's 255-horsepower, 3.0-liter, inline six-cylinder gasoline engine. There also will be an M version with a 3.2-liter inline six from the M3, upgraded to 360 hp.

At Frankfurt, BMW will also show a hybrid concept based on the X3 SUV. This will have new, advanced battery technology using high-performance capacitors, or "Syncaps," which can store and release high amounts of power quickly.

The Syncaps take up less space than regular batteries. BMW first showed the system in 2004 in an X5 "Efficient Dynamics" concept car.

What this means to you: The Z4 coupe will provide a strong competitor to the new Porsche Cayman S, but the new hybrid system will probably have a more lasting impact on future BMWs.