First pictures: hot BMW Z4

• New coupe on sale from around £32,000
• Hot M-version available for £42,000
• M-version faster in a sprint than Cayman

More Information

• More pictures

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BMW's new Z4 Coupe model is getting ready to do battle with thoroughbred sports cars such as the Porsche Cayman.

The new two-seater coupe's charge will be led by a hot M version, which will be equipped with a 338bhp 3.2-litre engine.

On sale in the UK this summer for around £42,000, the Z4 M Coupe is nearly half a second faster to 62mph than the 295bhp Porsche, with a time of just 5.0 seconds, Although the Cayman is able to accelerate on to a top speed of 171mph, BMW is restricting the Z4 M Coupe to a maximum of 155mph.

For around £10,000 less, you'll be able to get behind the wheel of a 261bhp 3.0-litre version of the car. BMW hasn't released performance details for this model yet, but we'd expect it to take no longer than 6.0 seconds to reach 62mph. Top speed is also likely to be a restricted 155mph.