Frankfurt Motor Show 2005 - BMW

What's the star of the stand?
BMW has taken the rather logical decision to produce a Z4 Coupe to face-off against the forthcoming Porsche Cayman. Powered by a 3.0-litre straight-six engine developing 265bhp, the production version of the Z4 Coupe concept on the stand could be in showrooms by the middle of next year.

Also on show is the hybrid concept, based on the X3 4x4, which uses a fuel-efficient direct-injection petrol engine, combined with an electric motor. As with most hybrids, braking energy is harnessed and used to power the electric motor – in this case, by using the high-performance capacitors shown in the clear sills of the concept car. BMW claims the hybrid reduces fuel consumption by 20%. No production version is planned, yet.

They say?
'The coupe creates the impression of a top-flight athlete urging forward with all his energy. The concept provides a lot of food for thought and the input for a very tempting story: to give the successful BMW Z4 Roadster a fixed roof "brother" as a further member of the "team".'

We Say?
The Z4 Coupe concept may mark the return of the two-seat sports coupe to the BMW range, but lets hope it’s more successful that the Z3 Coupe, which was certainly no looker and suffered only average sales figures.

Anything else?
BMW has announced a comprehensively confusing array of new engines for almost every car in the range. The most interesting include the high-powered 3.0-litre petrol for the 1 Series, the 3.0-litre diesel for the 3 Series, and the X3's two new engines – an entry-level 2.0-litre petrol and a more powerful 3.0-litre diesel.

Four-wheel-drive variants of the 3 Series and 5 Series are also on display, along with the long-wheelbase version of the 7 Series.

Any Gossip?
Other than the Z4 coupe, there are no design concepts on show at Frankfurt, however there is at least one new car in the pipeline – BMW's first MPV. Insiders from BMW have let slip that the car is in development but there's no hint here as to how it will look.