German speakers who read AutoBild may find this story redundant, but apparently confirming a long-standing rumor, BMW will build a coupe variant of its abysmally selling Z4 roadster. The new model may show up in Frankfurt (based on the timing of the confirmation), but definitely won't drop into local dealerships before the year 2007. Still, it'll only be around for two years, before BMW junks the entire version and starts anew.
According to Edmunds Inside Line, BMW's planned next-generation Z4 will arrive in 2009 in coupe and roadster form, and will have shaken off all the sharklike "flame surfacing" design that makes the current model more cartoon than car. Called the E89, the new model is expected to offer more than trifling competiton to Porsche's Boxster and Cayman, with a 4.0-liter V8 (derived from BMW's new V10), which could see 450hp in the M model. Here's to hoping.
BMW's Bold New Z4 Strategy Revealed [Edmunds]
Related:
BMW to Bring Back The M Coupe [internal]