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      03-08-2012, 07:17 PM   #165
SCOTT26
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I wrote this in 2010 when it was very much in discussion at that time. But the first rule in the auto industry is "All of the above applies today , it may be different tomorrow."

In principle the template for such a car was very much the Z4 GT car with its fixed roof. But because the Z4 is a Roadster first , other markets could not do without the Roadster, the US being one. It was then everything started to get out of the comfort zone that makes the marketing people anxious.
Factor in the engine choices and it became clear it was not going to meet the numbers.
The proposal could not meet the expectations and everything M does has to make money , depending on your opinion of the X-M's - They do make a lot of money and are one reason why BMW's profit margin in 2011 was second just behind Audi. Now the 3er is online and that car is manufactured to increase its profit margins over the E90.

Back to the Z4, a Life Cycle Impulse is due around this time next year which will see a slight refresh as per the usual cosmetic and technological changes and some additional engineering tweaks to keep the car current in light of advancing competitors.
Expect the Z4iS to be absorbed into the BMW M Performance line to enhance its role further as a quasi-M car.
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