BMW planning smaller Z2 roadster
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/convertibles/" rel="tag">Convertible</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/rumormill/" rel="tag">Rumormill</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2014-bmw-z4-sdrive35is-quick-spin/"><img alt="BMW Z4" data-credit="Copyright 2014 Matt Davis / AOL" data-mep="251088" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/GLOB/crop/1269x851+0+1/resize/628x417!/format/jpg/quality/85/http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/41aa7b9b0fa2ce6040f6fc497 2d0db7/200103875/001-2014-bmw-z4-quick-spin.jpg" /></a><br />
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It's been a few years since we heard about the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/bmw+z2/">BMW Z2</a>, a compact, two-seat convertible that would slot in below the aging <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/z4/">Z4</a> (shown above). Now, though, the crew at <a href="http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2017-bmw-z2-rendered-news"><em>Car and Driver</em></a> are back with details on the oft-rumored roadster.<br />
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The big shock for enthusiasts on this one is C/D's report that the Z2 will spin its front wheels, rather than its rears. A front-drive roadster is strange enough, but a front-drive <em>BMW</em> roadster? It's apparently true, though, as the new model would share its platform with the front-drive <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/mini/">Mini</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/03/05/bmw-2-series-active-tourer-geneva-2014/">2 Series Active Tourer</a> rather than with the racier <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/2+series/">228i or M235i coupes</a>.<br />
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According to C/D, the rumored Z2 could be powered by a range of three- and four-cylinder, turbocharged engines, although it's more likely to be a four-only affair. Power should range from 160 to 230 ponies, while an M variant could arrive with 300 horsepower (that's a whole lot of power for front-wheel drive...).<br />
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If the Z2 sees the light of day, it'll likely be in late 2016 or early 2017, as a 2017 model, with prices starting around $30,000 for a base example and $50K for an M variant.<br />
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What are your thoughts on this? Should BMW be adding another roadster to its line? Should said roadster be front-wheel drive? Is the rumored starting price reasonable? Let us know what you think, in Comments.<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/05/10/bmw-z2-roadster-report/">BMW planning smaller Z2 roadster</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Sat, 10 May 2014 09:59:00 EST. Please see our <a href="/rss-term-of-use/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/05/10/bmw-z2-roadster-report/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20883127/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/05/10/bmw-z2-roadster-report/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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