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2016 BMW Z4 is a long-hooded, long-legged cruiser

BMW's second-generation folding hardtop sports coupe enters its twilight years.

Chris Paukert
Following stints in TV news production and as a record company publicist, Chris spent most of his career in automotive publishing. Mentored by Automobile Magazine founder David E. Davis Jr., Paukert succeeded Davis as editor-in-chief of Winding Road, a pioneering e-mag, before serving as Autoblog's executive editor from 2008 to 2015. Chris is a Webby and Telly award-winning video producer and has served on the jury of the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards. He joined the CNET team in 2015, bringing a small cache of odd, underappreciated cars with him.
Chris Paukert
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The E89 Z4 was lauded as a graceful grand tourer, but was sometimes dinged for not being a pure sports car in its reactions.

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BMW's second-generation Z4 had a long life, only going out of production in the summer of 2016.

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Sports cars typically sell in small volumes, so BMW decided to partner with Toyota for the next-generation Z4 to help with economies of scale.

2016 BMW Z4 in Estoril Blue
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Fixed rollover hoops were fitted to every Z4.

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A power folding hardtop increased security and foul-weather performance at the expense of weight, cost and complexity.

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This particular Z4 is finished in Estoril Blue.

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This second-generation Z4 was codenamed E89.

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The E89 Z4 received both four- and six-cylinder engines, with power always routed exclusively to the rear wheels.

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Elements of the driver-focused cockpit harkened back to BMW's legendary Z8 roadster, and the 507 that inspired it.

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A long hood meant the driver sat nearly over the rear axle.

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BMW's trademark "Corona ring" headlamps are lit up here in distinctive fashion.

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The Z4's hood is so long that the engine was actually able to be mounted in a front-midships arrangement.

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The successor to this E89-generation Z4 is expected to go on sale in 2018 as a 2019 model-year offering.

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