BMW Z4

The extreme of classical proportions and contemporary form.

The totally fresh form of the Z4 from Anders Warming sat at the zenith of the most richly Chris Bangle portfolio of BMW designs at its debut in 2002. Extending its Z3 predecessors already marked classical sports-cars front engine / rear-wheel-drive proposition, the Z4 had a very short cabin sat wholly within the rear half of the car behind a very long hood — as befitting the last-of the-line naturally aspirated in-line six cylinder engine it covered (perhaps an even more significant brand specific high-water-mark?). The car was clothed in Gina-esque ‘flame-surfaced’ form that married sweeping sensuality with machine like no other, yet still with details like the BMW roundel side-indicator repeater that visually punctuated a surface intersection.  

The original Z4, particularly in rare coupe form, is defined by this potent marriage of classical proportions, with very noughties sensual machine form. No other design does this so emphatically. No design before or since from this brand has been so strong. Likely no other design will realise again this potent juxtaposition of classical ICE sports-car proportion and contemporary form.