New Car Overview of the 2005 BMW Z4 Near-Luxury Sports Car

Description: Near-Luxury Sports Car
Base MSRP Range: $34,300 - $41,300
Invoice Price Range: $31,375 - $37,745
Where built: USA

BMW's two-seat sports car - the Z4 -- carries angular sheet metal styling that looks edgy and quick.

It can be quick to act too, thanks to two different engine options. The Z4 2.5i gets BMW's 2.5-liter, in-line-six tuned to 184-hp. The Z4 3.0i packs a larger straight-six at 3.0-liters with dual overhead cams, and BMW's infinitely variable valve timing system. Output reaches 225-hp.

A Getrag five-speed manual ties to the 2.5-liter plant, while the heavy-duty ZF six-speed manual works with the 3.0-liter version. Both offer a ZF five-speed automatic with Steptronic mode, and that six-speed SMG is available with the larger engine.

Passive standard safety systems extend from frontal and side-impact air bags to BMW's knee protection system (KPS).

The cockpit for two stocks bolstered bucket seats, a three-spoke steering wheel and twin binnacles on the dash housing an analog speedometer and tachometer.

Z4's soft top contains a glass rear window and heat element. It folds back quickly by manual means, but power to fold the top automatically is available. For 2005, foglamps and cruise control are now on Z4 2.5i and automatic climate controls work for Z4 3.0i.