Rumormill: BMW Z2 still in the works

[DJ]

Is the rumored little roadster from BMW on track for a 2011 debut? Auto Motor und Sport seems to think so. They even have a rendering by renowned artist Mark Stehrenberger to prove it. If we are to believe the rumors, the BMW Z2 should be closer to what the original Z3 was. That is, more of an entry level roadster to compete with the premium versions of the Mazda MX-5, compared to the more upscale Z4 that just debuted, which is more of a Porsche Boxster rival.

As we've told you before, the BMW Z2 would be based on the 1-series platform. To simplify things, BMW is rumored to be using a soft top rather than a retractable metal lid. The car will feature turbocharged and naturally aspirated four-cylinder powerplants in the 1.8-2.0 liter range. Horsepower should start around 150 and climb to 300 assuming an M version follows. There's even a rumored hybrid variant with its gearbox positioned between the engine and an e-motor pack. Active steering, a dual clutch gearbox and active suspension could be part of the package with a base price rumored to be around $30,000. The BMW Z2 could make its debut as early as latet 2010, which would give it a healthy head start over the rival SLA from Mercedes-Benz.