Here it is – the war of the ‘Zs.’ This past weekend during episode 6 of Top Gear season 13, Jeremy Clarkson pinned the new 2009 Nissan 370Z (which we’re driving around right now) against the new 2010 BMW Z4.

Refresher:

2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i:  Power comes from a 3.0L twin-turbo inline-6 engine that makes a total of 306-hp. 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds when mated to a manual transmission and 5 seconds flat when mated to the new 7-speed dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifters.
2009 Nissan 370Z: Power comes from a 3.7L VQ37VHR engine making 332-hp. Mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox that will allow for a 0 to 60 mph time in the low 4.7 seconds.

Wonder how fast The Stig lapped the Top Gear lap or which one Clarkson liked better? Make the jump for the video to find out.

- By: Omar Rana

BMW today held the world debut of the 2009 BMW Z4 at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Sales of the new hard-top Z4 will start in fall of 2009 with pricing to be announced closer to launch date.

The entry level 2009 Z4 is powered by a 3.0L 6-cylinder that makes 255-hp and a maximum torque of 220 lb-ft. 0 to 60 mph comes in at 5.6 seconds with manual transmission and 6.0 seconds with an automatic. The range-topping BMW Z4 carries a 3.0L twin-turbo making a total of 300-hp allowing it to go from rest to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds with a manual and 5.0 seconds with the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

The new 2009 BMW Z4 drops its top within 20 seconds with a touch of a button – just thought you’d like to know that.

Click through for the high-res image gallery.

2009 BMW Z4 – Live from the 2009 Detroit Auto Show:

2009 BMW Z4:

We saw the official reveal of the 2009 BMW Z4 this past weekend and we saw videos of the new hardtop roadster in action yesterday.

Today we bring you some new images of the 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i – one of the two variants BMW will offer in the new Z4 lineup (the other variant is the 255-hp sDrive30i). The 2009 Z4 sDrive35i is powered by BMW’s outstanding 3.0L twin-turbo inline-6 engine that makes a total of 306-hp. That allows the Z4 to go from stop to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds when mated to a manual transmission and 5 seconds flat when mated to the new 7-speed dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifters.

Follow the jump for the full-high res image gallery of the 2009 BMW Z4. Don’t be afraid to maximize the gallery to fully enjoy the pictures.

2009 BMW Z4: