Report: BMW Z4 will be first (current) model from the company to get a 4-banger

BMW Z4

Enjoying the release of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class, which tool place earlier this morning? Happy about the 4-banger offering in the SLK250? According to recent reports, BMW will also offer a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine in the Z4 roadster, which competes head-to-head with the Mercedes-Benz SLK. In fact, the Z4 will be the first BMW model to get a 4-cylinder engine.

Sources say that the 4-cylinder turbo in the BMW Z4 will produce about 200-hp. In the 2011 BMW Z4 sDrive30, the 6-clyinder unit produces 255-hp and 220 lb-ft of torque. The engine is excepted to be much lighter than the current 6-cylinder and should help the Z4 average a fuel-economy of 20/30 mpg (city/highway).

Good news is that you can probably also expect a nice price drop from the current Z4’s starting price of $46,500.

– By: Omar Rana

Source: CARandDRIVER