Two redesigned sports cars are generating a ton of hype lately; one has been an American icon for over 40 years, the other is a relatively new innovation from our friends in Germany.
The 2010 Ford Mustang and 2010 BMW Z4 are very different, yet they’re generating equal amounts of passion from their loyal followers. Both deliver horsepower and speed. Both make a statement about their drivers. Let’s take a quick look at both, and then it’s your turn to tell us which you’d rather have!
The Mustang
The biggest news from the Mustang camp is the possibility of Ford’s new EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 being offered. This is an engine capable of a devastating 415 hp that would be offered alongside the V8 options. (No guarantee that this turbo will make it into production, though.)
Remember when GT Mustangs came with a 5.0-liter V8 rather than the 4.6? Oh yes, the 5.0 is coming back, baby! Expect around 325-350 horses out of that power plant. There will also be a Bullit edition and the same entry-level V6 as before. Looks like we’ll again be treated to a Ford-built Shelby GT 500 version of the new pony, with at least 500 hp, though I’d bet on more. Can you say BOOYAH!?
The Mustang’s interior also gets revamped to accommodate a bigger navigation screen and audio gear.
The Z4
The new Z4 will be offered in sDrive30i and sDrive35i trims. Completely redesigned inside and out, the exterior redesign is what I’m most excited about, as the current Z4 is a bit too chiseled for my taste. The new design is sleeker, more elegant, and more sophisticated, in stark contrast to the arrogant, muscled look of the Mustang.
The other big news is the addition of a retractable two-piece aluminum hard top for this Bimmer in place of the current soft top.
Oh, but you want to know about performance? The sDrive30i is powered by a 3.0-liter V6 capable of 255 hp. The sDrive 35i has a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 rated at 300 hp and a 0-60 sprint time of 5 seconds.
Opting for the Z4 will also give buyers the option of adding a Sport Package with Adaptive M Suspension and Electronic Damping Control. This gets complicated, but the system allows for more driving control and the ability to change damper forces on the Adaptive M Suspension and adjust the response thresholds of Dynamic Stability Control.
This new Z4 will be built in Germany, as opposed to the current Z4, which is built in America.
So there you have it. Which would you rather have - the pure muscle and style of the Mustang or the sophisticated driving experience of the BMW Z4?
-tgriffith
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