With the first customer deliveries commencing this month, BMW Group Australia is ready to set the high performance Coupé market alight with its new Z4 3.0si and M Coupé models.

“The new BMW Z4 Coupé is best described as a Pocket GT,” said Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Brand Design.

“The Z4 Coupé should be considered as a fully fledged GT car that has been shrink-wrapped around two people."

“It represents the smallest possible package that can accommodate the occupants and enough luggage for a long journey while still retaining the strong, muscular stance of the cutting-edge Z4 Roadster."

“When designing the new Z4 family, we were designing a Roadster for those who appreciate open-topped motoring and the Coupé for customers who want a compact long-distance GT car,” he said.

Brandishing a choice of two BMW six-cylinder engines, the new Z4 Coupé range will start at $87,900 (RRP) for the 3.0si, while the M version will be priced from $127,200 (RRP).

The Z4 M Coupé is available exclusively with six-speed manual transmission. The Z4 3.0si Coupé comes with a six-speed manual as standard plus is optionally available in six-speed automatic form, priced from $90,500 (RRP).

By comparison the Z4 3.0si Roadster is priced from $91,200 (RRP) in manual guise and $93,800 (RRP) as a six-speed automatic. The Z4 M Roadster is priced from $130,500 (RRP).

Providing buyers with the first opportunity to purchase a two-seat BMW Coupé since the Z3-based M Coupé, the new Z4 Coupé models offer a 32,000 Nm per degree of body rigidity. This translates into pure handling and steering response and increases the torsional strength of the Z4 Roadster.

A further advantage is the front-engine, rear-drive layout that delivers a 50-50 front-rear weight distribution.

In fact, the dynamics are such that the Z4 M Coupé is even faster around the Northern circuit of the famed Nürburgring track in Germany than the BMW M3 and BMW Z4 Roadster.

The Z4 3.0si Coupé is equipped with the aluminium-magnesium six-cylinder 3.0-litre engine. The lightweight, fuel efficient six produces a lofty 195 kW, along with a torque figure of 315 Nm.

The engine consumes just an average 8.9 litres per 100 km in the EU test cycle with the six-speed manual transmission.

The Z4 Coupé’s styling builds on the long-bonneted, sharply aggressive look of the Z4 Roadster and adds a snug interior with an expanded luggage area. The 3.0si model boasts 340 litres beneath the tailgate.

The Coupé roof blends with the flowing shapes of the Z4 Roadster, adding an extra side window with the BMW trademark “Hofmeister kick”, a large rear glass area in the tailgate and an integrated rear spoiler.

Although the new Z4 Coupé is first and foremost a driver’s car, both the 3.0si and M models provide a comfortable, luxurious passenger compartment with high levels of safety and standard equipment.

The Z4 3.0si and M Coupé are equipped in line with the comparable Z4 Roadster models, while a wide range of options provide the opportunity for individual owners to express their unique personalities.

With dual front and side airbags, climate-control air-conditioning, especially supportive leather-trimmed sport seats and the security of electronic systems such as Dynamic Stability Control (DSC+), Cornering Brake Control (CBC) and Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) that maximise dynamic safety while retaining superb levels of driving pleasure, the Z4 Coupé models are true BMW sports machines.

With the Z4 3.0si Coupé, optional equipment includes six-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel paddles, M Sport seats, rear Park Distance Control (PDC) and Bi-Xenon headlights with washer system.

As with the Z4 M Roadster, the Z4 M Coupé comes with just about every conceivable luxury, including the THX Certified BMW Professional Hi Fi system, Professional navigation with TV and Bluetooth phone preparation.

Key among the unique features are special M paint colours for the Z4 M Coupé including Imola Red, Interlagos Blue and Sepang Bronze.

The Z4 Coupés brings BMW to a market segment where buyers look and consider the fine offerings from competitors such as Audi, Lotus, Mercedes-Benz and Morgan.

And that means there is no easy street ahead for BMW.