BMW's Z4 replaces its previous entry-level roadster, the Z3. The new design, like the German automaker's flagship 7-Series, has caused some controversy, but eCityofStyle.com's Ayman Shairzay describes the experience of seeing the car up close and personal quite well.
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| The design has caused some controversy among enthusiasts, but as Ayam Shairzay puts it, "The Z4 looks fast and it looks alive." (Photo: BMW) |
"Whereas many other automakers were developing successful retro-designed cars, BMW has distinctly taken the opposite direction," said Shairzay. "Sharp creases, edgy lines, and an overtly shark-like profile give the Z4 a thoroughly modern form. Prima facie, the Z4's change-in-direction contours and odd angles feel disjointed and confusing, but when you stand beside a Z4 in person, the form takes shape as a whole, and the essence of the design gloriously reveals itself in a singular moment. The Z4 looks fast and it looks alive."
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| Not as prestigious or edgy as the rest on the list, the Lincoln LS V8 makes it up in performance and interior comfort. (Photo: Ford Motor) |
Lincoln's Euro-beating LS V8 might not be as prestigious or as edgy in design as some of the other cars on this list, but its dramatically improved performance and enhanced technologies have the 2003 model whipping the best in the business.
But in Shairzay's words, "Building a powerful car is obviously not enough to be successful in the competitive luxury sports sedan segment. The car's performance must be matched by lavish amenities and interior comfort. The LS V8 delivers with several new improvements, none more impressive than the industry's first THX-certified audio system that boasts 10 speakers, a neat in-dash six-disc CD changer, and 345 watts of power."