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2013 BMW Z4 Bringing Mild Refresh

BMW is readying a mid-cycle refresh of its four year-old Z4 roadster, as these recent spy photos suggest. Caught in the wild by TMR's spy photographers this week, the test car shown here reveals that only a very mild update is expected – on the

Malcolm Flynn

05:3730 July 2012

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2013 BMW Z4 Bringing Mild Refresh

BMW is readying a mid-cycle refresh of its four year-old Z4 roadster, as these recent spy photos suggest.

Caught in the wild by TMR's spy photographers this week, the test car shown here reveals that only a very mild update is expected - on the styling front, at least.

Camouflage adorning the test car include a partial masking of the headlights, taillights and the area surrounding the current side-repeater.

Recent BMW model refreshes would suggest that new lighting details are on the way, although the units pictured here appear unchanged.

The side repeaters are expected to be relocated to the side mirrors (though not pictured), leaving the potential for a new styling detail for their current front guard location.

Given the apparent subtlety of the visual updates, BMW could be preparing to introduce updated engines, following the turbo-petrol four options that hit Australia last year.

This could include endowing the sDrive35i/is models with the single-turbo N55 petrol six cylinder engine, replacing the twin-turbo N54 engine currently used.

These subtle improvements are expected to tide the Z4 over until a reportedly lighter and sharper next-generation model arrives some time in 2015.

Until then, keep an eye on TMR for further details.