the Z4 / Z9 mule

There's considerable discussion in the car community whether these are spyshots of the next Z4, or maybe the expected SL-competitor, the Z9. To me this car looks a bit too large to be a Z4, and, well, a bit too Z4 to be an SL-competitor. But maybe the point of this cladding is to make this car look like the Z4, and really what's hidden undearneath is stunning and different.

I really hope so. I really admire BMW for trying to differentiate their cars from one another, and it would be a shame if they decided to blow the Z4 into a Z9 (it's a common trend these days
: think S40 -> S80 or IS -> LS). They deserve to succeed and not repeat the Z8 incident

[source: AutoExpress]