onto the world sports car stage last year, one small but persistent complaint

tarnished its otherwise rave reviews. Dynamite styling, yes. Excellent

ride and handling, check. Top quality--from a brand new factory in South

Carolina--check. Power? Well....

Frankly, we were surprised at this grumbling. The basic Z3, with its

four-cylinder engine, may not have been any faster than a Mazda Miata,

but it was a delight to drive nonetheless and a runaway success in the

showroom.

But if a perceived power shortage was the only thing that held you back

during the Z3's inaugural season, wait no more. As expected, BMW has added

a six-cylinder version to the lineup for 1997--the Z3 2.8--and, also as

expected, it adds serious go-power to this car's long list of enticements.

From a competitive point of view, this development comes none too soon.

Unlike last year, the Z3 faces some very direct and formidable new competitors

in the Mercedes SLK--the 1997 North American Car of the Year--and the Porsche

Boxster.

But with the addition of 51 horsepower, plus a longer list of standard

features and a price that's lower than its Germanic rivals, we think the

2.8 version easily measures up to the challenge.