Now look what's happened - out come the first pictures of the Ferrari 612 and it's as if significant aspects of it have been modelled on the Z4, both sharing remarkably similar sculpted flanks, together with the now familiar boot line. Still, after all the flak he's endured recently, it must give Chris Bangle some satisfaction when the world's most famous car maker favours a similar-looking design.

I have to say the Z4's controversial styling works for me. It looks incredibly fresh amongst the daily flotsam using today's roads and is one of the most 'clocked' cars I've driven recently. That long nose gives it a powerful stance but I have to admit that I keep bumping into things; it's at least a foot longer than you think it is.

Another small grumble is that you sit so far back in the Z4 you're almost over the rear axle, which does nothing for driver comfort. Nor do those run-flat tyres, which can't go soon enough.