Munich  - BMW has given its Z4 sports car an extensive makeover, showcasing at the Detroit Motor Show in January the model that succeeds the Z4 Roadster and Z4 Coupe.

One of the many new technical features is a hydraulically- operated, retractable hardtop roof that opens and closes in 20 seconds. It also includes a glass rear window for improved visibility.

Retaining the basic design of its predecessor with the long bonnet and short rear, the new Z4 however comes with broader shoulders and more dominant kidney-shaped grille.

Munich  - Winter sports enthusiasts should take along their own ski glasses when buying a ski helmet because not every helmet can be worn with every pair of glasses, said a German ski safely foundation and the German ski association.

The glasses should be flush with the helmet across the face. They should not press on the bone of the nose and neither the helmet nor the glasses should impair the skier's vision.

Whether a skier wears a half-skull or full skull helmet is a matter of taste, experts say. Half-skull helmets differ in many ways, including their soft ear pads, which can be removed on warm days. Children and skiers who race should wear the half-skull model, according to the foundation and the association.

Munich  - Fujitsu Siemens is offering its first laptop with external graphics: the AMILO Notebook Sa 3650 works with a device the company is calling a "GraphicBooster." This primarily consists of a 18 x 13 x 3.35 cm case containing an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3870 graphics card with 512 MB of memory. The manufacturer claims that the GraphicBooster speeds up processing four-fold over the machine's ATI Radeon HD 3200 working alone.

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Munich - Franck Ribery is not for sale but a move involving Lukas Podolski will hopefully be finalized within the next weeks, according to the chairman of Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Rummenigge told Friday's edition of the Bild daily that Munich will not release their French star Ribery from his contract until 2011 and instead want to keep him even longer.

"I can promise that 100 per cent to all Bayern fans and all friends of attractive football. No offer, no sum will stop us," Rummenigge said.

Munich - Bayern Munich goalkeeper Michael Rensing has dismissed criticism of his performances from club president Franz Beckenbauer as nonsense amid speculation that the Bundesliga champions may be looking to sign a new man between the posts.

"His criticism is nonsense," Rensing told Thursday's edition of the Bild daily.

Earlier this week, Beckenbauer had named Rensing's performance in Saturday's league match at VfB Stuttgart "amateurish" and blamed him for Stuttgart's late 2-2 equalizer.