2009 BMW Z4

 

Comfort is definitely not on top of your agenda if you are looking for a two seat roadster. What you are looking for is a sweet sounding engine which would reach scenery blurring pace with the softest of touch on the throttle. You buy a roadster because you want to be seen as a super cool dude. And that’s the experience that the BMW Z4 roadster aims at providing its customers. A car that the manufacturer claims is better looking that before and has a stronger engine. Performance is a priority for the new Z4 and with its multitude of new technologies and with the folding hard-top, BMW hopes that the Z4 lives up to its claims of being a car that can combine the comfort of a sporty cruiser along with outright performance. The Z4 price starts from Rs 62,51,563 ex-showroom New Delhi which puts it between the recently launched Audi TT and the Mercedes SLK.
The 2009 BMW Z4 roadster is lower than its predecessor and is built on a new platform that shares absolutely nothing with the outgoing model.

Design

The BMW Z4 roadster is a car which is sure to stop traffic. Open the retractable roof and close it and the traffic is sure to come to a stand-still. The latest Z4 is wider, lower and even the wheelbase has increased. The front is particularly striking with the large BMW signature kidney grille and the massive headlamps. The Z4’s powered hardtop is impressive and moves silently. The hardtop closes in about 20seconds by holding a button and you can access the trunk even when the top is stored. The Z4 has classic roadster looks with its long hood and the short boot. Compared to the front the rear has a rounded look. Overall the Z4 is a sleek and stylish car which is able to swap its feel between an open-top sportster and comfortable coupé.

Interiors

The interiors of the Z4 truly are in a class of its own. The instrument panel has a flowing design with a pair of big gauges. The cabin has a mix of off white leather, wood and high quality soft touch plastic and the driving position is just right. You also have a choice of optional sport seats with adjustable seatback side bolsters. The front seats provide lateral support under hard cornering and the Z4 gets the iDrive control interface as part of an optional navigation package which includes an 80-gigabyte hard disk. There is also an 8.8-inch video screen.
Passenger space on the Z4 is more than before and cabin space has increased as occupants get more head and shoulder room. There is a sense of light and airiness to the cabin and the narrow pillars improve visibility.
Standard equipment includes automatic and adaptive xenon headlights, heated mirrors, automatic wipers, cruise control, air-conditioning, height-adjustable seats, leather upholstery, Bluetooth phone connectivity and a CD player with an iPod/USB audio interface. There is also a dual-zone automatic climate control and eight-way power seats with driver memory functions.
Boot space is good with 180 litres available with the roof down and 310 litres with the roof up. Quality of material used expectedly is top-notch and ergonomically it is hard to find fault.

Engine and performance

The Z4 roadster in India comes with only one engine option which is the inline 6-cylinder, twin-turbocharged 3-litre petrol engine. The engine produces 305PS@5800 and a maximum torque of 400Nm as early as 1300. 100kmph is reached in a company claimed 5.1 seconds which is faster than the Porsche Boxter S and the top speed is electronically limited to 250kmph. On the road the engine pulls cleanly and revs almost to its redline. Power delivery is linear and the engine’s sweat spot is in its meaty midrange.
Standard on the BMW Z4 Roadster is the 6 speed sport automatic transmission. Then there is also the seven-speed sport automatic transmission which is optional on the BMW Z4 sDrive35i and standard on the BMW Z4 sDrive35is. The Z4 comes with a launch control system where you hold the car on the brakes, give it full throttle and leave the brakes. When the revs build up the seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox dumps the clutch and the roadster rockets.

Ride

The Z4 roadster uses an aluminium double-joint tiebar axle which delivers excellent driving dynamics and passenger comfort. The axle weighs around 30 percent less than normal steel axles and the rear-wheel drive roadster uses modern lightweight materials that ensure that the Z4’s overall weight is distributed evenly between the two axles. The result is excellent handling and agility. The bodyshell is very rigid and Dynamic Driving Control gives you total control. This system enables you to change the set-up of the car and with a touch you can switch to Sports or the Sport+ mode where you noticeably change the character of the vehicle. In Sports+ mode the engine is more responsive, steering and the adaptive M suspension become stiffer and the transmission reacts quicker. For everyday use in urban conditions, the Z4 is best used in Normal mode.
The way the Z4 goes around corners is impressive and there is plenty of grip with little body roll. You can switch off the traction control completely which allows you to get the tail out and the steering is razor sharp. The bodyshell of the new Z4 is 25 per cent stiffer than its predecessor and the chassis balance is brilliant. The ride quality too is acceptable.

Competition

The design of the Porsche Boxster S may not have changed a lot but it remains an automotive icon. The performance is excellent and so is the PDK transmission. The revised steering and the mid-engine layout make the Boxster one of the best roadsters ever. The Audi TT and the Nissan 370Z are both much cheaper than the Z4.

Verdict

The BMW Z4 does most things well and it looks like a million dollars. The cabin is designed tastefully and with the Z4 you get both an open-top sportster and a snug coupé. The performance is stronger than the Boxter S and the twin turbo charged engine is a belter. The ride quality while is on the stiff side, isn’t too bad for the roadster to be used as an everyday car. The handling is another if its strengths but it doesn’t feel as sharp as the Boxter S. The Z4 overall makes a strong case for itself and is well built with genuine dual-purpose ability blending modern-car practicality with classic roadster appeal.
Quotes from other reviews:
Autocar India: ‘Even more appealing is the way the Z4 behaves on the main street. The motor pulls cleanly and very linearly almost to its redline. It may not have the ballistic top-end of BMW’s naturally aspirated sixes, but the fantastic midrange more than makes up for this. The thing is, it’s so linear that you sometimes forget how fast you are going – it’ll sneak up on 180kph when you’re not paying attention and then sidle up to 220kph if you hold onto the throttle for more than a bit.