2010 BMW Z4

 

                      2010 BMW Z4

 

For a manufacturer of BMW’s stature, it is a surprise that they have struggled with the first Z4 roadster. The Z4 was not able to match the Porsche Boxster but BMW engineers are confident that the second generation Z4 has all that it takes to compete against the Porsche. The Z4 is larger and more comfortable than before and competes with the Audi TT, Mercedes-Benz SLK and also the Nissan 370Z. With its ability of swapping its feel between an open-top sportster and a snug coupe, the Z4 does answer the questions of practicality of convertibles in India. BMW has made changes to the steering, throttle and chassis settings so that the Z4 appeals to a wider audience. James Bond brought forth BMW’s most modern mass-market roadster the Z3 in front of the world and the immediate successor to the Z3 is the Z4. The roadster is priced at Rs 62,77,797 ex-showroom New Delhi.

Design

The Z4 Roadster has classic roadster looks with a long hood and a short boot. The A-pillars finished in gloss black makes them appear thinner giving the Z4 a sleeker, less top-heavy appearance. Distinguishing the new Z4 from its predecessor is the indented ‘V’ set into the bonnet which runs like a ribbon. The three-quarter rear windows help improve refinement when the roof is down and they also make the Z4 look more coupe-like with the roof up. BMW has used LED technology in front and rear lights and the odd lip at the outside edge improves aerodynamics. The pronounced lip spoiler is incorporated into the bootlid and the proportions of the Z4 are finely judged and the edges flow neatly into the rear lights. The shape has striking contours and soft mergers fully captures the character of this vehicle. There are some typical BMW design elements like the characteristic kidney grille to the powerful wheelarches at the rear and the side view is dominated by the dynamic flow of the car’s shoulder line connecting the front and rear wheel arches. The shoulder line accentuates the stretched and athletic look of the Roadster and other characteristic design features are the extra-large engine compartment lid extending far over the wheel arches, the gill intakes at the side with their integrated LED direction indicators while at the rear are the three-dimensional LED-fed rows of light units.

Interiors

The cabin is where the BMW Z4 truly outclasses its rivals. The interiors are surprisingly roomy and the cabin is practical unlike some other modern roadsters. Visibility is good despite the low seats but in hard-top mode you realise that it’s a cramped cabin and headroom is in short supply. Quality is top-notch expectedly and all the controls are intuitively laid out.
The cabin is visually pleasing and includes a slew of comfort and usability improvements. The audio system is built around an 8.8-inch LCD screen with an 80GB hard drive and there is a 650-watt 14-speaker sound system. The cabin is beautifully finished and you get more space than the Audi TT and Mercedes-Benz SLK. Boot space is reasonable with 180 litres available with the roof down and 310 litres with it up. The seats with integrated headrests and come stitched in high quality leather in a choice of three colours. The folding two-piece aluminium roof is made up of lightweight aluminium shell technology and opens and closes electro-hydraulically within just 20 seconds.

Engine and performance

The only engine option available for the Z4 in India is the 3-litre, inline-six cylinder petrol engine. The engine produces 310 PS and 400Nm of torque thanks to the use of twin turbos and accelerates to 100kmph is a manufacturer claimed 5.1seconds. Top speed is restricted to 250kmph and the motor is matched to either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 7 speed dual clutch automatic transmission. The engine uses BMW’s Valvetronic system, for variable valve lift, and double-VANOS system, which changes the angle of the valves to enhance performance. According to the manufacturer this is the first inline-six to come with twin turbochargers, high precision injection, and an all-aluminium crankcase. The motor owes its light weight to its composite magnesium/aluminium crankcase, cylinder head cover made of a special synthetic material and lightweight camshafts. The 6 cylinder motor pulls cleanly and very linearly to it’s redline and it has a fantastic midrange.

Ride

The Z4 uses an aluminium double-joint tiebar axle that delivers excellent driving dynamics and weighs around 30 percent less than normal steel axles. The roadster also comes with Dynamic Driving Control that enables you to vary the set-up of the car at the touch of a button. In the Sport+ mode the character of the vehicle changes noticeably and the engine is more responsive, steering and the adaptive M suspension become tauter, and the sport automatic transmission reacts quicker. The traction control monitors the forces acting on the chassis and when it indicates a danger of skidding, the system intervenes by braking individual wheels as needed. The intelligent use of modern lightweight materials ensures that the rear wheel drive BMW Z4 Roadster’s overall weight is distributed evenly between the two axles. The result is the best handling yet on the Z4. The bodyshell is very rigid and the steering is precise and there is plenty of grip around corners with little body roll. Ride quality is stiff but not too bad.

Competition

The Porsche Boxster S is absolutely fantastic. The chassis is responsive and the mid-engine configuration makes it a genuine joy to drive. This Porsche strikes an ideal balance between rigidity and suppleness and the straight 6 engine is a joy to use. The Boxster S is a driver’s delight and the ride quality too isn’t too bad. The styling has improved and the red cabin looks great. The Mercedes SLK is a showstopper and is a big improvement over its predecessor. The interiors achieve a mix between luxury and sporty styling, the engine has strong performance and the 7 speed automatic gearbox is relaxed and smooth. The SLK is as practical as convertibles can get and the ride and handling is nicely sorted but not as dynamic as the competition. The Nissan 370 Z’s design keeps the aggressive style of its predecessor and the engine now is more powerful and smooth.

TheBMW Z4 does many things well and it looks worth a million dollars. The cabin is designed thoughtfully and there is reasonably space too. The build quality is one of its strengths. The Z4 is capable at swapping its feel between open-top sportster and snug coupe in seconds and the 3-litre, 6 cylinder engine is smooth and free-revving, with plenty of power and excellent response. The dynamics are much better than the model it replaces and the Dynamic Driving Control allows you to alter the suspension setting. The steering though isn’t as intuitive as on the Boxster S and the ride quality isn’t as plush as the Mercedes SLK. Acceleration is just a little slower than the Porsche but quicker than the SLK 350. The rear-wheel drive typical of BMW allows for perfect distribution of axle load and the long wheelbase and the low centre of gravity on the roadster create ideal conditions for agility at all times. Though the idea of a roadster is yet to catch up in our country, the Z4 delivers on different fronts which make it a genuinely interesting car to be used on weekends.
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. The gearbox is quick and it is evident that it’s not hindered by the same safety net that BMW burdens its regular auto ’boxes with.’