BMW’s latest Z4 might tone down the overly radical looks of its predecessor, but it’s a better car – not least because it’s both more comfortable, and more sporting to drive
BMW are also reducing model complexity at a time when car companies are carefully perusing their bottom line, by introducing a single model with an electrically folding hard-top roof in place of two cars, the Z4 roadster and coupe.
However, an open-topped car can rarely match the dynamic excellence of a roofed one, decapitation reduces stiffness while adding bracing boosts weight. Still, BMW undeniably builds evocative roadsters, all low-slung, with long bonnets and short tails.
BMW’s first, the type 3/15 PS, briefly appeared as a six-cylinder roadster from 1930 — the so-called Wartburg roadster, with its 315/1 successor from 1934.
In 1936 the type 328 Roadster arrived, with 60kW pushing the 830kg car to almost 150kph — insanely fast for the roads of the time.
Perhaps BMW had to pause for thought; the next one arrived two decades later, the 507 V8-engined roadster designed for the US market. Just 253 were built.
Another three decades passed before BMW introduced the Z1, which showcased a variety of prototype tech such as BMW’s ‘Z’ axle and innovative, downward sliding doors. Some 8000 Z1s were built, with production ending in 1991.
Then came the 1996 Z3 as driven by James Bond, who would have spurned the entry-level variants. Small engines led to the ‘hairdresser car’ epithet, a tag intended to insult and definitely not appropriate to the range-topping 3.2-litre cars or the M coupe spin-off. Z3 production ended in 2002 after 300,000 had been built.
Meanwhile BMW also built the Z8 roadster, its aluminium chassis housing a 298kW, 5.0-litre V8 filched from the M5 that took it from zero to 100 in 4.7 seconds. Hot stuff, but rare, with just 5700 built.
The Z4
Then came the original Z4, unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in 2002, and driven by us at its launch in Portugal. Though its ‘flame surface’ polarised onlookers where the Z3 had boasted a more traditional format, it was a much better car to drive.
Engine and styling revisions in 2006 added spice to the breed, but not as much as this latest generation can boast.
BMW has toned down the design excesses and the car’s crisp new lines are now as handsome at rest as underway. Notably, the car looks as good roof up or down, the boot compromised less than expected in roadster form.
The smarter cabin is more driver-focussed, the dash angled towards the pilot, the row of easy-to-reach circular dials a neat nod to history. This cabin is more comfortable than before too, and easily accommodates taller drivers.
However, this is no boulevard cruiser. New Zealand gets a choice of three engines, though I drove only the 190kW/310Nm 3-0-litre six-cylinder and the 225kW/400Nm twin-turbo 3.0. The latter delivers the keener soundtrack, and quicker pick-up — with power arriving lower down the rev-range. Most notably, peak torque is available anywhere from 1300 to 5000rpm, thrusting the car out of corners.
Dynamic drive adaptive suspension is bolted to this stiffer body, its ‘normal’ setting a smidge more comfy than the outgoing car’s standard set-up, the ‘sport’ further honing the handling, and ‘sport plus’ suggesting a step too far on the salt-slick tarmac of our Great Ocean Road drive, for it also knocks back the stability control.
In sport, the Z4 delivered nimble handling with just enough squirm from the rear wheels to please. Would the extra weight of the bigger engine prove a liability? No. Quicker pick-up and a hairier – if still over-muffled – soundtrack better suits this car’s persona, the rear’s greater tendency to move an exhilarating footnote to the car’s performance.
Meanwhile the suspension proved sufficiently compliant on the frankly appalling road surfaces of our 600km-odd drive suggest the car will easily handle our conditions.
At least, it will if driving pleasure is your focus. Want to waft attractively about, your elegantly-arranged coiffure barely ruffling in the breeze and you’ll be sadly disappointed. There’s a fair amount of wind buffet in the cabin as standard, and hirsute owners 
should consider purchasing the $670 wind deflector (which I wasn’t able to try).
If you want a quiet car, you’ll never buy a roadster as even a car with folding hard-top is noisier than a tin-top —but the latest Z4 delivers elegant urbanity, enough dynamism to challenge most drivers on most roads most of the time, and a greater ability to dispatch everyday errands than ever before.
2009 BMW Z4 – Specifications
Engine 2497cc straight six (23i), 3.0-litre straight six (30i), or 3.0 twin-turbo straight six (35i)
Bore/stroke 82.78.8 (23i); 85:88 (30i); 84:89 (35i)
CR 11.0:1 (23i); 10.7:1 (30i); 10.2:1 (35i)
Power 150kW at 6400rpm (23i); 190kW at 6600rpm (30i); 225kW at 5800rpm (35i)
Torque 250Nm at 2750rpm (23i); 310Nm at 2600rpm (30i); 400Nm at 1300- 5000rpm
Transmission Six-speed manual, six-speed auto RWD
Suspension MacPherson strut front, independent rear
Brakes Ventilated discs all-round, with ABS, DSC, DTC and ABD
Wheels/tyres 17-inch alloys, 225/45R17 front, 225/45R17 rear (23i); 225/45R17 front, 255/40R17 rear (30i); 18-inch alloys, 225/40R18 front, 255/35R18 rear (35i)
Dimensions:
Length/width/height/WB 4239/1790/1291/2496mm
Track fr/rr 1511/1559mm
Kerb weight 1480-1600kg
Performance:
0-100kph (claimed, manual/auto) 6.6/7.3 seconds (23i); 5.8/6.1 (30i); 5.2/5.1 (35i)
Fuel consumption combined (claimed, manual/auto) 9.2/8.9l/100km (23i); 9.2/9.0l/100km (30i);9.8/9.4l/100km (35i)
NZ Price $86,900-$124,900
Words & Photos: Jacqui Madeline
This article is from Classic Car issue 223. Click here to check it out.
