BMW Z4: The Z3 was all about show. Now, with the Z4, BMW has produced a full-blown sports car which takes cars such as the Porsche Boxster head on. Michael McAleer found the new Bavarian very much to his taste.
BMW has bagged a winner with its latest drop-top sports model. The Z4 is a world apart from the current rather pallid Z3. Sure, it features roadster styling in line with its smaller sibling but this car is not a marketing makeover harking back to the heady days of Grace Kelly and E-Type Jaguars.
While the Z3 was more for show, the Z4 is a full-blown modern sports car, putting the Bavarians back in the upper echelons and offering a real alternative to the previous king of the roads, the Porsche Boxster.
The Z4 is the latest model to make it onto the road from the drawing board of BMW's controversial designer Chris Bangle. With its well-honed lines, the car actually looks more like it's hewn from a solid block of steel rather than assembled from so many parts at BMW's US factory in Spartanburg, South Carolina, home also to the X5 and Z3. It's certainly eye-catching, and driving around during the week, banks of stares constantly followed its movements. This car doesn't need to fit with a fad. It goes above all that.
The looks are traditional long-nose and short tail of the roadster, but the solid tapered lines give it a far more modern appearance, and even the regulation kidney grille gets a more contemporary makeover with the slanted vents. The long nose also belies a car that handles quite adeptly in town traffic and is not too difficult to park, in spite of the rather limited visibility.
But it's not just the looks that catch the attention. BMW has obviously got a serious acoustics engineer working on its development team. Their work results in a deep-throated engine note of the type that causes dogs to bark and pensioners to swear. This is not the car for sneaking home late at night. Even in the midst of busy traffic the distinct hum from the engine as it is gently urged forward is unmistakable. And it only takes the lightest flick of the foot to turn that deep hum to all-out roar. This is the sound of sheer unadulterated toe-curling power. What's more, it's great fun and quickly becomes addictive. A few moments idling and you just want another earful of that engine, so a quick stab of the pedal provides the necessary fix until you get on your way.
While the Z4 shares about 30 per cent of its parts with the 3-series - including the engines - it also features several innovations including: run-flat tyres as standard, a Dynamic Drive Control (DDC) option which firms the steering and sharpens the throttle response at the push of a button, and a Dynamic Traction Control setting option which lets the driver enjoy a little more power oversteer. You need not switch it fully off, for the system will allow partial deactivation letting you slip and slide a little, but only up to 40 mph, or 0.4g.
On Irish back roads the handling was pin sharp and precise, courtesy of BMW's new electric steering system, which works best at higher speeds. The blue and white marque has long built up a reputation for excellent handling characteristics and while in this category it comes up against arguably one of the best driver's cars on the market in the form of the Porsche Boxster, it manages to put up a decent fight. It does seem to weigh slightly in slow traffic conditions and is perhaps not as responsive in really tight bends, but these are perhaps a result of the electric power steering which does get it right particularly when the DDC is switched on.
Credit must also go to the suspension team. We drove into a pothole that could easily be mistaken for a quarry and, while we made it out alive, for a few desperate moments we were sure we'd broken the car in two. As our heart sank and we prepared to make that dreaded call to BMW, the car bravely went ahead battered and a little bruised but none the worse for wear. If nothing else it demonstrated the strong build characteristics and the benefits of a body stiffness that is 2.5 times greater than the Z3, thus allowing the Z4 to have more supple suspension, which means that it rides smoothly over bumps for a sports car. That later point should be noted. This is a sports car after all, and you can expect nothing less than a firm ride in this market.
With its low ground clearance and run flat tyres we were actually expecting it to be rather rougher on Irish roads. There is an issue with the runflat tyres and whether they add to the harshness, yet they do have their positive sides, letting you drive for up to 90 miles with no air in them provided you don't exceed 50 mph. The upside is a saving on weight as there is no spare wheel. The downside is that aforementioned ride characteristic.
So to performance, and two six-cylinder engines are on offer, matched with transmission can be a six-speed manual, a six-speed SMG clutchless sequential system or a five-speed automatic. Of the two engines - a 2.5-litre 193 bhp and a three-litre 231 bhp - we tested the latter more powerful variant.
This smooth and hefty straight-six pulls from idle to nearly the high 6,000 rpms with a loud roar and a rapid, yet silk smooth, power delivery. The deep notes on the ascent are matched by enjoyable pops and muted growls as you come down off the power. It's the sort of note that tells whoever cares to listen that this car is more than capable of putting them firmly in the backseat. After all, from a standstill to 60 mph takes 5.7 seconds, with a top speed of 155 mph.
As for the optional DDC, which sharpens the accelerator's response, we would think it should be a must for anyone considering driving this car outside busy shopping streets with the roof down.
Along with improving acceleration response, it also stiffens the power steering settings and changes the car from tourer to full-blooded sports car.
Inside, and the cockpit continues the impression of being cut from a solid piece of metal, with the brushed steel dominating the fascia and the large central console between driver and passenger, all adding to the general feeling of really being in the car rather than riding along on it. However, it is no masterpiece of ergonomics inside, and while the boot can hold the two golf bags it is disappointing to see they neglected to line the boot lid. Cabin storage space is also poor and the storage box between the seats was where the sat-nav paraphernalia was housed, which meant we only had room for a sunglasses case and it was full.
On a more positive note, the drop-top element was very impressive and the roof folds away at the touch of a button in a lightning-fast seven seconds, faster than all its competitors and quick enough to fold away while sitting at traffic lights.
Rarely would we be speaking in terms of value for money when discussing a two-seater roadster that sells for € 58,000, but when you consider the Porsche is all of € 16,000 more, one begins to appreciate that there is a value call in this market as well.
The one major downside with the Z4 is the waiting time. Whether you buy into the philosophy that these are created by car firms to protect residuals and create a market of expectation or not, the fact is you will have to wait before you get behind the wheel, or else pay premium and buy now.
For all his critics, Bangle is proving to be expanding the BMW model line-up in ways that put it in the running in each field. What's more, clever pricing policy means it actually seems like money well spent, not a common feature in the car industry.
FACTFILE
ENGINE: BMW's well regarded straight six cylinder, with 2,979 cc offering 231 bhp at 5,900 rpm and 300 Nm of troque at 3,900 rpm.
PERFORMANCE: A top speed of 155 mph with a 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds (6.2 for auto).
SPECIFICATION: Four airbags, traction control air/con CD/Radio standard, but no iDrive for the Z4.
FUEL: urban: 20.9 mpg. Extra urban: 38.7. Combined: 29.7 mpg.
PRICE: €58,300.
THE COMPETITION
BMW Z4 3.0 (auto). 2979cc; 6.2 (0-62); 155 max speed; 231 bhp; 29.7 mpg combined; €58,300.
Porsche Boxster 2.7. 2687cc; 6.6 (0-62); 155 max speed; 252 bhp; 25.9 mpg combined; €74,500.
Audi TT Roadster Quattro 1.8T 225. 1785cc; 6.4 (0-62); 151 max speed; 225 bhp; 30.1 mpg combined; €59,450.
Mercedes SLK 320. 3199cc; 7.3 (0-62); 142 max speed; 218 bhp; 24.8 mpg combined; €66,760.
Honda S2000. 1997cc; 5.6 (0-62); 147 max speed; 237 bhp; 28.5 mpg combined; €59,600.