BMW has beefed up the Z4, turning it in to a serious sports car.
The Z4 gets a shot of Testosterone and the result is a gorgeous, indulgent sports car that will have you grinning from ear to ear!
The Bavarian Z4 has always tried to be 'old school' in the sports car sense, with rear-wheel drive and engines mounted lengthways under the long bonnet, but it has had a tough time shedding the image of the old and softer appearing Z3. The Z3 was BMW's answer to Mazda's stunning and affordable MX-5 and despite the meatier exterior of the first generation Z4, some critics weren't convinced. The latest Z4 'sDrive' should silence those critics.
While the MX-5 stayed curvy and a little feminine, the new Z4 has gone 'butch'. BMW's Z4, with its straight 6 engine range, is now bigger and better looking. The car's lines and overhangs are next to perfect, so this is a Z4 to covet. The two-piece hard top looks great up and the car looks super when the two-piece roof is stowed in the boot also. The mechanism takes just 20 seconds, which seems to be the average for new drop tops these days.
Boot space of 310 litres is available with the roof up and a little more than half of that when down, although a breakthrough panel is available should you need to carry a golf bag or skis - hey, now there's a game called 'Ski-Golf'!
Inside the car has matured nicely. BMW's Dna is present in spades and there is a better sense of space and all round vision. You sit deep in the Z4 and become part of the car. This position is great on the track but not so good at the shops surrounded by SUVs. Then again, you can always adjust the seat height!
On the road the top of the range (for now) 'sDrive35i' (sDrive is new BMW speak for rear-wheel drive) delivers classic, 'seat of the pants' driving. The 304bhp delivered from the 6 in my sDrive35i is simply joyous to use. Yet despite having over 300 horses, there are quite a few cars that you will feel more confident in driving quickly on Irish back roads and boreens with their lovely ditches and hedgerows! Low slung sports cars aren't the best in real Ireland for brisk driving but believe me, there are very few cars that give the driver such a beautiful classic feel as the Z4.
Zero to 100km/h takes a blistering 5.2 seconds, while top speed is electronically limited to sub sonic! Twin-turbo chargers help get the most out of the 3 litre engine. 400nm of torque through the rear wheels is the main reason you need to keep all the driving aids switched on as the 35i can spin easily without them. In a Z4 you sit just in front of the rear wheels and every flick of the throttle is sensed through your backside. The car feels agile and especially in the 35i version, a little naughty. You need to pay attention when the road surface gets wet or loose as the Z4 will happily wag its tail before the stability control kicks in.
The new Z4 is a hoot and if you can afford one, a car that will keep you happy for years.
Michael Sheridan
