What they said when the BMW Z4 was new…
(Oct 28 2002)
DESPITE the fact that BMW has sold 300,000 Z3 sports cars since its launch in 1995, the trendy two-seater has never been considered by the purist as a "real" roadster.
Open-top enthusiasts were disappointed that, initially, it had a rather gutless 1.9 engine and its pretty lines earned the Z3 a reputation among many as a "hairdresser's" car.
More power was added in later versions and a coupe and M Roadster were introduced to satisfy the needs of drivers who like a challenging drive.
Good as they were, they still didn't properly meet the desires of the majority of BMW fans looking for power, great handling and thrusting looks.
But all that is about to change with the introduction of the Z3's successor, the all-new Z4, which goes on sale in Europe early next year and in the UK in early summer.
The Z4 is bigger, more powerful and is a proper roadster, offering potential owners cutting-edge looks, power and pace and excellent road-holding characteristics.
I certainly enjoyed myself throwing the Z4 around a bit on mountain roads which tested the American-built roadster to near the limit.
Equipped with BMW's classy straight-six engines, the Z4 can't be accused of lacking poke. The 2.5-litre develops 192 bhp, giving it a 0-62 mph time of seven seconds and a top speed of 146. Or you can opt for the three litre which has 231 bhp of oomph, a sprint time of 5.9 seconds and a limited top speed of 155 mph.
If this performance isn't enough for you there is an option to buy a Dynamic Drive Control system which, at the press of a button, gives the engine more kick.
Handling is top class on the Z4, which for the first time in BMW's history is fitted with electric power steering. I can't say I noticed a great deal of difference between that and conventional hydraulic steering, but it was pin sharp.
With a claimed 50-50 weight distribution between the axles, the Z4 is a well balanced machine and with rear-wheel drive keeping the steering free of power surges the driver gets a lot of feedback through the wheel. Grip on the road is magnificent. Even in tight, fast corners, the Z4 sticks to the black stuff with hardly a hint of understeer.
The 2.5i version comes as standard with a five-speed manual gearbox and the Z4 3.0i has six speed. Both engines are available with an SMG automatic/manual system. But I think most enthusiasts will opt for the fun of the manual.
BMW's engineers have somehow managed to build the Z4 with body stiffness almost twice as rigid as the outgoing Z3. This, and improved suspension settings, are responsible for a very shake-free ride even on bumpy roads.
A removable hard top version will be introduced late next year, but in the meantime the Z4 has an excellent electric folding roof which can be deployed in 10 seconds. It still leaves a fair amount of luggage space in the rear and fits so snugly that it doesn't need a tonneau cover or roof lid. BMW claims the boot will take two sets of golf clubs and there are a few cubby-holes inside the cabin.
The Z4 is also fitted with run-flat tyres and doesn't carry a spare. If you suffer a puncture BMW claims you can safely run the car for roughly 90 miles at a reduced speed of not more than 50 mph.
All in all, this is a very desirable roadster, which has already caused a stir among BMW fans.
No official UK price has yet been set, but the entry level price is expected to be around £28,000. But get in quick. It's been rumoured that the waiting list for the Z4 is already standing at around 12 months!
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