Auto Car | BMW Z4 | The BMW Z4 is one of the more intriguing sports cars available. It's a successor to the original Z3 and is the company's only two-seat sports car. It features traditional characteristics such as a front-engine/rear-drive layout, a hunkered-down stance, a long hood and rearward positioning of driver and passenger. While the first Z4 featured a traditional soft top, the current Z4 model has a sleek retractable hardtop that makes this fun-loving roadster a more viable all-year car choice.The current Z4 also represents a slight change in philosophy for BMW's roadster, as it sacrifices ultimate handling for greater ride comfort and overall refinement. The result is a grand touring coupe and roadster, and one of the most rounded sports cars money can buy.
The BMW Z4 was completely redesigned for 2009, as the coupe and roadster models were melded into one with the introduction of a retractable hardtop. The styling was revamped to be more curvaceous and fluid than its angular avant-garde predecessor, while the interior gains some space, style and improved materials. The former car's top-of-the-line engine becomes the base motor, while BMW's sweet twin-turbo straight-6 becomes the Z4's kingpin.
The Z4 is offered in two trim levels: sDrive30i and sDrive35i. The former gets a 3.0-liter inline-6 that produces 255 horsepower and 220 pound-feet of torque. The sDrive35i gets a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 good for 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. Both cars come standard with a six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed conventional automatic is optional on the sDrive30i, while the optional transmission for the sDrive35i is a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual.
Even in its basic trim, the first-generation BMW Z4 rewarded drivers with an engaging driving experience. In Edmunds.com reviews, editors praised the car's sharp reflexes and quick acceleration, though the ride could be a bit rough and the steering wasn't as communicative as some competitors. The Coupe possessed a slight advantage in terms of handling due to its added body rigidity. For shoppers desiring even more performance, there was also an M-powered version of the Z4.
Source: www.edmunds.com
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