Look. I wanted the other Z4, the M40i beast that will ultimately wear a Toyota badge when the new Supra arrives later this year. Instead I got this, the sDrive 2.0-litre. So instead of scaring myself for the next 300km, I got to enjoy a car with 145kW and 320Nm - enough for a thrilling blast, but not enough to scare the yell out of me either. Let's take a moment to appreciate the Z4 I'd actually recommend to people.
A history of zeds
It was 1989 when we were first endowed with a Z1. Sort of Z-ception as it were. This was followed by the Z3 in 1995, made famous in celluloid by Mr James Bond and culminating with the ultra-collectable M-Coupe. Then came a design dalliance called the Z8 while the Z3 was replaced with a few generations of Z4.
This then is the latest Z4 and it's quite an advancement in styling. A new Z means completely new design language - very aggressive and sharp as a tack, all clues to the prowess promised in the spec sheet.
It's features a wider track than its predecessor, is lighter too and finely balanced at 50:50, front to back. A low centre of gravity comes easy when you have no roof, and the net result of this in the bigger-lunged M40i is a Nurburgring lap of 7 minutes 55 seconds which is not shoddy for a roadster.
But that isn't this car, rather its powered by the sort of engine you'd find in a hot hatchback from ten years ago. That's a turbo charged 2.0l turbo capable of carrying it from zero to 100kph in 6.4 seconds and onwards to a max velocity of 240kph. Gears are shifted via a refined eight speed Steptronic automatic transmission with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters, good to return eco credentials measuring 6l/100km of fuel and 137g/mm of CO2. That's impressive.
The shunt of it all, not so much. And I know I sound like a spoilt brat, but if I were considering buying a Z4 I wouldn't settle for anything less than the six cylinder. They're chalk and cheese, and before you take that as a criticism there's something to consider. For years we've regarded it as Mercedes rival, the SLK as a too soft cruiser despite a solitary performance iteration in its line-up. Terms like hairdresser’s car have been bandied about. I'm sorry. But it's true.
The Z4 however has as part of its legacy always been regarded as more of a driver’s car. And while the sDrive20i is a competent cruiser, cruising is not what I'd personally want to do in mine. There's still a lot to love here. There’s talk of a remote software upgrade (like a smartphone) which is neat. Still on that page you can also use your current phone as the car key, with up to five users getting access. And it can be used as well to start the engine, so very James Bond.
That's all great, but the greatest party trick in a Z needs to be the engine. And I just won’t settle for less than the turbocharged six cylinder M40i.
BMW Z4 sDrive20i Steptronic Spec:
| Price | R759,442.00 |
| Engine | 2.0l Inline 4-cyl, turbocharged |
| Power | 145kW |
| Torque | 320Nm |
| Gearbox | 8-speed auto
|
| Driven Wheels | Rear |
| Top Speed | 240kph |
| 0-100kph | 6.4 seconds |
| Average Fuel Consumption | 6.5l/100km |
| CO2 Emissions | 148g/km |
New Z4 Pricing:
| sDrive20i Sportline | R755,900.00 |
| sDrive 20i M Sport | R782,642.00 |
| M40i | R1,036,699.00 |
| M40i First Edition | R1,170,799.00 |
