BMW Z4: Roadster with attitude

There are vehicles one wouldn’t mind taking for a spin and then there are vehicles one can’t help but salivate over. Over the holidays, BMW Philippines made sure that this writer did like the ubiquitous dog — saliva dripping, tongue wagging and all — as their BMW Z4 test unit spent no less than the entire length of the Christmas break in this writer’s care. Having the beautifully Bangle-d Bimmer in our garage did wonders to enhance our self-esteem but let’s face it, no matter how good a car looks (and in consequence, makes you look), it’s gotta drive much better if it is to receive the thumbs up from any serious car buff. I’ve got two thumbs right here pointing to the high heavens, in case you’re wondering.

What’s that you say? Did I just lay out all my cards right in the first paragraph? This should be easy to justify. First off, let’s consider the car’s aesthetics. You don’t exactly need to look like Pierce Brosnan to do like Bond in this baby. Much more visually stunning than the Z3 (its immediate predecessor) the BMW Z4 is everything a modern roadster ought to be — at least on the outside. It’s sleek, it’s low, it exudes confidence, and it’s picture-pretty from just about any angle. I don’t care what old farts and traditionalists say, as far as I’m concerned, this is one Bimmer that BMW’s imaginative designer Chris Bangle did a helluva job on. Admiring stares from just about anyone who saw me driving the darn thing (yes, even in an area frequented by hi-brow car critics like Punta Fuego) confirms this observation of mine.

Flowing lines that sweep from the car’s hood onto the smoothly carved trunk make for an intimidating yet classy stance. 18-inch rims spread through what looks to be an evenly-distributed wheelbase that’s 1.9 inches longer than its admittedly cramped predecessor make the Z4 appear much more balanced (it actually is, weight distribution-wise). Lower down the electric soft-top (in less than ten seconds) and you’re off! Man, this car’s pretty!

Inside, there’s more of that peppiness that just endeared this car to me. Leather seats juxtaposed against graphite gray interior accents create a warm yet intimidating cockpit — the kind that invites Montoya-like driving (okay, Webber-like, if you want to be politically-correct). Just like its exterior, this car’s interior is also marked by smoothly-flowing lines and swirls — with very intuitive controls to boot. That, plus a killer sound system that can drown out (beautifully, we must add) whatever noise a soft-top could not keep out, make the Z4 just as swell on the inside as it is on the outside.

However, as we hinted in the first paragraph, the BMW Z4 is not just all about good looks. Here is a Bimmer that — like most of its kin — lives up to its moniker as "the ultimate driving machine". We drove the more down-to-earth 2.5 liter version which, with its DOHC, 24-valve, in-line six cylinder M54 engine, delivered roughly 190 horses our way. Not exactly record-breaking numbers, we admit, but consider this — the Z4 weighs a measly 2,900 pounds. Acceleration, the sensation of which is complemented by a noticeably robust yowl, is impressive. As are the car’s braking capabilities with its all-disc, Dynamic Stability Control skid-control system-assisted bakes.

The best thing about the Z4, however, could very well be its uncanny ability to grip the roads. As stable on the road at 100++ kph as it is doing 20, you can take the Z4 into just about any (well-paved) surface and not have to worry much about over-steer. And that’s while it’s running on "normal" mode. Switch to "sport" and you’ll immediately feel grip and directness intensify as the steering wheel, ably assisted by electric power steering, allows for better driver control. Throttle response is also much more noticeable at this mode. Quite frankly, this roadster will barely twitch in the hands of a more than capable driver.

The Z4’s 5-speed automatic transmission is a joy to work with. It throws in enough power at all ratios to keep the driver from complaining about engine response — or lack thereof. The tiny little trade-off to this entire package is the rather stiff ride — especially before you reach cruising speeds — though this is not exactly unexpected considering that the Z4 does have a sport-tuned suspension and a rather fat set of rims. A roadster, after all, is in essence a sports car.

Which brings us to the rather obvious verdict. Are we impressed with the BMW Z4? Without a doubt. Would we buy one for ourselves? If we had P3.8 million in extra change and we were unconcerned about the fact that it seats a mere two people, without a doubt. Would we recommend the purchase of a Z4 to those who have the moolah? Without a doubt. Here is one roadster with attitude — and it’s the kind we like.