Photography by Sammy Chan
This open two-seater not only marks another highlight in BMW's new design language, but also sets new standards in its class: The Z4 is powerful, sporting and aesthetic in its design and looks, it offers extremely precise and safe handling, and therefore guarantees driving pleasure of the highest calibre.
With a Canadian starting price of $51,500 for the 2.5-litre version and $59,500 for the 3.0-litre, the BMW Z4 proudly bears all the classic features of a typical roadster - a long and sleek engine compartment, a long wheelbase, short overhangs and a low seating position moved far to the back. The exciting design of the car is characterised by the intriguing interplay of convex and concave surfaces, hard edges and gentle curvature. This intense optical impression creates new transitions of light and shadow from every angle, shaping the very special character of the BMW Z4.
The new body offers the roadster aficionado not only a spacious cockpit with
sports-contoured seats featured as standard, but also a large luggage
compartment with a variable roof box providing capacity of up to 260 litres or
9.1 cu ft, large enough for two golf bags. The soft roof folds in a Z-shaped
configuration and comes with a heated rear glass window.
Available with two high-torque six-cylinder power units, the Z4 3.0i (225 bhp /
top speed 206 km/h) with its special sound engineering and the Z4 2.5i (184 bhp
/ 206 km/h) offer a roadster experience of the highest calibre. This superior
power is conveyed to the modified rear axle of the BMW 3 Series by a new
six-speed (Z4 2.5i: five-speed) manual gearbox. There is also the option of a
five-speed automatic transmission available for both variations.
A wide track, an extremely low centre of gravity, optimum 50:50 axle load
distribution and very precise steering (electric power steering) help to give
the new Z4 its outstanding agility. And it almost goes without saying that
fading-free high-performance brakes, runflat tires featured as standard and
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC III) with an on-demand traction mode guarantee
supreme driving safety in all situations. Last but certainly not least, the BMW
Z4 offers crash safety of the highest standard.
Dials and instruments housed beneath sporting hoods on the dashboard allow the
driver of the Z4 to keep a close eye at all times on all the functions of this
car. Options available include a sophisticated navigation system with 16:9
display retracting fully into the instrument panel and a top hifi system in
carver technology for powerful bass reproduction. Standard features of the new
Z4 include a leather sports steering wheel, a rollover safety system, and lots
of spacious storage compartments.