BMW Z4 M40i
by Si Hall
Shot by Arthur Gold
The BMW Z4 enters a third full model generation this year, getting
lower, wider, faster, taller and better-equipped than any of its
predecessors. A proper threat to the Porsche Boxster 718? and rebound rates adapt within 20 milliseconds, taking into account corner
speed, steering angle, how fast you’ve turned the wheel, and more. And
differently according to drive mode.’
Power and Efficiency: Equipment, Safety and Technology
The Z4 features BMW’s new-generation ‘Live Cockpit Professional’ digital
instruments and its ‘BMW Operating System 7.0’ infotainment set-up
beaming from a glossy touch screen so wide it measures more than 10 inches
diagonally. It’s also the first Z4 with a head-up display (like the instrument
projection on the inside of a fighter pilot’s helmet visor) so your eyes need
never leave the road. The latter is optional but definitely worth having. The
high quality materials are more like a plush saloon car. Fit and finish feel
perfect, there’s storage space aplenty for plus-sized phones and coffees, plus
a fully digital instrument cluster, as seen on the latest 3 and 8 series. Whether
the roof’s up or down, refinement is quite something for a roadster you can
happily live with all year round.
I got to play out for a few sunny days, courtesy of our friends at Williams
BMW Liverpool, with the 3.0-litre turbo straight six with M Performance
status, which pulses away at the top of the range. Well endowed with
335bhp and 369lb ft of torque, there’s no denying its broad and muscular
powerband, 3 seconds faster than an M2 around the Nurburgring. It comes
with a brilliant eight speed, smooth, fast and responsive automatic gearbox,
lowered and adaptively dampened sport suspension, uprated M brakes and
a torque-vectoring electronic locking differential. It can launch from 0-62 in
4.6 seconds, but actually feels quicker than that! As with the gearbox, the Z4’s
chassis is serious and the front end completely devoid of understeer. BMW
has endeavoured to give the Z4 the best start in life by placing two thirds of
the engine behind the front axle for a sweet 50:50 weight distribution – sports
car holy grail.
On the road:
What is immediately clear is that this is a supremely stiff open structure:
there’s simply zero shake or scuttle from the body, even over poorer surfaces.
Not the tiniest flex or twist. Very impressive indeed. It’s interesting to note
that the car industry’s interest with the folding metal hard-top is virtually
over. Cloth hoods are lighter (making this car 50kg lighter than the mark
2), simpler and easier to package, all of which makes them a much better fit
for any sports car. This can seal the cabin at speed (10 seconds) as well as a
hard-top can, and the hood can be operated while driving at up to 31mph.
It also helps bump up boot space by 20 per cent to an impressive 281 litres
regardless of the roof being deployed or not, surprisingly plenty of suitcase
space for a tour. It feels a lot more muscular and beefy than its predecessors.
If you give it a bit of encouragement, it devours the straights with an appetite
you just don't find in many cars of its kind, and feels rooted to the deck on
the tightest of corners with all the poise and balance you need. The way the
steering, dampers and diff interact is key to the Z4’s dynamics. Brake hard and
the front dampers’ rates change to resist dive, turn the wheel and the outside
front shock stiffens while the other three adjust accordingly for the sharpest
possible turn-in, and the suspension’s balance front to rear is manipulated on
the move for maximum agility.
‘You can’t divide steering, differential and dampers; they all interact,’ says
driving dynamics engineer Florian Dietrich. ‘All four dampers’ compression
92 wirrallife.com
In summary:
The new Z4 M40i is a brilliant, aggressive, entertaining machine! The fierce
powerplant is a major leap ahead, and sharper in every single direction. It
makes a whole host of big grin-inducing ‘burbling and crackling’ noises when
you fire it up. It’s incredibly well built, feels heavy duty, but nimble and despite
its Nasa thrust torque, it feels safe, which just pours reassurance over the
whole experience. This car knows what it's here for, and it learns what you
want from it, with dynamic clarity.
Whatever you thought about the previous Z4’s, forget that completely.
It’s now the perfect rapid roadster, that’ll have Boxster fans jumping ship.
Model: BMW Z4 M40i
Engine: 3.0-litre 6cyl turbo
Power/torque: 335bhp/500Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
0-62mph: 4.6 seconds
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
Economy/CO2: 38.1mpg/168g/km
Price: £49,050
On sale now:
Williams BMW Liverpool.
4 Great Howard St, Liverpool L3 7HT
0151 474 2000
www.williamsgroup.co.uk/bmw