BMW Z4 20i sDrive or A great toy not only for spring and summer
With the BMW Z4, I imagine my ideal journey is somewhere along a coastal highway, where I'll enjoy the fresh breeze in my hair and a perfect ride with no distractions. It's true, however, that the Z4 will absorb you even when you're cruising the streets of Prague, or even when you're on a county road called D1.
Live is the most beautiful of all
Before actually testing this car, I of course studied it on the internet, looking at all sorts of pictures. But I have to tell you, I often had a bit of mixed feelings and sometimes the look of this car just didn't sit right with me. These fears disappeared right away when I actually met this (now I can say) beauty.
In person, this roofless looks really fantastic. Why a roofless? Really, the most beautiful view of it is the so-called topless, that is, when the canvas roof is down. The car I tested also had a dark matte grey paint job (officially BMW Individual Frozen Grey) and was fitted with black wheels. It looks beautiful from the front, the side, but also from the rear. The most impressive part was the rear, where you can find the spoiler that protrudes from the body. As part of the M package, you also get a special rear bumper with a diffuser and a pair of exhaust tips. Batmobile rag!
Speaking of the Batmobile, I fondly remember testing the Toyota Supra(more here), which coincidentally I also called the Batmobile. It won't be entirely coincidental. The Z4 is in fact built on the same platform as its Japanese sister. The main difference is that the BMW Z4 is only produced as a roadster, while the Toyota Supra is only produced as a coupe. There are some design differences as well, but otherwise the two models have a lot in common.
In my opinion, it's best after the roof is offPhoto: Foto: Jan Witek
The roof of the BMW Z4 is canvas and its opening and closing is very quiet and quite fast, it takes only 10 seconds and you can operate it up to 50 km/h, or even when you are not sitting in the car, just hold the key near it and hold the button to unlock or lock the car.
It's grown in width and it shows.
The new Z4ka is slightly shorter (length: 4324 mm) than the previous generation, but on the other hand, it is slightly wider (width: 1864 mm). It has a shorter wheelbase (2470 mm), so the driver and passenger sit exactly in the middle. The longer wheelbase makes the new model even sportier and more agile, which is noticeable when driving. And as I mentioned in the introduction, this is a ride you won't forget.
Take a seat
Once you sit inside, it's obvious at first glance that there are quality materials used all around that fit together nicely. At that moment (in case it wasn't already obvious when you saw the exterior), you realise that this really is a premium roadster. Just get comfortable in the leather seats (in my case it was Vernasca Magma leather in red with black stitching) and you're good to go. The analogue alarms in front of the steering wheel are also a delight, although it's actually the display that renders them.
There's plenty of room for both driver and passenger, and you can fit what doesn't fit on board in the boot, which has a 281-litre capacity and can comfortably accommodate two larger suitcases. However, you can also fit some bits and pieces behind the seats, and I do mean bits and pieces.
Not to keep praising this car, I have two criticisms about the interior. It's a shame about the small storage compartments because, for example, the ones in the doors, you can't even fit a small drink or can in them. Another minor drawback is the cup holders, which are hidden under the storage lid in the center tunnel. Especially on longer journeys, when you want to have, say, a coffee to hand, this is very impractical, because you won't be able to rest your arm on the armrest until you've finished your coffee.
For the first time in the model's history, the LED headlights are positioned one above the otherPhoto: Foto: Jan Witek
Another minor disadvantage can be the view from the car when your roof is up. Admittedly, you can't see very well through it, especially if we're talking about the rear view, but BMW thought of a rear camera for just these reasons. When the roof is down, however, you have a perfect view all around, and I was very pleasantly surprised by how the aerodynamics of the car are handled, because even without the roof you can hear your passenger perfectly without having to shout unnecessarily loudly. The soundproofing is done really well.
Infotainment that runs great
Clear and easy-to-use infotainment is a benefit of all modern BMWs. You might think that something like this is a given, but the opposite is true, and some car brands have fallen a little behind in their development. What's more, BMW yesterday unveiled the all-new iDrive 8 infotainment system, which will offer new features and design. However, this will mainly appear on newly introduced BMW models.
I thoroughly enjoyed linking the system to my iPhone via Apple CarPlay, which allowed me to have all my favourite apps at my fingertips. The car is always online, which means the infotainment system provides information on the weather, nearest gas stations, etc. You can also create a Wi-Fi hotspot for the crew, or your passenger. As for connectors, you'll find classic USB, but also USB-C in the interior.
A basic engine that's definitely not boring
The version of the BMW Z4 that I tested was equipped with the base engine, which is a two-litre petrol four-cylinder tuned to 145 kW (194 hp). There was rear-wheel drive and also a six-speed manual gearbox. It may seem like a little, but the opposite is true. The two-litre works very well and in sport mode it also has a very pleasant sound. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 6.9 seconds, which is not a bad figure either. While you might not be the fastest, you'll have a lot of fun behind the wheel.
You'll be very pleasantly surprised by the low consumption. I drove it on the motorway, occasionally fooling around with the car a bit and trying out some sportier sections, but even so the on-board computer showed a consumption of 7.8 litres. Isn't that great? It's great!
A drive to remember.
Although I tested the car in autumn and experienced temperatures that were close to zero, rain, but luckily the sun shone for a while. I mean, the Z4 can hold its own in any conditions. You can drive it in the rain, in the snow, on the highway, but also on pothole-strewn back roads.
The convertible that everyone turns around to seePhoto: Foto: Jan Witek
I was struck by how confident the car really is around every corner. Even while driving on the highway or on a road that is full of potholes and patches, the ride is comfortable and convenient. The BMW Z4 has a really incredible chassis that will make you survive even the more frequent cat-head driving in Prague. At the start of the test, I portrayed this car as an occasional fun-to-drive city and road tripper, but after just a few miles I realized how wrong I was. The BMW Z4 can easily be an everyday car.
The car responds perfectly to every slight movement of the steering wheel, making the ride not only comfortable, but more importantly, confident. Even though this is a roadster that shouldn't be that stiff, you won't believe how much stiffness abounds. There's no creaking, no squeaking anywhere and the Z4 just gets on with its business and you with it.
Conclusion
While it may seem like this isn't an everyday car, in this case appearances really are deceiving. The versatility of the chassis and the driveability are great. It's no fart, but a charismatic and confident car that has panache. However, the price also matches this, as you'll pay around 1.5 million crowns for a reasonably equipped car.
Model designationPhoto: Foto: Jan Witek
However, if you don't have a family and don't need to carry several bags of anything every week, you don't have to worry about practicality, but instead can let your imagination run wild and think about getting this toy. A smile from ear to ear is guaranteed during every ride. What's more, it's a car that looks really quite good! Yes, you'll pay almost £90,000 for the BMW Individual Frozen Grey colour, but it's well worth it, and there are plenty of other cheaper options to choose from.
The base price starts at just over a million crowns (CZK 1,034,800). The car I tested, which had really rich equipment, cost CZK 1,486,658. It's not little, but you pay for quality, fun and everyday driving pleasure. Want to know a little more about this model and get ready for the coming spring and summer? Just visit one of the brand's dealers and take a test drive. But be warned, once you've taken a ride, you're in for a ride!
