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2009 BMW Z4: Driving Like “Whoa”
I felt like Bad Boy Record's one-hit wonder rapper Black Rob as I drove the redesigned 2009 BMW Z4 on curvy roads through clay-colored canyons outside California's Los Angeles County. Talk about whoa!
The two-seat roadster was fluid on winding paths and took hairpin turns like an agile ballet dancer. The sport seats braced my body as this nimble vehicle whipped sharp turns with authority and sturdiness. I'm no physicist but I'll take a stab and assume that the Z4's lithe movements are due to its low center of gravity and near 50-50 weight distribution. The new Z4 is equipped with a two-piece lightweight aluminum retractable hardtop - a first for this model - that opens and closes in 20 seconds. As even luxury buyers are counting their dollars and cents these days, what I like about this car is its “twofer” aspect. Put the top down and you're cruising in a roadster; top up, it's a coupe.
The BMW Z4 model I drove was powered by a twin turbo, 3.0-liter, six-cylinder engine making 300 horsepower. The engine, transmission, and performance brakes communicated like the starship Enterprise crew. When it was time to go, the car went. When it was time to stop, the car smoothly halted. BMW loves to go willy nilly with its engineering and technology. It didn't hold back with this roadster. The Z4 is packed with gizmos intended to give the driver more driving feel. The sports + mode was my favorite among three preset driving mode choices (Normal, Sports or Sports +) in a Dynamic Drive Control feature offered standard on the vehicle. Whatever bumps I may have felt while driving were less obvious in the Sports + mode.
Stylewise, the redesigned roadster has shed its softer look for an exterior design that's masculine whether viewed from the sides, rear or newly extended front hood that adds to its aggressive exterior stance. The new Z4 is 5.8 inches longer, 0.4 inches wider and 0.3 inches lower than the previous model.
BMW touts that it has enhanced the updated Z4's head and elbow room and the vehicle's ingress, making it easier for an occupant to get into the car. The roofline is higher and two doors larger making it easier to climb inside the Z4 even with the roof up. The interior is roomy and outfitted with rich leather seats. There was enough legroom to feel at ease on a more than 200-mile test drive.
Overall, I was pleased with the vehicle's performance but I also had quibbles. As in any other BMW I've driven, I'm uninterested in the iDrive, which allows a driver to toggle, push, or rotate a metallic dial typically mounted on the center console to control navigation, audio and other functions. The iDrive system, another first on the Z4, still lacks intuition. This can be maddening particularly when you connect an iPod to the vehicle's adaptor and for some unknown reason, the audio system decides to go off the cusp, ignoring your playlist and playing whatever it feels. Eventually I gave in after deciding the frustration wasn't worth it. However, our Publisher, Kimatni Rawlins is very fond of the new generation iDrive. “Once studied to the maximum drivers will see it’s very convenient and ahead of its time,” Rawlins explained.
The vehicle comes in two models: The aforementioned 35i and the normally aspirated, 255 horsepower sDrive 30i. The sDrive 35i has a MSRP of $52,475; the sDrive 30i starts at $46, 575. A seven-speed sport automatic with double clutch is optional on the 35i. A six-speed sport automatic is available on the 30i. Both sport automatic transmissions feature gearshift paddles on the steering wheel. It's pretty easy to hit the $60,000 mark with a smorgasbord of options and packages available. Opt for the seven-speed dual clutch transmission and pay an additional $400. Want the 18” inch alloy wheels with run-flat performance tires? That will cost you another $750. The navigation system, which BMW did a nice of job of incorporating into the roadster's dashboard, costs $2,100.
Pricey? Yes. Exciting to drive? Definitely. The 2009 Z4 sDrive 35i is sure to please BMW enthusiasts, and will certainly entice new owners to experience yet another “Ultimate Driving Machine.”
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