Vehicle: 2009 BMW Z4 SDrive 35i with 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, sports pkg, executive pkg, Exclusive Ivory leather and servotronic steering
Price as tested: CDN$72400

Performance: The Z4, just like the 3-Series, which is loosely based on. Got both normally aspirated DOHC 3.0 liter straight-6 or twin-turbo straight 6 depending on whether you opt for 3.0 or 3.5i. Our tester happens to be the flgaship model with BMW’s twin-turbo version of its straight-6. It also happens to receive BMW’s latest 7-speed double clutch gearbox. While this gearbox works nite-and-day difference compare to BMW’s previous effort on sequential gearbox, SMG, the double clutch gearbox doesn’t help much with 3.0 twin-turbo’s annoying turbo lag. Despite of its 300 hores and 300 lb/ft of torque, with all the advanced BMW Valvetronic and Double VANOS technologies, it still won’t shake away that annoying turbo lag when the turbo spools up. The irriating turbo lag also hurts the low range a bit during acceleration. On the other hand, the same powertrain mated with 6-speed manual doesn’t have this drama. The saving grace is this double clutch gearbox works every bit as good as the benchmark system currently reside in Audi called S-Tronic. Both the up and downshifts are quick, as it comes standard with paddle shifters on the steering whel, you just have to use the gear to compensate for the annoying turbo lag. The rest of the powertrain is up to BMW standards, with excellent refinement and revving quality from the mid to upper range. If I have to choose, I would take the base normally aspirated 3.0 liter with 255hp and 6-speed manual.

Handling: With a rigid and solid chassis, rear-wheel drive layout’s ideal 50/50 perfect balance, its pretty easy to understand Z4 continues to be quite a drive. That’s despite BMW has softened Z4′s edge in order to appeal to more of its mainstream a.k.a badge conscious roadster buyers. While the sports suspension remains fairly compliant when pushed through corners, it also absorbs all the roughness and patholes with ease even with run-flat tires. The optional Servotronic steering system, unfortunately, provides numb and dead road feedback. This isn’t the kind of steering feel and precision we used to expect from BMW. But we already witnessed the same poor road feel with new 7-Series, X6 to Z4. Not to mention those active steering-equipped 3 and 5-Series. Despite that, the entire car feels very balanced and agile when driven hard. Body rolls have kept to a minimum, while the electronic stability control doesn’t step in until driver rears Z4′s ugly heads certainly add some to the fun. What the Z4 really does well is the lack of any of annoying cowl shakes as with many convertibles, thanks to its solid structure and quality built.

Brakes: Z4′s brake certainly live up to BMW’s usual standards. The stopping distance is short while pedal feel is solid, both modulation and pulsation are excellent by any standards. ABS has done a very good job to bring it to a complete stop withot stepping in unnecessarily.

Interior: The transformation from a traditional soft top to retractable hardtop has sacificed much of Z4′s rear cargo space. It can barely enough for 2 persons on a weekend getaway with the roof down. With the roof up, its can only be describe as merely adequate.

The interior has finished with some weird ergonomics, like the auto climate control has placed on a rather oddball location despite of its questionable user-friendliness. The placement of auto climate control also make the stereo placed below, which doesn’t make any sense, in terms of ergonomics. The rest of the interior materials and fit-and-finish are on par, if not outstanding, in its class. We have said about the same on every latest 3-Series we tested, it doesn’t fare any better in the new Z4. The sports seats are comfortable and well-foamed, so does the instrumentation gauges are clear and analog.

Conlcusion: With the introduction of hardtop in the latest Z4, BMW has decided to go after the style and image-conscious crowd rather than performance-oriented enthuisasts. The serious turbo lag with dual clutch gearbox and numb steering feel certainly don’t help neither. If you are in the market for the new Z4, you should look at the base version with 6-speed manual without opting for the Servotronic steering, that should make you more satisfied especially with the optional sports package. The most unfortunate fact about the new Z4, is BMW decided to drop the M version in flavor of X5 and X6. Very pitiful consider this is a company that claims itself as enthuisast-driven instead of marketing-driven, the X5 and X6-M over Z4-M certainly make the case that it already being driven by latter instead of formal. Shame on you, BMW.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2009 BMW Z4
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Performance: 4/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 4/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 3.5/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 4/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 2/5
Value-for-money: 2/5

Overall rating: 3/5