If BMW is considered being an aspirational brand, the Z-series of the Bavarian marque had some great poster cars. Be it the iconic BMW Z8 or the Z4 series which used to come with a hardtop. The new BMW Z4 goes back to its roots as it comes with a soft-top roof now. The Z4 is the perfect poster car of this era as it offers a perfect blend of looks, versatility and performance. But what it has on offer and should you go for it? We answer just that in the first look review of the BMW Z4.
BMW Z4 First Look Review - Exteriors and Design
The BMW Z4 looks astonishing from the outside. There is no chance of you not looking in way of the Z4. It just attracts eyeballs like a magnet. The stance of the BMW Z4 on-road is really something to brag for. The front is pointed and gives it a hunkered-down stance. The kid in you may say that the Swift feels identical to the Z4 from the front. Well, you may be right as it does. The smooth flowing lines and the soft roof which can be hidden in the boot in just 10 seconds - all make it one of a kind. The market does have some great sports cars at this price, but do they offer such a stance? I doubt!
BMW Z4 First Look Review - Interiors and Features
The interiors of the BMW Z4 are conventional BMW - minimalist and sumptuous. The dashboard layout is clean and all the controls and even the touchscreen, for that matter, have been tilted towards the driver. You may not ogle at the dashboard but it will surely impress with its sheer quality. Every button and control feels premium and has that tactile feel. All the drive modes, gear lever and iDrive controller have been accumulated in a single frame - again for the sake of clutter-free design and minimalist direction.
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In terms of features, the Z4 offers some good amount of features but keeps the top ones as optional. Features like LED headlights, LED taillights, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, iDrive touchscreen with wireless Apple Car Play, ambient lighting and electric seats among other features are standard. Buyers also get the choice to select between two trim levels - Sport line and M-sport. The M-sport carries the sporty bits like sporty bumpers, door sills, sporty steering wheel and much more. Features like cruise control with braking, 19-inch M-sport alloy wheels, wireless charging, parking assistant and heads-up display among other features are optional.
BMW Z4 First Look Review - Engine and Performance
Here comes the saddening part. BMW has taken the performance-oriented 3.0-litre inline-6 turbo petrol off from the shelves. What we now get is a 2.0-litre 4-pot turbo petrol. The 2.0-litre turbo petrol isn't a slouch but that is not as powerful as the inline-6. Still, the 2.0 produces a respectable 197hp and 320 Nm of torque. When compared to the M40i, these numbers are awful. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and it also offers launch control. The result is 0-100 km/h in 6.6 seconds and the top whack is 240 km/h. The 3.0-litre inline-6 was the signature feature of the Z4 but as that is now gone, the Z4 feels like a half-baked roadster.
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BMW Z4 First Look Review - Price and Rivals
The BMW Z4 is a great looking roadster and there are no two ways about it. The feeble 2.0-litre powerhouse may sound out of place but it has played a part in favour of the bimmer. The price of the BMW Z4 is now fixed at Rs 66 lakh, ex-showroom without options. In terms of rivals, BMW Z4 has only one rival right now in the form of Porsche 718 Boxter.
