The all-new BMW Z4 now available in South Africa

BMW has a rich history of roadsters that have stood out as icons of pure driving pleasure. And now another is about to join the hall of fame in the shape of the new BMW Z4 – a premium open-top sports car boasting a classic fabric soft-top, an emotion-packed body design and a puristic, driver-focused interior. The two-seater has been systematically designed for maximum agility, thrilling dynamism, plus supremely precise steering characteristics with instantaneous response. The new BMW Z4 combines its sporty on-road prowess with a wealth of highly advanced, top-class equipment features on the driver assistance, operation and connectivity fronts.

The car’s proportions provide the most striking evidence of how the classic roadster concept has been reinterpreted. Compared to its predecessor, the new BMW Z4 has grown in length by 85 millimetres to 4,324 millimetres, is 74 millimetres wider (now 1,864 millimetres) and 13 millimetres taller (1,304 millimetres). The shortening of the wheelbase by 26 millimetres to 2,470 millimetres serves to sharpen agility, as do the notably wider tracks – 1,609 millimetres at the front (+ 98 mm) and 1,616 millimetres at the rear (+ 57 mm). The body structure and chassis mountings both have remarkably high rigidity, while the new design of the front and rear axles gives the car a far sportier edge at the same time as guaranteeing high levels of comfort. The central seating position, low centre of gravity, minimised weight and ideal 50 : 50 weight distribution are further contributory factors in the intoxicating dynamism of the new BMW Z4.

The Paris Motor Show hosted the show premiere of the new BMW Z4 in October 2018. Market launch starts this month (March 2019) with a choice of two model variants, including a BMW M Performance option. The new BMW Z4 M40i (fuel consumption combined: 7.4 – 7.1 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 168 – 162 g/km*) is powered by a six-cylinder in-line engine delivering 250 kW. The BMW Z4 sDrive20i (fuel consumption combined: 6.1 – 6.0 l/100 km]; CO₂ emissions combined: 139 – 137 g/km*), meanwhile, takes to the stage with a four-cylinder unit producing an output of 145 kW respectively.

Exterior design: a pure aesthetic wrapped in a new design language.

A clear and precise design language and a number of signature details serve up the defining features of the new BMW Z4’s emotionally rich, pure-bred exterior design. The two-seater has a low-slung, sporty, compact appearance whether the soft-top is up or down. With its new-look mesh-design BMW kidney grille and – for the first time – a vertical headlight arrangement, the car cuts an unmistakable figure from the front. The new BMW Z4 is equipped with LED headlights as standard, while the optional Adaptive LED headlights add a matrix function for the non-dazzling high beam and cornering lights.

The elongated bonnet with arrow-shaped contour lines directed at the kidney grille straddles the wheel arches in the “clamshell” style so characteristic of classical sports cars. The joins at the bonnet’s sides merge into the upper character line that runs back along the flanks all the way to the tail lights. A second character line emerges from the large Air Breather rearwards of the front wheel arch. This interplay of surfaces mimics the flow of air sweeping along the new Z4, while the boot lid’s integral spoiler, slender L-shaped light units and diffuser set the tone for the car’s muscular rear end. There is a choice of five exterior paint shades and the fabric soft-top comes in Black as standard or Anthracite with silver effect as an option. It is electrically operated and can be opened or closed in ten seconds, even when travelling at up to 50 km/h.

Interior: clear driver focus with a high-class aura.

With its driver-focused cockpit design, lines that surge forward with dynamic élan and trim finishers restricted to just a few areas, the cabin of the new BMW Z4 paints a picture of unadulterated driving pleasure. Electroplated detailing adds to the roadster’s sophisticated ambience, while the clearly structured arrangement of the controls focuses the attention even more on the driving experience.

Both driver and passenger settle into model-specific sports seats with integral head restraints. The BMW Z4 M40i is upholstered in leather and Alcantara interior. The optional draught stop fits flush between the fixed rollover bars. And a storage space behind the seats, cupholders under the centre armrest cover (which folds open in two sections with a longitudinal split) and large door pockets add further practical features. Boot capacity is 281 litres whether the soft-top is open or closed – an increase of more than 50 per cent compared to the outgoing model. 

Mighty engines, systematically enhanced chassis.

The engines available for the new Z4 benefit from myriad detail upgrades and promise a pulsating brand of power delivery. They send that power to the road through the latest-generation eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission. Hard at work in the BMW Z4 M40i is a 3.0-litre straight-six unit featuring M Performance TwinPower Turbo technology. The 250 kW engine generates peak torque of 500 Nm and propels the roadster from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. The line-up of engines is completed by the 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit. In the new BMW Z4 sDrive20i, maximum output of 145 kW and peak torque of 320 Nm translate into a 0 to 100 km/h time of 6.6 seconds. The three power units come with a gasoline particulate filter to further reduce emissions, and all model variants comply with the Euro 6d-TEMP emissions standard.

The chassis technology in the new BMW Z4 has been designed across the board for supreme agility and handling dynamics, and comprises a newly designed double-joint spring strut axle at the front and a five-link rear axle that is making its debut in a BMW roadster. This particular combination strikes just the right balance between sportiness and ride comfort. Another feature on the standard equipment list is variable sport steering with adjustment of both power assistance and steering angle to suit the situation at hand.

The Adaptive M Sport suspension, M Sport brakes and electronically controlled M Sport differential (all part of standard specification for the new BMW Z4 M40i, together with high-performance tyres) elevate the car’s sporty handling abilities to even greater heights. With these chassis systems on board, selecting COMFORT, SPORT or SPORT+ mode with the Driving Experience Control switch changes the car’s responses particularly clearly. The standard 18-inch (BMW Z4 sDrive20i) and 19-inch (BMW Z4 M40i) light-alloy wheels, plus more optional 19-inch items, are all shod with mixed-size tyres.

Wide array of driver assistance systems enhance comfort and safety.

The class-leading variety of driver assistance systems on offer further underlines the highly advanced character of the new BMW Z4. The Collision Warning, Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function and Lane Departure Warning system all come as standard. The list of options includes Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, distance information, the Lane Change Warning System, Rear Collision Prevention and the Speed Limit Info system with No Passing Info display and – for the first time in a roadster – the BMW Head-Up Display.

Active Park Distance Control and the rear view camera come to the driver’s aid when manoeuvring or parking. These two systems form part of the Parking Assistant, which takes care of steering, acceleration, braking and selecting gears both when parking the car and exiting parking spaces. The Parking Assistant’s range of functions additionally includes the Reversing Assistant, which makes light work of backing up over distances of up to 50 metres by steering the vehicle along exactly the same path it has just driven along in a forward direction.

Intuitive operation and perfect connectivity: BMW Operating System 7.0.

The display and operating system for the new BMW Z4 has also undergone further improvement. The roadster is available with BMW Operating System 7.0, which stands out with state-of-the-art digital functions geared precisely to the driver’s requirements. BMW Live Cockpit Professional brings consistently designed, context-based and customisable graphics to the fully digital instrument cluster and Control Display, each of which have a screen diagonal of 10.25 inches. To ensure perfectly intuitive and need-based operation, the driver has a choice of using the Control Display’s touchscreen functionality, the iDrive Controller, the buttons on the steering wheel or voice control.