First Impressions:
Classic, premium beauty, runs like a spooked racehorse, price is more than justified.
For 2009, the BMW Z4 finally becomes a serious roadster. More than just a face-lift, some new options and a little bump in power, this Z4 gets a whole new identity. And cute is no longer part of it.
Unveiled at this year's Detroit show, the 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i looks stunning "in the metal." Slightly longer (5.8 inches), wider (0.4 inch) and lower (0.3 inch), the Z4 now looks a class up from traditional playmates like the Audi TT, Mazda Miata and Mercedes-Benz SLK.
The optional seven-speed automated manual M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic borrowed (slightly modified) from the BMW M3 will be available only on the sDrive35i and was also on our test car along with 10-spoke 19-inch wheels and Ivory White leather. Option prices have yet to be announced, but we estimate our car's total price probably topped $60,000.
Is It Worth It?
While that amount of money would've seemed ridiculous for a 2008 Z4, it somehow seems less objectionable for this recently matriculated Z4 sDrive35i. The engine alone is worth the extra cash, as it grabs your attention the first time you probe its upper ranges. The exhaust note gets angrier and the 7,000-rpm redline arrives suddenly and almost effortlessly, at which point you discover how quickly and seamlessly the seven-speed automated manual shifts gears.
The double-clutcher is well tuned to behave in a variety of situations. There's enough parking-lot creep with the brakes regulating progress, enough gentle clutch engagement for part-throttle getaways, and flinch-quick shifts for hasty ones.
In fact, when you're really putting the spurs to it, there's an audible exhaust burp accompanying each constant-momentum upshift. Shifts can be automatic, or manually selected with the steering wheel paddles or shift lever.
The interior is also a huge leap forward. As with the exterior, the soft and hard shapes and exquisite surfaces coalesce to provide a truly premium environment. Our Ivory White leather-equipped example with glossy black dash was a particularly dramatic combination
BMW never fails to raise its own self-set bar, and Iberia Air never fails to lower its. If we had to write a national motto for Spain, it would be, "España! It's our first day on the job, so give us a break." If we had to write one for the BMW Z4 sDrive35i, it would be, "Z4 sDrive35i! Never mind the alphabet soup and cute reputation. This roadster is for real."
With a 3,494-pound curb weight, it's no lightweight, but BMW claims the sDrive35i with the seven-speed auto-shifter will sprint from zero to 60 mph in 5 seconds flat (5.1 seconds with the manual transmission). We're confident those figures are a little conservative, but they still line up favorably (exactly, in fact) with the last Z4 M Roadster we tested as well as running just a tenth behind the V8-powered Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG.
More than just quick off the line, the 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i is sneaky fast, too. With 300 pound-feet of torque at a mere 1,400 rpm and 300 peak hp at 5,800 rpm, the transmission rips up and down the gears so fast that you quickly find yourself on the illegal side of the speedometer without exertion or notice.
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