There is a difference between a good car and a great car. A good car will get you from point "A" to point "B," and occasionally get a smile from you. A great car forcefully grabs you by your lapel and it makes you feel something. When you walk away from a good car you may say to yourself "Ah, I love how my ___ gets "X" miles to the gallon.” A great car, you don’t walk away from.
It is that simple.
Which brings us neatly to the subject of this conversation, the all-new BMW Z4. But to go forward, we must look back. All of BMW's past Z cars seem to be plagued with being good looking but missing a certain zest that makes them irresistible.
The Z1's peculiar doors and blocky headlights made it stand out like a sore thumb. BMW's Z3 was rife with squinting eyes and an interior that would make anyone say "upgrade, please?" Then when they introduced the last generation Z4, with the large Z-inspired cuts in the fenders, I think everyone was curious as to why the car boasted one of the ugliest tops on the planet and rims from a wheel barrel.
This generation Z car though, my God. How can you not adore its design? Sure, its headlights are a bit too far swept back and look unnecessarily elongated, but otherwise this design is spot-on. And the hard-top's integration is easily one of the best on the market. Not even Pininfarina and Ferrari could make the California's rear deck lid look this good. Perhaps you want to try to argue that with the top up the car looks disappointing, but you can't. Top up or top down, the car looks magnifique. Even if one looked better than the other, it only takes 20 seconds to fix that. Two thumbs up, BMW.
Open up the door and just glancing into the interior made me gasp. From a design perspective, it is one of the cleanest-looking cockpits available. From the driver's side to the passenger's, there is a sense of continuity and a flow. When you compare this to other BMW interiors, there is a sense of emotion, which is a rarity. If you do not understand what I am talking about, take a look at the bland E9x 3-series interior.
The only issue I noticed was that the interior's materials seemed a bit spotty in certain places. The A-pillar uses this black plastic that made me cringe, the dashboard's centrally-mounted storage space -- I assume this is where the navigation would be housed -- closes with the confidence of a Chevrolet economy car. And, it is weird because in some areas the interior is top-notch quality, like the tightly sewn Alcantara door inserts.
Let me spare you the rest of this philosophical stuff. After all, I only had a couple of days behind the wheel. Let's get down to brass tacks, how much for the ape? Whoops, wrong quote.
More importantly, the entry-level Z4 that we tested comes with an inline-six motor producing 255-horsepower and 220 lb-ft of torque. Although some of you naysayers insist this car is down on power, boy, you are wrong. Acceleration is strong and 60 MPH comes in six seconds. That is more than quick enough for drivers not trying to be Michael Schumacher. Remember the Z4, only weighs just over 3,300 pounds.
If one were to ask me what I think the best part of the new Z4 is, without a doubt, I would say in .01 second that it is the exhaust note.
Full disclosure: I am a lover of naturally-aspirated BMW I-6 powerplants, hell, I used to drive an E46 330Ci.
Back to the Z. It has this wondrous, throaty sound around 3,000 RPM that will make any six-cylinder lover quiver. I would wager any driver will find themselves pinning the throttle just to hit that sensational note over and over again. Then on throttle tip-in you hear a little POOF from the exhaust. To die for.
If that was not enough, put the top down and get into the gas in a cavern – or in my case the closest thing to caverns, New York City side streets – and listen to this motor echo throughout the town behind you. It is bliss.
But just when things were getting so good, you may find yourself disappointed with its driving dynamics. It steering seems awfully lethargic, shifts are executed slowly and overall it feels like the Pillsbury Doughboy.
Who knew the difference a couple of buttons could make?
Click the button until it dials in "SPORT +" mode and you will notice a monster change. The car that had been careless feels as though you have given it a shot of adrenaline to its heart, as seen in Pulp Fiction.
Its suspension tightens up, the throttle becomes more responsive, steering becomes more direct and heavy, and the gearshifts become lightning quick -- the fastest I have seen on a car not equipped with a double-clutch system.
In fact, I have had to check BMW's notes several times to make sure that this is not a dual-clutch transmission, that is how impressed and blown away I was by this six-speed autobox.
Herein lies the problem. Why doesn't the Z4 drive like it is in "SPORT" or "SPORT +" all the time? Oh-Kay, I understand it makes the car more likable to those less enthusiastic drivers but really? Are there that many BMW owners who do not enjoy driving?
And that is the amazing thing about the Z4. It makes enjoying driving so easy. With some of the greatest technology, fabulous styling and a stunning exhaust note, there is a lot to like about this car.
Besides the questionable materials on the interior, here and there, and the fact a 6'8 giant will always find roadsters tight, there is not a whole lot to dislike.
My favorite memory while driving the Z4 happened while I was crossing the George Washington Bridge at speed, top down. It was right then I realized how long the bonnet is and how short the boot was. I felt as though I was driving a 1950s Jaguar XK140 with that sweet, sweet six cylinder symphony.
This speaks volumes about the Z's character. While driving something like a TT-S may be fun, there is something inherently geeky about its soul. The Audi has that stubby, thick look while the Z-car has this classic roadster design that appears to have been created with two brush strokes.
Do not get me wrong, the TT roadster was fun, it just lacked the soul of the Z4.
And, in my book, that would make it the winner.
2010 Chicago Auto Show Photo Gallery
2011 BMW 335is Photo Gallery
2011 BMW 5-Series Photo Gallery
2010 Detroit Auto Show Photo Gallery