Here's the 2009 BMW Z4...looks neat! The 2009 BMW Z4 with wide double-kidney grilles establishes an aggressive face. Out back, the tail is cleaner and more elegant than the current Z4's, featuring simpler, wraparound tail lamps with attractive lighting effects. The biggest change of all, of course, can be found in the roof line. As was the case in the 3 Series, the soft top has been retired in favor of a retractable metal roof. There's a subtle "double-bubble" effect evident when it's in place, and its use reportedly improves outward visibility with the top up. 20 seconds is how long you need to wait for it to raise or stow. European models have three engine selections, and the 2009 BMW Z4 employs BMW's ridiculous new naming scheme, as first seen on the X6. The Z4 sDrive23i is probably Euro-only, powered by a 2.5L inline-6 making 204 horses via a six-speed manual or automatic.
Next up is the 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive30i, which features the normally-aspirated 3.0L I6 we're all familiar with. Here, it makes 258 horsepower and 228 lb-ft of torque. That's enough to get it to 62 mph in 5.8 sec. (with the manual trans). the 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive30i also comes with either a 6-speed manual or automatic. Those of you looking for the ***-kicker Z4 want the sDrive35i, which gets the excellent twin-turbo 3.0L and 306 horsepower. 0-62 takes 5.2 seconds with the manual trans, but you shave a tenth off that if you opt for the 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Inside, the cabin is refreshingly simple with attractive wood accents, slick-looking new HVAC controls and a straightforward cockpit layout. iDrive has now made its way into the 2009 BMW Z4, but it's the new, allegedly more intuitive version that was first introduced in the new BMW 7 Series. The LCD display sinks into the instrument panel when not in use. |