The first BMW Z4 test drives are starting to come out. With a couple of weeks left before the first Z4 models will hit the dealers’s showrooms, many auto publications are preparing their reviews. This week, the folks at Car and Driver tell us their findings on the new 2009 BMW Z4.
Awkward Dynamics
Although the new roadster has been praised for its edgy and ultramodern styling, the front end seems exaggeratedly long—it’s reminiscent of a hippopotamus head. Granted, it’s the best looking hippo we’ve ever seen, but the long-hood proportions don’t help when the road takes a sharp bend. The length of this Bimmer’s schnoz makes it feel heavy, and it forces the driver to sit far back in the wheelbase. It creates a disconnected feeling between pilot and chassis, with the car tending to bite at the front end and get squirrelly at the rear.
Even optioned with the Sport package ($1900)—which includes sport seats, high-performance run-flat tires, and the M adaptive suspension that can be cycled between Normal, Sport, and Sport Plus modes—the Z4 yielded a significant amount of body roll and exhibited vague steering (for a BMW)—even in the most aggressive setting. A surprisingly lackluster 0.83 g on the skidpad was the result, despite our car being equipped with the optional 18-inch wheels and 225/40 front and 255/35 rear performance tires.
Full Article: BMW Z4 – Test Drive
9 Responses to “BMW Z4 sDrive35i reviewed by Car and Driver”
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Whats wrong with this article? The nose is too long -disconnecting the driver from the action? This is a typical sports car configuration. Since when is it awkward? So then, yet another illhandling sports car from BMW.
Where can we find a real article?
@Giom: Everyone is untitled to their opinion, I posted that excerpt just to point out that some media doesn’t agree with the revolutionary design.
But yes, the roadster usually have “long noses”.
Well it is a good bit heavier then the old Z4.. So that could explain its lack of bimmerness.
yes it will be heavier but the idea of the silky smooth twin turbo six secretly underrated in the hp department is making me all hot n bothered.
it purrrrrrrrs
MT ALWAYS WANTS A CAR TO RIDE ROUGH AND HAVE A STICK TO BE CONSIDERED A RIGHTOUS SPOTS CAR , THEY STILL COMPLAIN THAT THE FORD MUSTANG, (BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK ) DOSE NOT HAVE IRS… SO WHAT???
BOTTOM LINE IF YOU WANT A LUX ROADSTER BUY A Z4, IF YOU WANT AN OVERPRICED SPORTS CAR (WITH A CHEAPO DASH AND CONTROLS AND A SCREEN YOU CANNOT READ IN THE SUNLIGHT) BUY A BOXSTER!!! THANK ME VERY MUCH !!
PS: JAG:MG:AUSTIN : ALL HAVE LONG FRONT ENDS AND ALL ARE BEAUTIFUL CLASICS… THANK ME AGAIN
SORRY, ZAR AND DRIVER?? BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN
One thing they didn’t do is compare it to the previous Z4, which would have been an obvious thing to do, especially when qualifying some criticism as bad “for a bmw”.
Has they said that it wasn’t as good as the old Z4, then this might mean something.
@Doug:
they compare it in the interior, outward visibility, feel, and roadholding. read the article again
doesn’t sound like a car to replace my old z4 though, especially with a skidpad rating THAT low. at least it doesn’t understeer….
@Tom Hegedosh: Oh you’re right. I bleeped everything out but the handling and roadholding in the “awkward dynamics” section. Honestly, that’s the only thing I care about.