The 2010 BMW Z4
Here’s a sneak peek at the all-new 2010 BMW Z4. Simply put, the new Z4 has more horsepower to boot and is more fuel economic. But those aren’t the only reasons why you would want to buy the new Z4. If I were a Miata fan, I would be able to really appreciate the Z4’s performance. Small, lightweight and powerful. These are the characteristics I usually crave for in a street machine. And the new Z4 seems to offer all of it in one clean package.
I’m excited to find out the effect of moving the seat closer to the rear axle. I would assume that it would increase rear-end traction. It would reduce understeer in corners and make it easier to create oversteer for an exciting time off work. Some things never change. With the new Z4, that would be its retractable top. Most drivers who are used to coupes would find driving a convertible quite menacing. It feels like you’re riding in a roller-coaster and you’re waiting to be thrown out. With the Z4’s increased powerband, that would probably be an accurate definition.
Looking at the new Z4 from outside, it looks extremely elegant. It has a lot to do with its new lines that look less sporty as compared to its predecessors. But personally, I like its new lines. They’re more edgier, giving a huge feeling of rigidity and strength. I’ve always liked edgy straight lines on a car. Ask any racer and they’ll agree that rigidity is a key component of performance handling.
If I were you, I’d pick the sDrive35i variant. It has a 3.0 liter engine that can muster up to 300 horsepower. According to BMW’s press release, the system allows for better acceleration throughout the engine’s rpm range. The new Z4 features BMW’s EfficientDynamics technology which manages the engine to could you a balance between power and fuel economy. The Z4 comes with a sport automatic transmission which you can control with paddle shifters on the steering wheel column. But for old schoolers like me, I’m sure the manual transmission would work the engine’s powerband pretty nicely. There is such a thing as balance between your transmission and your engine. Otherwise, the engine would be wasting power when it reaches it peak torque range. It has to hit peak power while at the same time hitting the transmission’s sweet spot, to give it better fuel economy and power.
To make things easier on your mechanic, or if you don’t have a personal mechanic to make suspension adjustments for each ride, the Z4 features the Dynamic Drive Control. It allows the driver to adjust suspension and drivetrain settings with a few buttons. It effectively enables you to pick and make the best setup for the road conditions you’re driving on. It’s like having your very own mechanic at the race track, only you’re doing it on the road while driving.
The new Z4 is quite nimble. It can go from zero to sixty in around 5 seconds. That’s quite a feat, considering it only has 3.0 liters of engine displacement. It can very well go up against its arch nemesis, the Porsce Boxster. That’s quite the hidden talent of a lightweight vehicle. It can respond quickly to the throttle. With less weight, the power-to-weight ratio is dramatically increased when you up the horsepower. What you get is a rocket of a roadster.
Overall, I think the Z4 has gone quite a long way from the underpowered Z3. But I still miss the Z3, as well as the old Miata’s. You can never find the same qualities with new cars. Small things like lack of power-steering and stability control systems can really connect you to a car, letting you know of its strengths and weaknesses.
Source:
http://www.bmwpedia.org/2010-bmw-z4-first-look
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/03/19/454026.html
http://www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.autoblog.com%2Frss.xml
