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Z4: Speed to ThrillIf absolute power corrupts absolutely, I'm guilty. I was moving rapidly in a recent test of the top-line, 300-horsepower, twin-turbocharged BMW Z4 retractable hardtop. Good luck finding the limits of this car on city streets. The faster it goes, the more in control it feels. At high rpms, the 3-liter, straight-six engine has the blare of a track racer. It challenges the Porsche Boxster for intoxicating engine sounds and exhaust note. The seven-speed, double-clutch, automated-manual transmission rips through gears like a screaming sport bike. Downshifts happen just as sharply with a strong rev of the engine. Dive into a corner, and the bite of rear-wheel drive sends shivers and prompts a snarky grin to do it again. If only there were highways to drive like this every day. The new Z4 is a commanding sports car, but some BMWness was lost in giving this car the dual role of coupe and convertible. The new Z4 is sold in two models with two 3-liter, six-cylinder engines and three transmissions, including the new, seven-speed automated manual. Pricing ranges from $46,575 to $52,475 and on to $58,000 for the test car. Sweetening the substantial MSRPs is the no-cost BMW Maintenance Program for four years or 50,000 miles. The plan includes scheduled maintenance, oil changes and most wear-and-tear items, such as brake pads and rotors, even wiper-blade inserts. The new design is 5.8 inches longer than the last Z4, and a hair wider and lower for adult-class comfort. Even those 6 feet 5 inches can fit without ducking when the roof comes down. There is a decent cup holder and adequate storage for everyday use. The aluminum top takes 20 seconds to open or close. The trunk still won't fit a beach chair when the top is down, but there is stash space for a weekend getaway. The entry-level sDrive30i is powered by a 255-horsepower, 3-liter inline six-cylinder engine and six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic with steering-wheel shifters. Its 220 foot-pounds of torque peaks low at just 2,600 rpm where it does the most good in daily driving. The sDrive35i uses two turbochargers to feed three cylinders each. This engine also uses the second generation of direct fuel injection to the cylinders, which BMW calls High Precision Injection. There are three modes of performance, and I went for the top Sport Plus setting every time I got into the car. The lesser stages felt unresponsive and layered with electronic relays for throttle and traction controls. The new Z4 may be the best-looking hardtop convertible on sale today. Its long hood and short deck have sinuous proportions. But as a convertible, it is windy with the top down, and the chassis is a little clunky when the top is up. For roadster lovers, it has a little too much coupe and not enough top-down pleasure. SPECS BOX 2010 BMW Z5 sDrive35i Body style: compact, two-seat, rear-wheel drive roadster, with retractable hardtop Engine: 3-liter, DOHC, twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder with sleeplessly variable valve timing Horsepower: 300 at 5,800 rpm Torque: 300 at 1,400 rpm Transmission: seven-speed automated manual with steering-wheel shifters 0-60 mph acceleration: 5 seconds (5.1 manual) EPA fuel economy estimates: 18 mpg city, 25 highway; 91 octane recommended Trunk space: 8 cubic feet Length/wheelbase: 166.9/98.3 inches Curb weight: 3,494 pounds FEATURES Standard equipment includes: leather-trimmed seats, Xenon headlights, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlights, adaptive rear brake lights, 19-inch tires and alloy wheels Safety features include: rollover protection system, front and side air bags, "massively" reinforced windshield pillars, dynamic stability control with traction control, including brake-fade compensation, brake drying and brake stand-by PRICING Base: $52,475, including $825 freight charge; price as tested, $58,000 Where assembled: Regensburg, Germany
Mark Maynard is driving in cyberspace at Mark.Maynard@uniontrib.com. COPYRIGHT 2009 THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM. 
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