2003 BMW Z4

I don’t think BMW really needed to put an engine in the new Z4. The car could sell on curb appeal alone. At least, that was my experience during a week with this replacement for the Z3. Everywhere it went, the Z4 attracted mounds of attention. I found that interesting since some of the media has been rather critical of this two-seater convertible’s new styling.

I’m not included in that bunch, however. I find its new angles seductive, and more importantly, what lies underneath to be a major step up for BMW’s roadster.

The Good News
The Z3 always impressed me as BMW’s way of capitalizing on a fast-growing trend. Back in the mid-90s, everyone wanted to seize a piece of the Miata pie, causing a rush to production in some cases. The first Z3 equipped with a four-cylinder engine and some bits and pieces from the 3-series was neither fast nor particularly inspiring, but its retro styling reminiscent of old Austin-Healeys struck a chord. Subsequent upgrades in power helped, but it never felt truly BMW to me – not like the Boxster felt like a Porsche or the SLK like a Mercedes.

The Z4 changes all that.

Beginning with its look, the long hood/short deck profile remains, but this Z4 drops retro in favor of elegant styling cues found in the ultra-pricey BMW Z8. The Z4 is chiseled with graceful convex and concave lines to create a thoroughly contemporary sportscar. I think it’s stunning.

The convertible top, once all manual, now offers a power mechanism that facilitates a disappearing act into an integrated tonneau cover. The wider interior affords more shoulder room, and the 9 cubic feet of trunk holds two golf bags – de rigueur these days, it seems. This new Z4 is also quieter inside (except for engine music) and feels more refined than the Z3.

But enough about cosmetics and comfort. What truly sets this Z4 apart from its predecessor is performance.

For power, there is a choice of two inline sixes: a 184-horse 2.5i and a 225-horse 3.0i. Lucky me. I got the latter. Mated to a six-speed manual shifter.

With a 5.4-second 0-60 and a 14.2 second quarter mile at 98 mph, the 3.0i Z4 outsprints the Boxster (not the Boxster S, however.) This engine’s remarkable torque (214 lb-ft at 3500 rpm) ensures you’ll rarely be left wanting. I mistakenly took off in third gear from a standing start and was amazed to find how well it obliged.

The Z4’s suspension comes from the current 3-Series, making it state-of-the-art versus the previous hand-me-down. The increase in power here means an increase in responsibility, and BMW meets the challenge with steering and handling. It sticks in the curves like a competitive roadster should, exuding a confidence I never sensed in the Z3. I wouldn’t put it in the Porsche category, but it’s much closer than ever before. Yet the steering remains light and easy in calm maneuvers, adjusting the heft appropriately for more aggressive moments.

The Bad News
Even with the expanded room inside – which does allow for better seat adjustment than in the Z3 – quarters are cramped. Headroom is still at a premium, and there’s really no room to speak of behind the seats for a purse, even a skinny one.

And there is the ride: another improvement over the Z3, but you still get quite a bit of feedback inside the cabin. Rough pavement registers complaint.

But, hey, it’s a roadster. What else is new?

Well, I can’t resist mentioning that the Z4’s mellifluous engine sound isn’t exactly as it seems. There is a plastic tube connected to the intake system that amplifies engine sound and channels directly into the cabin (I suspect that rush of air through a narrow channel also embellishes the low notes, but BMW says it doesn’t). BMW says because of today’s great noise insulation and the fact that the Z4 is drive-by-wire (electronic acceleration), the traditional purveyors of sound no longer exist. But because the exhaust note is an integral part of the sportscar experience, BMW has seen fit to enhance things.

That’s not necessarily bad news, unless you’re a real purist.

Gas mileage
EPA rated at 21 mpg city/29 highway

Price
Manufacturer’s base, $40,250;
Price as tested, $44,820

Is it worth it?
The Z4’s price, steep as it may be, aptly reflects the car it is. Whereas the Z3 impressed me as something of a stepchild, this roadster claims true bloodline to a lineup of world-class performance cars. It’s a BMW through and through, price tag and all.

That may not be great news for the consumer, but it’s good news for those who cherish uncompromised performance and style.

Beth Stein is a life-long car buff and free-lance journalist living in Nashville. She has reviewed new vehicles in print for 12 years as a weekly columnist for Nashville's daily newspapers and on television for Road Test Magazine and Motor Trend Television. Currently, her reviews appear nationally on Car And Driver Television.