Light, fast and green: The BMW Z4 Roadster

A long nose, stubby rear end and low ground clearance define the Z4 as a classic roadster.

Over the decades, BMW gained global renown for producing beautiful, impeccably crafted sports cars with powerful engines and stratospheric price tags.  But lately, the Bavarian premium carmaker has joined the green movement and come up with some new, fuel-efficient models that leave a smaller carbon footprint on the environment.

One example of BMW’s greening is the Z4, which was introduced as the successor to the Z3 at the Paris Motor Show in 2002.  For the 2014 model year, BMW replaced the Z4’s 2.5-liter straight six engine with a new 2-liter, four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo petrol engine that, mated to an eight-speed Sport Automatic Transmission, improved fuel economy to 14.7 kilometers per liter in combined city and highway driving.

In terms of green credentials, the new Z4 beats its major rivals, the Audi TT and Nissan 370Z GT. The Z4 emits only 159 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer. Having less horses compared to the turbocharged 2.5-liter, five-cylinder Audi TT, and the 3.7-liter, V6 Nissan 370Z, the Z4 lags behind them in power and torque. But the Z4 is the cleanest and most fuel-efficient.

RESPECTABLE. Not that the Z4 is exactly slow-mo when it comes to zero to 100 km per hour acceleration.  The Z4 sDrive20i Roadster, which I test-drove, could hit 100 kph from standstill in a respectable 6.9 seconds.

The Z4’S gorgeous cockpit in open air

Its claimed top speed is 234 kph, but hey, I didn’t have time to go to Clark to verify that. When you hit 120 kph, a speed limiter warning triangle appears on the instrument panel, yet the Z4 willingly goes faster if you let it.

Straight-line speed isn’t the only performance aspect expected of a roadster.  Agility, handling finesse and grip are just as important.  The Z4’s excellent powertrain and adjustable steering, throttle and chassis settings let you tailor your driving to suit the situation. Together with Dynamic Drive Control, these make the Z4 flexible enough to be a sporty long distance cruiser for two as well as a high performance car.

LOOKS LIKE. Meanwhile, the exterior of the Z4 hasn’t changed much from the 2009 iteration.  It still looks like a million dollars, catching the eye and turning heads with its sweeping hood, long wheelbase, low beltline and low-slung rear. BMW’s strong build quality and flawless fit and finish are very evident.

The long nose, stubby rear end and ultra-low ground clearance define the Z4 as a classic roadster. The twin tailpipes produce an exhilarating growl when you turn on the engine. What’s new are the four round Xenon headlamps, black kidney grille bars and 18-inch light alloy V-spoke style rims shod with mixed tires, bigger at the rear.

A retractable hardtop replaces the previous Z4’s ragtop. So, when you are in a new Z4 you get the feeling that you are somewhere between an open-top convertible and a snug coupe.

The latest Z4 is heavier, longer and wider than its predecessor, yet it manages to maintain BMW’s vaunted 50:50 weight balance.  The larger dimensions translate into increased cabin space with more headroom, shoulder room and elbow room for the driver and front seat passenger.

The Z4 with open top

IN TOUCH. The low seating position offers you, the driver and any front seat passenger, the possibility of feeling more in touch with the road.  Talk about seat-of-the pants driving!  At the same time, however, you experience the harshness of almost every bump and imperfection on the road surface.

This is because as a roadster, the fully independent suspension of the Z4 has been tuned more for sporty handling rather than for a cushy, comfy ride.  The ride and handling are not balanced, thus there are times when it’s uncomfortable.

Moreover, you discover, the first time you drive a two-seater, that there is no cupholder and nowhere to hang a jacket or coat. A bit of space behind the seats can hold one rolled-up umbrella and some folders, but not much else.  The expandable door pockets are too narrow to hold a soda can or water bottle.

SENSORS. On the other hand, overall visibility in the Z4 is good and because of the large rear windshield, backing into a parking slot is easy.  Parking sensors front and rear also help, but the car’s princely price (P4.19 million for the Z4 sDrive20i Roadster) makes you wonder why there is no backup camera.

Luggage space in the trunk is limited by the stowing mechanism for the folding hardtop roof.

These inconveniences are more than compensated for by the cabin’s elegant design, user-friendly layout of controls including the iDrive system and high-quality materials such as Kansas beige leather upholstery and finely brushed aluminum trim contrasted with piano black surround.  An infotainment monitor emerges from the top center of the dash when you press the Start/Stop button.  The audio system includes a CD player, Aux-In socket and 11 loudspeakers. The multifunctional sports leather steering wheel has gearshift paddles for the driving enthusiast.

I went to a BMW dealer to find out how to open and close the hardtop. You only have to continuously press a small, rectangular switch in the center console to operate the Z4 roof.  This can be folded away in the trunk or put up anew in just 19 seconds and while the car is running at speeds up to 40 kph.

The fuel-efficient 2-liter TwinPower Turbo engine in the Z4 produces 181 bHP and 270 Nm max torque

REFRESHING. With the hardtop stowed in the trunk, luggage space is reduced to 180 liters from the 310 liters available with the roof up. Driving an open-top convertible is fun and refreshing when the weather is pleasant, but it often isn’t practical or safe in a hot, polluted tropical climate like ours—especially on crowded city roads where pranksters can throw trash at you.

Being a BMW, the new Z4 is fully equipped with the latest safety and driver assistance technologies such as iDrive, Traction Control, Dynamic Stability Control, roll-over protection system, Runflat tires, rain sensor, heated water jets, Brake Energy Regeneration, electromechanical parking brake, extended smartphone connectivity, Bluetooth and USB slots, Professional Navigation System.  Six airbags, Antilock Braking System, electric seat adjustment with memory, park distance control , and a multifunctional instrument display are standard.

Summing up, singles who like to travel light, fast and green should consider the BMW Z4 sDrive20i Roadster. For a 2-liter turbo, it travels light (two seats only, limited luggage space), fast (234 kph top speed) and green (14.7 kpl average, 159 g/km carbon dioxide emissions) while at the same time offering a smooth, responsive powertrain, an easily operated retractable hardtop, roadster grip and agility, an elegant, spacious cabin and cutting-edge safety, infotainment and driver aid technologies.