With all the attention leaning towards those practical high-riding SUVs, other body types are simply overshadowed by both the consumers and the manufacturers. However, for a niche segment, there are still many luxury manufacturers betting on roadsters in India. These might not be as practical as your overweight SUV, but these are fast, lithe, and much more desirable.
The car you see above is the BMW X4, which is the successor of the earlier Z4 that was discontinued in 2016 after being on sale for a decade in the Indian market. The Z4 you see above, then, is the third-generation model of this svelte roadster, and completely different from the model we’ve seen before.
First unveiled in August 2018, the new Z4 uses BMW’s Cluster Architecture (CLAR) and it’s got a raft of changes with the most important change being the use of a soft fabric top instead of a hardtop. Compared to the Z4 which we last saw in 2016, the newer model is as fresh and modern as it gets.
I, personally, am quite fond of its front end where unlike many new BMWs, the kidney nostrils are adequately sized, the sharp and angular headlamps are brimmed with LEDs, and the broad haunches lend a sense of masculinity. The profile is typical roadster affair too, replete with a stretched-out nose, short rear stance, and massive M Sport alloy wheels. Read more below.
Specifications
Since this is a generational change and entire makeover, the BMW Z4 is largely different from the model it replaces. Therefore, its specifications point at 4,324mm of length, 1,864mm of width, and 1,304mm of height. It has a wheelbase of 2,470, although the seating capacity is limited to two passengers only. The fuel tank capacity of the BMW roadster is 52-litres.
Under the hood, the BMW Z4 comes with two petrol engines. The base-spec variant of the Z4 packs a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol, which is capable of making 194bhp and 320Nm of torque. It comes mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox as a standard fit.
For the enthusiasts, the M Sport variant of the Z4 features a 3.0-litre inline-six gasoline engine, which is good for 335bhp and 500Nm of torque. It, too, comes mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox as standard. Both the engines are also compliant with the stringent BS-VI emission standards.
Mileage
As the numbers above suggest, the lower-capacity petrol engine is the most fuel-efficient of the both, rated at 14.37km/l. The inline-six 3.0-litre petrol, on the other hand, delivers somewhere around 9-10km/l.
Features
The insides, too, have seen a huge change in design. Like the new BMWs, here too, you get twin displays, one of which serves as the instrument cluster while the other 10.25-inch display functions as the company’s iDrive infotainment system.
Cabin quality is great and typically BMW, and as far as equipment goes, the Z4 has a lot; like a head-up display, twin-zone climate control, auto parking and wireless charging for phones – although pay attention to the brochure, as a lot of them are optional extras.
Colours
The Z4, as of early-2020, comes in nine shades, namely, Alpine White,Mineral White Metallic,Glacier Silver Metallic,Frozen Grey Metallic,Frozen Orange Metallic,Black Sapphire Metallic,Mediterranean Blue Metallic,San Francisco Red Metallic, and Misano Blue Metallic.
Brochure
All the details regarding the BMW Z4, namely, the engine, specifications, variant wise equipment, colours, dimensions, interiors, and exterior details are extensively covered in the brochure.
Variants and Prices
As of early-2020, the BMW Z4 is available in two variants, both in the same petrol-automatic configuration.The prices start at Rs. 66.0 lakhs for the sDrive 20i variant going all the way to Rs. 80.5 lakhs for the M 40i variant (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi). For the variant-wise on-road prices, visit us at autoX.
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