BMW Z4 launched: Explained in Detail

BMW India had officially launched the new-gen Z4 Roadster in India just a few months after its global debut. Coming to India as a CBU, the G29 Z4 is available in two trims – 20i and M40i – and is priced at Rs 64.90 lakhs and Rs 78.90 lakhs, respectively (ex-showroom). 

Developed alongside Toyota’s iconic resurrected sportscar, the Supra, the Z4 carries an evolutionary design. Although it retains its ‘long bonnet-tight rear’ proportions, the new Z4 has ditched its iconic hard-top roof for a soft-top one. It is also bigger than the older model. The two-seater also showcases a new iteration of BMW’s kidney grille with a mesh design instead of the traditional vertical louvres. The headlight's LEDs are ‘vertically aligned’ and the front bumper is busy with a lot of black inserts. There is a large vertical vent on the front fender behind the wheels. 

The contrast finished rollover hoops placed behind the seats are also visible when the roof is down. And the electrically operated soft-top can be opened or closed in ten seconds, at up to 50kmph. At the rear, the sleek taillights dominate the taut rear with a sculpted deck-lip spoiler and petite diffuser. The new Z4 uses the new CLAR platform and maintains a perfect 50:50 weight distribution as well. 

The driver-focused cockpit is typical BMW where everything is functional. There’s a floating screen sitting atop the dashboard and a digital instrument cluster. There are cup holders in the centre console, whereas other features include two-zone climate control and ambient lighting. The 10.25-inch infotainment screen features BMW Operating System 7.0 which is the most advanced version of BMW’s iDrive system. The boot capacity is 281litres, depending on whether the soft-top is open or closed – which is an increase of more than 50 per cent compared to the outgoing model. And the 18-inch wheels are standard but can also be upgraded to 19-inches in the M40i

The new Z4 is currently available with two engine configurations. The entry-level 2.0-litre in the sDrive20i guise produces 195bhp/320Nm, hitting 100kmph in 6.6seconds. There's also the sDrive30i variant which produces 256bhp and 400Nm but is not on sale in India. And the Z4 M40i has a 3.0-litre straight-six under the hood and punches out 340bhp/500Nm capable of doing the 0-100kmph sprint in 4.5 seconds. 

The new Z4 comes as a rival to the Porsche Boxster and Jaguar F-Type in the two-seater roadster category. But at its price, the Z4 can also be an alternative to the C-Class Cabriolet or the Audi A5 Cabriolet, both of which offer four seats in almost the same price range. But for someone looking to buy an SUV, there are many options including Jaguar F-Pace, Land Rover Evoque, Porsche Macan, Jeep Wrangler, or the Volvo XC60 at Z4’s price point. And for thrill seekers - the Ford Mustang, Audi S5, Mercedes-AMG C43 or for a little extra cash, the BMW M2 are other speed machines available in the price range of the new BMW Z4.