Walkaround
reviewed by
The all-new 2009 Z4 is built on the same wheelbase as its predecessor but adds length, most of it at the rear. The lines are slightly softer on this generation, aiming for the happy medium between the Z3's mild, more feminine curves and the last Z4's more masculine, aggressive flame surfacing and sharp stub of a tail. This latest Z4 is about six inches longer than the previous Z4 due to the retractable hard top mechanism.
Classic roadster proportions give the Z4 a long hood and short decklid, shoulders over the wheel arches and tapers in three axes. The creases begun at the inner edge of the headlight housings roll over the front fenders and lead back to bisect the door handle, while an opposite lower sweep started at the front bumper curves upward to the rear wheels.
In side view it looks like a French curve over each wheel, the forward one twice the length of the rear, and from the driver's perch the hood seems to rise from the windshield base before falling off forward. We think it looks better with the top down but it's still relatively sleek top-up and has a similar closed profile to the big Mercedes SLR. Gills behind the front wheel carry the substantial badge and the side signal repeater is now behind an opaque panel in the gill; the BMW propeller logo is still here, but no longer serves to disguise the signal.
A variety of wheel sizes and finishes are offered, and while the Z4 is light and well-suspended enough that even 19-inch wheels can deliver decent ride quality they might not work well with poor infrastructure (rough roads), and some wheel styles will require more cleaning effort.
From dead-on at either end the top-dropped Z4 has strong resemblance to a scaled-down version of the 6 series and its roadster precursor the Z8. Sections of the taillights look like horizontal light tubes and appear to ramp up like theater lights when the lights are switched on. Adaptive brake lights deliver more red light when you hit the brake pedal hard than when merely slowing mildly. The center brake light is midway between rear window and tail on the trunk lid where it will not interfere with rear vision but will be covered up by an inch of snow. A single side twin-exhaust outlet signals a 30i where the 35i uses a single outlet on each side, a la Z8.
Although front-end shaping is the same, with BMW's trademark corona (programmable) daytime running lights for instant identification, trim varies by model. The 30i has black vanes in its grille and a silver slash across the outer lower grilles, where the 35i has matte silver grille vanes and perimeter frames for the outer grilles. While the Z4 is close to the ground the front overhang is shorter than many and not prone to scraping at every speed bump or mild driveway.
The Z4 is longer than the Audi TT and Mercedes-Benz SLK, shorter than the Boxster, but the difference is a few inches. In height and width, they are much closer so exterior dimensions should not factor in purchase decisions.
The Z4 is now built in Regensburg, Germany. In BMW fashion, many systems on the Z4 have been proven in other recent BMW models, including the higher-output engine, transmissions, and suspension design.
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