Up Close: 2009 BMW Z4
I’m not crazy about the redesigned Z4’s dimensions, but the overall design is much tidier than before. Both the hood and trunk have subtle arches that parallel the fenders, and the rear bumper and tailpipes end things tastefully. There’s too much overhang up front, though, which is unusual for BMW.
The two-seat cabin feels a bit roomier than the last Z4 I drove, with enough room to spread your knees out and plenty of headroom with the top up. Storage space also seems better, with a glove compartment large enough to hold the removable cupholder — like in the 6 Series, it mounts nicely next to the gearshift — and a small compartment under the center armrest. This is a huge improvement over the outgoing model.
Other cabin materials befit a luxury roadster, with leather-wrapped panels and high-grade plastics about the display car’s interior. BMW’s latest iteration of iDrive is available — something to be thankful about, considering the new iDrive compares to the old like “The Dark Knight” compares to, say, “Batman Forever.” Also worth noting: BMW’s 300-hp, twin-turbo six will probably pack a lot more punch versus the Z4’s 255-hp base engine than the 45-hp difference suggests. We’ve driven both engines in the 3 Series — the erstwhile 330i and now the 335i — and if the driving experience translates, the turbo will be well worth the upgrade.
