BMW have upgraded their legendary roadster, further adding to the appeal of this already popular luxury convertible.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since automobile giants, BMW, released their very first generation Z4. From day one, this stylish two-seater proved to be an exceedingly popular German roadster, with its sporty good looks and highperformance capabilities. Fast forward to 2022 and BMW have just released their much anticipated, fourth-generation BMW Z4. This month, FACT magazine received the honour of test-driving the latest BMW Z4 sDrive30i, compliments of the team at BMW Bahrain.

Exterior

The exceptionally stylish exterior of the new Z4 exudes confidence and sporty prowess. This legendary car is everything we’ve come to know and love about the Z4, except it now boasts several upgrades including an even more impressive external design.

Despite all the improvements, there is no mistaking what model car this is, especially from the front end. The elongated clamshell bonnet that is synonymous with the Z4 features arrow-shaped contour lines that draw the eye towards the front grille.

The broad, new-look mesh design, BMW kidney grille combines a track-inspired honeycomb pattern with a three-dimensional structure, giving the Z4 an ultra-modern appearance. This novel grille design is underscored by a powerfully sculptured front apron, complete with large air intakes. LED headlights are fitted as standard, with the two light sources located one above the other, for the first time.

The clean-cut nature of the Z4’s surface doesn’t stop at the hood. The joints at the bonnet’s sides merge seamlessly into the upper character line of the flanks, running all the way to the car’s back end. A second character line glides from the large air breathers, effortlessly connecting with the rear wheel arches. Seventeeninch, light-alloy wheels are fitted as standard, along with the black soft-top roof. Able to open or close in 10 seconds, the fully electric soft-top can be operated at speeds of up to 50km/h.

At the tail end, the boot’s lid sports a harmoniously integrated spoiler as well as horizontally arranged, L-shaped light assemblies. The robust looking rear apron is complemented by the side surrounds, whilst the trapezoidal exhaust tailpipes sit proudly at the edges of the prominent diffuser.

Interior

The exclusive nature of the Z4 sDrive30i is further enhanced by the interior. We were greeted by a first-class cabin complete with a driver-focused cockpit design. Supportive and uber-comfy sports seats are fitted as standard and feature integral head restraints.

From this commanding position, the driver orientated setup becomes even more obvious. The structured arrangement of the controls, along with the shift paddles on the adjustable sport steering wheel, have all been designed for an optimal driving experience.

With the soft-top up, there is still plenty of room on offer for both driver and passenger. The roominess of the 2022 Z4 is complemented by the use of premium materials throughout the vehicle.

One of our favourite features of the interior design was the way in which the door panel contours echo some of the exterior graphic elements. This accentuates the harmony of the external and internal designs.

The boot capacity has been increased by 50%, now offering a convenient 281 litres of storage space. This makes the latest generation Z4 far more practical for everyday use.

Infotainment & Technology

The new Z4 includes the BMW Live Cockpit Professional; a superb package offering a fresh display and operating system which provides the ultimate in connectivity and is powered by the new BMW operating system 7.0.

This system is controlled through a high-resolution instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, along with the Control Display, located in the centre console. Both screens measure an impressive 10.25 inches (diagonal) and offer crystal clear graphics. The voicecontrol system has also been upgraded and contributes greatly to the user-friendly and convenient nature of the new Z4.

This setup also includes an adaptive navigation system and a hard-based multimedia system. Thanks to Remote Software Upgrades, your Z4 will always feature the latest software.

We found this setup in its entirety to be very intuitive, easy to navigate and exceptionally helpful when attempting to access all manner of features and information.

Performance

The highlight of our day was engaging the ignition, as the roar of the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, TwinPower, turbocharged petrol engine was exactly what we had wanted to hear.

The powerful engine of the Z4 sDrive30i delivers a maximum output of 258hp and produces a peak torque of 400Nm. This combined with the standard eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission with optimised efficiency, allows the sDrive30i to surge from 0-100km/h in 5.4 seconds, and to reach an electronically capped top speed of 250km/h.

“The exceptionally stylish exterior of the new Z4 exudes confidence and sporty prowess.”

With excellent cornering capabilities, finely tuned suspension, and a very effective braking system, the responsive Z4 is a pleasure to drive. An added bonus is the fuel-efficient nature of the car, consuming only 6.0 – 6.1 litres per 100km. CO2 emissions are also low at 139 – 137 grams per kilometre.

Safety

It’s no surprise that BMW have included a wide range of both safety and cutting-edge driver assistance features in the new Z4. Included as standard are front, side and head airbags for both occupants, three-point inertia-reel seatbelts, crash sensors, a rollover protection system, a tyre pressure indicator and Electric Power Steering (EPS) amongst many others.

Optional extras include Active Cruise Control, Lane Change & Lane Departure Warning systems, Parking and Reverse Assistant, BMW Head-Up Display and much more. ✤

GO: CALL 17 750 750 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK A LUXURY TEST DRIVE OF YOUR OWN.