Test drive BMW Z4 M40i: born wild
It's time to test one of the most inspiring BMW models
We haven't seen anything like it in years - BMW now boasts a thoroughbred sports car that has racing car genes without even being an M version. It's time for the test.
When was the last time you allowed yourself to drive just for the sake of driving? Or set out on the road simply for the pleasure that the road itself brings? In fact, we humans act in many ways in strange and illogical ways in our lives. We have so much to do with it, and often the only thing we really do is complicate things without actually improving anything. Theoretically, it is quite easy to understand that the present is all we really have, because the future deserves to be looked forward to with hope for better moments, but it is the present moment that we can take for granted. But why is it so difficult for us to apply the most important life lessons in our real life?
The same is with the direction of development of the automotive industry. Things can be relatively simple, and they can be constantly improved. But it is not so. And over the years, so many masterpieces have been created because of the passion for creating and using automotive works of art. However, such phenomena today occur almost exclusively among representatives of the boutique industry. Mass-produced models are becoming more and more commonplace consumer appliances. To our great joy, this time we will tell you about a huge, sorry, wonderful exception. Because the Z4 is not just a great classic BMW sports model that BMW fans have been waiting for years. The Z4 is one of those cars that are becoming increasingly rare and can be an unforgettable driving experience. Of those events that make us smile every time we remember them. At the same time, fuel consumption, emissions, and in general any exact figures simply lose their meaning, because they are insignificant. The most important thing is invisible to the eye, as you know ...
The new-generation Z4 has very little in common with its eponymous predecessor, other than the basic concept of a rear-wheel-drive roadster with a front-engine longitudinally disposed. BMW has made the car tougher, sharper and more uncompromising. The model is based on a new platform, which the Bavarians developed together with Toyota, since the Japanese brand on the same basis was made the successor of the legendary Supra.
It takes just a little, at least a little love of sports cars, to love the Z4. It's just that this car manages to get under the skin of anyone who is somehow affected by the magic of cars. Let's start with this - the heavy metal convertible roof of the predecessor has been replaced by a compact and lightweight textile guru, which reduces weight by 50 kilograms. At the top of the range, the test M40i weighs exactly 1577 kilograms, 30 kilograms less than the previous generation's 340-horsepower Z4 35is. Do you need many more numbers to see how much better the Z4 has become? Well - the new model accelerates by 0,6 seconds from standstill to 100 kilometers per hour, runs faster on the slalom at 4,6 km / h and with a consumption of only 9,9 liters per hundred kilometers remains with 2,5 l / 100 km is more economical.
Every turn is an experience
Well, it should be noted that sitting in a car requires some mobility - simply because it sits almost on the ground. However, once you take a stand, you feel at home. The cabin surrounds you with a sense of comfort. There is enough space, and there is a convenient luggage compartment behind the seats. And if we talk about luggage, the trunk is surprisingly comfortable and not at all small. To be completely honest, we would save digital control devices. Classic technology fits better with the traditional look of this car. Instead, the Z4 boasts a state-of-the-art combination device that efficiently projects various readings and data. Well, we're still living in modern times and the Z4 can hardly afford to be old school in every way. It takes just ten seconds to open the roof, and the aerodynamic deflector does its job so well that the cabin remains relatively quiet, even at highway speeds.
The foot is on the brake, the index finger of the right hand presses the start button. After a short but harsh growl, the inline-six engine kicks into low gear, combined with the proverbial sophistication of the handling typical of this type of machine. The transmission lever is now in the “D” position. We hit the road - and even after the first meters we get the feeling that we have been waiting for this drive for years. In Comfort mode, the Z4's chassis handles bumps remarkably well, and the ergonomics are fantastic. We are just leaving the city and there is already a huge desire to see what this car is capable of. At highway speeds, the Z4's cabin is three decibels quieter with the roof closed than in the outgoing model. However, the new Z4 requires significantly more concentration behind the wheel because its handling is as sharp as a surgical scalpel. With this car, it is enough to find a beautiful road with turns, and you will want to drive along it until you run out of gas. Again and again. And when you run out of gas, you just want to fill up and get back to normal. Or find another - even better. More and more picturesque twists... It's the twists that allow us to see the true nature of the Z4 in all its glory.
We're approaching a pretty sharp turn. The speed is somewhere around 90 km / h. Slightly reduce. Turning the steering wheel and oh heavens: the front wheels move in the direction of the steering wheel with the excitation we're used to seeing in BMW M models. Or in a Porsche… Variable sport steering borrowed from the troika, but with much more direct settings and knows how to create a feeling worthy of a sports car of the highest category. The steering wheel provides, in the hands of the steering wheel, an absolutely achievable maximum feedback when the front wheels are in contact with the road. The long hood angles are a great way to find the perfect trajectory with the Z4, and the steering seems to read the driver's mind. Gas! Since the driver sits practically on the rear axle, it is not surprising that at any moment he has time to feel what exactly is happening with the rear wheels. The Z4 tends to slide in the rear without losing traction completely and remains stable thanks to a well-tuned sport differential. Differential lock action varies from 0 to 100 percent and, like damper, throttle and steering settings, depends on the mode selected. Sport is the perfect choice for winding roads. The differential and ESP system provide powerful cornering acceleration combined with efficient yet safe skidding. The rear end serves just enough to provoke the driver with a natural counter-reflex to the steering wheel – and the Z4 seems to stabilize itself. With the ESP system turned off, the model turns into an M2-style Zver, but even without such arbitrariness, the Z4 delivers endless pleasure. In this car, you always feel like driving an M-model, and on the track.
When men were still smoking pipes
We can't help but give the engine its proper place, because it deserves to remain in textbooks as a technological masterpiece in its field. Debuted in 2015, the brand's inline-six unit features twin-jet turbocharging and, most recently, a diesel particulate filter. The sound of the machine is difficult to describe - it is best to hear it, then you will want to listen as long as possible. The engine responds with amazing spontaneity even at the lowest revs, and then rushes into the red zone of the tachometer with sporting viciousness. The gearbox does its job so flawlessly that the only chance of being in the wrong gear at any time is to change eight gears yourself using the steering wheel belts. The fact that in the Spor Plus mode the behavior of the transmission acquires frank racing notes does not seem to be clarified. However, the otherwise successful driving experience is gone, because the chassis becomes extremely rigid. And in general, in this mode, the car begins to arouse admiration, turning into awe. The magic of the Z4 lies not in having the best time on the road and on the track, but in its exceptional ability to deliver you the most enjoyable time every minute. The Z4 is something like a mature Mazda-MX-5 - a car for gentlemen who smoke a pipe and relax in the evening with a glass of aged whiskey. For people who know how to enjoy the present. A car for those who do not have to go to the track to feel truly free.
According to many, the future belongs to the Audi e-tron, Hyundai Kona Electric, Tesla Model 3 and so on. And they are probably right. However, is it necessary to look at the future only in this way? Can't the future preserve the best of all times and worlds? The Z4 is a great summary of everything that has so far been considered inspiring about a car. This car demonstrates how a car can be a source of joy and happy moments. Remembering that driving can be more than just moving between two points.
EVALUATION
The automotive industry is at a turning point, during which we can't help but be particularly sensitive to cars like this. The Z4 has a unique character, phenomenal handling and excess power. And it's actually quite convenient for everyday use. The Z4 is surprisingly close to the ideal sports car - the way it should be.
Body
+ Sufficient space in the cozy cockpit for two people and their luggage for the weekend
Comfortable trunk and functional niche behind the seats
Light, high quality and practical soft roof
High quality materials and workmanship
– Getting off and on requires mobility
Comfort
+ Unexpectedly good suspension comfort
Great seats with good lateral support
Effective windshield
Very good seat heating
Good sound insulation
Pleasant feeling when driving with the roof open
Engine / transmission
+ Brilliant engine-transmission tandem
Travel behavior
+ Exceptional handling
Extremely fine and precise steering with perfect feedback
Perfectly tuned ESP system - allows fun moments without danger
safety
+ A very wide range of assistance systems
– Nervous lane keeping assistant
ecology
+ Remarkably modest appetite for fuel in view of power and dynamic performance
Costs
+ Reasonable price
Expected low depreciation - the car is a potential classic
Text: Boyan Boshnakov, Sebastian Renz
Photos: Miroslav Nikolov, Achim Hartman
