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Claudia Hommel
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Cordell Koland
Car Writer
Weekly Reviews
 2007 BMW Z4 Coupe by Cordell Koland Sports car enthusiasts take note. BMW has finally introduced a coupe version of its Z4 Roadster. The coupe should satisfy those who want the ultimate performance version of the Z4 model. Coupes generally appeal to go-fast drivers because they offer a tighter, stiffer body that offers a better platform for pushing the car to its limits. And there¹s another bonus. To these eyes, the coupe is better looking than its roadster sibling. The Z4 Roadster¹s styling has been somewhat controversial. It features a character line that begins atop the front wheel and drops down into the door panel and defines the side view. A roadster should look sleek and elegant, but this line tends to disproportionately accentuate the front end of the car making it look much heaver in front. On the other hand, the fixed roof on the Z4 Coupe lifts the attention to the profile of the car, which is long and uncluttered. The new Z4 Coupe is one of the best-looking cars that BMW has penned in several years. There¹s a downside to the sexy profile, however, and that¹s the fact that interior room is tight. Slipping into the cockpit is akin to putting on an article of clothing. This should work for people of average height and weight, but will certainly be uncomfortable for those of large stature. Trunk space is limited as well‹a scant 10-cubic foot. The limited interior space may contribute to another problem, interior noise. Given the relatively short length of the Z4, the driver is positioned just ahead of the rear wheel. And on some textured road surfaces, such as long portions of US 101 on the San Francisco Peninsula, the rear tires project a significant noise volume that can become annoying. The heart of the Z4 is a 3-liter version of BMW's legendary inline six-cylinder engine. The motor is smooth and absolutely linear in operation. It pulls to its redline without vibration or clamor. In the test car, the engine was connected to a six-speed automatic transmission with hand paddle shifters for the do-it-yourself driver. This is the first version of a Z4 I have driven with an automatic transmission and it might seem miscast in a car that screams performance. But I admit that in a long drive in stop-and-go traffic, I appreciated the absence of the clutch and manual shifter. Given its performance potential, recent upgrades to the Z4's brakes are welcome. The braking system now automatically compensates for brake fade by increasing the hydraulic pressure in the system to compensate for the heat build up. This means that the driver can continue to use normal pressure on the brake pedal to achieve expected stopping power. Another new braking feature anticipates a panic stop by moving the brake pads snug up against the rotors, which eliminates the lag time resulting from bringing the pad to the rotor to reduce stopping distance. Additionally, the braking system reacts to input from the rain sensor to periodically bring the pads up to the rotors enough to eliminate any film of water between pads and rotors that could cause slippage, but not enough to cause any brake application. The Z4's interior moves away from the retro look that seems to dominate sports car design. It features an all-modern look with the control functions cleverly integrated into the horizontal design motif that stretches across the dashboard. The handsome interior was finished in camel-hued leather with burl wood accents, giving it a note of luxury. The seats are comfortable, yet supportive for aggressive driving. The Coupe offers BMW's good handling with near perfect front-to-rear weight distribution. Having driven BMWs since the mid-1970s, I'd say this particular model lacks the razor-sharp reflexes of a few select models. It does not quite achieve the gold standard for responsiveness. While the ride quality is on the firm side, it is acceptable by performance-car criteria. Vehicle: BMW Z4 Coupe 3.0si Price as tested: $42,070 Engine: Type: 3.0-liter inline six Horsepower: 255 @ 6,600 rpm Torque: 220 lbs.-ft. @ 2750 rpm Fuel economy, automatic transmission City 21 mpg Highway 29 mpg Curb Weight: 3,156 lbs. Cordell Koland is an automotive journalist based in California's central coast. He can be reached at cordellkoland@oakparkjournal.com |
