OVERVIEW Rear-wheel-drive, performance-oriented compact roadster PROSPowerful, handles well, well contented CONSHeavier than it needs to be, no manual transmission VALUE FOR MONEYFair WHAT TO CHANGE?Take 100 kg out of the car’s weight HOW TO SPEC IT?As is but with no options Its bad enough that Canadas prime months for enjoyable top-down driving are so short, making the purchase of any convertible rather self-indulgent (not that theres anything wrong with that), but to be forced to keep said top in place thanks to uncooperative weather a steady, all-day rain, to be specific is Mother Natures cruel joke.However, it does tend to refocus ones attention. Instead of the brain going into full chill mode, blood pressure dropping 20 points as one basks in the sun and takes in the sights, sounds and smells that come with al-fresco motoring, one accompanied by the drumbeat of precipitation on the soft-top and the swish-swish of the wipers must concentrate on the task at hand, the banality of actually having to assess the merits of BMWs new soft-top Z4. Bummer, yes, but not without its upsides.Key is the fact that, in these strange days where all manner of crossovers have overwhelmed the automotive landscape, that this two-seat, rear-wheel-drive Z4 has actually come to fruition. Even stranger is its a result of collaboration between BMW and Toyota, this partnership also producing the hardtop Supra, previously missing-in-action for more than 20 years.Without dissecting every nut and bolt in the car, it appears the Z4 is pure BMW; it has the typically overstyled look, the heavy yet tight and balanced feel, the angry sound, and eager performance youd expect. Is it a convertible first, sports car second? Or vice-versa? Considering its the muscular 2020 Z4 M40i on test and not the milder sDrive30i, Id go with the latter not that it greatly matters, but its an experience. Equally moot is whether the M40i is better than a Porsche 718 Boxster GTS the pundits choice for a match-up or a Mercedes-AMG SLC 43, a Jaguar F-Type, or any other high-end, sporty European droptop. None of these are race cars and this is about open-road motoring on a grand scale, not setting lap times at the track. Still, opting for the M40i ($76,100 to start) gets you a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder instead of the sDrive 30is turbo-four, which means a solid 382 horsepower at your disposal. Yes, purists will bemoan the lack of a manual, but the eight-speed automatic transmission (with paddle shifters) knocks off shifts jiffy quick, the shorter ratios for the transmissions lower gears greatly aiding acceleration. It also features launch control for accelerating hard from a standing start with maximum traction. BMW claims 4.1 seconds for the M40i to hit 100 km/h from a standstill, which, considering the Roadster weighs a hefty 1,643 kg, is plenty speedy.And the engine makes the music to match its power, especially in Sport+ mode, where the exhaust snaps, crackles and pops with each upshift or downshift. Nailing the throttle elicits a bellow that, when heard it for the first time, is startling. Oh, just to be clear, the Z4 in Comfort mode can be chill, allowing one to enjoy a more relaxed drive, but its not the M40is forte it really wants to be let off the leash.The Z4s ride and handling is a mostly positive blend of comfort and sporty handling, the caveat being the cars weight (a balanced 50/50 front to rear, by the way), which is felt in higher-speed cornering or when making abrupt transitions. Additionally, variable power-assist steering feels artificially heavy at speed, notably in the Sport modes (there are three) and a bit slow to respond. That said, the M40i goes where its pointed, and the M Sport suspension does yeoman work soaking up tarmac thumps and bumps.Other than the adaptive M Sport suspension, the M40i comes standard with M Sport brakes and M Sport differential. Lowering ride height by 10 millimetres, the suspension includes electronically controlled dampers. Meanwhile, the rear differential boasts an electric motor that generates a locking effect to equalize torque distribution between the inside and outside rear wheels when cornering, making it easier to power out of bends. The active differential lock is also effective in reducing both understeer and oversteer. Whats the uptake from all these systems? Simply this: the Z4 is not a car that will beat you up and spit you out after an extended drive as long as said drive isnt the result of multiple hours spent trying to better your lap times. I suppose it would be too much to ask BMW to build a pure analogue sports car, a lighter weight, manual-equipped version stripped of all but the essentials needed for a spirited drive. So, in addition to the power and handling mods that make the M40i a sports car, theres a boatload of state-of-the-art features to spoil both driver and passenger.Plunk your butt into the drivers seat and survey
Origin: Car Review: 2020 BMW Z4 M40i