Not since the E-type Jaguar have I seen a car as blatantly sexy as the BMW Z4. Both the convertible and coupe versions are very, very hot. The low, lean bonnet that proudly juts out from the stylishly sloping windscreen looks like? well, let’s just say that it would give Freud and various body-language gurus a field day. And it looks very good. The BMW Z4 is a babe of a car that is, if you will excuse the cliché, a real babe-magnet. Truly, this is a car to see and be seen in.

The body of the BMW Z4 is beautifully proportioned, though slightly longer than most roadsters. Slightly edgier than its predecessors, the latest model has deep sculpting on the sides, giving a fluted appearance. Short overhangs give the roadster perfect balance, and the large air dam and the spoiler blend exquisitely into the athletic curves of the main body. The soft-top on the convertible version has been cleverly designed so that it folds away neatly, leaving not even a tonneau cover to spoil the beauty of the BMW Z4.

And the good looks don’t finish on the outside. Sinking into the voluptuous confines of the seats (leather look in the entry level BMW Z4, the real thing in the M and S versions) and adjusting them to your requirements is pure pleasure. Everything from the cupholders to the climate control (if you need climate control with the top off the convertible) is laid out for your convenience. Along with the quiet purr of the 3.0 litre motor, the CD system will provide sweet music (or a pulsating beat) to your ears. Like sex, the BMW Z4 is designed for two people only. All the safety features you’ll need are there, including the roll bars and reinforced A-pillars and a complete set of airbags (including some to protect your knees) and pretensioner seatbelts.

And the handling and performance? this is where the BMW Z4 really shows its pizzazz. As can be expected from BMW, the Z4 has the stability control and traction control that gives superglue road grip. Let the inline-6 engine leap into life – either the 2.5 litre or 3.0 litre version – and nudge the gearstick through all six gears, manual or semiautomatic, and you will be in control of a lot of power – 160kW at 6500 rpm in the 2.5si and 195 kW at 6600 rpm in the 3.0si, to be precise. Even the smallest BMW Z4 has a gutsy level of torque, with the 2.5si packing a liberal 250 Nm at the low level of 2750 revs and the 3.0si delivering a massive 315 Nm at the same level. Starting from a standstill, the BMW 2.5si can cover a kilometre in less than half a minute, and will reach the 100 km/hr mark after a mere 6.5 seconds. The 3.0si’s times are even better, flying past the kilometre mark in 25.2 seconds and hitting the ton at 5.7 seconds (figures given are manufacturer’s claims for the manual version). Acutely, I can pick up that some of you may not even be contented with even these high performance figures! The knock out punch, I guess, lies with the lethal BMW Z4 M version that can be bought in Coupe and Convertible guises. You can be forgiven for desiring such a beast. The 252 kW engine peaks at 7900 rpm. Top speed is electronically limited at 250 km/h, and 0-100 km/h is completed in just 5.0 seconds flat.

The BMW Z 4 will not be bought for its practical virtues. This is a car that simply oozes sex appeal and will be loved for its looks – and performance – alone.

Current model series include:

• BMW Z4 Roadster 2.5si
• BMW Z4 Roadster 3.0si
• BMW Z4 Coupe 3.0si
• BMW Z4 M Roadster
• BMW Z4 M Coupe

For any more information on the BMW Z4, or for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of BMW dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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