Aggressively groomed with cool looks and meaty six-pot performance with decent comfort, new Z4 now at amiable price

There is something very masculine about the all-new Z4 roadster from BMW, unlike its opinion-dividing predecessor that drew much controversy with the quirky lines seen in most other BMWs over the past decade.

The first thing Motoring noted in the second-generation Z4 during the car's presentation in Spain last week was how much better it looks now than before, judging from the far more dynamic stance evident especially on the front end.

Once again, it appears that Munich's luxury car maker is back on track with handsome-looking cars, particularly those which need to attract punters with heavy wallets bored with everyday saloons and SUVs.

And for the first time for a BMW two-seater, the Z4 gets a new folding hardtop to bring the two worlds of motoring together, forming a single replacement for the outgoing Coupe' and Roadster models.

Driveroriented dash returns in Z4.

And don't be misled that the new Z4 is designed by a bunch of car enthusiasts with wrenches in their hands. It is, in fact, sculpted inside and out mainly by budding women designers, who were introduced to the international media at the driving trials.

This clearly shows that females are equally capable as their male counterparts when it comes to things that require creativity rather than mere physical strength.

And the decision by BMW to forego the need for a rigid coupe' body meant merely appeal to hard-core drivers clearly shows that potential customers of open-top cars are not as demanding as before and, instead, prefer some degree of practicality for their showy cars.

Twin-turbo six-pot goes effortlessly.

Like in the SLK, there's an inevitable loss in cargo space, although BMW has compensated this with some usable storage area behind the front seats along with a flappable gap between the front seats to take long objects on board.

What has been improved though in the Z4 is cabin space for the occupants, thanks to significantly larger dimensions in nearly all aspects. This has been a strong point of the SLK over rivals in this class.

And while the Z4 is now a cool car to look at, it is also improved inside in aesthetic terms. The simplicity of the cabin design remains, including the classic circular dials on the centre dash regulating the air-con, but there is now a higher sense of perceived quality that's necessary in cars of this class, where rival models like the Audi and Porsche have always excelled.

Z4 is aimed directly at SLK

This effectively gives the Z4's driving position a more cocooning effect than before to once again make BMW's roadster a true driver's car, although not 100% could be said about how the car drives on the move.

Of course, the six-cylinder engines and a host of new technologies should make the Z4 a pleasure to the drive when compared to the 3-series Coupe' and others in the same league. But like before, the Z4 feels more of a refined cruiser rather than a lithe sports car like the Cayman/Boxster.

That's partly because of, according to BMW, market research that revealed that the Z4 should offer some driving comfort rather than sheer driving pleasure, a slogan BMW has always proudly promoted in its cars.

Seats are supportive

But the Z4 handles tidily under most circumstances in the traditional way with a prodigious grip that rarely allows the car to run wide in corners by neatly tucking in the front end the sharper roads turn.

Power enthusiastically out of a corner and you'll be able to detect how keenly the rear end wants to kick its boot out when it can't due to chassis electronics reigning in. Car aficionados need not fret: like in the M3, there's a three-stage stability control that can be totally disengaged for oversteer antics.

The so-called dynamic drive control too has merits in terms of driving engagement, despite the numb electric steering that has been carried over. Maybe not feel, but more of responsiveness that's also applied to the throttle and transmission (in models fitted with automatics).

Some comfort has been injected into ride

What makes up for the slightly unexciting driving manners is the 306hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six engine and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, the only drivetrain option available to choose during the trials.

It's a deserving combination, providing plenty of low-rev action from just 1,300rpm, quick gear-shifting similar to 'boxes of other brands like Porsche, and a nice soundtrack when pushed hard.

But the one important aspect where the Z4 (in sDrive35i form) does better than in the comparable models of its rivals is low-speed tractability and mid-range punch. You can swiftly drive around the near-empty mountain roads of Spain needing no more 3,000 revs. Go higher and take it to the limits, it is like racing on a track with sudden bursts of power and big bangs on the powerful brakes.

There are also less powerful, normally-aspirated sixes but without the brilliant, so-called M-DCT gearbox that is replaced with the normal six-speed torque-converter auto type. Understandably, the Z4's chassis should comfortably tame the 30i and 23i models.

Because of the tiered convoluted tax system, the 35i would cost over B7m in Thailand, although it will still be more attractive than the B7.5m Boxster/Cayman in 240/245hp baseline forms.

BMW is more concerned about the Merc SLK200K, which comes with an entry-level 184hp supercharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder costing B4.5m. This explains why BMW has been "forced" to price the Z4 23i similarly at B4.599m and is hinting that a four-cylinder Z4 is not coming to Thailand even if it will be made for Europe (which is not, yet).

A higher performing Z4 M version is also not clear yet, even though the last two Z4s got one each for both the coupe' and roadster bodies. Sources say a hotter Z4 would only be considered if the figures add up (three cheers for the 332hp 370Z, 340hp TT RS and 350hp SLK55 AMG).

But in a country like Thailand where image matters more than serious performance - although the latter aspect can still sell cars - the Z4 in 23i form seems to work. What the Bimmer now has to match over the SLK is coupe'/roadster look and new-found level of driving comfort.

Things for the Z4 to boast over its opponent are looks (that is distinctive in another way), a tad more performance (if you'd ever be concerned) and higher kit (to make up for the B99,000k premium). Oh, and it's fractionally cheaper than the TT by less than B100k, too.

Now that's what you call competition - in the high-end of B5m posh cars.