WITH Europe a study in basket-case economies, being bailed out by Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel need look no further than her government’s doorstep for the secret of getting more for less.
BMW, the Bavarian automobile giant, has squeezed better performance and fuel economy out of its Z4 sports coupe range while keeping the purchase price down.
How?
A shift from a six- to a turbocharged four-cylinder engine has imbued the new top-of-the-class Z4 sDrive28i, for example, with the combination of outstanding performance at a retail price below $90,000.
Not only that, this has the Z4 sDrive28i ducking under the federal government’s fuel efficient luxury car tax threshold, with the maker offering the car at a retail price of $89,400, compared with $98,700 for its predecessor, the Z4 sDrive30i.
The 180 kW TwinPower Turbo Z4 sDrive28i races from zero to 100 km/h in just 5.7 seconds, 0.1 seconds quicker than the naturally aspirated Z4 sDrive30i, thanks to a rise in torque from 310 to 350 Nm.
Fuel consumption is cut by 21 per cent, from 8.5 litres per 100 kilometres to 6.7 litres on the combined urban / highway cycle.
In addition to the standard six-speed manual transmission, the Z4 sDrive20i and Z4 sDrive28i are also available with the new eight-speed Sport Automatic Transmission, which includes one-direction gearshift paddles utilising M shift logic. This is unique in the class.
During my time with this Z4 sDrive 28i, the digital readout rated us at an average of five litres/100km on the motorway and 11.9 in and around town.
Dynamic Drive Control, operated by a switch on the centre console, offers three distinct driving modes — Comfort, Sport and Sport+ — in which suspension damper forces can be varied as well as the progressive effect of the accelerator pedal, the engine response, power steering and Dynamic Stability Control.
Choosing between drive modes shifts the Z4 from ‘cruisy’ coupe to ripper roadster, all at the press of a single rocker switch.
The character of the car can be changed in 20 seconds via a retractable two-piece lightweight metal roof, which gives the car coupe status when raised, yet can be lowered automatically at speeds up to 40 km/h for conversion to a roadster.
The Z4 sDrive 28i caters admirably for those wanting a two-seater sports coupe experience with the added appeal of top-down motoring if desired. One nice thing was the auto dimming headlights on the approach of another vehicle in front. Guilt free, no scrambling for the dip switch here.
