The BMW Z4 is a rear-wheel drive premium roadster of a compact class with a folding soft top, combining elegant design, a luxurious interior with a two-seater layout, a progressive technical component and a rich level of equipment ... Its target audience is successful and ambitious people (regardless of gender and age), who want to get the most out of their car and also like to travel long distances ...
The world premiere of the third generation BMZ Z4 serial roadster with the in-plant marking "G29" took place in late August 2018 at the show of elegance in the Californian town of Pebble Beach, but it was finally declassified only almost a month later as part of an online presentation on the Web.
The two-door, based on the Concept Z4 Roadster concept (which was presented at the end of summer 2017 all in the same California), after another "reincarnation" retained its recognizable appearance, slightly enlarged in size, "moved" to a new platform (developed in cooperation with Toyota), changed the hard top to a soft top and "armed" with advanced equipment.
The exterior of the “third” BMW Z4 combines the classic design features of the Bavarian brand and modern fashion trends, but it is not obvious that the roadster fully complies with the canons of automotive beauty, although it looks quite attractive, sporty and balanced.
In front, the car looks out at the world with predatory frowning optics with double "pupils", located almost vertically, with which are adjoined by the cellular "nostrils" of the radiator grille and a raised bumper with developed air intakes.
In profile, the two-door is remembered for its dynamic and squat silhouette with a long hood, massive "nose" attributed to the rear axle by the cabin, expressive sidewalls and imposing wheel arches, the refinement of which is given by a folding soft roof.
Well, the strong rear of the roadster is crowned with narrowed lights, a small spoiler at the stern and a powerful bumper, from which a pair of trapezoidal exhaust pipes stick out.
The third generation BMW Z4 is 4324 mm long, 1864 mm wide and 1304 mm high.
The center distance of the car is 2470 mm, and the ground clearance can reach 117 mm or 114 mm (in the four- and six-cylinder versions, respectively).
In the "combat" state, the weight of the "Bavarian" varies from 1405 to 1535 kg, depending on the version.
Inside the "third" BMW Z4 meets its inhabitants with the so-called "virtual cockpit" - before the driver's eyes there is a liquid crystal dashboard with "painted" scales and a 12.3-inch touchscreen of the iDrive multimedia complex, leading the dashboard.
The three-spoke multi-steering wheel with a "puffy" rim, and a massive center console, which is adorned with narrow ventilation deflectors and a laconic "microclimate" unit with a fully push-button remote control, fit well into the interior of the car. The interior of the two-door is dominated by premium finishing materials - pliable plastics, high-quality leather, suede, aluminum, etc.
Roadster "apartments" are strictly doubles. The driver and his companion rely on sports "buckets" with integrated headrests, a pronounced side profile, dense padding, wide intervals of electrical adjustments and other "benefits of civilization."
Roadster trunk is able to "absorb" 281 liters of luggage, and regardless of the position of the roof. The soft top of the car rises and falls in just ten seconds, and the transformation process can be carried out at speeds up to 50 km / h.
For the third incarnation of the BMW Z4, there are three modifications to choose from:
- Basic variant sDrive20i contains under the hood an in-line four-cylinder engine with a working volume of 2.0 liters with a turbocharger, a direct injection system, a 16-valve DOHC timing belt and variable valve timing technology, generating 197 horsepower at 4500-6500 rpm and 320 Nm of torque at 1450-4200 rpm / minute.
- Intermediate execution sDrive30i driven by the same unit, but "pumped" to 258 hp. at 5000-6500 rpm and 400 Nm of rotational potential at 1550-4000 rpm.
- "Top modification" M40i equipped with a 3.0-liter "six" with a vertical layout, turbocharging, direct "power", 24-valve timing structure and phase shifters at the inlet and outlet, which produces 340 hp. at 5000-6500 rpm and 500 Nm of available thrust at 1600-4500 rpm.
All engines are mated only with the 8-band hydromechanical "automatic" ZF, which directs the power reserve in full to the wheels of the rear axle. The most capable roadster is also equipped by default with an electronically controlled rear differential lock with thrust vector control.
From one place to the first "hundred" premium two-door breaks down after 4.5-6.6 seconds, and the maximum gains 240-250 km / h.
In the combined mode, the car costs 6.1-7.4 liters of high-octane fuel for every 100 km of run, depending on the modification.
At the heart of the BMW Z4 with the G29 index is a rear-wheel drive platform, developed jointly by BMW and Toyota (however, all the hardware was created by the Bavarians). The roadster boasts a longitudinally mounted motor and extensive use of aluminum and high-strength steel grades in the body structure.
The car is equipped with independent suspensions of both axles: in the front - a double wishbone system, in the rear - a multi-link system (in the "base" - with passive shock absorbers and anti-roll bars). As for the "heated" modification of the M40i, it regularly "flaunts" electronically controlled shock absorbers.
The two-door is equipped with rack and pinion steering with an electric power amplifier and progressive characteristics, as well as a brake complex with ventilated disc brakes "in a circle".
The 340-horsepower version is fitted as standard with M Sport brakes with four-piston fixed calipers at the front and simpler floating caliper mechanisms at the rear.
Serial production of the third-generation BMW Z4 will be launched in March 2019, after which its sales will begin in Europe and Russia, and the car will reach our country in all three modifications:
The basic sDrive20i roadster is offered on the Russian market at a price of 3,190,000 rubles, and by default it is equipped with: front and side airbags, dual-zone "climate", ABS, EBD, ESP, fully LED optics, leather interior trim, "painted "A combination of devices, iDrive media center, light and rain sensors, keyless entry and engine start technology, front and rear parking sensors," cruise ", 17-inch alloy wheels, heated and electric seats, heated washer nozzles and the darkness of other" lotions ".
The "medium" version of sDrive30i will cost from 3,820,000 rubles, and normally it boasts an M-package, which includes: an aerodynamic M-body kit, sports seats and a steering wheel, combined suede and leather upholstery, and 18-inch rollers ...
The "top" version of the M40i costs from 4,760,000 rubles, and its privileges are: adaptive suspension, M-brakes, as well as a differential with electronically controlled locking.
