As BMW's Z4 arrives here, Michael McAleer reports on the roadster's debut.
BMW's latest roadster, the Z4, makes its Irish debut today, seven months after being revealed to the world at the Paris Motor show.
Design continues to dominate all conversations about BMW's updated fleet and this latest entrant is no exception. From the drawing board of BMW's controversial designer Chris Bangle, the Z4 is as much talked about for its shape as the qualities of the car itself.
The new two-seater takes the place of the Z3, first introduced in 1995, and continues the long line of BMW roadsters.
The most striking feature of the car is its looks, with strong concave lines and a large dominant front that features cleaner, more refined lines than its predecessor. In the roadster category at least, Bangle has certainly got the dimensions right.
But it's more than simply aesthetically pleasing. BMW has long built its reputation on driving responsiveness, and with the Roadster it must match some pretty keen competitors.
From the initial drives we have had, it fulfils this requirement.
This may be due in part to an engine upgrade from the Z3, which was powered by a 1.9-litre and 2.2-litre units. The Z4 comes with more sport straight-six 2.5-litre and 3-litre engines.
We drove the 3-litre version recently and were taken particularly by the sweet engine note and take-off performance.
The three-litre engine offers up 231 bhp and features a six-speed manual gearbox, with a 0-62mph of 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.
The 192 bhp 2.5-litre, which comes with a five-speed manual, gets to 62 mph in seven seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph.
For those who require more potency, there is the option of Dynamic Drive Control (DCC), which calls up maximum engine power even earlier than the usual Sports mode. There is also the option of BMW's Sequential Mechanical Gearbox (SMG) technology, whereby the driver gets to change gear via paddles on the steering wheel.
Built at BMW's Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, which also builds BMW's 4x4, the X5, Irish prices are set at €51,300 for the 2.5-litre and €58,300 for the 3-litre. This year's sales are expected to number 55, with full year annual sales likely to be about 70.
The Z4 also features Bridgestone's run-flat tyres as standard. These allow drivers to cover roughly 90 miles safely at 50 mph or under without risk, even when one or more tyres are flat. As a result a tyre pressure monitor is also standard.