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Z4 – the perfect sports car
Coming out of the winter doldrums, it's only natural that thoughts turn to top-down motoring. Combining the joy of alfresco driving with the wizardry that has created a full line of "ultimate driving machines," the 2011 BMW Z4 is without peer when talk turns to roadsters in the classic idiom.
The time-tested recipe is brilliantly executed by BMW. The important ingredients have been collected: a rear-wheel drive chassis, the world's best inline-six and a standard six-speed manual transmission. A nod to modern motorsports practice is the newly optional seven-speed DCT – a dual-clutch automated gearbox, optional in the Z4 sDrive35i and standard in the 35is. BMW has wrapped the mechanicals in sculpted, classically beautiful bodywork that's not without a modern edge. Should you grace your driveway with one of these pieces of rolling sculpture, you'll never tire of staring at its finely drawn form.
Straddling that line between modernity and timeless themes is no mean feat. All too often, the result is a throwback that's lacking originality. Rather than get pegged as retro, BMW has given the Z4 time-honored traits where it matters – long hood, short deck, a sweeping crease in the metal down the sides of the car – and modernized everything else for the 21st century.
The most outwardly obvious indication that the Z4 is up-to-date is the retractable hardtop. While canvas tops are easier to package and lighter, BMW provides a premium driving experience by outfitting a real metal roof. Solidity, refinement and quiet are all enhanced, as is security. Retractable hardtops are a formidable engineering challenge, especially when you're BMW and you have to maintain that legendary poise.
Providing a healthy 255 hp in the Z4 sDrive30i, BMW's world-beating 3.0-liter inline-six brings high technology to the classic sportscar engine layout. A near-perfect 48/52 weight balance lays the groundwork for sharp chassis reflexes, and electric power steering tunes the boost to suit the dynamic needs of the driver. The rest of the chassis delivers, as well, with aluminum-intensive suspension and Dynamic Drive Control that gives the driver three levels of responsiveness to choose from: Normal, Sport and Sport Plus. A Sport Package adds an adaptive M suspension with 18-inch wheels and high-performance run-flat tires. Seats get an upgrade with the Sport Package, as well, and the top speed gets bumped up.
Stepping up to the Z4 sDrive35i adds turbo charging to the mix under the hood, boosting horsepower to a robust count of 300. The optional DCT shifts so quickly that the rear wheels are sent nothing but seamless power. Step up to the Z4 sDrive35is and its 335 hp and outstanding performance awaits. The sDrive35is carries the Sport Package and adaptive suspension as standard.
 Perhaps more important than the impeccably engineered underpinnings you'd expect to find on a BMW are the interior appointments. The Z4 marks the first time BMW's revolutionary iDrive is available in a roadster. An 8.8-inch LCD screen provides high-resolution feedback for the latest generation of BMW's well-received navigation and entertainment systems. Space is increased in the Z4 over previous BMW roadsters, and driver and passenger are surrounded by beautiful design and high-quality materials.
Two-passenger cars with sport leanings aren't well known for cargo carrying, but the Z4 isn't cramped. There's storage behind the seats, and the optional through-loading system makes it easy to take the Z4 skiing. BMW Comfort Access makes fumbling with keys a thing of the past, and helpful technologies like Park Distance Control, Smartphone integration and BMW Assist with Bluetooth integration enhance safety.
The BMW Z4 is quick enough to keep up with the sportiest of sports cars, but is filled with enough luxury and technology that you wouldn't hesitate to take the CEO to lunch. The storied performance and telepathic balance are deep in the Z4's DNA, and it's an all-weather, all-season roadster with its retractable hardtop.. With the Z4, BMW takes the classic roadster recipe and prepares it with the touch of a five-star chef. Call Linda at 484 654 1278 for your test drive today!
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