OH, yes, yes! I've just had the greatest 4play ever – BMW Z4 that is!
The Z4 Coupe is the fixed-head version of the very pert 'pocket rocket' Z4 Roadster, and smaller relative of the sultry and sporty 6 Series - tried, test(osterone)d and thoroughly enjoyed by me last year.
There are three versions of the Coupe, the 3.0si SE, the 3.0si Sport and the earth-moving M Coupe with a 3.2-litre engine. I was testing the 3.0si SE version in black, which, at £10,000 cheaper than the M, boasts 265hp and a 0-62 mph time of just 5.7 seconds.
The gleaming, highly sculptured coachwork is a sight to behold, especially sitting on 17-inch star-spoke light alloy wheels and it's not difficult to see why this car is such a hit with the men. It's an ego-extension if ever I saw one, packed full of testosterone!
Unlike its rounded predecessor Z3, the Z4 has more angles than a mathematician's note book. BMW's head of design Adrian van Hooydonk says that the bodywork was designed to 'shrink-wrap' the components and occupants, and I think it is fair to say that this has been achieved perfectly. The angles make the Z4 unlike any other coupe on the market. However Mr T suggests that it shares a similar silhouette to the Nissan 240Z from the 70s. Personally, I think it has more of the E-type Jag in it.
Visually, then, there is tradition/necessity in its design. A long bonnet, housing a large engine, is followed by the cabin just big enough for two occupants, and their hats, and a 340-litre boot.
The Coupe's profile is shapely, stunning and deliberate, because under the skin there is a taught chassis with a near-perfect balance for superior handling and the world's lightest production six-cylinder engine in the world.
The small, yet perfectly formed, cabin is delightful. You get far more space behind your head than in the Roadster, and boot space is very impressive. I like the way you push the top of the BMW badge and it releases the boot, which opens up and has a built-in (roller-blind) cargo cover to keep your precious things from the view of onlookers.
With the driver's seat set so I can just about see over the steering wheel, I found my comfortable driving position. The cabin is well-proportioned, although the low-slung dashboard felt too close to my knees – as I needed the seat high enough to see where I was going. However, there is plenty of legroom for tall drivers.
The sports seats are really comfy - they absorb quite a lot of the harsh road surfaces - and they grip really well in their piped, sculpted leather. In fact, the whole interior is very labelicious and delightfully designer. I wouldn't be surprised if Dolce and Gabanna had a hand in its creation.
The interior dimensions are compact, there's no getting away from it, yet there is a great sense of space, particularly behind the seats. I don't know how BMW have managed it.
One distinct advantage BMW has over its competitors is its ability to attract buyers to the smell of its interiors. A distinctive BMW new-car smell awaits the test-driver, who is already smitten with the car's fabulous physique. One whiff and you're hooked before you've even turned the key, listened to the engine and rolled off the forecourt. There's no escape!
I can assure you after the build-up of all the juicy – yet static – elements, turning that key will not be an anticlimax.
One of the most enjoyable things about driving both Roadster and Coupe is the fact that you are sitting so far back – almost on the rear axle of this rear-wheel drive car. Therefore, you get a super sense of power as you apply your right foot.
As the 265 hp engine bursts into life and your right foot twitches with excitement, you experience vroomatherapy at its very best. A six-speed close-ratio gearbox keeps all the power at the lower end of the rev range. At 60mph in sixth gear, the engine is bursting at a moderate 2,000 rpm and it sounds fantastic.
Driving the Z4 Coupe is really great fun. This little pocket rocket has all the energy and enthusiasm of a small terrier. Handling is superb and the steering is very precise. It especially loves tight corners as it has a near-perfect power-to-weight ratio.
BMW Z4 Coupe
3.0si SE
Max power: 265 hp
Max torque: 315 Nm @2,750 rpm
Top speed: 155 mph (limited)
0-62 mph: 5.7 sec
Urban economy: 21.7 mpg
Extra-urban: 43.5 mpg
Combined: 31.7 mpg
Emissions: 213 g/km
Insurance group 18
Price: £31,400
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