BMW’s Australian branch has announced
a power hike for the Z4 M40i, which aligns it with other M Performance cars
such as the M340i xDrive, X3 M40i and X4 M40i. Thus, the 3.0-liter turbocharged
six-cylinder petrol engine now produces 382 HP, up 47 HP.
Nought to 100 km/h takes only 4.1 seconds, a 0.4-second improvement
over the previous variant.
Pricing for the range-topping German
roadster remains the same at AUD 124,900 (US$ 85,955), excluding on-road costs
and dealer fees. However, if it seems like too much, then perhaps other
variants of the new Z4 might be more to your liking.
For instance, opting for the Z4
sDrive30i, which packs a 255 HP and 400 Nm of torque
2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder will set you back AUD 104,900 (US$ 72,191). At
the same time, the entry-level has an MSRP of AUD 84,900 (US$ 58,427) and gets a
2.0-liter four-pot, making 194 HP and 320 Nm of torque.
The Z4 sDrive20i does the 0-100 km/h in 6.6 seconds and is available
with a six-speed manual transmission.
The 2020 Z4 promises engaging driving
dynamics thanks to a perfect 50:50 weight distribution, shorter wheelbase and
wider track, complemented by the rear-biased all-wheel drive system or pure
rear-wheel drive, depending on the chosen model. It also features an
electrically operated soft top that helps it keep a low center of gravity. And
if a fixed top sounds more appealing, then you could always go for its Japanese
cousin, the new Toyota Supra as, despite what both companies claim, the two
share lots of characteristics – which, in this case, given that we’re dealing
with solid foundations, is a good thing.
