Z4 presses all the right buttons

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For starters, BMW says its flagship 35i six-speed manual will do the 0-100km/h dash in 5.2 seconds, and if it's armed with the seven-speed DCT (dual-clutch transmission) option it will do it in 5.1 seconds.

So, what's the point?

Well in a recent shoot-out in CAR magazine, the best time they could wring out of the Audi TTS was 6.47 seconds and the Porsche Boxster PDK didn't fare all that much better at 5.95 seconds.

So, to quote a former Springbok rugby player: “Looks to the scoreboard...”

Of course other factors also contribute to roadster bragging rights, but the new Z car's performance is certainly going to do a lot to change its rather unfair girly reputation.

Certainly, in terms of looks, the new Z is now also more muscle than make-up. The long bonnet has grown even longer, the wide shoulders are accentuated by bigger wheel arches, the seating position is lower, the exhaust has become hairier and it's also the first Z car to sport a retractable hardtop.

The hardtop, in particular, is going to attract a new, slightly more hardcore buyer. The lightweight metal top opens and closes fully automatically in 20 seconds, which means no more getting drenched in sudden Highveld downpours.

Previous Z3 and Z4 models came either as soft-top roadster or metal roof coupe.

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The new Z4 also has a boot big enough to squeeze in two sets of golf clubs with a little jiggling.

Better allround visibility and the fact that it's a gentle car to drive even in congested traffic means the new Z4 roadster is not just a weekend country-side tourer or track toy, but also a practical, pleasant commuter car.

There are three derivatives to choose from, all with manual or auto transmission options, all with six-cylinder engines that power the rear wheels.

The entry level is the sDrive 23i which has a 2.5-litre engine that produces 150kW and 250Nm. Top speed is 242/239km/h (auto/manual) and it costs R506,500 for the manual and R527,400 for the auto.

Next up the line is the sDrive 30i powered by a 3-litre engine that produces 190kw and 310Nm. Governed top speed is 250km/h. The manual costs R583,500 and to auto R604,400.

The flagship is the sDrive 35i which has the same six-cylinder, 3-litre engine, but testosterone-enhanced direct injection and twin turbochargers to boost output to 225kW and 400Nm. Top speed is also governed at 250km/h.The manual is priced at R682,500 and the DCT version at R711,200.

At the media launch, which took us on a long sweeping drive from the airport past Wellington, Ceres, Wolseley, Worcester and back to The Cape Grace Hotel in the Waterfront, I drove the 30i and the 35i models.

I wasn't knocked out by the 30i, but my co-driver and I might have just struck it unlucky, although some of the other motoring scribes also complained of noticeable noise intrusion in the 30i models they were driving. In our car, road and wind noises were beyond just noticeable.

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We also found the suspension on our car much too taut for comfort. On certain poor stretches of tar the car shook and scuttled and thumped and bumped to the point of irritation. The bigger wheels fitted to this car was probably partially responsible.

In chatting to BMW people afterwards, they said the car might have been fitted with optional sportier suspension, so if you are thinking of acquiring the 30i, I would suggest you go for the standard suspension - and make sure you drive it over secondary roads before you make your final decision.

But then came the treat. The thunder-wagon 35i with the stepped-up version of the prize-winning six-cylinder engine that has already won a number of international awards.

As soon as we hit the first stretch of open road I floored it and what a thrill it was. The growl under the bonnet turned to thunder, with both torque and power peaking at the same 5,800 revs, bulleting the car along as though it was rocket-powered.

I must confess to doing a Jeremy Clarkson impression with a loud howl of “I want one of these!” as the speedometer moved into “go-straight-to-jail” territory.

The cog-swopping speed of the DCT transmission is really rapid and does such a superb job that you can happily leave it up to its own devices.

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However, once we hit a few twisties I played around with the shift paddles on the wheel, more for the hell of hearing the lovely grrrm as the engine blipped on the down changes, than for any other reason.

With the Dynamic Drive flicked to Sport mode, the steering becomes quite bit meatier. Some might find this setting a tad heavy, but I loved it.

BMW has always been synonymous with dynamic driving and this classic roadster just proves it again. It feels glued to the tarmac and it goes to where you point it.

Of the three settings (Normal, Sport and Sport+) I can happily live in the Sport mode without ever wanting to change. Normal is a bit too soft and smooth for my liking, and Sport+ just to rich for my driving style because you lose the protection of traction control and quickly move in the arena where slowed reactions, inexperience and over-exuberance can lead to unhappy endings.

Initially I found the seating a little too low for comfort, but a few quick adjustments soon sorted that out. The leather-covered sports seats fit like a glove and they are comfortable, even on long, hard drives.

A bit of extra leg space and the fact that the steering-wheel is fully adjustable makes it dead-easy to find a comfortable driving position.

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The cabin is neat, clean and user friendly. It's a sort of no-fuss set-up, functional rather than flashy, but very pleasant all the same.

The new Z4 has a colour display screen which flips up when the ignition is turned and with it goes a brilliant sound system and the electronic brainpower to cope with all the latest wizardry.

This is also the first Z car to have the added bonus of the improved iDrive multi-controller.

The range of fancy kit include many optional extras, so buyers can pay and play to their heart's content.

So, a whole new Z4 with a whole new image… sexier, fancier, faster and definitely more desirable. Expensive, yes, up to a point, but then you have look at what choices the opposition has to offer, at what price and what is included in the price.

The BMW roadster's arch rival (although BMW don't really want to admit it, saying the Z4 is in a class all of its own) is the Mercedes-Benz SLK, with the 200K weighing in at R528,700 and the 350K costing R678,000.

The Audi TT 3.2 roadster Quattro S-tronic costs R538,500 and the 2.0-litre TTS FSi S-tronic will set you back R579,000.

Locally, both the Merc and Audi outsell the Z4.

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And then there is the Porsche Boxster PDK at R595,000, the Boxster S PDK at R695,000 and the Cayman PDK at R650,000.

Sadly, the Honda S2000 is history in this country, which leaves the Nissan 350Z Roadster at R520,000, soon to be overtaken by the new 370Z due to be launched in South Africa at R499,000 for the manual version and R516,200 for the automatic.

Buying a roadster is an emotional thing. It's all about fun and freedom, speed and performance, image and status - and this new Z4 presses all the right buttons.