Z4 makes a bold statement

Bmw-toyota partnership creates two cars so dramatically different that they’re impossible to compare

Tyears isn’t an overly long time to wait for a new or renewed model to arrive. It must have felt like an eternity, however, for die-hard BMW fans awaiting a new Z4 sports car. They went cold turkey from model years 2017 to 2019 after the previous Z4 retired.

Worse still, fans of the Toyota Supra sports coupe have spent more than two decades wondering if and when their favorite nameplate would reemerge.

Well, the wait for both models has ended, thanks to a new platform jointly engineered by both automakers.

For Toyota, a modern interpretation of the Supra coupe was the goal, while BMW’S stylists crafted a two-seat-convertible shape that’s particularly stunning. The upsweep of the Z4’s bodyside creases flair out just above the taillight lenses, while the rocker panels are cut upward in the same fashion. Add an aggressive-looking nose with dominating air intakes, and the new Z4 makes a bold statement.

The roadster also projects a more substantial stance. It’s nearly 4 inches longer than the previous convertible (most of that increase is ahead of the engine bay) although the distance between the front and rear wheels is reduced by about an inch.

The distance between the left and right tires — called the track width — has been upped by nearly 4 inches in the front and 2.5 inches at the rear.

According to BMW, the overall design of the Z4 achieves a 50:50 front-rear weight distribution, which is considered ideal for handling control and ride comfort.

The Z4’s power soft-top deviates from the previous version’s rather complex folding setup. The new top weighs less, which helps lower the car’s center of gravity and takes up less room when folded, which means increased (by 50 percent) trunk space. The top also can be opened and closed at vehicle speeds of up to 31 mph.

The aluminum-trimmed dashboard is elegant and the controls are straightforward. There’s a 12.3inch

gauge display plus a 10.25-inch information/navigation screen controlled by BMW’S idrive rotary dial on the center console, just to the right of the shifter.

The sdrive30i runs with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that’s rated at 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The

BMW The Z4 is a gorgeous piece of art, especially in a matte color. Not so noticeable is a nearly 4-inch increase in front track width and 2.5 inches at the rear.

An integrated digital display for the gauges and a 10.25-inch touch screen above the climate-control vents really cleans up the living space of the Z4.