Video: Going topless in the BMW Z4 sDrive30i M Sport in Australia



If not for Toyota joining forces with BMW for a one-off collaboration, the third generation Z4 might never have made it to production, and an all-new Supra would’ve remained a pipe dream. Thank heavens they got together and sorted things out.

For the third generation Z4, BMW has kept the roofing options to just one – a powered soft-top that retracts and tucks itself away in 10 seconds; the fastest in its class and you can also do it at speeds of no more than 50 km/h, which is rather cool. Without the hardtop contraption that previously ate into trunk space when folded, the new Z4’s 281-litre volume is permanent and more than adequate for a two-seater.

For Malaysia, only one variant is offered – sDrive30i in M Sport trim. It comes with all the modern trappings expected of a roadster costing half a million ringgit and is powered by the B48 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with an output of 258 hp and 400 Nm, mated to an 8-speed auto sending drive to the rear wheels. BMW has kept the Z4 fairly light at 1.5-tonnes, so accelerating from idle to 100 km/h only takes 5.4 seconds, with the top down, it feels even faster.

So-called purists may prefer a Porsche 718 Boxster for its more focused dynamics, but the Z4 is probably the more complete package for the same money at RM 479,800.