2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i

BMW packs a lot of tech into the 2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35i, with a double clutch transmission, twin turbo six-cylinder engine, and three sleep, resulting in spectacular performance. Cabin tech includes a stellar premium audio system, iPod integration, and HD radio. The navigation system has very good-looking maps and route guidance that avoids traffic jams.

The bad:
The iDrive interface, although improved from earlier versions, is still not the most intuitive. Trunk space is compromised by the hard top convertible.

The bottom line:
The 2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35i delivers incredible driving performance while incorporating practical cabin gadgets to inform and entertain.

Specifications:
Body style: Convertible; Trim levels: sDrive35i; Available Engine Gas See full specs

BMW proves the German reputation for over-engineering by making the 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i the most complicated roadster ever. Unlike the very simple Mazda MX-5 Miata we recently reviewed, the Z4 sDrive35i is a technical tour de force. The engine sports not one, but two turbo chargers. The two transmission clutches and uses a computer to move them. The suspension has different modes. And you could spend a couple of days going through the onscreen menus. But all of that technical sorcery results in extraordinary performance, a track-worthy roadster with few rivals.

The 2009 Z4 represents an update to the model, BMW did not but any radical changes to the exterior. The Z4 still a long nose that the bulge up, reaching above the level of the lower edge of the windshield, making it seem like you are Piloting a World War II fighter plane. There are some refinements in the sheet metal, formerly the lines that break up Expanse of smooth sheet metal down the sides.

Split personality
BMW has gotten good at building cars with split personalities, everyday commuters reasonable that serious offer thrills on the weekends. BMW achieves this by the clever use of buttons around the cabin labeled sport. The Z4 sDrive35i takes this idea a step further, not only having its various sport settings, but using a hard top convertible. That means top security when parked in the city, real protection from the elements, and a little extra sound insulation. But it also gives you the option of wind-in-you-hair motoring on sunny days.

Convertible top that does a little dance peculiar when going up or down, folding panels underneath each other and its whole apparatus stowing in the trunk. It's not particularly fast, and trunk space is compromised. The Z4's sDrive35i LCD, mounted in a flip-up section of the dashboard, ie stow itself away when not in use. We were not impressed to see that only LCD in a roadster, but BMW's up-to-date iDrive system, as well. The update to the Z4 extends to the cabin electronics.

As in the BMW 750Li we reviewed earlier, the Z4's navigation system sDrive35i stores its maps on a hard drive, with enough capacity for rich detail. At 8.8 inches, the LCD is very wide, and presents beautiful 3D maps showing topographical features and the occasional landmark building. A 2D map is also available, but not as nice to look at There's a reason why BMW uses such a wide screen: you can set it to a split view, using a portion of it as the main screen, and a smaller section as to auxiliary, useful for showing trip, audio, or route guidance information.

The Z4 is the third sDrive35i BMW we saw with the new iDrive system, and it's still a relief to the interface. But it's not without its problems, either. For one, it is not always obvious which way to push the controller to back out of menus. For example, BMW offers many customization options for its cabin tech, and you can drill down through quite a few levels in the settings menu. Digging into the Z4's sDrive35i system, we made sure the navigation was set to automatically route around traffic problems.

In sum
The 2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35i proved to be a spectacular technique because of its performance gear through its cabin tech. The twin turbo engine and twin clutch transmission deliver a spectacular driving experience, helped by the adjustable suspension. The cabin tech is also a lot of practicality, with traffic avoidance integrated with the navigation system, along with full-featured Bluetooth phone and iPod integration. The audio system therefore delivered excellent sound. The only thing really lacking are other useful information feeds, such as weather, and driver aid technologies, such as blind spot warning. As for design, the Z4 sDrive35i is a good-looking car, but of iDrive is substantially improved from its previous incarnation, it's still less than perfect.