~ A DriveWays Review ~
by Frank A. Aukofer

Many motor heads, male and female, turn up their noses at the increasing popularity of battery electric automobiles. They prefer “Wabash Cannonball” machines like the 2023 BMW Z4 M40i, to wit:

“Listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar
“As she glides along the woodlands, over hills and by the shore
“Hear the mighty rush of the engine, hear the lonesome hobo’s call
“ Travelling through the jungles on the Wabash Cannonball.”

That, in a song writer’s nutshell, is the character of the new Z4 with the hot ICE (for Internal Combustion Engine): Simply touch the start button on the console and the 3.0-liter inline six cylinder gasser loudly announces its turbocharged bark of 382 horsepower with 369 pound-feet of torque, or twisting force. It can nail 60 miles an hour from rest in less than four seconds, channeling the power to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission with a manual-shift mode controlled by paddles on the steering wheel.

The Z4 M40i is a force all its own from the Bavarian Motor Works of Germany, long a premier manufacturer of high and ultra high performance machines—or, as the company has christened all of its offerings, the “Ultimate Driving Machine.”

In this guise, the Z4 is a two-door, two-passenger convertible outfitted for exciting driving on race tracks or twisting, deserted roads in the mountains or on the prairies. Except for the sad fact that it is not available with a manual gearbox, it checks all the boxes for high-spirited road travel.

It has the looks to go with the motorized pizazz. The stylish tester came with “Frozen Grey Metallic II” paint, a $3,600 option that has the flat look of primer. Inside, driver and passengers are treated to supportive sport seats upholstered with “Magma Red Vernasca Leather,” which looks like a bright orange, a $1,500 option. Presumably, along with custom wheels, emblems and other appearance items, these are the “jingle” that accompanies the rumble and the roar.

The roomy interior is a welcoming place for two. Seat comfort, with strategic bolstering, is first rate, though entering and exiting this sleek low rider can be a chore for lesser abled drivers and passengers. One negative: the tiny sun visors do not slide on their support rods, making it difficult to fully block sunlight from the sides.

Quality materials and workmanship are apparent throughout the cabin, augmenting the premium audio with SXM satellite radio and an array of buttons for different functions.

The cloth convertible top fits like a tailored sport coat or leggings and is engineered to operate as simply as a power window. Press the console-mounted switch and the windows slide quietly down, the top detaches from the windshield header and the top does a graceful slow-motion ballet leap into the rear boot. It disappears completely, leaving the wind blocker behind the seats to minimize top-down buffeting at highway speeds.

To reverse the process and re-introduce weatherproofing and cabin serenity, pull up on the switch, the side windows close and the Z4 buttons up for silent running. It’s as well-engineered a system as can be found.

The jingles, commonly called options, considerably inflate the price of the tested Z4 M40i, which has a starting price of $66,295, including the destination charge. With options that included the aforementioned paint and leather, along with blind spot detection, lane departure warning, Apple Car Play and Android Auto, remote engine start and parking assistant, the bottom line sticker came to $76,570.

That’s a heavy nut for some buyers. However, BMW has licensed the Z4 M40i innards to Toyota for its Supra two-seat sports car. The difference is that the Z4 comes only as a convertible, where the Supra is available only as a two-seat coupe with a lower price.

For the focused enthusiast however, regardless of the closed or open-air motoring, the Z4 likely would emerge as the choice, even with its higher price.

Point the tested Z4 M40i down a twisting rural road with little traffic and experience some of the same spine-tingling performance you’d expect on a road-racing track. Hang onto the fat-rimmed leather-covered steering wheel and clip the apexes. The Z4 settles onto the line and holds it with the balance that is built into a well-engineered rear-wheel drive sportster.

Ever since BMW introduced the two-door 1600 as a 1967 model, it has delivered exciting handling. The rumble and roar continue.

Specifications

  • Model: 2023 BMW Z4 M40i two-door, two-passenger convertible.
  • Engine: 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder, turbocharged; 382 hp, 369 lb-ft torque.
  • Transmission: Eight-speed automatic with manual shift mode, launch control and rear-wheel drive.
  • Overall length: 14 feet 3 inches.
  • Height: 4 feet 3 inches.
  • EPA/SAE passenger/trunk volume: 52/10 cubic feet.
  • Weight: 3,535 pounds.
  • EPA city/highway/combined fuel consumption: 23/31/26 mpg. Premium gasoline.
  • Base price, including destination charge: $66,295.
  • Price as tested: $76,570.

Disclaimer: The manufacturer provided the vehicle used to conduct this test drive and review. Photos ©BMW