The Z4 vs. Boxster battle was won by Porsche decisively in the early 2000s — with the Porsche feeling sportier and more special with only a five-percent price premium.
But as the Z4 retreated from Spartanburg to be made back in Germany, a unique turnabout has taken place. The Boxster is slow and boring in 2015, with its dull and ubiquitous design inspiring not one ounce of excitement.
The Z4’s sales today are a tenth of what they were at the model’s peak — while the design is now fabulously wide, low and eye-catching out in the wild. Trust me: the next Z4 you see will really surprise you with its slinky beauty.
Any Newness?
BMW just added its hottest color to the 2016 Z4: Estoril Blue.
This M Sport exclusive gives any Bimmer a truly special sheen in sunlight, yet darkens nicely into a crisp dark blue at night. It is a stellar shade – especially compared with the humdrum other colors available on the Z4, M4 etc. Austin Yellow Metallic, anyone?
Anyone?
No?
Okay.
Estoril Blue can be specced on the Z4 from July of 2015 worldwide. Three powertrains are offered, with even the slowest sDrive28i delivering a 60-mph sprint in the mid 5’s. The top Z4 sDrive35iS pumps out 335 ponies and shoots off the mark to a 4.9-second sprint.
Seven-speed automatic DCT or a six-speed stick are the transmission options, with an M Adaptive suspension promising better handling when putting power down around corners. Despite ditching the Z3’s semi-trailing-arm rear suspension ages ago, the cab-backward proportions of the Z4 still make it a bit of a tricky handler. [Huh? The rear end is known to step out sharply with any mid-corner bumps.]
As with the rest of the BMW range, standard and M Sport trims are dramatically different from one another. The M Sport is clearly the one for speed freaks – with its more intense lower detailing all around feeling cooler than the breezy matte-silver grille and inserts of the standard model.
Hyper Orange is quite a shocking color option around since 2014 or so — with the contrast-black hardtop offered on all eight shades for $700 extra.
A huge range of interior colors and trim styles are available, and actually look outstanding. Very chic and personalized color and material options — from woven metal to brushed alloy to anthracite/shadow grey to striated woods. Very sexy.
We believe Estoril Blue will be a standard color choice with around a $500 price premium to the standard shades. This is in contrast to a handful of BMW Exclusive colors — which cost an extra $5k at least and can add ~5 weeks to delivery timeframes.
2016 BMW Z4 – Colors
(Estoril Blue is not yet on the USA configurator)
2016 BMW Z4 Estoril Blue
Z4 sDrive28i
2.0 liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder
PREVIOUS
The BMW Z4. Yesterday we explored the Zagato restyles of the 2012 Z4 Roadster and Zagato Coupe – which are not exactly gorgeous and arguably look much worse than even the OEM BMW Z4.
This is a major problem for the Z4 when its new prices, positioning and German assembly are taken into account.
In the 10 years between 2003 and 2013, sales in the U.S. and Canadian markets for the Z4 have logged a calamitous 90-plus percent drop.
The Z4’s sales stats from GoodCar-BadCar paint the picture very clearly.
We prepared the above chart based on the GoodCar-BadCar data to illustrate the changing tides for the BMW Z4.
A few other things popped up as possible causes of the Z4’s near-demise: all of which point to BMW consciously lessening the Z4’s importance versus the real cash-cow SUV models X3 and X5.
So what happened to the carefree $35,000 BMW roadster we all remember so fondly?
— Assembly moved from Spartanburg, SC back to Europe with intro of 2002 BMW X5 SAV
— Prices are ridiculously too-high: $49,000 for the Z4 sDrive28i up to $70,000 for the Z4 sDrive35iS M Sport
— Styling is very frumpy from anything but the front angles
So, let us assume this was a conscious move on BMW’s part. Is the Z4 really in Porsche 911 Carrera Convertible leagues, in terms of performance? The Z4 is a bit steeper than most Boxsters in terms of pricing, which will always be a losing battle for BMW.
The value proposition simply does not seem to be valid whatsoever for the Z4 any more. As basic as it is, the more money a car costs ===>>> the more car Americans want for that money.
The Z4 still wears flyweight dimensions … but brings a hugely compromised cabin and trunk with its latest folding hardtop. Put simply: is this tiny sports car with old-fashioned suspension possibly worth 3X the price of the MX-5 Club?
The options and trims speak to the Z4’s new halo sportscar status within the BMW range: they are all pretty repulsive and aimed at European or global shoppers.
Example? The super-brown M Sport pack, the Valencia Orange M Sport packs, and many others are a million miles from what sports car shoppers in Valencia California actually want.
White or Estoril Blue with dark black rims and trims? Perhaps.
But this is still a tiny car with a ginormous price for its size and lack of badge kudos versus a Porsche or Lotus.
We spent some time in the configurator – and honestly came out of it more confused than when we started this article! Simply mind-boggling spec prices put paint at a $4000 premium, but make heated seats and even a seven-speed dual-clutch just $450 options.
Huh? My thoughts exactly. Since when is fugly, out-of-style orange paint so much more precious than serious performance parts?
The Z4 basically seems like a bit of catalog filler at the moment for BMW, with sales barely cresting 3,000 units total in all of 2013.
The latest car is still quite fresh and distinctive – but the above demerits and the steep pricing make the Z4 a very niche choice.
2014 BMW Z4 sDrive35is M Sport
Z4 Options
Exclusive Canyon Brown Package $1,650
• Anthracite Wood Trim
• Canyon Brown Extended Merino Leather
M Sport/Canyon Brown Package $4,050
- 18″ Light alloy Star-spoke wheels style 325M-with performance run-flat tires
- 19″ Light alloy V-spoke wheels style 296-with performance run-flat tires $1,200
- M steering wheel
- M Sports leather steering wheel with paddle shifters
• Anthracite headliner
• Adaptive M Suspension
• Anthracite Wood Trim
• Aerodynamic kit
• Canyon Brown Extended Merino Leather
M Sport Package $2,500
- 18″ Light alloy Star-spoke wheels style 325M-with performance run-flat tires
- 19″ Light alloy V-spoke wheels style 296-with performance run-flat tires $1,200
- M steering wheel
- M Sports leather steering wheel with paddle shifters
- Anthracite headliner
- Adaptive M Suspension
- Aerodynamic kit
- M Interior trim Aluminum Carbon Shadow
- Anthracite Wood Trim
Cold Weather Package $700
• Retractable headlight washers
• Heated front seats
• Heated Steering Wheel
M Sport/Hyper Orange Package $3,500
• 18″ Light alloy Star-spoke wheels style 325M-with performance run-flat tires
- M steering wheel
- M Sports leather steering wheel with paddle shifters
• Anthracite headliner
• Metal weave interior trim
• Adaptive M Suspension
• Aerodynamic kit
- Extended Alcantara/leather Black/Orange with Black Orange color world $1,350
- Extended Alcantara/leather Black/Orange with Black color world $1,350
Hyper Orange Package $1,000
• Anthracite headliner
• Metal weave interior trim
- Alcantara/leather Black/Orange with Black/Orange color world
- Alcantara/leather Black/Orange with Black color world
Extended Alcantara/leather Black/Orange with Black Orange color world $1,350
Extended Alcantara/leather Black/Orange with Black color world $1,350
Premium Sound Package $950
• Satellite radio with 1 year subscription
• Premium hi-fi system
Technology Package $2,250
• Voice-command
• Real Time Traffic Information
• BMW Online and BMW Apps
• Navigation system
• Enhanced USB and Bluetooth plus Smartphone Integration
• BMW Apps
• Remote Services
Performance Options
- 19″ Light alloy V-spoke wheels style 296-with performance run-flat tires $1,200
- Manual Transmission $0
- Sports leather steering wheel with paddle shifters $0
- 7-Speed double clutch Transmission $450
- Heated front seats $500
- Concierge Services $250
- Satellite radio with 1 year subscription $350
- Automatic high beams $250
Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
Mr. Burkart is available for all questions and concerns by email Tom(at)car-revs-daily.com.