Does BMW Z4 M40i Have The Substance?

All-new roadster from BMW gets a tonne of attention, but does it have the substance?

- Simran RaStogi

To every pair of eyes that lustily followed the 2019 BMW Z4 as it drove past (of which there were scores), the attraction was clear and very present. It’s red, it’s low, and it’s striking with its aggressive styling and enough lines to make a ruled notebook jealous. They probably don’t care that it shares its new CLAR platform with the new Toyota Supra, or that it uses aluminum suspension bits to make it a sharper handler, or that its wheelbase is shorter than its predecessor. But to the enthusiast, the BMW Z4 is a rarity - a two-seater convertible with sportscar credibility, and in this M40i trim, the expectations of an M-division car.

So, what is it exactly?

The new Z4 is, simply put, a roadster. A genre of open-top car that exists for the sole purpose of driving fun, without needing to go overboard with a huge engine. The last new Z4 came out in 2009, and that car had a folding hardtop, and while felt fun the last time we drove it, felt nowhere as sharp as it ought to be. So, with the new G29 Z4, BMW sought to rectify that by making its wheelbase shorter, giving it a more aggressive suspension set-up with a 50:50 weight distribution, and an active rear differential. BMW also strapped in the B58 3-liter in-line six, which usually goes into their most powerful non-M cars.

How does it look?