2020 BMW Z4

Available in 2 Trims- sDrive30i and M40i. While the former one is available on sale right now for $50,695, the latter comes in as a 2020 model only. Powering the New Z4 sDrive30i is 2.0L 4 Cylinder TwinPower Turbocharged Motor that is good for 255 horses and 295 lb-ft. Of torque. As a perspective, power and torque figures of the 2020 Z4 sDrive30i are up by 15hp and 35lb-ft. Respectively over its predecessor. Other than the new Motor, the Z4 sDrrive30i also gets new front and rear suspensions and a new chassis.

While the time the Z4 hasn’t been on sale for the past 3 years, rivals have caught up and are offering some serious punch. The rivals to the Z4 now include the Porsche 718 Boxster, Audi TT 2.0 Quattro Convertible, Mercedes-Benz C300 Convertible and the Nissan 370Z.

The 2020 BMW Z4 sDrive30icomes in just 1 trim for 2020- The sDrive30i. The Convertible comes loaded with the best in terms of safety and equipment that BMW has to offer in 2020. Some of the highlights include

Trim	BMW Z4 sDrive30i
MSRP	$50,695
Features	LED Headlights
	Electrically Operated Soft Top roof
	10.25" Digital Instrument Cluster and 10.25" Center Display with Standard 10 Speaker 205W Audio System
	Cloud based Voice Control
	7th Gen iDrive Mutlimedia System with 20GB Memory, 2 USB ports, Bluetooth, Apple Car Play
	Electric Sport Seats with Integrated Head Rests
	SensaTec/Vernasca Leather Upholstery

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If you aren't satisfied with this exhaustive set of features and wan't more from BMW, guess what, BMW has a lot more to offer. You have access to plenty of optional equipment that includes Heads Up Display, 19" Alloys, Adaptive LED Headlights, Msport and Track Handling Packages and a lot more.

A True sports car, the 2020 BMW Z4 has rorty power on tap and well-balanced handling- TheCarConnection.com

Engine and Transmission

The 2020 BMW Z4 sDrive30i, comes powered by BMW's all new 2.0 liter four-cylinder TwinPower Turbocharged motor with a high precision injection system whose maximum pressure has been increased to 350 bar / 5,076 psi. Power and torque figures have improved significantly over the previous generation model and now stand at 255hp and 295lb.-ft. Respectively. The Z4 packs in enough punch for daily driving purposes and the turbocharged motor provides enough grunt, to overtake that odd car on the motorway or on the city streets.

Transmission duties are performed by a slick 8 speed transmission and comes with paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. Drivers can manually take control of the gear shifts and the motor allows the drivers to shift when they want, without the intervention of the auto unit.

Models	BMW Z4 sDrive30i Convertible	Porsche 718 Boxster convertible	Audi TT 2.0 TFSI Quattro	Mercedes-Benz C 300 Convertible
MSRP	$50,695	$59,000	$49,395	$52,845
Engine	2.0L I-4 Twin Turbocharged Motor	2.0L H4 Intercooled Turbocharged Motor	2.0L TFSI Inline 4 Motor	2.0L, Turbocharged Inline-4 Motor
Transmission	8 Speed Automatic	6 Speed manual	7 Speed Automated Manual	9-speed automatic
Horsepower (hp)	255 @5000rpm	300 @6500rpm	228 @5000rpm	255 @5800rpm
Torque(lbs.-ft.)	295 @1500rpm	280 @1950rpm	258  @1750rpm	273 @1800rpm

At this price point, no car can match the Bimmer in terms of numbers. However, pay a premium of around $10,000 and you can lay your hands on the Porsche 718 Boxster that generates 45 more horses than the BMW.

Acceleration

The New Powertrain and the Chassis have resulted in significant upgrades in the performance of the 3^rd Gen Z4 as compared to its predecessor. The Z4, coupled with its launch control system does the dash to 60MPH in just 5.2 seconds. While the quarter mile figures haven't been released by BMW yet, we do expect them to hover somewhere between the 12.5 to 13.5 second mark.

Models	BMW Z4 sDrive30i Convertible	Porsche 718 Boxster convertible	Audi TT 2.0 TFSI Quattro	Mercedes-Benz C 300 Convertible
0-60 MPH	5.2 sec	4.9 sec	5.5 sec	6.1 sec
Quarter mile	N/A	12.7 sec	13.7 sec	14.1 sec
Engine	2.0L I-4 Turbocharged Motor	2.0L H4 Intercooled Turbocharged Motor	2.0L TFSI Inline 4 Motor	2.0L, Turbocharged Inline-4 Motor
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	6.3	7.3	7.1	7.1

As expected, the Porsche is the fastest convertible of the lot to 60MPH and in the quarter mile runs. The Bimmer comes in 2^nd in this respect and the Audi and the Merc stand 3^rd and 4^th respectively.

Ride and Handling

With the new generation of the Z4, BMW has left no stone unturned in offering the best ride and handling setup for the same. The Z4 sDrive30i gets a double-joint spring strut suspension at the front and a new five-link suspension in the rear. The rigid front suspension sub frame and control arm mounting points lead to precise cornering and reduces road noise as well.

Adding to the agility is the aluminum control arms and swivel bearings that reduce unsprung weight and offer better superb agility as well. The lightweight aluminum/steel design in the rear suspension, reduces the weight of the same and helps the chassis add to the 50-50 weight balance.

The 3 spoke sport steering with variable power assist and ratio adds to the feedback while cornering and weighs up well while doing low speed commutes in the city. Adding to the handling package is the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) that includes Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), and Dynamic Brake Control (DBC).

Braking

As expected of a BMW, the 3^rd Generation BMW Z4 Roadster doesn't disappoint in terms of the braking performance. The brakes on the Z4 sDrive30i allows it to stop from 60MPH to a standstill in just 113ft. The body however, does show some roll and pitch under hard braking but it's just a matter of getting used to.

Model	BMW Z4 sDrive30i Convertible	Porsche 718 Boxster convertible	Audi TT 2.0 TFSI Quattro	Mercedes-Benz C 300 Convertible
Brake Front (in.)	N/A	13	13.3	13
Brake Rear (in.)	N/A	11.8	12.2	11.8
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3287	2944	3395	3894
60-0 MPH (ft.)	113	112	115	153 (70-0)

The Porsche again wins the bout in terms of braking performance as it marginally beats the Bimmer in the braking performance. The Audi and the Merc again lose out to their other german adversaries in terms of braking performance.

With the twin-turbocharged motor, BMW has managed to achieve a good combination of performance and efficiency with the 2020 Z4 sDrive30i. The Z4's MPG figures are rated at 25MPG on the city, 32MPG on the highway and an overall figure of 28MPG. With a fuel tank of 13.7 gallons, the Bimmer can munch down 343 miles on the city and 438 miles on the highway.

Model	BMW Z4 sDrive30i Convertible	Porsche 718 Boxster convertible	Audi TT 2.0 TFSI Quattro	Mercedes-Benz C 300 Convertible
MPG (city)	25	21	23	21
MPG (highway)	32	28	31	29
MPG (combined)	28	24	26	24
Fuel Tank Capacity	13.7	16.9	14.5	17.4
Range(City/Hwy) in Miles	343/438	355/473	334/450	365/505

While the Merc and the Porsche offer the least overall combined MPG figures, they manage to beat the Bimmer and the Audi in terms of overall range, with their massive fuel tanks. The Audi offers the least MPG figures of the lot and has the least range as well.

The asymmetric layout of the previous model is carried forward but thoroughly modernized with BMW's new Live Cockpit Professional- Edmunds.com

Seating and Comfort

With a driver-focused cabin, the 2020 BMW Z4 sDrive30i, does well in offering a comfortable ride for the passengers riding in it. The bigger dimensions allow for easy access inside the cabin. The sport seats on the Bimmer offer good levels of support and bolstering and come with conveniences like heating functionality and power adjust. A wide center console separates the passenger seat and the driver, with the driver's right leg brushing the same a bit more often than required.

The Soft Top on the Z4 lowers and raises under speeds of 30MPH. The noise insulation from the outside with the top up is excellent and resembles some other BMW sedans. The only downside comes from the fact that the Bimmer can only seat 2 people.

Model	BMW Z4 sDrive30i Convertible	Porsche 718 Boxster convertible	Audi TT 2.0 TFSI Quattro	Mercedes-Benz C 300 Convertible
Passenger capacity	2	2	2	4
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.9/54.3/42.2	N/A	36.6/53.6/41.1	38.8/54.8/42.0
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	N/A	N/A	N/A	35.6/51.7/32.0

In terms of seating, the Mercedes-Benz C 300 trumps all of its rivals as it is the only car in this comparison that can seat 4 people. In terms of the front seats as well, the C 300 is closest to the Bimmer as well. The Audi TT comes 3^rd in this list and since Porsche doesn't reveal the dimensions of its cars, we don't have much to say about the same.

Interior Features

• 14 Way Powered M Sport Seats with Memory
• Auto Dimming Interior RearView Mirror
• Rearview Camera
• SensaTec Upholstery and Dashboard
• Automatic Climate Control
• Engine Start/Stop Button
• BMW Ambient Lighting
• Power Windows with one touch push-pull open/close for driver side

Cargo Capacity

Despite being a convertible, the 2020 BMW Z4 sDrive30i manages to offer a slightly higher cargo space than some of the coupes on sale in the market today. The 9.9 cu.ft of cargo capacity on offer, ranks as one of the best in the segment and a through-loading system with integrated transport bag, adds to the convenience of storing luggage in the same. Storage spaces are available on the doors and behind the front seats while a glove box in the center console allows for storing nifty stuff.

Model	BMW Z4 sDrive30i Convertible	Porsche 718 Boxster convertible	Audi TT 2.0 TFSI Quattro	Mercedes-Benz C 300 Convertible
Cargo Volume with rear seats up (ft.3)	9.9	9.7	7.5	8.8

The Porsche 718 Boxster manages to hold a candle against the Bimmer in terms of cargo capacity while all others in this comparison, fall short of the same. The Audi comes in the last spot of this comparison while the Merc has to suffice with the 3^rd spot.

Infotainment System

• 10.25" Infotainment Screen and Instrument Cluster
• iDrive 7.0 with touchpad controller, voice control and Navigation
• Bluetooth, 2 USB Ports, 20GB Multimedia storage
• BMW Remote Services
• BMW Connected App
• Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel with Audio, Cruise and Bluetooth control

The latest Z4 presents a welter of BMW's recent design themes- TheCarConnection.com

Design and Dimensions

Stand in front of the 2^nd Gen and 3^rd Gen Z4's parked next to each other and you'll be amazed by the stark differences in design and dimensions between the 2. In terms of design, the 2020 Z4 sDrive30i gets a sculpted front end with large air intakes, a low, broad BMW kidney grille and headlights positioned at the outer edges. The kidney grill gets a new design as well as the 2 headlights that have been positioned one above the other. The trunk lid gets an integrated spoiler and enhances BMW's L shape design with the horizontally arranged rear taillights.

The 2020 BMW Z4 sDrive30i comes with a perfect 50:50 weight distribution and a shorter wheelbase (1.0" lesser than the 2^nd Gen) that enhances the agility of the Z4. Also, the 2020 Z4 is 3.3 inches longer, 2.9 inches wider and 0.5 inches taller than its predecessor, making it spacious than the same.

Model	BMW Z4 sDrive30i Convertible	Porsche 718 Boxster convertible	Audi TT 2.0 TFSI Quattro	Mercedes-Benz C 300 Convertible
Curb weight (lbs.)	3287	2944	3395	3894
Length(in)	170.7	172.4	165.0	184.5
Width(in)	73.4	70.9	72.1	71.3
Height(in)	51.4	50.4	53.4	55.3
Ground clearance (in)	4.7	4.3	N/A	3.8
Wheelbase (in)	97.2	97.4	98.6	111.8

Speaking of the dimensions, the C Class comes out on top in terms of the length and height but falls short in terms of the ground clearance. The Boxster comes second in terms of the same but offers a far better ground clearance than the Merc. The TT from Audi is the smallest in terms of dimensions but is taller than the Bimmer and the Porsche.

Exterior Features

• LED Headlights and Taillights
• Black Softtop
• Heated Glass Rear Window
• White Side-Turn Indicator lenses
• 18" Alloy Wheels
• Auto Dimming Powered Exterior Mirrors with memory
• Rain Sensing Windhsield Wipers

With the recent rise in demand for safer cars, BMW has taken ote of the same demand and is offering the 2020 Z4, with a whole host of safety tech as standard aboard the same. While the NHTSA and the IIHS haven't tested the 2020 Z4 yet, the sophisticated chassis and long list of safety features ensure the protection of its occupants at all instances.

Safety Features

• Cornering Brake Control
• Anti-Theft Alarm System
• BMW's Active Protection system
• BMW Assist eCall
• Dual Front and Side Impact Airbags
• Rollover Protection System
• Central Locking System with Double-Lock anti-theft feature

BMW Z4 sDrive30i vs. Audi TT 2.0 TFSI

The Audi TT is one of the most popular convertibles in the market owing to its crisp driving behavior and a feature loaded equipment list. The Audi manages to look striking without looking underwhelming and impresses with its build quality. The Audi however, can't match the power of the Z4 and is less frugal than the Bimmer as well. In terms of dimensions, the Bimmer has a clear upper hand and is the more practical of the 2 as well. If you are not willing to shell out more than 50 grand, the Audi makes for a good choice but if you aren't willing on making compromises, the Bimmer is the one to go for.

BMW Z4 sDrive30i vs Porsche 718 Boxster

The Porsche Boxster 718 is the benchmark among all the convertibles as far as handling and driving dynamics are concerned. The Porsche offers a tank like build on the inside and on the outside, feels powerful and is an absolute treat to drive. However, compare it to the BMW and you will feel that the 718 may be a bit expensive for what it offers. The Bimmer offers similar levels of performance as the Porsche, is more fuel efficient and practical than the same and is nearly 10 grand cheaper than it. If you want the best driving convertible without spending a fortune, the Porsche Boxster comes closest to fulfilling this deal. But if you are tight on budget and want a convertible that can do everything that the Porsche does but with a small compromise on the handling, the Z4 is a no brainer then.

BMW Z4 sDrive30i vs. Mercedes-Benz C-300

While it will be unfair to compare both of these cars, the Merc falls in the same territory as the Porsche, as far as pricing goes. The Merc offers the most comfortable ride quality among its rivals, oodles with space on the inside and comes loaded with creature comforts. People, however, looking for a sporty roadster would prefer a car with an enthusiastic motor, good driving dynamics and practicality on a daily basis. The BMW Z4 sDrive30i suits all these demands perfectly. What's more is the fact that the Z4 is cheaper than the Merc by 2 grand and is relatively better loaded in features when compared to the same.

With previous-gen Z models, focusing more on comfort rather than performance and handling, the all new 3^rd Gen Z4 manages to turn things the other way around. With a powerful motor underneath the hood and a redesigned chassis coupled with high tech equipment, the 2020 BMW Z4 sDrive30i does come close to being called a proper Sports Roadster. With the new Z4, BMW has offered a Roadster that can corner like a 3 series, accelerate like a Boxster and look like an Audi. If you aren't willing on spending a fortune on a powerful track focused roadster and can live with a convertible that is the Jack of all trades but master of none", then the 2020 BMW Z4 sDrive30i is the best bet for you.

FAQs about the 2020 BMW Z4 Convertible.
 

Is the 2020 BMW Z4 only available as a convertible?

Yes, as of now, BMW offers the 2020 BMW Z4 as a convertible only. A coupe version is speculated to be launched soon. 

What does the Z in BMW Z4 stand for?

The Z in BMW Z4 stands for "zukunft" which is the German word for future. 

Can you operate the roof in a BMW Z4 while moving?

Yes, you can lower and raise the roof up to a speed of 30 MPH.