BMW is an organisation capable of learning from its mistakes. Take the old Z3 sports car. By the time it reached the end of its life, it had developed into a very competent roadster, powered by a range of very good engines and offering reasonable value for money. The problem was, nobody really took it very seriously. Its image was hurt by the fact that for quite some time after its introduction, all you could buy was a weedy 1.9-litre car. The hairdresser tag stuck and the Z3 was doomed as a serious sporting choice. BMW reversed that launch schedule with the Z4, the early 2.5 and 3.0-litre models giving it a macho reputation. They quietly slid a 2.2-litre model in, which has since been deleted, and then came the 2.0-litre entry level car featured here. Is it worth your while or will it be another case of 'Curl Up And Dye' ?

First impressions look promising. This £24,210 Z4 may only have a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit beneath that priapic bonnet, but it's good for 150bhp. Compare that with the weedy 118bhp the Z3 fronted up with and there's cause for significant optimism. Built at Hams Hall in Warwickshire, this engine features Valvetronic technology and VANOS valve control. The VANOS system decides when the engine's valves are opened while Valvetronic determines by how much they open. The end result is improved engine performance in terms of power, economy and responsiveness. The Valvetronic 2.0-litre is in fact one of BMW's more impressive units and the generous spread of torque means that it drives a whole lot bigger than its modest capacity would at first suggest.

Plumbed into the front of a Z4, this engine will propel the car from zero to 60mph in just over eight seconds and will run on to a top speed of 137mph. Do you really need a car that will travel significantly quicker than this? The answer is probably no. Yes, more power is always nice to have but, as sales of the larger capacity Z4 engines have shown, the vast majority of customers don't seem to view outright horsepower as a key selling point. This bodes well for the Z4 2.0-litre. Few customers taking one for a test drive will feel that the 200Nm of torque is in any way inadequate.

"Don't worry. The Z4 2.0-litre has enough power to entertain"

The pounds, shilling and pence will probably be the icing on the cake for Z4 2.0 buyers but the feel good factor will be what attracts them to their local gleaming BMW dealership and the Z4 delivers that in spades. The shape still takes quite some getting used to, especially if you're over a certain age. It's an unusual car, but spend a little time with it and you'll see the genius in its styling. This is a car that really does grow on you, challenging the eye with its so-called 'flame-surfaced' flanks and its unorthodox detailing and proportions. The latest cars can be spotted by the shoulder line that extends beyond the bonnet edge to the front air dam. There's a wider air intake below the grille, which itself displays some minor modifications and the rear tail lights feature horizontal light conductor rods as seen on the Z8. Of course, there are those quite happy with unchallenged eyeballs and no amount of waxing lyrical about the styling will convince those that find the Z4 beyond the pale. Their loss.

If the exterior design generates a little controversy, the same can't be said of the cabin styling. It's typically low-key but classy, BMW at their best. There's a broad centre console and clear dials. Space in the footwell is especially generous and it's possible to hunker down into a low driving position and feel really ensconced in rather than on the car.

Tipping the scales at less than 1,260kg does wonders for the power to weight ratio, BMW having sought lightweight componentry wherever possible. An example is the suspension system. Whereas the Z3 used the ancient semi-trailing arm suspension of a 1985 vintage 3-series, the Z4 is bang up to date, using a proper alloy multi-link arrangement. The Z4 sits foursquare on the road due to a wide track at the front and rear. It was the first BMW to use electric power steering and is hugely torsionally stiffer than the somewhat wobbly Z3.

The commitment to appearing a proper driver's car can be seen in certain key areas. The traction and stability control systems can both be disabled at the touch of a button, something you won't be able to do in a Mercedes SLK for instance. Although it does require you to hold the button in for what seems like an eternity when the control systems are disabled, when it does shut down, track day fiends will find a car that's as benign as a Mazda MX-5. As long as you can afford the tyre bills, you'll find it makes a great car to learn the finer points of oversteer and understeer control.

The hood is a superb fully automatic affair with no manual intervention required whatsoever. Simply prang a button on the dashboard and the whole thing retreats quickly with no clips, latches, poppers or stress. BMW claim the hood will retract in less than ten seconds making it the fastest electric hood in the world. Early publicity material claimed it was the fastest hood full stop before Mazda demonstrated that the manual hood of their MX-5 could be thrown back in about three seconds flat!

The BMW Z4 2.0-litre poses some interesting questions. It's quick but not seriously rapid and would appear to be the best value of all the Z4 variants. Manufacturers pitch their models so that buyers are tempted by a cheap model but subsequently buy a more expensive version. Although BMW have learned from the Z3 launch, they may have rather perversely shot themselves in the foot by pitching a base model that, if anything, is a little too desirable for its own good. Upgrading to the 2.5-litre car - as impressive as it is - seems wilfully ostentatious.

TOP 2 Z4 DEALS

The results below show the top Z4 deals on buyacar

	BMW Z4 2.0i SE 2dr Roadster Convertible
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £1,268	Price £22,947
	BMW Z4 2.0i Sport 2dr Roadster Convertible
	ETR	Mthly	Saving £1,503	Price £25,297