Written by Marco Carvajal
2023 BMW Z4 M40i Performance Roadster
Test-driving the 2023 BMW Z4 M40i Performance Roadster is exciting and fun, this is an excellent performance convertible for 2 passengers. Don’t be deceived by its small size as the Z4 M40i is very fast and powerful with its 382 horsepower engine. Besides the excellent speed and power of this German-engineered car, there is beauty and elegance everywhere, the BMW Z4 is very fancy and you will feel VIP every time you enter its convertible cabin.
The Z4 looks like a work of art made into a car. Pricing for the Z4 M40i that I am test-driving starts at around $65K. A fun, fast, and powerful toy to own, if you can afford it.
Two-passenger roadster for high acceleration
The Z4 Performance Roadster can give you so much driving pleasure, but only for two passengers. This beautiful and fancy driving machine doesn’t like to share its beauty with many. It is small, precious, fast, wild, and luxurious, but as many precious rocks, this precious driving car comes in a small size with space only for two people, and a small cargo trunk. There are two trims available for the 2023 BMW Z4 roadster, you can choose the Z4 M40i, or the Z4 sDrive30i, both models are great choices but the BMW Z4 M40i is the top of the line.
If you drive a Z4 the goal shouldn’t be to have a lot of space, the goal is speed and precision with the luxury elegant style of the German automaker BMW. Driving the Z4 M40i that I am test driving you can push the accelerator and go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds, in just 3.9 seconds, that is what I call speed!
382 horsepower engine
When you buy a BMW Z4, you pay attention to its engine, speed, and power. With the new Z4 M40i you will get a very strong 382 horsepower.
Top speed for the Z4 is 155 Miles per hour, more than you can ever use unless you are running on the racetrack.
The Z4 engine utilizes BMW TwinPower Turbo technology: TwinScroll turbo, High Precision Injection. VALVETRONIC fully variable valve timing and Double-VANOS variable camshaft timing.
The base Z4 trim, the sDrive301 is a little bit less powerful and slower, it costs around $13,000 less than the Z4 M40i and it can produce 255 horsepower, and go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 5.2 seconds, what is still very fast.
The new BMW Z4 has been on the market since 2020 and more than 55,000 units of the third-generation roadster have been sold worldwide. It has been the best-selling model in a class that started exclusively by German premium brands.
Z4 history
The BMW Z4 has provided open-top driving pleasure for over 20 years. The first generation of the Z4 roadster was presented at the 2002 Mondial de l’Automobile show in Paris.
It was followed four years later by the hardtop BMW Z4 Coupe, from which a GT3 racing car was developed and enjoyed considerable success at the Nürburgring endurance racing series.
A Z4 with a retractable hardtop appeared in its second generation. Flowing lines, a long hood, and a far-back passenger compartment were the elements that defined the appearance of the previous two-seater convertible.
The history of BMW roadsters and success on the racetrack dates back to the company’s formative years as an automotive manufacturer. BMW’s open-top two-seaters have also represented important milestones in its development in the more recent past.
Previous successful models like the BMW Z1 introduced in 1987 were developed by BMW Technik GmbH as a showcase for innovation with its mid-front engine layout, sliding doors, steel unibody, and plastic body panels. A limited amount of units, around 8,000 examples were delivered to customers between 1988 and 1991, and today each is a sought-after collector’s item.
The BMW Z3 introduced in 1995 was the brand’s first model produced exclusively at the BMW Group Plant Spartanburg in South Carolina. The BMW Z3 was presented to the public on the big screen, as James Bond’s service vehicle in the movie GoldenEye.
Pricing and trims
Pricing for the BMW Z4 Starts at $53K and there are only two trims available, the Z4 M40i, and the sDrive30i.
Small doesn’t mean cheap, The Z4 M40i has an MSRP of $65,300. Then the base model, the sDrive30i trim starts at $52,800 MSRP.
If you can afford the Z4, and you like to drive a compact performance German roadster, then the BMW Z4 can be your partner on the highway, ready to take you at fast speeds in just a few seconds.
BMW Z4 M40i Starting at $65,300 (This is the trim I am test driving)
- Horsepower 382 horsepower
- 0-60 3.9s
- Engine 6-cylinder
- 3.0 Liter Twin Power Turbo 6-cylinder.
- Top Speed 155 MPH
BMW Z4 sDrive30i Starting at $52,800
- Horsepower 255 horsepower
0 to 60 mph 5.2s - Engine 4-cylinder
- 2.0 Liter Twin Power Turbo 4-cylinder.
The new 2023 Z4 sDrive30i and M40i have all the necessary equipment and tools for pure driving pleasure in the BMW product line and as a world leader in its market segment.
You can customize your Z4 with a few options like upholstery in colors Ivory white, Black, Magma Red, and Cognac. Also, available interior trims are Aluminium Tetragon, Aluminium, and Black high gloss.
Also, you can choose from the very attractive exterior colors and upgrade to 19-inch wheels. There are more options like Wireless Charging, Harman Kardon premium surround sound system, and a few packages like the Premium Package.
Soft top roadster
The Z4 looks very elegant and fancy, part of the classic elegant image of this roadster is produced by the black soft top. Both Z4 models include a soft top, there is no option available for a hard top. The standard black soft top looks great and matches perfectly the strong and more aggressive curvy body of this BMW, producing some interesting contrast.
Available for an additional $250 you can order Moonlight Black soft top along with other optional features.
Three new exterior colors
The range of optional exterior paint colors for the BMW Z4 now includes the very attractive Thundernight metallic, Portimao Blue metallic, and Skyscraper Gray metallic for the first time.
The Z4 I am test driving comes in the very attractive and psychedelic Thundernight metallic, a type of dark elegant purple.
Exclusive 19-inch M light-alloy wheels available
The Z4 comes standard with 18″ M Double-spoke orbit grey wheels, Performance non-run-flat. If you want to give a stronger look and better traction to your Z4 you can go for the optional 19-inch M light-alloy wheels.
The optional 19-inch M light-alloy wheels have been designed exclusively for the BMW Z4, available in the following styles:
- 19″ M Double-spoke orbit grey wheels
Performance non-run-flat - 19″ M Double-spoke jet black wheels
Performance non-run-flat - 19″ M Double-spoke cerium grey wheels
Performance non-run-flat - 19″ M V-spoke Jet Black Wheels
Per Non Run-flat
The attractive V-spoke design, Jet Black matte finish, and diamond-polished rim edge are both eye-catching and sophisticated complementing the already great look of the Z4.
These 19-inch M light-alloy wheels are fitted with 255/35 ZR19 tires at the front and 275/35 ZR19 at the rear.
M Shadowline lights
New options list includes the M Shadowline lights, which can be specified with the optional adaptive LED headlamps. Darkened headlamp inserts give the front end of the Z4 an understated sporty aura and complement the optional Extended Shadowline trim.
Classic sports car cockpit with M-specific touches
The interior design of the BMW Z4 is defined by a driver-focused cabin design, sports seats with integral headrests, clean forward-facing lines, and minimal decorative surfaces.
With the addition of the standard M Sport package, the interior of the BMW Z4 sDrive30i now includes an M leather steering wheel, M Sport seats, M pedals, an M driver’s footrest, and a SensaTec-trimmed dashboard to make it a more sporty and modern.
M sport package standard
The M Sport package is now standard on the Z4 sDrive 30i, it includes design elements that emphasize the roadster’s width and powerful stance. The three-section air intakes in the front apron are similar to other M models, with the distinctive contouring of the side sills, and a rear apron with striking edges on both sides.
The redesigned side air intakes, guide oncoming air into the air curtains, reducing turbulence in the wheel arches.
New detailed updates have been made to the design of BMW’s kidney grille, with a horizontal interior structure adding to the impression of width at the front.
The Z4 is a wonderful roaster to drive at fast speeds, but it is so beautiful looking that just having it in your driveway will make you enjoy the pleasure of elegance and performance.
The BMW Z4 is a luxury and super-fast roadster with maximum driving pleasure for two.
