Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Brand Design says, 'The new BMW Z4 Coupe is best described as a pocket GT. The car has been design to feel shrink-wrapped around its components and occupants to create the tightest packaged high-performance long distance GT car ever.'Jim O'Donnell, managing director of BMW (UK) Ltd said, 'Most cars in the sporting coupe sector try to be jack of all trades and end up being masters of none. The Z4 Coupe is different. It is a focussed sports car aimed fairly and squarely at drivers who love driving.'He added, 'The Z4 M in particular, top model in the new Z4 Coupe range, is an unashamed performance car as much at home of the race track as it is on the road. This is not a car trying to be all things to all men.'The new Z4 Coupes will make their UK debut at the British International Motor Show from 18 July and will go on sale in August with prices starting at £31,400 for the 3.0si SE, rising to £32,025 for the 3.0si Sport variant and £41,285 for the 3.2-litre Z4 M, top version in the three model range. No 2.0-litre variant, such as in the Z4 Roadster range, is planned.Although the Coupe is only just being released for sale as a niche model it was initially conceived at the same time as the popular Z4 Roadster in the late 1990s. This year BMW expects to sell around 1,000 Z4 Coupes of which 200 should be the Z4 M variant. In a full year around 1,900 Z4 Coupes will be available to the UK market and around 30 per cent of these will be Z4 M variants. BMW in the UK estimates that the Z4 Coupe, in a full year, will account for one third of all Z4 sales.The UK is the second largest market in the world for BMW M model sales behind the USA and in front of Germany. In the UK BMW expect that 75 per cent of customers for the new Z4 Coupe will be retail buyers. They say a typical customer will be male, married and aged between 35 and 45 years.In true BMW tradition the two-seater Z4 Coupe, like its Roadster stablemate, is a front engined, rear wheel drive muscle car now but with a fixed head and hatch-style boot. The 3.0-litre petrol engine used for SE and Sport models is the lightest volume production six-cylinder engine in the world. Power output is 265bhp at 6,600rpm with 315Nm of torque at 2,750rpm. The 0-62mph acceleration time is 5.7 seconds and top speed is limited to 155mph. The combined cycle mpg figure is 31.7 with CO2 emissions at 213g/km. This unit is matched with a 6-speed close ratio manual gearbox although BMW are also offering their new Sport automatic transmission with this engine.The Z4 M Coupe uses BMW's familiar 3.2-litre Motorsport six-cylinder petrol engine delivering 343bhp at 7,900rpm and 365Nm of torque at 4,900rpm. Zero to 62mph takes 5 seconds and the top speed is also limited to 155mph. The combined cycle fuel consumption is 23.3mpg with CO2 levels at 292g/km. Drive to the rear wheels is through a six-speed close ratio manual gearbox but with the addition of BMW's Variable M differential which delivers zero to 100 per cent of available power to the wheel that can most use it in any given situation.Now with is hard fixed top the Z4 in Coupe guise looks even more of a missile than the Roadster models. The low, wide muscular stance with its long bonnet and short rump capped by the tailgate hatch leaves nobody in any doubt as to the credentials of this new niche BMW.The Z4 3.0si SE and Sport models give refined and responsive driving at all speeds. The Z4 M is more raw, has a harder edge to it and needs to be used on traffic free open roads, or better still a track days, for it to perform to its true potential. This version needs to be driven hard to appreciate its capabilities both from the handling point of view and the engine power. Both maximum power and torque are developed further up the rev range than its 3.0-litre counterparts so it needs space and freedom from legal requirements to enjoy it best.The 3.0si versions are far more compliant and social for day in day out driving. Smooth and flexible at low speeds, responsive in the mid range and quite fast enough at the top end to bring a smile to the driver's face. It will wipe any smile off the face of a fellow road user who might just want to chance their arm giving you a run for your money in something that is less of a sporting thoroughbred than the Z4 Coupe.The cockpit is simple but well equipped and on the snug side. Would-be buyers should try out the car just to see if they can live with the fairly cramped cocooned conditions. Thanks to the low slung seats, even with the fixed roof, there is plenty of headroom once in the car but getting in and out of it if you are a six footer needs care. Legroom is limited and the driving seat could not be reclined far enough for me to enjoy the GT long journey cruising capabilities the Z4 Coupe offers. The Coupe is well equipped with the usual high levels of specification including climate control.The handling of course is impeccable with lots of rear wheel grip and predictable and precise body control. The Z4 is filled with electronic driving and handling aids which do not blunt the pleasure of fast driving and you can foolishly switch them off. Both models have knife sharp steering but the front wheels will tramline on ridged surfaces so you need to be aware whilst driving at higher speeds. The suspension does of course give a firm ride, more so when being driven at speed over poorer roads. The Z4 M is even firmer and better suited for smooth surfaced racing circuitsIn the cruise mode the lower power 3.0-litre version is to my mind the best overall performer. Even the reasonably traffic free roads in the very north of Scotland showed these models to be the best to buy for the vast majority of customers who could buy this type of vehicle. The power delivery and high levels of torque delivered from further down the engine speed range by this new 3.0-litre engine make it a strong performer right through the entire speed range. With the slick six-speed transmission and high torque the car is just at home in traffic as it is scorching along open roads, which is an important factor. Why pay £10k more for the Z4 M unless you can use its marginal extra performance? MILESTONES. BMW Z4 3.si SE Coupe. Price: £31,400. Engine: 3.0-litre, straight six-cylinder petrol engine with 265bhp and 315Nm of torque from 2,750rpm. Transmission: 6-speed manual close ratio gearbox. Performance: 155mph (limited top speed) 0-62m,ph, 5.7 seconds, 31.7mpg, CO2: 213 g/km.For: Drivers who love driving, great handling. Against: Poor rear visibility, smallish boot, limited interior room for larger people.
