BMW Z4 roadster promises driving pleasure
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali
Famous Kuta beach was visible when my plane was on its final approach before landing at Ngurah Rai International Airport last week.
It was such a pity that I did not have the time to enjoy the bustling beach and its cafe-packed vicinity, as I already had a date with BMW's latest toy, the BMW Z4 Roadster.
As soon as I'd checked out of the airport at about 1:30 p.m., the cute lil' monster was already there to take me up to Amanusa Hotel in Nusa Dua.
I decided to let Deni drive the roadster first as I wanted to try out the seating in the other seat. Well, there are only two seats.
The roadster is indeed a spacious car, despite its rather limited dimensions: about 4.1 meters long, 1.8 meters wide and 1.3 meters high, with a wheelbase of 2.5 meters.
We decided to have lunch first at the hotel before taking it down the road for a photo session while awaiting the photographer from The Jakarta Post's Bali office, Murdani Usman.
Murdani decided to start the photo session at the hotel premises and then we went to Sawangan.
By this point I hadn't tested the roadster to its limits, as we were still driving in Nusa Dua.
But I could feel its power, driven by an inline, 6-cylinder engine displacing 2,979 cc. The engine produces 231 horsepower (hp) at 5,900 revs per minute (rpm), with a maximum torque of 300 Newton-meter at 3,500 rpm.
The engine is similar to that powering the sporty BMW 330i, but the Z4 has more power. No wonder, because the roadster weighs 1,385 kilograms (kg), lighter than its sedan cousin at 1,540 kg.
The powerful engine provides powerful acceleration from stationery to 100 kilometers per hour (kph) in 6.2 seconds. The roadster has a maximum speed of 244 kph.
After the photo session, we drove the car to Kuta where we had dinner at Made's Warung. We certainly attracted the attention of passersby as well as cafe patrons.
"Wow, nice car. Take us for a ride!" a group of Western girls shouted at us. Too bad there were only two seats!
Tagged at Rp 904 million (US$110,000), the Z4's design is a balance between power and finesse, carefully chiseled form and pleasing style, and meets all the functional elements that are required from a world-class roadster.
The roadster has two waistlines. The lower one extends from the engine compartment lid across the door, while the upper waistline, by contrast, extends in a powerful arch from the beginning of the compartment lid all the way to the rear. The unique BMW emblem is integrated with the side indicator on the car's flanks, behind the front wheel arches.
Returning to the hotel, I started to experience the car's real ability as the streets were not so crowded late at night along the bypass.
The roadster has a special "Sports" button that gives more power. This is not the usual button on the transmission lever but is located on the dashboard.
The powerful engine gets a kick when using the dynamic driving control (DDC) button, which gives maximum power earlier than usual in "Sports" mode.
As soon as I stepped on the accelerator the roadster vroomed with its engine hood rising, just as a speedboat usually does.
I could accelerate the car to 140 kph, although I had to hit the brake pedal every now and then to avoid other, slower cars.
"I did reach a speed of 200 kph but did it at about 2 a.m., when practically no other cars were around. But I hit the brake pedal fast because my adrenaline was really pumped up," said Deni.
Well, I did not have time to try the car in the wee hours because we planned to visit Eka Karya Botanical Gardens in Bedugul, Tabanan, on Thursday.
We left the hotel at about 6:30 a.m. to avoid the early morning traffic congestion. Well, we did get trapped a bit on the highway but it gave other motorists a glimpse of the roadster.
Several senior high school students riding motorcycles pointed at us, err... the roadster, in admiration.
Reaching Denpasar's western outskirts was quite an ordeal because the highway was the major route linking Denpasar with Gilimanuk port, Bali's entry point from Java. There were trucks, plenty of them, heading for Denpasar and vice versa, with their usual black smoke, of course. Fortunately we soon made a right turn and headed northward.
Then we had the opportunity to really step on the accelerator pedal as the highway seemed deserted.
The botanical gardens looked like the one at Puncak, Bogor, West Java. Indeed, Bedugul is one of many beautiful places in the highlands of Bali.
The BMW Z4 did not find it difficult to take in its stride the steep, twisty road, thanks to the "Sport" button giving extra power.
After a brief visit to the gardens, we returned home, as another group of journalists was already waiting their turn. As for myself, I packed my bags and returned to Jakarta, this time not regretting that I hadn't plunged into the sea off Kuta beach.
I BOX:
Specifications BMWZ4 3.0i
Dimensions Overall length 4,091 mm Overall width 1,781 mm Height 1,299 mm Wheelbase 2,495 mm Luggage compartment capacity 240-260 liter
Weight 1,385 kg
Engine Cylinders/valves 6/4 Capacity 2979 cc Maximum output 231 hp at 5,900 rpm Maximum torque 300 Nm at 3,500 rpm
Transmission 5 speed Steptronic
Fuel Consumption Tank Capacity 55 liter Fuel Consumption: city 13.5 liter/100 km
Wheels Alloy Tire dimensions 225/45/R17 Wheel dimensions 8Jx17
Driving Performance Top Speed 244 km.h Acceleration 0-100 km/h 6.2 seconds