Sturdy and powerful

To really experience what the 2012 BMW Z4 sDrive 28i is all about, you have to drive it with the top down on a beautiful warm summer’s day … not a grey, wet and cold afternoon.

To ensure I got just a few minutes of what was promised as an ‘enjoyable’ ride before it started to rain, I confidently snatched the key from the sales assistant and jumped into the low sedan. He informed me ‘no speeding’ was allowed as it was obvious I was in a hurry.

I immediately put the key to the side, put my foot on the brake and pushed the button to start … nothing happened.

I must have spent something like 15 minutes trying to figure out how to switch the engine on before I built up the courage to ask for help. Turns out you have to firstly put the key into the ignition and then ‘push to start’.  So, embarrassment aside, I slowly drove the two-seater convertible onto the Sitra highway.

The ride was savoured with the loud and energetic roar coming from the 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, 240bhp engine. However, the combination of a road filled with potholes, a low ride and the beginning of a storm was not the best mixture, but surprisingly the sports car was sturdy, agile and kept me completely in control.

The car was powerful with a manual/sport shift mode, automatic, sport and sport+ settings. The car’s demeanour can be changed from a comfortable cruise to a beast with just one click of a button.

However, not everything is so aggressive. While switching lanes I usually slam the indicator on the side of the steering wheel to caution the other drivers on the road. Turns out I’ve been doing it wrong this whole time, all you need is a light touch.

The 28i I drove boasted a red leather interior which stood out against the white aluminium body. The cabin visually exposed the BMW’s theme, with simple black easy-to-use functional controls and a high level of fit and finish with black vinyl wrapping around the seats, gear knob and the multifunction steering wheel. The car has enough room for two people, but if you’re thinking of squeezing a third passenger in there then you are going to be disappointed … this is not the car for that. The entertainment system includes HD radio, Bluetooth, iPod/USB ports and a 650-watt, 14-speaker sound system.

But what really drew my attention (and that of passers-by) to the car was the exterior. The classic design gave the car a sexy and sleek look with a long hood and a short trunk. The hardtop of the convertible avoided the tackiness that some soft tops hold, to the overall look of a sports vehicle and provided the Z4 with a glossy coupe look. It looks better than any other roadster out there.

And when the rain dried up and the sun came out to play, photographer Ryan and I decided to head to the beach with the top down. The car exuded elegance and caught everyone’s attention, especially with Ryan’s long hair blowing in the wind beside mine.

The starting price for the Z4 28i is BD19,995.

For details on the BMW range contact Euro Motors on 17750750 or call into the showroom.