2009 BMW Z4 - Transmissions, Stereo, and Suspension - First Look

A six-speed manual gearbox serves as standard equipment for both the Z4 sDrive30i and sDrive35i. For sDrive30i customers who don't want to row their own gears, they can opt for a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters. If you order the sDrive35i, though, it will be a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox with paddle shifters. Fuel economy has yet to be announced for either model.

While you're clicking through those gears from behind the wheel, you'll be treated to a fresh new interior trimmed in Satin Silver matte, Brushed Aluminum or Ash Grain Wood. The dash now features large, sweeping, hockey stick-style curves and asymmetrical vents. The placement of the climate controls and the CD player has been swapped, placing the climate controls up high in a line across the dash. The CD player now resides below, ahead of the gear select. The artistic, sweeping curves of the dash are also carried over to the center console. The 2009 Z4 is the first Z to get iDrive, BMW's infotainment control system now in its second, more user-friendly generation. An 8.8-in. screen pops up out of the dash as needed to control the audio and navigation functions.

Tucked into the Z4's dash is an 80-gigabyte hard drive for the optional navigation system. Fifteen gigabytes of the hard drive's memory can also be allocated to music storage so you can keep your music library loaded in your car at all times. If you don't need all that, the 14-speaker, 650-watt stereo comes with an auxiliary input jack for connecting your iPod or other portable device. A six-CD changer can also be ordered and hides in the glovebox. Bluetooth connectivity for linking your cell phone to the car's audio system is also available as an option.

When you're ready to put that navigation system to good use and find some new back roads to play on, the Z4 will be a willing and capable dance partner. A 49/51 weight distribution and a host of technologies should make the Z4 an exceedingly fun ride on every twisty road you can find. Every Z4 comes standard with 17-in. alloy wheels wearing run-flat tires and featuring a Tire Pressure Monitoring System. Also standard is BMW's Dynamic Stability Control, which can be completely disabled, a development enthusiasts will surely appreciate. When engaged, the DSC controls the ABS, Brake Drying function, Brake Standby and Brake StartOff. The system also modulates the rear brakes to control the rear wheels the same way a limited-slip differential would. Activating Dynamic Traction Control will raise the intervention threshold for the DSC systems while keeping the safety net in place.

For the best performance, you'll also want to check the box for the Adaptive M Suspension with Electronic Dampening Control. BMW boasts that the system is so fast in changing compression and rebound on the shock absorbers that input, say a pothole, from the front suspension can be processed and adjustments can be made before the rear wheels reach the pothole. Dampener settings can be controlled with the Dynamic Drive Control button on the center console. In addition to the dampeners, the DDC also controls the gas pedal responsiveness, electric steering responsiveness, and DSC thresholds in Normal, Sport, or Sport+ modes. The suspension appears to be unchanged physically from the outgoing car.