Price (as tested) đź’˛: $73,620
Powertrain ⚙️: Turbocharged Inline 6-cylinder
Output đź’Ş: 382 hp/369 lb-ft of torque
Transmission đź•ą: 8-Speed Automatic
0-60 MPH 🚦: 3.9 seconds
Top Speed đź’Ą: 165 mph
MPG (as tested) ⛽️: 23 city/31 hwy/26 combined
Curb weight ⚖️: 3,535 lbs
What does a bright red roadster say about you?
I ruminated on this question during my week with the Z4 M40i. Maybe you default to “greatest hits” playlists on Spotify, or pose the “what’s popular here?” question to every server at a new restaurant.
A car like this just suggests a lack of originality. You had the money for a toy, and you live in a decent climate, so you brought the red roadster. Of course.
And not just any red roadster, you got the German one – predictable and stout and priced responsibly. There’s a shoutier F-Type or Corvette Convertible on offer, but red is already toeing the line of your comfort zone.
Thing is, the Z4 M40i would be a nasty bait and switch to someone expecting modesty. It’s no secret the Z4 is a topless twin of the GR Supra, and that the M40i shares its B58 turbo inline-6 with Toyota. Less publicized, however, is BMW’s theatrical exhaust tune.
Each throttle retraction in Sport Plus elicits the kind of snaps and pops that will make a driver’s face blush red to match the paint job.
This is the moment of truth. Either you’re true to your typecast, and will never make the mistake of engaging that drive mode again, or you’ll unbutton one more notch on your Hawaiian shirt and let the laughs loose.
My suggestion: it doesn’t matter how big the toy, you never forget how to play.