TO THE POINTWhat's New? Plop the M3's powerful inline six, a hydraulic rather than electric steering system, a revised suspension, and styling tweaks both functional and decorative into the BMW Z4, and the result is the excellent new M Roadster. Selling Points: Tons of torque, macho looks, impressive handling Deal Breakers: High price, lacks refinement, only a tick faster than a stock Z4
Finally designers built a two-seater with a trunk large enough to be practical. We aren't saying you'll be sneaking any friends into the drive-in theater in the back of the M Roadster, but you could get a couple of soft bags and maybe a set of golf clubs into it for a weekend getaway. Designers allowed for an additional cubic foot of space that can be had by raising a panel in the trunk if the top is in the raised position. Had BMW not taken up a large amount of trunk space with a can of sealant, a compressor and a hose, you could likely get two bags of clubs in the trunk. The M's exhaust routing and size precludes a spare tire, necessitating the compressor and sealant. The trunk opening is large and liftover is no issue as the lid rises to a vertical position well out of the way.