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S PORTSCARS FROM F ULL-LINE automakers follow a rocky road to sustained success. ese two-seat vehicles are a tough sell to couples with families, unless they're lucky enough to have the income and garage space to add an entertaining car. I'm reminded of friends who years ago brought home an Audi TT roadster to the astonishment of their toddler children. e little boy and his sister both asked, "Where do we sit?" And their parents answered, " at's our fun car." Since not every parent can pull this off, most sportscars are acquired before or after raising a family, and that's not a substantial market for major automakers. BMW has honed its image on brisk handling vehicles, coining the phrase " e Ultimate Driving Machine" a few decades back to identify all its offerings as sporty. e company's "M" coupe and sedan models live up to that slogan and do quite well in the marketplace. And while two-passenger sportscars haven't topped the sales charts for the Bavarian automaker, the Z3 and later Z4 models have found a nice niche between light sport and luxury touring. BMW's latest Z4 offering is built in Graz, Austria, sharing much of its hardware with Toyota's Supra in a smart partnership that allows both automakers to limit development costs for low volume offerings. Apart from decidedly different brand styling, the Supra is a fixed coupe while BMW's Z4 is a soft-top roadster. In 2023, Toyota offered a manual six-speed gearbox option along with some steering and suspension refinements, and e Ultimate Driving Machine guys had to respond. After all, it's essentially BMW's powertrain hardware. Whether the gear-shifting decision was driven by enthusiasts or marketers, the new Z4 M40i owners are the winners. e Handschalter (hand shift) package not only adds a wonderfully tactile transmission with rev matching capability, but adds staggered 19- and 20-inch wheels with performance tires along with suspension tuning and sharpened steering. And to signal these modifications, our San Remo Green roadster sports cognac detour transportation PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN DOUGLAS BMW Adds Sportscar Fun to Its Roster e Z4 M40i blends performance and luxury BY BRIAN DOUGLAS ranchandcoast.com 122 DECEMBER 2024 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE