Three months after its unveiling in the United Kingdom, the BMW Z4 Roadster is ready for Jamaica's roads.

The two-seater convertible luxury car was unveiled to the media at the offices of Stewart Motors in Kingston last Wednesday.

"This is the first and the only one in Jamaica," said Duncan Stewart, general manager of Stewart Motors. "And, it delivers on BMW's promise of providing the ultimate driving machine," he noted.

Stewart explained that it was not unusual for dealers to distribute one-of-a-kind cars.

"It is quite normal to have unique cars ... and this is generally true of the luxury segment," he said.

an improvement

The general manager said that the Z4 sDrive23i is an improvement over its predecessors.

"It is a new design generation ... it is larger than the Z3s and fuel efficient," Stewart said about the car which was first introduced in 1930. He explained that with BMW's standard Efficient Dynamics programme, there is an improvement in engine performance and economy while cutting back on emissions.

And the price tag?

"Between J$8 and J$10 million," he said.

The executive said that despite the present global recession he was upbeat about the car's prospects in Jamaica.

"This one has already been sold," he said. "And, this is what separates us from the competition," he continued.

Where are are the cup holders?

"I didn't know, there wasn't any," said Stewart.

optional features

"Cup holders are optional in European vehicles," said Kim Bernard, sales and marketing executive at Stewart Motors. "We would have to order them," she said.

According to a release, the new model features a two-piece retractable hardtop roof that can raise or lower in 20 seconds; it allows the driver to alter the chassis configuration to suit his or her needs; and offers an Adaptive M Sport suspension which features a ride height 10 mm lower that the standard car for a more dynamic drive.

The car is equipped with run-flat tyres and can continue for 150 miles at 50 mph with a puncture.

Stewart Motors is the authorised distributors of BMW and the Mini Marque in Jamaica, and has been in the automotive industry since 1938.

brianbonitto@gleanerjm.com

BMW Z4 sDrive23i sports car at Stewart Motors, Orchard Road, Kingston 5, last Wednesday. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Z4 sDrive 23i fact file

Power: 204 Hp

Torque: 250 Nm

Zero - 62 mph: 6.6 sec

Top speed: 151 mph

Emissions: 199 g/km