Two-seater roadsters are all about the thrill of – and passion for – driving, delivering to those in the cockpit all the dynamics from outside, whether the roof’s down or not.

The all-new BMW Z4 delivers on this in spades and throws the challenge down to rivals in the Audi TT roadster and Porsche Boxster.

Take one look at Z4’s reimagined sleek and sexy body and all you’ll want to do is get in it and drive it. We did just that over a week around autumnal Melbourne, testing the BMW Z4 sDrive20i with M Sport Package. That denotes the model’s entry-level four-cylinder with the addition of the Sports Pack from BMW’s high-performance M division. So it packed a punch.

Jacquie Hayes

Jacquie Hayes

Jacquie Hayes

Jacquie Hayes

Here are five things we particularly love about it.

1. It was designed by an Australian

Hip-hip-hurray to our clever Calvin Luk who outdid colleagues in BMW’s talented global design pool to earn the opportunity to move outside BMW’s traditional design language and find a more relevant re-imagination of the BMW Z4. After a rigorous and lengthy selection process, BMW’s Board of Directors settled on Luk’s Z4 vision which blended sporty sophistication with a sense of wicked fun – an entirely appropriate interpretation for a two-seater roadster, no?

2. Onboard tech and functionality

Typical of BMW, the build quality in the Z4 is solid and everything feels super expensive. The tech is fast and intuitive and the phone connection quick.

There are two 10.3″ screens on board including the instrument cluster, and the infotainment is very, very good. Its screen is intuitive, looks smart, and is clear, with menus accessible by swiping, using a rotary wheel in the center console, or voice commands. The screen layout is customizable so different features can be positioned to where you prefer them to be.