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The first thing that you notice when you slip into the Z4 is that it's built to attract attention. Cruising down the main roads you will garner envious glances from your fellow motorists, and once stopped, passers-by will walk just that little bit slower to see who climbs out of it.

The second thing to hit you is the way that the six-cylinder engine aches to pull away, even before the sport facility is toggled.

The car is an absolute pleasure to drive once it gets going, but the automatic gearbox appears to have a bit of a jump between the early gears and is reluctant to even inch along unless the accelerator is pressed right down. Not ideal when stuck in rush hour traffic.

The car is also very low, which, admittedly, is also part of its appeal. It is a two-sided coin however as you can feel even smaller when surrounded by 4x4s, the staple of Middle East roads.

It is definitely a young person's car too as getting in and out is a bit of a struggle for those lacking in fitness (the instruction manual gives you tips on how to do it, including leaving the window fractionally open to use as leverage), and taller people might have trouble with the lack of head space - if given the choice take the convertible.

This aside, once you are safely installed and have a bit of open space in front of you, the Z4 goes like a bullet out of a gun. The acceleration from a standing start is phenomenal and you can almost hear the engine begin to purr as the car eats up the miles with no visible effort.

The handling is superb, the car has one of the smallest turning angles I've ever enjoyed - despite the long bonnet. It is also extremely responsive at higher speeds, perfect for the daredevil in us all, allowing the driver to nip in and out of tight turns without breaking their stride.

The reinforcement bars in the car's underfloor also mean that you don't require additional cushioning as the car is given extra vibration damping. This feature made it the winner of four stars in the EuroNCAP crash test as well as the winner of the EuroNCAP Best-In-Class Award.

The interior is as sumptuous as you would expect. Leather, throughout and a top-of-the-range sound system with speakers, installed behind the seats. On the passenger side there is plenty of room to stretch out, although the proximity to the road does mean that you will feel every bump.

The car is also a delight to park, slotting into any space no matter how small it seems. The trick lies in realising that most of the car is to the front! Boot space is surprisingly large and the model could conceivably carry anything that two people might need for a weekend break.

In essence though, the Z4 is a driver's car. You need to be the one behind the wheel to feel the thrill of that controlled power at your fingertips. With the windows down and music blaring you do feel like the king of the road.

Verdict: obviously not a first choice car for families or older drivers but definitely a status symbol in its own right. There aren’t that many on the road and you will be noticed as you cruise along. Handles well and performs fantastically at higher speeds although a little stilted in lower gears.

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