When BMW's gorgeous Z3 roadster rolled

onto the world sports car stage last year, one small but persistent complaint

tarnished its otherwise rave reviews. Dynamite styling, yes. Excellent

ride and handling, check. Top quality--from a brand new factory in South

Carolina--check. Power? Well....

Frankly, we were surprised at this grumbling. The basic Z3, with its

four-cylinder engine, may not have been any faster than a Mazda Miata,

but it was a delight to drive nonetheless and a runaway success in the

showroom.

But if a perceived power shortage was the only thing that held you back

during the Z3's inaugural season, wait no more. As expected, BMW has added

a six-cylinder version to the lineup for 1997--the Z3 2.8--and, also as

expected, it adds serious go-power to this car's long list of enticements.

From a competitive point of view, this development comes none too soon.

Unlike last year, the Z3 faces some very direct and formidable new competitors

in the Mercedes SLK--the 1997 North American Car of the Year--and the Porsche

Boxster.

But with the addition of 51 horsepower, plus a longer list of standard

features and a price that's lower than its Germanic rivals, we think the

2.8 version easily measures up to the challenge.

Although the Z3 is basically unchanged for 1997, the fatter tires and

widened rear track that go with the 2.8 version lend an even more purposeful

look to this car's classic good looks. And with the $1000 optional 17-inch

wheel/tire package--P225/45ZR, P245/40ZR rear--the Z3 2.8 looks as brawny

as a small scale Cobra.

That's serious rubber, prescribed to handle the extra thrust of the

bigger engine, and it adds up to lots of grip and substantially higher

cornering capabilities than the standard Z3, which is no slouch itself.

The essential difference between the basic Z3 1.9 and the 2.8, of course,

lies under its long, sculpted hood. The engine is the same aluminum six

used in the 328i coupe and sedan--twin overhead cams and four valves per

cylinder. An inline six is still the best configuration for quelling primary

vibrations--which is why BMW sticks with this design in an age of V6 engines--and

the 2.8 is an outstanding representative of this time-honored tradition.

It's ultra-smooth at all operating speeds, and it also generates gobs of

torque--203 lb.-ft. at 3950 rpm, 70 lb.-ft. more than the 1.9-liter engine.

That's really more important than horsepower, because torque is the

low-down grunt that most of us drive most of the time, whether we're making

a stoplight launch or a fifth-gear pass on a two-lane highway. The Z3

2.8 is very good at the former--0-to-60 mph takes just over six seconds--and

outstanding at the latter. Rowing up and down in the excellent Getrag five-speed

transmission is part of the driving fun, but the engine's torque band is

so broad that fifth gear can cover a wide range of urban and suburban driving.

The gear ratios for the 2.8 differ substantially from the 1.9, of course,

to match its power characteristics. If you must, a four-speed automatic

is available with either engine for $975. The automatic operates in three

modes--normal, sport, which raises shift points for better acceleration,

and winter, which starts the car off in second gear to enhance the traction

control system (standard) in slippery going.

BMW did a good job of stuffing the 2.8's extra pair of cylinders under

the hood without making a significant change in weight distribution, which

is about 52/48 front/rear, a key element in the Z3's exceptional handling

response. However, the six-cylinder version is a little wider, to accommodate

its extra 2.5 inches of rear track. And as you'd expect, more engine means

more mass--143 pounds, to be precise. There's also a fuel economy price.

The 1.9 is rated 23/31 mpg city/hwy with the standard transmission, while

the 2.8 is 19/27.

More mass and more go requires better stopping power, which the 2.8

supplies with disc brakes all around. They're the same generous diameter

as the 1.9, but the 2.8's front rotors are vented for better fade resistance.

There's not much inside the Z3's simple but stylish cockpit to distinguish

the 1.9 from the 2.8. We regard that as a good thing, because BMW got it

right to begin with. Major controls are exactly where you'd expect them

to be, something we reaffirmed with our curbside eyes-closed review, a

test you can conduct in the showroom. Hop in, close your eyes and reach

for something--the gearshift, for example. We'll bet your hand will make

precise contact first time, every time, and that's not something we can

say about all cars.

Obviously, the Z3 is a two-seater, and, just as obviously, two-seaters

are snug by design, the kind of car you wear like a finely tailored garment.

Even so, there's plenty of legroom and enough headroom under the beautifully

crafted soft top for drivers well over six feet.

Fit and finish are superb, inside and out, 1.9 or 2.8, and the seats

provide the kind of lateral support that's required for enthusiastic cornering

as well as the kind of contours and padding that go with all-day comfort.

If there's any fault to be found it's the plastic rear window, which

will inevitably become clouded and creased over time, and a diminutive

trunk, the price of the Z3's classic sports car styling. It's only fair

to note, though, that the rear window zips out for easy replacement, and

the smallish trunk is a price we'd gladly pay for one of the best-looking

sports cars going.

Speaking of price, the 2.8 starts a hefty $6475 north of the basic 1.9.

Even with an above-average list of standard features, that might seem like

a lot for two more cylinders, but the price includes leather-clad seats

(an $1150 option in the 1.9), as well as heavier-duty rear suspension components

and enhanced braking.

The soft top for both cars is manual, and is ultra-simple and ultra-easy.

We were able to flip it open from the driver's seat with one hand, and

buttoning up is just as simple.

For all its handling precision and quick response, the dynamic trait

that impressed us most about the original Z3 was its ride quality. Like

all of BMW's recent offerings, it managed to blend sports car reflexes

with a supple ride that took the harshness out of small potholes and pavement

patches.

Our Z3 2.8 tester exhibited this same quality, but with a slightly harder

edge. The suspension components are tuned a click or so tighter, and the

whole setup feels a bit firmer underfoot.

But if the 2.8 doesn't smooth out the road quite as well as its milder-mannered

stablemate, it will perform feats on a skidpad, slalom course or winding

road that the 1.9 can't match. It sticks better in hard turns, with a shade

less body roll in quick transitions, and its brakes seem virtually immune

to fade, no matter how hard or how often they're applied. The stopping

power that went with the upgrade wheel/tire package on our test car was

nothing short of raceworthy, even when we found ourselves approaching corners

at an eye-widening pace.

There's no question that the 2.8-liter engine makes this a much more

entertaining sports car. In addition to its extra punch, it even sounds

more authoritative, thanks in part to its dual outlet exhaust system.

If you're not in a big hurry, we still think the basic Z3 1.9 provides

a joyous sports car experience, enhanced by excellent quality and seductive

good looks. But the new 2.8 version definitely nudges that experience into

the realm of fast-forward, and, in our opinion, makes the Z3 one of the

most desirable sports cars on the planet, regardless of price.

Having said that, we must add that the Z3 2.8, Mercedes SLK and Porsche

Boxster all provide different interpretations on the small two-seater theme,

and each has its own set of virtues. With a base price of $36,470, including

destination, the Z3 2.8 starts about $3500 lower than its rivals, but we

still think that if you're shopping in this realm you should drive them

all. Maybe twice.