The redesign of the successful Z3 roadster has been out on the road for some time now, and to some, Chris Bangle's new design is less than completely inspiring.

However, look at it closely, and you will see the confluence of lines creating complex shapes and one "might" wonder just how difficult it was for the engineers to design the tooling for the front fender.

Driving this car, you feel like you are in complete control, low to the ground, communication to the tires' contact patch coming through loud and clear through the thick-rimmed steering wheel. Come up behind a new Hummer H2 however and you will appreciate the solid feel of the windshield surround and the stiffness of the twin rollhoops behind the seats.

Limited luggage space means that one of the other two choices in the BMW convertible lineup might be better suited to being your only vehicle, but if you're looking for a distinctively styled convertible that won't be one of a hundred on your block, this is a great choice.

It remains to be seen how the daring design direction BMW is taking will pan out in the end, whether it will be viewed in the future as a company ahead of the game, or a giant mistake.