It drives really well, and it was surprisingly easy to manoeuvre, bearing in mind that long bonnet The lock is excellent; it will turn on a penny It is a lot cheaper than I thought. I have not driven the 3.0 litre, six-speed Z4, but I can vouch for the 2.5 as an immensely satisfying drive. No erectile dysfunction there then, and I have deep psychological scars as a result of commencing a roof-down operation in central London just as the lights were changing, so this was fantastically enjoyable.We tried the cheaper of the two models available, with the 2.5 litre engine and a five-speed box. It certainly lured a great deal of libidinous gazes, though I suspect it might date faster than an episode of Changing Rooms.Then, of course, we have the much-vaunted fastest operating roof in the world (down or up in under 10 seconds). Countless car journalists have been inspired to uncharacteristic poetry in trying to describe the Z4’s “flame surfacing”, and it is true, it does tend to grab your attention and hold it.As light and reflections ripple on its undulating flanks, the Z4 exudes an air of prowling, carnal seduction See, even I am at it now. Two-seater sports cars should be sexy, if not downright pornographic. They should have ravishing, thrusting bonnets, pert waists and rumps coiled and ready for action, like Healeys and Cobras of old.The Z4 is a provocative reinterpretation of a classic shape and a good deal more appealing in the flesh than in photographs.

SPECIFICATIONS Price: £26,655; Engine: 2.5 litre, straight six, 192bhp; Performance: 149mph, 0-60 in 6.6 seconds, 25mpg; CO2: 216 g/km; Worth considering: Audi TT 180, Honda S2000, Mercedes SLK 200K, BMW 320 Cabriolet. The F50 supercar, and now the Enzo, show the founder’s spirit continues Ferrari now owns Maserati too.Defining model: 250 GTO. Front-mounted V12 engine, 1960s visual purity, string of race wins, total epitome of Ferrarism.Enzo Ferrari said: Against everyone’s advice, I wanted a 12-cylinder engine.We say: Stubbornness was his salvation.. Meanwhile Niki Lauda and, nowadays, Michael Schumacher kept world championships heading Ferrari’s way. Enzo Ferrari died shortly after 1987’s twin-turbo F40 supercar startled the world with its 480bhp. The racing cars went mid-engined from the 1960s but larger road cars stayed front-engined until the Daytona ceased production in the early 1970s.

After that, the big Ferraris had mid-mounted flat-12 engines until the 456 and 550, with new V12s, came along. His name was on a late-1950s GP car, and on a smaller sports model which was Ferrari’s first mid-engined road car. This line evolved into the 308 and 328 series, then the flawed 348, the sublime F355 and today’s 360 Modena. World championships were regular Ferrari benefits with Phil Hill and John Surtees in the 1960s Ferrari’s son and heir, Dino, died young. It was soon joined by a larger V12 family which powered road cars and Grand Prix cars. Ferrari attracted the best drivers: Juan Manuel Fangio, Mike Hawthorn and Peter Collins, among them. This engine would power most roadgoing Ferraris for the next 20 years, more than doubling its size along the way.

The marque: First among supercars, usually red, always obvious

The marque: First among supercars, usually red, always obvious
The history: Enzo Ferrari managed the Alfa Romeo racing team pre-war, but in 1947 he produced his own car, the 125S, with a 1.5-litre V12 engine by Gioachino Colombo. Effectively the charge for credit will be £1,165.63 and the annual percentage rate is 12.4 per cent.If Ms Cornell cannot manage that, then there are lots of other competitive deals around, DC Cook Direct 0870 606 43 43 have discounted Corsa 1.2 SXis available at 8.6 per cent apr which can translate into £28.91 weekly payments. Alternatively, depending on mileage and specification, a 1993-96 1.2 Corsa is available within Sarah’s £1,400 budget.. But if she has already sold her car the cash should help her negotiate a better price on the replacement.A car for the heartIf Ms Cornell wants a Vauxhall Corsa, why not buy a new one? It is a practical, well-equipped little runabout, and to celebrate Vauxhall’s centenary they have a range of special offers.