Wraps come off all-new BMW Z4
● Convertible makes debut at Pebble Beach with straight-six
THIS is the all-new BMW Z4, and the sixth iteration of BMW Z car, which has been unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours event in the United States ahead of sales starting in spring 2019.
Codenamed G29, the new roadster has been developed in a joint project with Toyota. However, the two models to emerge from the shared process – the Z4 and the Japanese firm’s Supra – will be substantially different. BMW’S offering will be a convertible only; the Toyota will be sold as a coupé. Both will be built in the same factory in Austria; it was BMW that initially proposed the idea to Toyota to co-develop the two cars.
The Z4’s looks and proportions stick pretty closely to those previewed on a concept that was revealed at the same American event last year, although they have been slightly toned down. There’s a particularly short overhang at the front end, and a visible decrease in wheelbase compared with the outgoing Z4.
An extra-wide version of the usual BMW grille adorns the front, along with headlights that are fared back almost to the top of the wheelarches. The rear of the newcomer features pinched taillamps and a pronounced lip spoiler.
The images also confirm that this Z4 has a folding fabric roof (it opens in around 10 seconds), eschewing the aluminium hard-top of the outgoing generation on grounds of complexity, cost and weight. The new car’s total kerbweight is said to be around 50kg lighter than its predecessor’s.
The model unveiled at the Californian event is the Z4 M40i First Edition, which is described by BMW as “a taster of the forthcoming on-road debut of the new roadster”. It’s powered by a 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine, producing
340bhp – enough to take the new droptop from 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds.
BMW is being coy on releasing many technical details – they’re being held back until latest next month – but it has confirmed that the M40i edition has electronically controlled dampers, upgraded M Sport brakes and an M Sport differential. It also says the Z4 will have a 50:50 weight distribution.
The line-up of powertrains is likely to include a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol, possibly in a couple of states of tune, along with at least one more version of the straight-six fitted in the First Edition.
We’d expect a plug-in hybrid version to follow later in the car’s life, too, and there could even be a fully-focused M version of the car, because BMW hopes a more involving dynamic experience will allow the Z4 to grab some sales from the Porsche Boxster.
The cabin shows a further evolution of BMW’S cockpit layout, with a new design of fully digital instrument panel, and a ‘fared-in’ infotainment system that’s clearly angled towards the driver.
The usual idrive rotary dial is mounted on the centre tunnel beside the controller for what is likely to be an eight-speed automatic transmission.
A manual gearbox is likely to be offered, too, Auto Express understands, but only on the most basic model as a way of keeping the new car’s entry cost and weight as low as possible.
The latest Z4 is due on sale in the UK next spring. There’s no word on pricing or specifications yet, but we’d expect the range to start with 2.0-litre models at around £30,000, rising to around £48,000 for the M40i seen here.
“There’s a short overhang at the front and a visible decrease in wheelbase over the outgoing Z4”