The Z4 is the brand new sports car that is coming from the BMW, and it is due sometime in the next year. The first series of the Z4 was produced from 2003-2009, and it was an RWD, front-engine, two-seat roadster. The second gen was made from 2009-2016 and it pretty much retained the same layout with one significant change – it utilized a retractable hardtop which made it a cool blend of both worlds. The 3rd gen Z4 will be a product of cooperation between BMW and Toyota, and this is pretty much everything we know about it!
If you are wondering what it will be, we are happy to inform you that the 3rd gen Z4 will still be an RWD, front engine mounted roadster that will offer plenty of fun and performance to its owners. Just as a reminder, previous posts, and news that reported that there might be a change in the name and that this one might be called Z5. But thanks to former Head of BMW America, Ludwig Willisch and his statement for AutoGuide, Z5 is “something that someone else has made up,” and he added that the new one “will be called Z… probably 4.”
The new Z4 will be sharing its platform with the Toyota’s new sports car that still does not have a definitive name (many speculate it will be a revival of the Supra). But you shouldn’t be worried because despite the shared platform both of these vehicles will be unique in their own way. That is confirmed by BMW CEO of Australia Marc Werner who stated that the new Z4 will be “a unique BMW product, as you would expect.” Apparently, the Supra will only be made and sold as a Coupe while the new Z4 will come only with a soft-top.
The look! If you recall the BMW Z4 Concept, then you do not have to look any further than that. The new model will resemble that concept vehicle, and it was confirmed by BMW global design chief, Adrian van Hooydonk, who stated that the Concept is a “very close hint of what the production car will look like next year.” If you do not believe him, check out some of the more recent spy shots of the testing prototype and you will see a lot of resemblance between these two, even though the prototype is heavily camouflaged.
The first thing that will catch your eye is the change in the exterior design. The side of the prototype lost those bold, high character lines that the Concept had and those aggressive deep creases in the front and rear bumpers are also being toned down, but hey that is the price of going from Concept to production-ready vehicle. You have to lose something to get something. We are also happy to inform you that it seems that the long hood with pointy nose and short rear deck will remain, which is basically the Z4’s trademark. The Concept also gave an insight into the interior of the new Z4 and how will it look like, and we like it very much. The Concept previewed the real radio and HVAC controls, plus there is a very familiar part, and it’s the shifter and iDrive control knob. The interior will surely change when it comes to the production version, but it will definitely host a fine balance between the luxury and sportiness.
The engine of 2019 BMW Z4
According to some speculations, the new Z4 will come in a few flavors – a base s20i with a turbocharged 2.0 L four-cylinder producing 180 HP. Second in line will be the s30i which will offer 250 HP and the range topper will be a turbocharged 3.0 L straight-six unit likely from the 340i and it will pump out somewhere between 335 hp or 385 HP. The sad piece of info in the entire article is the one that states that a Z4 M won’t be in the works, or at least that is what a BMW spokesperson said for Automobile Magazine this August.
One more thing is important here, and that is the fact that the new Z4 will come without the hybrid unit, despite the fact that its Toyota counterpart will sport one. It seems that it’s only four and six-cylinder engines for now. As far as the transmission is considered, the base s20i model will come with the six-speed manual transmission while the other two trims will be graced with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.
The release date of the 2019 Z4 is not set yet, but we expect it to be revealed sometime at the beginning of 2018, probably at January’s North American International Auto Show, since it is the same place where the BMW and Toyota announced their new partnership back in 2013. It would be fitting, and it would justify the statement from BMW North America CEO Bernhard Kuhnt who stated “Those cars (the Z4 and 8 Series concepts) will be product variants next year. They are just around the corner.”
