After the prolonged teasing of both the new BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra, it’s nearly impossible to have any feelings left on the matter. We equate it to the rare sensation of desperately needing to urinate for an extended period before it mysteriously goes away. It’s impossible to know why or how that feeling left you, especially considering that’s now how things are supposed to work. But, inexplicable as it may be, it still happened.
That doesn’t mean you’re unrelieved when you finally make it to a bathroom. It just wasn’t the big event you were hoping for. The Z4 unveiling is a lot like that. We’re glad it’s finally here, but Bimmer’s returning roadster has been teased out, leaked, and speculated upon so much that it’s not that big of a deal anymore.
Alright, let’s see what BMW has for us.
Borrowing from the 8 Series, the 2019 Z4 looks exceptionally wide, with a stout grille and thinner tail lamps. It also has a front bumper that elicits an oddly cruel grin when combined with its semi-scowling headlights. It’s spiffy and reminiscent of the previous generation. But we wouldn’t call it downright gorgeous.
The very prominent kidney grille takes on a bold mesh design, giving the car a big face, while the back is more subtly elegant — almost Porsche-like.
As rumored, the BMW Z4 M40i First Edition is powered by a 3.0-liter inline-six engine. However, the automaker let us down yet again by neglecting to release any specs for it. This is likely due to the Toyota Supra using the same powerplant and the pair wanting to keep things quiet until it’s the Japanese car’s time to shine. Of course, this also continues to make us hate both cars a little more every day.
BMW was willing to say the mill’s output should be sufficient to propel the Z4 from 0-62 mph in roughly 4.4 seconds, which isn’t bad. It also receives an M-tuned sport suspension with electronically controlled dampers, upgraded braking system, and an electronically controlled rear differential.
However, we already know that the inline-six should make around 380 horsepower and 370 lb-ft of torque. Meanwhile, the followup 30i is rumored to receive the very common B48 — a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four in the neighborhood of 250 hp. Transmission options are likely to be limited exclusively to an automatic eight-speed on both cars.
First Edition models have the benefit of the exclusive Frozen Orange Metallic paint, a ragtop with silver accents, fancier trim bits throughout the interior, Vernasca black leather trim with decorative stitching, and power seats. Those units will also come with 19-inch, 10-spoke wheels with a two-tone finish.
The Germans are also chucking in adaptive LED headlights, digital gauges with a head-up display, and BMW’s next-generation Live Cockpit system with two dual digital displays.
The 2019 BMW Z4 30i should arrive in the United States in the spring of 2019, while the M40i version goes on sale in a few months later. BMW says “full details” and specifications will be announced on September 18th.
[Images: BMW]
I see BMW wasn’t quite ready to try out its conjoined-kidney-grille motif (as seen on the X7 and iX3 concepts) in production. Which is a relief.
I think BMW nailed this one, from a design standpoint. And maybe there’s room for another Z4M, with the bits from the M3/M4.
Agreed, its a sharp looking roadster and looks to be a bit better proportioned compared to its predecessors.
Is this the new Fiat 124 S-line xDrive 35i M-Sport?
I was about to ask… but since you did, I ask, is this another Miata-based roadster?
Malkovitch malkovitch malkovitch, malkovitch!
Looks decent. Hopefully this and the Supra do well enough that some other brands (especially Alfa) get back into the sports car game.
Side profile is Honda S2000 with a C7 vent. I assume the Supra version will be more aggressive especially on the front end because this looks like pretty standard BMW “M” styling.
Looked like a Mercedes SLS in the side view to me.
Change the kidney grille and it looks like a Honda Civic in the front.
Because it is :)
Why does it have the lower grille from a hunday velosturd?
Rear end looks like a Toyota.
Side-on the rear reminds me of the Solara.
The old E86 Z4 & Z4M coupes look better every day.
It looks *very* MB SLK-ish to me. Very derivative. Not feeling it.
Well I think it’s gorgeous (sticks tongue out at all of you).
Agreed!
Would be great with a manual transmission.
Finally Pontiac with BMW engine. Why it took so long?
Those are serious A-pillars. No front strut brace because pedestrians, I guess. That’s a lotta nose.
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj97umUxYTdAhUFKH0KHVWDCGYQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.barrett-jackson.com%2FArchive%2FEvent%2FItem%2F2005-BMW-Z4-CONVERTIBLE-196045&psig=AOvVaw3kU9j1Qpws6wyHZ19r2ygd&ust=1535160610076679
Auto only oh joy.
“the back is more subtly elegant”
Well I’m glad somebody is smoking some good sh*t.
The back might look decent if seen straight on with some heavy beer goggles. The rear three-quarter view, being sober, looks like a bad case of Bumperitis Federalus.
The engine cover trivialities offend me.
The interior is drab, fussy and somehow boring, yet probably nice to the touch. Judging by my Miata, it will get filthy all the time and then I’d rather be in the Fisher-Price plastic interior camp.
Oh and the front “mouth extensions”(?) make it look mentally challenged, though I suspect with most regions requiring front plates, less obviously so.
Looking from the side, swage line treatment and panel gap interaction are just awkward, with light flowing on the surface very uncomfortably.
All in all, it only looks somewhat passable due to its proportions, with all the screwed up details being a sea of afterthoughts on a planet of committee’d design.
Swap the grille and roundel for Mercedes flavoured ones, park it next to AMG GT and most people wouldn’t bat a damn eye.
The hood seems interesting, though.
I really like the exterior except for the over-large headlamps and the jack-o-lantern lower grille. The interior…well the trapezoidal theme is oppressive and I hate gauges that aren’t round. I guess I’m one of the few who sees the current BMW interior design language as timeless and elegant rather than dated and plain.
I generally like, but I am not loving the door handles, they mar the lines of the car.
Other than the rear end looking low rent, sign me up for the inline 6 with a manual, first BMW I can remember being interested in.
305s should cure the rear end issue.
Also why is the 40i a 3.0 while the 30i a 2.0, anyone that buys this with a 2.0T engine should be neutered for wasting that much money to buy a 4 cylinder car.