A thoroughbred roadster, sportier and more attractive than ever: that's the definition of the BMW Z4 for model year 2023. The latest version of the open-top two-seater incorporates a number of updated details, brings fresh design touches to the exterior, expands the standard equipment range and adds new items to the list of options. The new elements underline the sporty character of the BMW Z4 more than ever before, as they are the ideal ingredients for continuing the success story of a model that symbolises genuine driving pleasure in the Bavarian premium manufacturer's range, and which is a global leader in this market segment.
The BMW Z4 brings the traditional roadster experience into the modern era through powerful engines and rear-wheel drive, which constitute a vehicle philosophy focused on agility and dynamic excellence, a classic fabric soft top and an innovative, luxurious interior environment. The exterior exudes superior sporting power, which is further enhanced by the exterior features of the M Sport package - also now included as standard on four-cylinder models. Following the enrichment of the standard equipment and the modernisation of the model range structure, the Advantage, Sport Line and M Sport versions are no longer available. The broad exterior colour palette (three new variants are available), additional M alloy wheels with a 19-inch diameter and M Shadow Line lights offer customers more opportunities to put their personal stamp on the BMW Z4.
Continuing the successful tradition of roadster cars of the BMW
With the proverbial BMW sporting supremacy, the BMW Z4 draws inspiration from the brand's historic roots. As the epitome of driving pleasure and track success, the history of BMW roadsters dates back to the company's inception as a car manufacturer. The brand's open-top two-seater models have also made a significant contribution to BMW's evolution in the more recent past. Unveiled in 1987, the BMW Z1 was developed by BMW Technik GmbH as a showcase for innovation and challenged the imagination with its design of a car that featured a front and centre mounted engine, 'submerged' doors, steel monocoque and plastic body panels. Around 8,000 examples were delivered to customers between 1988 and 1991, and today, each is a coveted collector's item. Introduced in 1995, the BMW Z3 was the brand's first model to be built exclusively at the BMW Group's plant in Spartanburg, USA. The BMW Z3 was introduced to the public on the movie screen - as James Bond's service vehicle in the film GoldenEye.
Four years later, a Hollywood premiere also brought the BMW Z8 into the spotlight as part of the cast of another Bond extravaganza. In the 1999 film, The World Is Not Enough, the roadster enchanted audiences with its classic lines, reminiscent of the iconic BMW 507. Under the long bonnet of the hand-built BMW Z8, the 5.0-litre V8 engine, originally created for the BMW M5, produced 294 kW/400 hp and impressed with its performance both in the cinemas and on the road.
The BMW Z4 has embodied the concept of open-top driving pleasure for driver and passenger for 20 years. The first generation of the roadster was unveiled at the 2002 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris. This was followed four years later by the BMW Z4 Coupé, also a two-seater, which evolved into a GT3 race car that was a major success in the Nürburgring endurance series. And on the road, the BMW Z4 was constantly setting new dynamic benchmarks. Both the roadster and coupé models were also offered as high-performance sports cars by BMW M GmbH, powered by a six-cylinder in-line engine delivering 343 hp.
A removable hardtop was the striking feature of the second-generation BMW Z4, allowing it to replace both the roadster and coupé versions of the previous model. Flowing lines, a long bonnet and a passenger cabin positioned further back were the defining elements in the two-seater's appearance, and shortly after its premiere in 2009 the new model won prominent design awards such as the Eyes On Design Award, International Design Excellence Award and red dot Design Award. On the track, the BMW Z4 continued the success achieved by its predecessor with a version developed in accordance with GT3 regulations. Customer racing teams have won victories with this racing machine at events such as the 24-hour races in Dubai and Spa-Francorchamps.
The third generation: the six-cylinder in-line engine makes the difference
The current BMW Z4 has been on the market since 2020 and is built by BMW Group partner Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik in Graz, Austria. The global market launch of the new version will take place in November 2022. The engine range includes two four-cylinder units and one six-cylinder unit that gives the BMW Z4 M40i a truly unique advantage in the segment, in terms of sales. The BMW M model accounts for over 30% of global roadster sales in recent times. In Germany, the BMW Z4 M40i has recorded a share of nearly 48%.
Over 55,000 units of the third generation BMW Z4 have been sold worldwide to date. The most important single market for the roadster is Germany, where around 26% of all current-generation cars of the model have been sold. This is followed by the US (with 17% ), China, the UK and Japan. In a vehicle category that is generally in decline, the BMW Z4 has maintained extremely stable sales volumes since its launch. Since day one, it has been by far the best-selling model in a fiercely competitive segment where the game is played exclusively between luxury German brands. And its market share has been steadily increasing ever since.
The main factor behind the strong popularity of the BMW Z4 is its character, which is geared towards pure driving pleasure and structured around a sporty design, a lively drivetrain and a smile-inducing agility. These qualities have also earned the BMW Z4 victory in comparative special-edition tests. Indeed, the BMW Z4 has enjoyed a positive response from the media since its introduction. German motoring magazine auto, motor und sport proclaimed the BMW Z4 as the model that marks "the return of the sports car of the year", while Auto Bild described it as the "hottest convertible of the year". The BMW Z4 also did exceptionally well in public surveys. Readers of Motor Klassik magazine crowned it as a "future classic" in 2019. In addition, the roaster performed well in several categories in the sport auto readers' poll, with each of the three versions winning a "sport auto Award".
More dynamic than ever: package M Sport standard, kidney mask BMW with new design
With muscular proportions, a clean aesthetic guided by BMW's current design language and a series of individual details, the exterior design of the BMW Z4 embodies the modern interpretation of the classic open-top sports car. The hallmarks at the front are large air intakes, LED headlamps with vertically arranged light sources positioned at the outer edges, and a long bonnet that extends over the arches of the wheel arches. These latest design modifications further accentuate the width and highlight the roadster's dynamic silhouette.
The exterior features of the M Sport package, now included as standard equipment on four-cylinder models, play a key role here. Among these are the three-section air intakes on the front apron familiar from other M models, the distinctive contour of the sills and a rear bumper with a bold finish on each side. The side air intakes - which direct incoming air into the air intakes, reducing swirl in the wheel arches - have been redesigned. In addition, detailed improvements have been made to the BMW 'kidney' grille, which is now much more imposing. The 'kidneys' now have a horizontal internal structure, enhancing the sense of width of the front section. Among the features that underline the performance-oriented character of the BMW Z4 M40i are the exterior mirror covers in Cerium Grey and the trapezoidal-shaped exhaust system outlet trim.
Also contributing to the sporty authenticity of the BMW Z4's exterior are the car's clean side surfaces (with two dynamically flowing characteristic lines shaping the structure), the large air intakes behind the arches of the front wheel arches, the air dam integrated into the boot, the slim L-shaped tail lights and the impressive diffuser on the rear bumper. The roadster's classic fabric soft top is electrically operated and can be opened or closed - within 10 seconds - at the touch of a button while the car is moving at speeds of up to 50 km/h.
Exclusive 19-inch M light alloy wheels, three new exterior colours
New additions to the standard equipment include 18-inch M light-alloy wheels in a double-spoke design. These two-tone wheels are fitted with tyres of different front/rear dimensions: 225/45 R18 on the front axle and 255/40 R18 on the rear. Options now available for customers include 19-inch M alloy wheels designed exclusively for the BMW Z4. The V-shaped spoke design, Jet Black matt finish and glossy rim of the wheels introduce a particularly striking and sophisticated aura to the side view of the roadster. The 19-inch M light-alloy M wheels are paired with 255/35 ZR19 tyres on the front axle and 275/35 ZR19 tyres on the rear.
The range of exterior finishes for the BMW Z4 has been carefully revised and new, boldly expressive variants have been added. In addition to the exterior colours Thundernight metallic, Portimao Blue metallic and Skyscraper Grey available for the roadster for the first time, the colour palette also includes four further variants that form a wide spectrum between white, black, red and grey - including BMW Individual's sparkling matte Frozen Grey metallic. The BMW Z4's fabric soft top will continue to be offered in Anthracite Silver as an alternative to the standard black.
Also new to the options list are the M Shadow Line headlights, which can be ordered in combination with the also optional Adaptive LED Headlights. The dark headlight inserts give the front end of the car a subtle sporty aura, and come to enrich the image with the M Shadowline glossy matte exterior trim combined with more elements.
Classic cockpit sports car with special M accents
The BMW Z4's interior design is dominated by a driver-focused cockpit layout, sporty seats with integrated headrests, clean forward-facing lines and the restriction of surfaces with decorations to a few areas of the cabin. The BMW Z4 sDrive20i comes standard with Vernasca leather, which can be ordered in Black, Ivory White, Cognac or Magma Red. The BMW Z4 M40i and BMW Z4 sDrive30i come with leather/Alcantara trim with blue contrast stitching and blue inserts as standard. The interior of the BMW Z4 sDrive30i additionally features an M leather steering wheel, M Sport seats, M pedals and M driver's footrest that elevate the levels of sporty driving pleasure.
In addition, the cockpit of the classic sports car is now combined with a Sensatec instrument panel in the BMW Z4 sDrive30i. Heated seats, air deflector, extra storage space, a permeable load system, Park Distance Control with front and rear sensors, an automatic anti-dazzle centre mirror and dual-zone climate control are standard equipment on all versions of the model. The BMW Z4 M40i and BMW Z4 sDrive30i also come standard with concealed ambient lighting and M trim on the sills.
High-speed engines, advanced chassis technology
Direct power delivery, agility, excellent performance and smooth operation - characteristics for which BMW engines are renowned - are the hallmarks of the three petrol engines also available for the new BMW Z4. The four-cylinder engine powering the BMW Z4 sDrive20i is paired as standard with a six-speed manual transmission. The base model can be ordered with the optional eight-speed Steptronic Sport eight-speed transmission that is standard equipment for the other engine versions in the range. The Steptronic Sport transmission is available with steering wheel shift paddles and a Launch Control function for optimised starting.
The BMW Z4's outstanding reputation for engine technology is perfectly confirmed in the top model of the range, where the six-cylinder in-line engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology is unrivalled by any competitor, offering outstanding performance characteristics. The 3.0-litre, 250 kW/340 hp unit develops a maximum torque of 500 Nm, enabling the BMW Z4 M40i to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. The two four-cylinder engines, both with a capacity of 2.0 litres and BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, also stand out with their lively performance. The BMW Z4 sDrive30i engine produces a maximum output of 258 hp and a maximum torque of 400 Nm, enabling acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds. With a maximum output of 197 hp and maximum torque of 320 Nm, the BMW Z4 sDrive20i accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds (automatic transmission: 6.6 seconds).
Together with the compact body proportions, minimised weight, low centre of gravity and near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution, the impressive rigidity of the body and chassis structure, combined with the highly efficient aerodynamics of the BMW Z4, provide the ideal platform for sporty handling that excites and satisfies. The chassis technology unlocks an unparalleled blend of agility and driving comfort, combining a front axle with two-link knee and a five-link rear axle. Standard equipment on all models also includes sport steering with variable ratio understeer.
The M Sport suspension, now part of the standard equipment of the BMW Z4 sDrive30i, optimises dynamic handling with tightly tuned shock absorbers and springs. The BMW Z4 M40i features an adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled dampers and - like the BMW Z4 sDrive30i - M Sport brakes with a choice of blue or red for the calipers. The top of the range model is also equipped with an M Sport rear differential at the rear axle, which is available as an option for the BMW Z4 sDrive30i.
Advanced driver support systems, intelligent connectivity
The BMW Z4 offers customers a range of advanced driver support systems that enhance comfort and safety levels. Standard equipment includes Front Collision Warning with Brake Intervention, Lane Departure Warning with Lane Return, and Speed Limit Info with Overtaking Prohibition Indicator. Among the optional equipment list are Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Lane Change Warning, Rear Collision Warning, Cross Traffic Alert, Parking Assistant and Reversing Assist Camera. A BMW Head-Up Display, which displays driving information on the windshield, is also available.
BMW Live Cockpit Professional, which ensures intuitive operation and intelligent connectivity, introduces customisable displays for the fully digital instrument panel and control screen, both with a diagonal of 10.25 inches. Features also include BMW Maps navigation system, a hard-drive-based multimedia system, BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, smartphone integration, a Wi-Fi hotspot and an alarm system.
