Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last couple of years, you know the Z4 is getting a coupe counterpart in the form of the new Toyota Supra a.k.a. A90 by its codename. That one too has been teased to death and we are probably still a few months away from its highly anticipated premiere in production guise.

While the two cars are sharing the same platform and will be built in the same factory in Graz, Austria by Magna Steyr, BMW has said its new Z4 is “completely unique” compared to the Supra. In other words, we shouldn’t be expecting nearly identical cars with different roofs and badges as the two automakers have gone to great lengths to create distinct identities for their products even though some of the hardware will be the same.

The new Z4 is a significant departure in terms of design compared to its predecessor, much like it will be the case with the fifth-gen Supra, although that’s pretty obvious considering the A80 was discontinued some 16 years ago. Toyota’s sporty coupe was first previewed in early 2014 with the FT-1 concept and recently with a camouflaged near-production prototype. Now we’re patiently waiting for the road-going model to show its face.

We’ve seen a lot of pictures of the new BMW Z4 over the past few weeks. Ever since its debut at Pebble Beach, the Z4 has been all over the interwebs. Yet, in almost every single photo of it, it’s been wearing its new Frozen Orange Metallic paint. Admittedly, there’s good reason for that, as it’s an awesome color and it’s the Z4’s new special color, so BMW wants to show it off. Still, it’s nice to see it in another color, as we get to see in these new real-life photos.

Caught taking a trip to Aldi, this grey BMW Z4 M40i looks better than the orange one we’ve seen so much of. That’s just my personal opinion, as it seems a bit less flamboyant, but I think it looks really good in grey. It also seems to be a sort of frozen color as well, as there doesn’t seem to be much gloss in it. It looks sporty, though, and that’s a good thing.

What’s also interesting is seeing it next to other cars. We’ve only really seen it in isolation, away from other cars. But here in this parking lot, the BMW Z4 looks impressive. It’s smaller than I had anticipated. In fact, it looks barely bigger than the MINI Convertible next to it. Which is very exciting, as its 3.0 liter turbocharged I6 engine makes 382 hp in the U.S and 369 lb-ft of torque no matter where it is. So it should be a proper little rocket.

It looks agile, too. Whether or not it is has yet to officially be seen (although pre-production test drives have indicated that it’s very agile and fun to drive) but it looks like it’s going to be a ton of fun. Test drives of the BMW Z4 should be happening relatively soon, so we’ll be able to tell you for sure soon enough.

After a long wait, BMW debuted the new 2019 Z4 last month, showing off the roadster in M40i form. The M40i isn't a full on M car, but rather, an "M Performance" model like the M240i, which sits a rung under the M2. Unfortunately, there won't be a hotter Z4 than the M40i.

Last week at the premiere of the wild Vision iNext electric SUV concept, we got a chance to talk with BMW R&D head Klaus Fröhlich, sneaking in a few questions about the Z4. He explained why a Z4 M isn't at the cards right now.

"At the moment this segment is very small, and I had to fight hard to make the [new Z4] happen at all, honestly," Frohlich said. "It was against the finance controllers.

"But you should drive it. It is sensational," he assured us.

Based on early impressions of Z4 prototypes from those lucky to get a chance behind the wheel, it seems like Fröhlich isn't lying. And with our colleagues at Car and Driverreporting that the Z4 M40i should make around 380 horsepower in the US, we might not need a full-on M version.

And, of course, we asked if the Z4 would get a manual transmission. Fröhlich implied he'd be open to the possibility if there was demand, but that seems unlikely. The sports-car market it small, so BMW probably doesn't want to invest in giving the Z4 a manual, when it likely wouldn't sell many. For comparison, Porsche sells a fair number of manual sports cars—especially in the US—but a Jaguar spokesperson told me last year that the take rate for three-pedal F-Types was just three percent. So, expect ZF eight-speed autos all the way for BMW's roadster.

Some might be disappointed by all this news, but there's no need, since BMW M already offers a small car with a manual transmission—it's called the M2.

The 2019 BMW Z4 was unveiled last month sporting an aggressive look that takes the roadster in a bold new direction. But until now, BMW has been light on details, especially regarding the base engine option.

On sale starting March 2019, the 2019 Z4 will initially launch with the sDrive30i variant, which is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 rated at 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The Z4 M40i will follow afterwards in the second quarter packing a 3.0-liter turbo I-6 that has now been confirmed to make 382 hp and 369 lb-ft, the same as the prototype we drove earlier this year. An eight-speed automatic will be the only transmission available. BMW says the Z4 sDrive30i can hit 60 mph in 5.2 seconds while the M40i will do the deed in 4.4 seconds.

Compared to its predecessor, the 2019 Z4 is 3.3 inches longer, 2.9 inches wider, and 0.5 inch taller. However, its wheelbase is 1.0 inch shorter. The car rides on a new platform with double-jointed front spring struts and a five-link rear suspension, which BMW says is a first for its roadster lineup. Suspension components are now made of aluminum to help cut weight. To further improve handling, the Z4 will come standard with a new steering system with variable power assist and ratio to improve precision and ease low-speed maneuvering. Of course, the Z4 is best known to Toyotafans as the jointly developed platform-mate to the Supra.

To distinguish the Z4 M40i from the less power Z4 sDrive30i, it gets an adaptive M suspension with a 10-mm lower ride height, M Sport brakes, and an M Sport differential as standard. These features are also available on the Z4 sDrive30i as options. Three modes will be available, including Comfort, Sport, and Sport+. Electronically controlled dampers come with the M Sport suspension, which enables the driver to pick between a softer ride or sharper handling. All 2019 Z4s will come standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, and if you pick the optional 19s, you also get staggered-width summer tires that are wider at the rear.

Standard active driver assistance tech includes collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and lane departure warning. Blind spot warning, adaptive cruise control with stop and go function, rear cross-traffic alert, and a new rear collision protection system are optional.

BMW will also allow buyers to customize their Z4s via their Individual program, allowing them to choose colors like Frozen Grey on M Sport models or opt for a soft top with with a silver effect. Other options include dual-zone climate control, interior ambient lighting, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

BMW's iDrive interface comes standard on the 2019 Z4 and can be had with a 10.25-inch touchscreen when you opt for the optional navigation system. It'll also be available with BMW Cloud storage, which enables drivers to take their infotainment settings from one BMW vehicle to another. Two USB ports comes standard and cars with the built-in navigation system get 20 GB of storage. The 2019 Z4 will be one of the first BMWs to feature remote software updates, allowing the car to refresh its software over-the-air or via a smartphone.

Inside, the 2019 Z4 has a slick-looking interior with a futuristic dash and an available 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Sport seats come standard and now have rails that are 0.9 inche longer to provide more range for adjustment. Trunk space has also increased to 9.9 cubic feet regardless of whether the top is up or down. A ski pass-through is optional for added practicality.

BMW says the Z4 sDrive30i can hit 60 mph in 5.2 seconds while the M40i will do the deed in 4.4 seconds.

The 2019 BMW Z4 is a nice car inside and out that drives well, and surely that sort of thing is worth quite a bit to some. But is it worth more than $5,000 more than a BMW M2? Because the Z4 is going to cost $64,695, if leaked documents on a Toyota Supra forum are to be believed.


The docs, posted on the Supra Mk V forums by user Bryster (via Carscoops), purport to detail the entire options list, along with the US-market 382-horsepower engine.

For a little context, $64,695 splits the difference between the Porsche Boxster (about $60,000) and the Porsche Boxster S (about $71,000).

And for a little more context, it’s $27,695 more than the Z4's $37,000 MSRP was back in 2008 (or about $44,327, adjusted for inflation).

But the base Z4 of the past didn’t have 382 horses, either. Or the whizz-bangitude of adaptive cruise control or “Active Guard with Frontal Collision Warning, Automatic City Collision Mitigation and Braking, Daytime Pedestrian Protection and Speed Limit Info,” as Carscoops points out. So there’s that.