A pure-bred roadster, more sporting and visually appealing than ever: this is the BMW Z4 for model year 2023. The latest version of the open-top two-seater incorporates a raft of detail updates, brings fresh design accents to the exterior, expands the range of standard equipment and adds new items to the options list. The new features underscore more than ever the sporting character of the BMW Z4. In so doing, they provide the ideal ingredients with which to build on its success story as both a symbol of pure driving pleasure in the Bavarian premium carmaker’s line-up and the global leader in its market segment.

The BMW Z4 brings the traditional roadster experience to the modern era, with its powerful engines and rear-wheel drive, a vehicle concept centred around agility and dynamic excellence, a classical fabric soft-top roof and a progressive, premium ambience inside the cabin. Its external appearance exudes sporting potency elevated to new heights, the exterior features of the M Sport package – which are now also included as standard for the four-cylinder models – making this immediately apparent. With standard specification having been expanded and the structure of the offering streamlined, the Advantage, Sport Line and M Sport equipment lines are no longer featured. A wide selection of exterior paint finishes (three new variants are available), additional M light-alloy wheels in 19-inch format and M lights Shadow Line provide extra scope for customers to put their own individual stamp on the BMW Z4.

Continuing the successful roadster tradition at BMW.

With its hallmark BMW sporting prowess, the BMW Z4 draws inspiration from the historic roots of the brand. The history of BMW roadsters as the epitome of driving pleasure and success on the race track extends back to the company’s formative years as a carmaker. And the brand’s open-top two-seaters have also represented important staging posts in the development of BMW in the more recent past. The BMW Z1 unveiled in 1987 was developed by BMW Technik GmbH as a showcase for innovation and captured the imagination with its front-mid-engined design, slide-down doors, steel monocoque and plastic body panels. Some 8,000 examples were delivered to customers between 1988 and 1991, and today each is a much-coveted collector’s item. The BMW Z3 presented in 1995 was the brand’s first model to be produced exclusively at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg in the USA. The BMW Z3 was introduced to the public on the silver screen – as James Bond’s service vehicle in the film GoldenEye.

Four years later, a Hollywood premiere as a cast member of a Bond blockbuster also brought the BMW Z8 to worldwide attention. In the 1999 movie The World Is Not Enough, the roadster bewitched audiences with its classical lines recalling the legendary BMW 507. Under the sweeping bonnet of the hand-built BMW Z8, the 5.0-litre V8 engine with 294 kW originally developed for the BMW M5 put in a spectacular performance in cinemas and on the road alike.

The BMW Z4 has embodied open-top driving pleasure for a driver and passenger for 20 years now. The first generation of the roadster was revealed at the 2002 Mondial de l’Automobile show in Paris. It was followed four years later by the likewise two-seater BMW Z4 Coupé, out of which a GT3 racing car was developed that enjoyed considerable success in the Nürburgring endurance racing series. On the road, too, the BMW Z4 was busy setting new dynamic benchmarks. And the roadster and coupé were also offered as high-performance sports cars from BMW M GmbH, powered by a six-cylinder in-line engine producing 250 kW.

A retractable hardtop was the show-stopping 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 set-back passenger compartment were the defining elements of the two-seater’s appearance, the new model wasting little time after its premiere in 2009 in earning itself the Eyes On Design Award, the International Design Excellence Award and the red dot Design Award. On the race track, the BMW Z4 picked up on the success recorded by its predecessor with a variant developed according to GT3 regulations. Customer sport teams powered to victory with this racing machine in events including the 24-hour races in Dubai and at Spa-Francorchamps.

The third generation: six-cylinder in-line engine sets it apart.

The current BMW Z4 has been on the market since 2020 and is built by BMW Group production partner Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik in Graz, Austria. The worldwide market launch of the new edition will get underway in November 2022. The engine line-up comprises a pair of four-cylinder engines and a six-cylinder in-line unit that gives the BMW Z4 M40i (fuel consumption combined: 8.1 – 7.9 litres/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 184 – 179 g/km in the WLTP cycle) a genuinely unique selling point in its segment. The BMW M model has accounted for more than 30 per cent of worldwide sales of the roadster in recent times; in Germany the BMW Z4 M40i has posted a figure as high as 48 per cent.

Over 55,000 units of the third-generation BMW Z4 have been sold worldwide to date. The most important individual market for the roadster is Germany, where around 26 per cent of all cars from the current model generation have been sold. Next up are the USA (with 17 per cent), China, the United Kingdom and Japan. In a generally diminishing vehicle segment, the BMW Z4 has maintained extraordinarily consistent sales volumes since it went on sale. From day one, it has been by far the highest-selling model in a hotly contested class populated exclusively by German premium brands. And it has consistently increased its market share ever since.

A vehicle character geared squarely to delivering thoroughbred driving pleasure and built around an athletic design, vivacious powertrain and smile-inducing agility is a major factor in the strong popularity of the BMW Z4. These qualities have also earned the BMW Z4 regular victories in comparison tests conducted by the motoring press. Indeed, the BMW Z4 has enjoyed a positive response from the media since the moment it was presented. German car magazine auto, motor und sport proclaimed it “the sports car comeback of the year”, while Auto Bild described it as the “hottest convertible of the year”. And the BMW Z4 has also performed outstandingly well in public surveys. Readers of Motor Klassik magazine crowned it a “future classic” back in 2019. Plus, the roadster performed well on many fronts in the sport auto readers’ poll, with each of the three variants winning a “sport auto Award”.

More dynamic than ever: M Sport package as standard, BMW kidney grille with a new design.

With muscular proportions, a pristine aesthetic guided by BMW’s current design language and a host of individual details, the exterior design of the BMW Z4 encapsulates the modern interpretation of the classical open-top sports car. Hallmark features of the front end include the large air intakes, the LED headlights with vertically arranged light sources positioned to the outer edges, and the long bonnet, which stretches over the wheel arches. The latest design modifications shine an even brighter spotlight on the roadster’s width and powerful stance.

Playing a particularly prominent role here are the exterior features of the M Sport package, which are now also included as standard on the four-cylinder models. They include the three-section air intakes in the front apron familiar from other M models, distinctive side-sill contouring and a rear apron with bold edging at either side. The side air intakes – which guide the onrushing air to the air curtains, reducing turbulence in the wheel arches – have been remodelled. And detail updates have been made to the design of the BMW kidney grille, which has gained significantly in visual impact. The kidneys now have a horizontal inner structure, reinforcing the impression of a wide front end. The performance-centric character of the BMW Z4 M40i is underscored by features including exterior mirror caps in Cerium Grey and trapezoidal tailpipe trims for the exhaust system.

Also contributing to the sporting authenticity of the BMW Z4’s exterior appearance are the clear surfaces of the car’s flanks (with two dynamically flowing character lines bringing structure), the large air breathers rearwards of the front wheel arches, the spoiler integrated into the boot lid, the slim, L-shaped rear lights and the eye-catching diffuser element in the rear apron. The roadster’s classical fabric soft-top is electrically operated and can also be opened or closed – within the space of 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 standard equipment include 18-inch M light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design. These bi-colour wheels are fitted with mixed-size tyres: 225/45 R18 at the front axle and 255/40 R18 at the rear. Options now available to customers include M light-alloy wheels in 19-inch format designed exclusively for the BMW Z4. The V-spoke design, Jet Black matt finish and diamond polished rim edges bring an extremely striking and sophisticated aura to the roadster’s side view. The 19-inch M light-alloy wheels are shod with tyres in 255/35 ZR19 format at the front axle and 275/35 ZR19 at the rear.

The range of exterior paint finishes for the BMW Z4 has been carefully revised, with new and boldly expressive variants added. As well as the body colours Thundernight metallic, Portimao Blue metallic and Skyscraper Grey metallic available for the roadster for the first time, the selection also includes four other variants spanning a broad spectrum between white, black, red and grey – including the shimmering matt BMW Individual paint finish Frozen Grey metallic. The fabric soft-top of the BMW Z4 will continue to be offered in Anthracite Silver effect as an alternative to the standard black.

Also new to the options list are the M lights Shadow Line, which can be ordered in conjunction with the likewise optional Adaptive LED Headlights. The headlights’ dark inserts help imbue the front end of the car with a discreetly sporting aura. And they form a neatly judged composition with the M high-gloss Shadowline exterior trim with extended elements.

Classical sports car cockpit with M-specific touches.

The design of the BMW Z4 interior is led by a driver-focused cockpit layout, sport seats with integral head restraints, clear, forward-facing lines and the limiting of decorative surfaces to a small number of areas. The BMW Z4 sDrive20i (fuel consumption combined: 7.4 – 6.9 litres/ 100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 166 – 157 g/km in the WLTP cycle) comes as standard with Vernasca leather, which can be specified in Black, Ivory White, Cognac or Magma Red. The BMW Z4 M40i has leather/Alcantara trim with blue contrast stitching and blue piping as standard. 

Seat heating, the wind deflector, extended storage, the through-loading system, Park Distance Control with sensors at the front and rear, the automatically dimming rear-view mirror and two-zone automatic climate control are included as standard in all model variants. The BMW Z4 M40i is also fitted as standard with ambient lighting and M door sill finishers.

High-revving engines, sophisticated chassis technology.

Instantaneous power delivery, an enthusiastic appetite for revs, exemplary efficiency and the smoothness for which BMW is renowned are the signature characteristics of the three petrol engines also available for the new edition of the BMW Z4. The four-cylinder engine powering the BMW Z4 sDrive20i teams up as standard with the eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission.

The exceptional status of the BMW Z4 when it comes to powertrain technology is embodied most prominently by the top-of-the-range model, whose six-cylinder in-line engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology is unmatched by any rival and displays outstanding performance attributes. The 3.0-litre, 285 kW unit develops peak torque of 500Nm and powers the BMW Z4 M40i from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. The four-cylinder engine, with a displacement of 2.0 litres and BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, also stands out with its vivacious performance characteristics. With maximum output of 145 kW and peak torque of 320Nm, the BMW Z4 sDrive20i sprints from rest to 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds.

Together with its compact proportions, minimised weight, low centre of gravity and almost perfect 50 : 50 weight distribution, the immense rigidity of the body and chassis structure and highly effective aerodynamics of the BMW Z4 provides the ideal platform for sporty handling that will enthuse and delight. Unlocking a compelling blend of agility and ride comfort is chassis technology which brings together a two-joint spring strut front axle and a five-link rear axle. Standard specification for all model variants also includes variable sport steering.

The M Sport suspension optimises driving dynamics with its firm damper and spring tuning. The BMW Z4 M40i has adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled dampers and M Sport brakes with a choice of blue- or red-painted callipers. The range-topping model is also fitted with an M Sport differential at the rear axle.

Cutting-edge driver assistance systems, intelligent connectivity.

The BMW Z4 offers customers a host of state-of-the-art driver assistance systems to enhance levels of both comfort and safety. Standard specification includes Front Collision Warning with brake intervention, Lane Departure Warning including lane return, and the Speed Limit Info function with no-overtaking indicator. Among the items on the options list are the Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go function, Lane Change Warning, rear collision warning, crossing traffic warning, the Parking Assistant and the Reversing Assist Camera. Also available is the BMW Head-Up Display, which projects driving information onto the windscreen.

The BMW Live Cockpit Professional ensures intuitive operation and intelligent connectivity. It brings customisable screens for the fully digital instrument cluster and control display, both of which have a diagonal of 10.25 inches. Its functionality also includes the BMW Maps navigation system, a hard-drive-based multimedia system, the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, smartphone integration, a Wi-Fi hotspot and an alarm system.

On Location Pictures: The all-new BMW Z4 Roadster National Media Launch in South Africa.

BMW has a rich history of roadsters that have stood out as icons of pure driving pleasure. And now another is about to join the hall of fame in the shape of the new BMW Z4 – a premium open-top sports car boasting a classic fabric soft-top, an emotion-packed body design and a puristic, driver-focused interior. The two-seater has been systematically designed for maximum agility, thrilling dynamism, plus supremely precise steering characteristics with instantaneous response. The new BMW Z4 combines its sporty on-road prowess with a wealth of highly advanced, top-class equipment features on the driver assistance, operation and connectivity fronts.

The car’s proportions provide the most striking evidence of how the classic roadster concept has been reinterpreted. Compared to its predecessor, the new BMW Z4 has grown in length by 85 millimetres to 4,324 millimetres, is 74 millimetres wider (now 1,864 millimetres) and 13 millimetres taller (1,304 millimetres). The shortening of the wheelbase by 26 millimetres to 2,470 millimetres serves to sharpen agility, as do the notably wider tracks – 1,609 millimetres at the front (+ 98 mm) and 1,616 millimetres at the rear (+ 57 mm). The body structure and chassis mountings both have remarkably high rigidity, while the new design of the front and rear axles gives the car a far sportier edge at the same time as guaranteeing high levels of comfort. The central seating position, low centre of gravity, minimised weight and ideal 50 : 50 weight distribution are further contributory factors in the intoxicating dynamism of the new BMW Z4.

The Paris Motor Show hosted the show premiere of the new BMW Z4 in October 2018. Market launch starts this month (March 2019) with a choice of two model variants, including a BMW M Performance option. The new BMW Z4 M40i (fuel consumption combined: 7.4 – 7.1 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 168 – 162 g/km*) is powered by a six-cylinder in-line engine delivering 250 kW. The BMW Z4 sDrive20i (fuel consumption combined: 6.1 – 6.0 l/100 km]; CO₂ emissions combined: 139 – 137 g/km*), meanwhile, takes to the stage with a four-cylinder unit producing an output of 145 kW respectively.

Exterior design: a pure aesthetic wrapped in a new design language.

A clear and precise design language and a number of signature details serve up the defining features of the new BMW Z4’s emotionally rich, pure-bred exterior design. The two-seater has a low-slung, sporty, compact appearance whether the soft-top is up or down. With its new-look mesh-design BMW kidney grille and – for the first time – a vertical headlight arrangement, the car cuts an unmistakable figure from the front. The new BMW Z4 is equipped with LED headlights as standard, while the optional Adaptive LED headlights add a matrix function for the non-dazzling high beam and cornering lights.

The elongated bonnet with arrow-shaped contour lines directed at the kidney grille straddles the wheel arches in the “clamshell” style so characteristic of classical sports cars. The joins at the bonnet’s sides merge into the upper character line that runs back along the flanks all the way to the tail lights. A second character line emerges from the large Air Breather rearwards of the front wheel arch. This interplay of surfaces mimics the flow of air sweeping along the new Z4, while the boot lid’s integral spoiler, slender L-shaped light units and diffuser set the tone for the car’s muscular rear end. There is a choice of five exterior paint shades and the fabric soft-top comes in Black as standard or Anthracite with silver effect as an option. It is electrically operated and can be opened or closed in ten seconds, even when travelling at up to 50 km/h.

Interior: clear driver focus with a high-class aura.

With its driver-focused cockpit design, lines that surge forward with dynamic élan and trim finishers restricted to just a few areas, the cabin of the new BMW Z4 paints a picture of unadulterated driving pleasure. Electroplated detailing adds to the roadster’s sophisticated ambience, while the clearly structured arrangement of the controls focuses the attention even more on the driving experience.

Both driver and passenger settle into model-specific sports seats with integral head restraints. The BMW Z4 M40i is upholstered in leather and Alcantara interior. The optional draught stop fits flush between the fixed rollover bars. And a storage space behind the seats, cupholders under the centre armrest cover (which folds open in two sections with a longitudinal split) and large door pockets add further practical features. Boot capacity is 281 litres whether the soft-top is open or closed – an increase of more than 50 per cent compared to the outgoing model. 

Mighty engines, systematically enhanced chassis.

The engines available for the new Z4 benefit from myriad detail upgrades and promise a pulsating brand of power delivery. They send that power to the road through the latest-generation eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission. Hard at work in the BMW Z4 M40i is a 3.0-litre straight-six unit featuring M Performance TwinPower Turbo technology. The 250 kW engine generates peak torque of 500 Nm and propels the roadster from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. The line-up of engines is completed by the 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit. In the new BMW Z4 sDrive20i, maximum output of 145 kW and peak torque of 320 Nm translate into a 0 to 100 km/h time of 6.6 seconds. The three power units come with a gasoline particulate filter to further reduce emissions, and all model variants comply with the Euro 6d-TEMP emissions standard.

The chassis technology in the new BMW Z4 has been designed across the board for supreme agility and handling dynamics, and comprises a newly designed double-joint spring strut axle at the front and a five-link rear axle that is making its debut in a BMW roadster. This particular combination strikes just the right balance between sportiness and ride comfort. Another feature on the standard equipment list is variable sport steering with adjustment of both power assistance and steering angle to suit the situation at hand.

The Adaptive M Sport suspension, M Sport brakes and electronically controlled M Sport differential (all part of standard specification for the new BMW Z4 M40i, together with high-performance tyres) elevate the car’s sporty handling abilities to even greater heights. With these chassis systems on board, selecting COMFORT, SPORT or SPORT+ mode with the Driving Experience Control switch changes the car’s responses particularly clearly. The standard 18-inch (BMW Z4 sDrive20i) and 19-inch (BMW Z4 M40i) light-alloy wheels, plus more optional 19-inch items, are all shod with mixed-size tyres.

Wide array of driver assistance systems enhance comfort and safety.

The class-leading variety of driver assistance systems on offer further underlines the highly advanced character of the new BMW Z4. The Collision Warning, Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function and Lane Departure Warning system all come as standard. The list of options includes Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, distance information, the Lane Change Warning System, Rear Collision Prevention and the Speed Limit Info system with No Passing Info display and – for the first time in a roadster – the BMW Head-Up Display.

Active Park Distance Control and the rear view camera come to the driver’s aid when manoeuvring or parking. These two systems form part of the Parking Assistant, which takes care of steering, acceleration, braking and selecting gears both when parking the car and exiting parking spaces. The Parking Assistant’s range of functions additionally includes the Reversing Assistant, which makes light work of backing up over distances of up to 50 metres by steering the vehicle along exactly the same path it has just driven along in a forward direction.

Intuitive operation and perfect connectivity: BMW Operating System 7.0.

The display and operating system for the new BMW Z4 has also undergone further improvement. The roadster is available with BMW Operating System 7.0, which stands out with state-of-the-art digital functions geared precisely to the driver’s requirements. BMW Live Cockpit Professional brings consistently designed, context-based and customisable graphics to the fully digital instrument cluster and Control Display, each of which have a screen diagonal of 10.25 inches. To ensure perfectly intuitive and need-based operation, the driver has a choice of using the Control Display’s touchscreen functionality, the iDrive Controller, the buttons on the steering wheel or voice control.

• The classical roadster, reinterpreted and sportier than ever: new BMW Z4 fuses typical sports car dynamism with emotion-packed design, an exclusive ambience and advanced equipment features. Unadulterated driving pleasure meets state-of-the-art powertrain, chassis, operating and connectivity technology.
• The new BMW Z4 is a very modern addition to the brand’s long history of engrossing roadsters. Two-seater with fully electric fabric soft-top. Radically revised proportions, central seating position, shorter wheelbase for increased agility and wider tracks than its predecessor. Weight-saving measures and ideal 50 : 50 weight distribution, aerodynamically optimised body.
• Exterior design with precision-led use of forms and various signature details. Headlights positioned at the outer edges of the front end and in a vertical arrangement for the first time. LED headlights as standard, Adaptive LED headlights with matrix function for non-dazzling high beam and cornering lights optional. Large BMW kidney grille in new mesh design. Wide bonnet with prominent contour lines straddles the wheel arches. Large Air Breathers provide the starting point for the lines and surface contouring along the flanks. Muscular, sculptural rear end featuring harmoniously integrated spoiler, slender LED lights and diffuser.
• Modern, high-class interior styling with pronounced driver focus, lines that surge forward with dynamic élan and clearly structured control panels. Pared-down trim finishers reinforce the puristic character. Door panel contours echo some of the exterior graphic elements visible from the side.
• Show premiere in October 2018 at the Paris Motor Show. Launch in March 2019 with a choice of three model variants: BMW Z4 M40i BMW M Performance model (fuel consumption combined: 7.4 – 7.1 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 168 – 162 g/km)* with new 250 kW six-cylinder in-line engine, BMW Z4 sDrive30i (fuel consumption combined: 6.1 – 6.0 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 139 – 137 g/km)* and BMW Z4 sDrive20i (fuel consumption combined: 6.1 – 6.0 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 139 – 137 g/km)* with four-cylinder engines and outputs of 190 kW and 145 kW respectively. Further improved eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission as standard. All engines have a gasoline particulate filter and emissions that comply with the Euro 6d-TEMP standard.
• Only the BMW Z4 M40i and BMW Z4 sDrive20i will be offered in South Africa in 2019. 
• New roadster engineered with focus on maximum agility, dynamism and steering precision. Low centre of gravity. Extremely rigid body structure and chassis mountings. New front and rear axle design. M Sport brakes, Adaptive Sport suspension, M Sport differential and high-performance tyres as standard (BMW Z4 M40i) or available as an option. Variable sport steering and mixed-size tyres as standard for all model variants.
• Extensive standard equipment exuding sports car flair. Model-specific sports seats with integral head restraints. Vernasca leather upholstery as standard in the BMW Z4 sDrive30i, while BMW Z4 M40i has a leather and Alcantara interior as standard. Fixed rollover bars. Driving Experience Control switch can be used to select COMFORT, SPORT and SPORT+ modes, each of which changes the car’s responses perceptibly. Fabric soft-top opens and closes at the push of a button within ten seconds, even on the move at up to 50 km/h (31 mph). Boot capacity increased by over 50 per cent (to 281 litres) compared to predecessor. Sport Line model and M Sport package have exclusive design and equipment features.
• Class-leading choice of driver assistance systems: Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function is standard, likewise Lane Departure Warning system. Available as options: Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, traffic sign recognition, distance information, Lane Change Warning system, Rear Collision Prevention and Cross-Traffic Alert, Active Park Distance Control, rear view camera, Parking Assistant with automated longitudinal and lateral vehicle guidance when manoeuvring into and out of parking spaces, and Reversing Assistant. BMW Head-Up Display available in a roadster for the first time.
• Intuitive operation and intelligent connectivity thanks to BMW Operating System 7.0. Optional BMW Live Cockpit Professional with consistently designed, context-based and customisable graphics in the fully digital instrument cluster and in the Control Display (both with screen diagonal of 10.25 inches). Multimodal operation via Control Display’s touchscreen functionality, iDrive Controller, steering wheel buttons or voice control.
• Diverse range of digital services from BMW ConnectedDrive: over-the-air navigation map and software updates. Hazard warnings use interconnectivity with other BMW vehicles. BMW Digital Key for vehicle access and starting the engine from a smartphone.

Munich/Monterey. BMW has redefined the roadster which was revealed under the Californian sun. On 23 August 2018, the Pebble Beach Golf Links near Monterey, the well-known venue of the Concours d’Elegance being held there a little later, became the setting for the world premiere of the new BMW Z4. With dynamic proportions, emotional design and fascinating sportiness, the open-top two-seater will take the classic roadster concept into the world of today and tomorrow. In Pebble Beach, the Munich-based premium carmaker presented the exclusive BMW Z4 M40i First Edition (combined fuel consumption: 7.1-7.4 l/100 km; combined CO₂ emissions: 162-168 g/km*). The limited special edition of the roadster inspires not only with the agility, precision and dynamic handling characteristics that are so typical of BMW M Performance models, but also with particularly sophisticated design and equipment features, including a body paintwork in Frozen Orange metallic.

The new edition of the roadster will celebrate its world premiere at precisely the same location that served as the stage for the first public presentation of the BMW Concept Z4 last year. With its puristic, dynamic and progressive design language, the concept vehicle presented a vision of a charismatic sports car which, thanks to the production model, now becomes reality. Just a glance at the new BMW Z4’s proportions leaves no doubt about its dynamic potential. The central sitting position for the driver, the low centre of gravity, perfectly balanced 50 : 50 axle load distribution, wide tracks and a compact wheelbase form the ideal prerequisites for inspiringly agile handling and intense driving pleasure.

The BMW Z4 M40i First Edition fulfils these expectations in every aspect thanks to an extremely powerful 250 kW, straight six-cylinder engine and a sports suspension with electronically controlled dampers, M Sport braking system and an electronically controlled M Sport differential in the rear axle transmission. The BMW M Performance automobile takes a mere 4.6 seconds to sprint from a standstill to 100 km/h.

Vertically aligned headlights, the BMW kidney grille sporting a mesh design, the bonnet stretching sports car-like over the wheels, large air breathers on the front wheel arches and the distinctive spoiler integrated into the rear lid all contribute towards the characteristic look of the new BMW Z4. The design of the interior also places the focus on the puristic sportiness of the new BMW Z4. The driver-oriented cockpit styling is underscored by dynamic forward-oriented lines. Likewise, the clearly structured arrangement of all control elements enhances the focus on the driving experience inside the new BMW Z4.

Moreover, for a perfect start into a new roadster era, the new BMW Z4 M40i First Edition offers specific design and equipment features that add exclusive accents to the car’s sporty flair. The expressive body paintwork in Frozen Orange metallic is combined with an electrically operated textile soft top in anthracite with silver effect, the BMW Individual High Gloss Shadow Line, black exterior mirror caps and 19-inch light alloy wheels boasting a bicolour, double spoke design. The interior of the edition model comprises the Vernasca black leather trim with decorative stitching, electrically adjustable seats with memory function, the option ambient light and the Harman Kardon Surround Sound System. Adaptive LED headlights with matrix function for the high beam, BMW Head-Up Display featured for the first time in a roadster and the BMW Live Cockpit Professional offering the latest networking technology underpin the advanced status the tradition-steeped concept of a two-seater, open-top sports car has reached with the new BMW Z4.

The world premiere of the BMW Z4 M40i First Edition in Pebble Beach offers a both exclusive and fascinating foretaste of the forthcoming on-road debut of the new roadster generation. BMW will announce all details of further engine variants, technical innovations and the diverse equipment features of the two-seater on 19 September 2018. This will be followed a short time later by the trade fair premiere of the new BMW Z4 at the Mondial de l’Automobile (4 – 14 October 2018) in Paris. The worldwide market launch will commence in the first half of 2019.

*All performance, fuel consumption and emissions figures are provisional