Overshadowed by its engine and chassis partner in crime, the Toyota Supra, the 2019 BMW Z4 debuted at Monterey Car Week.
It’s been exactly one year since BMW introduced its BMW Z4 concept during Monterey Car Week and now we have a production version. According to BMW in an official press release earlier yesterday (Aug. 23, 2018) coinciding with a simultaneous launch in Monterey, the BMW Z4 was shown in all its glory celebrating 30 years of Z roadsters with the original BMW Z1 debuting in 1988.
Compared to the previous BMW Z4, this design is much more bold, athletic, and exuding strength for 2019. Its front nose has striking divisions keeping its iconic dual kidney grill up front but opening them up wider than before presumably for cooling duties. Headlights are also much larger and pushed out to the far corners of the Z4’s hood complimenting the rest of new aggressive design language. Its side profile is accentuated with deep body line cuts that originate from a side vent on the fender and continue all the way to the rear tail lights. Outback, its neat and tidy with slim tail lights, faux vents, and dual exhausts. There’s a molded spoiler jutting out back. Overall, it’s a very attractive redesign on a BMW Roadster.
Under the hood is where most of everyone concentrated with the new Supra on the way. Powering this BMW Roadster, as per Car and Driver, will be an updated version of its twin-turbo 3.0L for the M40i that should push out a generous 380 HP and 370 lb-ft with an entry-level turbocharged 2.0L inline four making somewhere around 260 HP to follow later in the year.
Compared to the sDrive35is, this BMW Z4 is confirmed .4 seconds faster to 60 MPH at a blistering 4.4 seconds.
Disappointing some purists is the lack of a manual option. BMW opted to use an 8-speed ZF sourced automatic, which although faster than a manual, is considerably less fun.
But it’s handling that’ll make this roadster shine. All Z4’s come standard with BMW’s sports suspension with electronically controlled dampers, M sport braking system, and an electronically controlled M Sport rear diff.
We’ll learn more details as they become available. BMW says wait till Sept. 18 for that. These Z4’s land in dealerships in Spring 2019.
