BMW today revealed the all-new 2019 BMW Z4 at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California, marking the official introduction to the public of the fourth generation of the company's compact roadster.
Predictably enough, the new car's look is not a major departure from the outgoing Z4, maintaining the long hood/short tail proportions that have defined this roadster's appearance since it was introduced as the Z3 in the mid-1990s.
BMW says the car's proportions highlight the "perfectly balanced" weight distribution that fulfills the Z4's "sporting potential". The manufacturer also calls out BMW's trademark kidney grille in a mesh finish, a clamshell hood, air breathers behind the front wheel arches, and a spoiler integrated into the rear decklid.
Notably, underneath this car's sheet metal is the same platform that will also underpin the forthcoming revival of the Toyota Supra.
Inside, the driver will face a digital gauge cluster and a centre stack canted toward them. Available high-tech features will include the BMW Live Cockpit with its two high-res screens, and a head-up display that will be a first for the Z4.
BMW says that when the Z4 goes on sale in the first half of 2019, it will come wearing familiar 30i and M40i designations, but only provides a few details for the latter, which will use a 3.0L turbocharged six-cylinder engine. That motor will make "enough horsepower and torque" to move the car from zero to 100 km/h in less than 4.4 seconds. The M240i derives 335 hp and 369 lb-ft from its 3.0L turbo six-cylinder, so we expect similar specs for the Z4's straight-six.
We presume the 30i will use a 2.0L turbo four similar to that in the 230i and various other models bearing the 30i designation; in the 2 Series, it makes 248 hp and 258 lb-ft.
BMW apparently isn't ready to talk about transmissions. Count on an eight-speed automatic being an option at least; we want to believe BMW will offer a manual transmission with both engines, but if we had to choose, the M40i would be the more likely candidate. We'll know more in September when BMW releases the Z4's full tech specs and feature content.
The 2019 BMW Z4 30i will arrive in Canadian dealerships in spring of 2019, while the Z4 M40i is set to go on sale in the second quarter of next year, though both of those timeframes mean the same thing to us.
Whichever one shows up first, the M40i will be offered with a First Edition package that includes Frozen Orange Metallic paint and an anthracite soft top with silver effect.
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