3rd gen G29 BMW Z4 (2019-202X)

[vb22]

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/glob...bmw-z4:-green-light-for-pure-driving-pleasure

Press Release

Munich. Long bonnet, short overhangs, low centre of gravity, soft top: the sporty two-seater doing its laps at the BMW test centre in Miramas in the south of France is instantly recognisable as a purebred roadster. The new BMW Z4 is currently undergoing another particularly important stage of the process towards serial production maturity, in this case involving driving dynamics testing of a heavily disguised prototype. This will provide key insights into the performance properties of the new model, whose genuine roadster characteristics, pure driving pleasure and captivating sporty flair will soon go out on public roads.

Trials at the Autodrome de Miramas are focusing on fine-tuning of all drive and suspension systems – the basis for the sporty driving experience offered by the new BMW Z4. The most intense form of new dynamic roadster performance is embodied by the BMW Z4 M40i. A new, extremely powerful in-line 6-cylinder engine, a lowered sports suspension with electronically controlled dampers, a newly developed front axle, M light alloy wheels with mixed tyres, an M sports brake system and an electronically controlled lock in the rear axle differential create an overall package that sees the BMW M Performance model setting a whole new benchmark for driving pleasure in the roadster segment.

"The vehicle concept of the new BMW Z4 is geared consistently towards agility and driving dynamics," explains Jos van As, Head of Application Suspension. "The high level of body stiffness and the very rigid suspension attachment provide the perfect basis for a set-up that guarantees the performance qualities of a genuine sports car in terms of steering precision as well as longitudinal and transverse acceleration."

Like the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, the Miramas test centre offers perfect conditions for the new BMW Z4 to demonstrate its driving dynamics potential. Used by BMW to develop and test new models for more than 30 years, the centre comprises a long asphalt oval and a motorway ring road for high-speed tests as well as slalom, serpentine and circular tracks and a number of handling courses and circuits featuring highly diverse types of surface. These are currently being used for detailed analysis and optimisation of the roadster's acceleration, steering and brake response. For example, the final form of the adaptive M suspension as it interacts with the rear axle limited-slip differential is developed on a circuit that is also used for testing purposes by BMW Motorsport.

This intense testing process already indicates that the new version of the roadster concept will offer a tangible increase in sporty flair in the new BMW Z4. The new generation will particularly introduce effective enhancements in terms of agile handling, spontaneity and precision when changing direction and accelerating in dynamic style out of bends – without losing out in the comfort disciplines.

Sponsored

 

[Guff]

Does the Z4 use the B58? Or will it use the Supra engine? (As we know, insiders confirmed it is a new head design and a different engine block to B58)

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/glob...bmw-z4:-green-light-for-pure-driving-pleasure

This Press release says "A new, extremely powerful in-line 6-cylinder engine". But the articles said M240i engine, so idk.

 

[supraboi]

Prototype Drive: 2020 BMW Z4 M40i Roadster
The BMW Z4 is alive, and it’s better than ever

The BMW Z4 is dead. Did you notice? Looking over the sales from the last few years, I’m not sure you did. In 2016, the final year of production, BMW moved only 1,187 examples of the shapely little roadster in the U.S., a significant drop from the previous year’s 1,829 units. The two-seater was snuffed out without the usual fanfare reserved for final runs, BMW instead cutting the fourteen-year-old model from its lineup with a clinical and calculated swipe.

The BMW Z4 is alive. Well, almost alive–look for the debut of the third-gen roadster either later this year or early next year. While the E89 suffered, the forthcoming G29 Z4 thrived under heavy camouflage as it underwent the Nürburgring crucible, cold-weather testing, and accrued real-world miles around the world. This world tour included critical endurance and track testing at BMW’s Miramas test track in the south of France, the venue where I joined a group of BMW’s brightest and some camouflaged Z4 mules for some test miles of my own.

Located on France’s southern coast between Marseille and Avignon, the Miramas circuit is a sprawling proving ground for BMWs of all shapes, sizes, and character. The main attraction is the large banked oval wrapping around the facility that’s visible from air while approaching the Marseille airport. Clusters of tarmac squiggles hide inside its borders, giving off the distinct appearance of a cellular structure when viewed from above. Despite serving as the location for the French Grand Prix some 90 years ago, the oval isn’t used for high-speed testing. Instead, four- and two-wheeled test mules put down thousands of endurance miles. When it gets dark, an array of streetlights pops on to illuminate the circuit.

I’m not here for endurance. Our small group met four Z4 mules at one of the many handling circuits, cutting through a scythed field of tall, dense grass. We’re nervous—this is an exciting moment for everyone involved, and not just for the small cadre of journalists assembled in the tidy trackside garage. We’re among the first outsiders to sample the new roadster and engineers are eager for feedback.

If you’ve followed the Z4 saga up to this point, you know this platform doesn’t end with the white and blue roundel up front. Through a technical partnership, BMW and Toyota co-developed this next-gen sports car for both brands, kinda-sorta like the Toyota/Subaru partnership that begat the BRZ and FR-S/GT86. Only in this case, the forthcoming twins aren’t quite identical twins–think more fraternal.

BMW gets the roadster and Toyota gets the fixed-roof coupe, ostensibly resurrecting the Supra nameplate. Even in this access-heavy program, details on the partnership are scant. All we’re told is we’re not going to see a drop-top “Supra,” and no matter how much you want it, there are no plans for a Z4 coupe. You won’t be able to meet halfway with a folding hardtop, either—the Z4 will arrive only in soft-top form.

Before we sample the black-and-white mules, we’re given a surprise treat. Covers are thrown off of two cars in the garage, revealing a pair of production-ready Z4s. BWM isn’t ready to show off the new car just yet, but I can do my best to paint a picture. Start with the Z4 Concept that premiered last year at the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and scale back some of the more conceptual components. Drape that shape over the last-gen Z4, and enlarge it to a three-fourths scale Mercedes-SL. The front grille is similar to the concept, as is the rear decklid. The interior is remarkably similar to the concept as well, just with less wacky showcar bits.

It’s noticeably larger, sitting somewhere between the old Z4 and the current 6 Series Cabriolet. It’s not our imagination, either. Compared to the old car, the new Z4 is 3.2 inches longer, 2.8 inches wider, and 0.5 inches taller. Underneath the skin, it grows (and shrinks) in the right ways, cutting one inch from the wheelbase but widening the front and rear track by 3.6 inches and 2.2 inches, respectively. On a see-saw with older six-cylinder model, the new European-spec Z4 is lighter by around 143 pounds, spinning the scales at 3,384 pounds.

Inside, it’s a much nicer place to be. Loaded out, it’s a requisitely techy environment, packing digital gauges and for the first time on a Z model, a HUD. With the larger threads on the outside, the interior gets a size boost as well, with enough shoulder and legroom to satisfy those rare birds who will use the Z4 on a daily basis. No real surprises here – expect leather, aluminum, wood, and carbon fiber trim with BMW’s ever-present soft-touch plastic.

Both the sneak-peak models and the test mules were kitted-out with the M40i trim, the sportiest of the two available trims at launch. As equipped, the M40i is powered by the same 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six as the M240i, albeit with a sharper tune. When the Z4 M40i hits our shores, power is an M2-beating 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, surprisingly more than the Euro-spec, which is choked by a particulate filter that saps the sixer by around 50 hp.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through the trusty eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. U.S.-spec performance figures weren’t provided, but the less-potent Euro-spec M40i dispatches the 0-62 mph sprint in 4.4 seconds, topping out at a predictable 155 mph.

Even in the lo-po Euro-spec, the Z4 testers were fast. Aside from a worrying lack of edge definition, there weren’t many surprises out on the test track. Wide, sweeping curves gave way to short straights, culminating in a kinked straight where the best among us saw a little over 130 mph. From the first turn, it’s clear where the development priorities lay. Forget the heavy, numb boulevard cruiser Z4s of the past – this is the real-deal. It’s physically bigger than any prior Z, but it’s incredibly agile. Even in 2018, 3,400 pounds isn’t light, but variable electro-boosted steering and a trick e-diff in the rear means it’s extremely confident and very responsive.

For the first time, the Z feels cohesive. It’s wide, and square, thanks in part to the extended front and rear track, along with the beefy 255/275 tires in the front and rear, respectively. Nestled next to the upright shifter, a stack of driving mode buttons is a familiar sight, ranging from soft Comfort to the most hardcore Sport Plus.

On the track, Sport and Sport Plus were ideal. Setting it to the most aggressive setting dials in the adaptive suspension to its stiffest setting, agitates the throttle for quick response, modifies shift points, adds weight to the steering, and loosens up the rear differential. It’s not a weapon in the same way as the M2 or M5, but it’s more than capable for the odd trackday, should you find time between Sunday drives and beachside cruises.

Escaping the test facility spit me out onto the narrow roads of Miramas. The optional road route was a roughly hour-long round trip that wound its way through tight, blind 1.5-lane cross-town roads in and down shaded coastal paths. It’s a much more palatable package than we’ve come to expect from BMW’s roadster. It’s comfortable, easy to drive, and makes an excellent six-cylinder growl, accentuated by the aire libre functionality.

With its new size inside and out, the roadster is more consumer friendly than ever, and that’s rather important when faced with a rapidly shrinking small convertible market. Pricing isn’t official, but BMW expects pricing for the base Z4 30i to start in the 50s, with the M40i stickering somewhere in the mid- to high-60s. Now, for the first time in quite a long time, perhaps since the first six-cylinder Z3, the BMW Z is one of the better ways to muss your hair and get a nasty sunburn, with or without camouflage.

2020 BMW M40i Roadster Specifications
ON SALE 2019 (est)
PRICE $50,000 (base, est)
ENGINE 3.0L turbocharged DOHC 24-valve I-6/382 hp, 369 lb-ft (U.S.-spec)
TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic
LAYOUT 2-door, 2-passenger, front-engine, RWD convertible
EPA MILEAGE N/A
L x W x H 170.1 x 73.3 x 51.3 in
WHEELBASE 97.2 in
WEIGHT 3,384 lb (est, Euro-spec)
0-60 MPH 4.4 sec (est, Euro-spec)
TOP SPEED 155 mph

http://www.automobilemag.com/news/prototype-drive-2020-bmw-z4-m40i-roadster/

 

[2JZ-No-Sh*t]

@A70TTR, any idea of when the press will get to sample the Supra?

 

[Captain_Kirk]

I love how forthcoming BMW is. Sale date, curb weight, dimensions, and etc. Toyota on the other hand...

 

[MA617M]

interestingly, the reviews say a twin turbo I6, and didn't we have confirmation of the Supra being single?

 

[Guff]

interestingly, the reviews say a twin turbo I6, and didn't we have confirmation of the Supra being single?

They're probably confusing "twin" and "twin-scroll"

 

[supraboi]

https://www.autoblog.com/2018/06/03/2020-bmw-z4-prototype-first-drive-roadster/

2020 BMW Z4 Prototype First Drive| Roadster fans, rejoice
Behind the wheel of BMW’s ragtop Hail Mary effort

MIRAMAS, France - The sun is warm, the breezes are cool, and the road is winding. All is well in the south of France, particularly when driving the 2019 BMW Z4 prototype – a new roadster coming to market in spite of the public's seemingly insatiable appetite for lumbering crossovers and coupe-ified hardtops.

It's safe to say the car I'm testing wouldn't exist without BMW's technical partnership with Toyota, which trades hybrid drivetrain technology for a sporty platform that will be shared with the Japanese manufacturer's upcoming Supra. That means some things have changed. For starters the old model's retractable hardtop is gone, replaced with a simple folding soft top that helps trim weight and lower the center of gravity, and takes 10 seconds to deploy at speeds up to 31 mph. Another added benefit: the 9.35-gallon trunk volume remains unchanged, regardless of top position. Some of the Z4's weight savings from aluminum construction are ameliorated by chassis reinforcements in the form of cross members increases torsional stiffness 20 percent. Though the Z4's wheelbase shrinks about an inch, front and rear track are wider, width increases by 2.8 inches and bumper-to-bumper length extends by 3.2 inches. Despite the dimensional gains, overall mass remains essentially the same, at 3,384 lbs.

Power comes from the same single turbo, twin-scroll 3.0-liter B58 straight-6 engine you'll find in Bimmers like the M240i, with Z4-specific calibration. But unlike the European version which gets stuck with a particulate filter for their tighter emissions rules, Stateside-bound Z4s will enjoy a juicy 50 horsepower gain which bring total output to 382 hp, while torque is a thumpy 369 lb-ft.

My time at BMW's private Miramas test circuit kicked off with familiarization laps in an M2 and M240i, worthy steeds for benchmarking the diminutive Z4 roadster. Unlike the coupes which are saddled with the weight and dimensions of small rear seats, the Z4's cockpit is more driver-centric, with a new TFT dashboard and uncomplicated switchgear that includes BMW's familiar transmission tunnel-mounted Comfort/Sport/Sport+ rocker switch. The control manages variables like throttle response, the ZF 8-speed's shift behavior, valving on the adjustable shock system, and the electronic differential's power delivery and torque vectoring characteristics.

In its baseline setup, the Z4 feels composed, offering a middle-of-the-road balance between chassis tightness and compliance. Dial it up to Sport, or better yet, Sport+, and the persona changes significantly: body roll is noticeably reduced, and the steering feels dialed in nicely with the chassis, delivering a level of responsiveness that makes the car beg to be tossed through corners. Sure, the stiffer shocks make an obvious difference.

As does the next generation of electric-assist steering, which conveys greater feel in Sport and Sport+ without an artificially heavy steering feel. "Individual" allows each parameter to be calibrated independently. Uneven tooth spacing on the steering rack produces a ramp-up in ratio – it's subtler than the too-aggressive ramp in the M240i. The Z4's 19-inch 255mm front and 275mm rear Michelin Super Sports help out by offering a linear relationship between input and response.

The Z4's electronic differential's variability plays a surprising role in the drive mode settings. I took some laps with a BMW engineer in the passenger seat, and controlling the e-diff with a laptop he demonstrated that the Z4's levels of braking stability, turn-in sharpness, and torque vectoring upon exit can be dramatically affected with a few keystrokes.

The more crucial test of the Z4's capabilities came where this roadster will no doubt spend the most of its time: on the road. Top-down driving with a small wind deflector in place behind the seats offered a relatively quiet, turbulence-free cabin. The small, twisty roads near the track offer a nice challenge for the Z4, as does the local driving population's questionable lane discipline, a which tests the reflexes of driver and vehicle alike. While the most aggressive drive setting is stiff enough to inspire confidence, it's never jarring, which is perhaps in keeping with the Z4's status as a non-M performance car.

While I would have preferred it to be a little stiffer, the underpinnings match the car's sporting personality. The chassis feels solid and the suspension is communicative, in the way drivers have come to expect from BMWs of yore. Also satisfying is grunt: even in its neutered European form, the S58 six-cylinder produces loads of power, enough to launch to 62 mph in 4.4 seconds. When you're not making that virtual tachometer needle spin, the Z4 is a more sedate highway cruiser than its predecessor thanks to more variable suspension controllability and better chassis tuning. New niceties like a 5-Series-sourced heads up display add to the feeling of refinement.

As for its looks, I laid eyes on un-camouflaged Z4s in matte black and red and felt the overall design seemed more successful in the understated dark scheme than the red finish. While the clamshell hood integrates nicely with the body, some of the overall proportions seem a bit mismatched, a trait which was emphasized when the sheetmetal was finished in red. Interestingly, BMW has departed tradition in a few ways: The headlamps take a vertical, not trademark horizontal orientation, and the kidney grilles incorporate mesh pattern in the space between the ribs.

With the roadster market shrinking – the Mercedes-Benz SLC is a lame duck, and Porsche's 718 Boxster lost core enthusiasts after dropping two cylinders – the BMW Z4 will likely grow its relative fanbase (even if Z4 sales are a rounding error for the company overall). Regardless of its commercial impact (or lack thereof), the Z4 is a more important vehicle for BMW than it might seem on paper, if only because it embraces the purity of a top-down performance machine that's focused on driving pleasure. These are challenging times for the shrinking roadster genre, and the Z4 presents a not-so-subtle mechanical urging to enjoy this moment in history while you can.

 

[2JZ-No-Sh*t]

Links to more reviews. I'm to lazy to post each one out.

https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/bmw/bmw-z4-2019-review/

https://www.caradvice.com.au/654398/2019-bmw-z4-nears-production/

http://www.evo.co.uk/bmw/z4/21305/new-2019-bmw-z4-review-first-drive-of-z4-prototype

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/bmw-z4-prototype-2018-first-drive-new-roadster

http://www.bmwblog.com/2018/06/03/first-drive-new-bmw-g29-z4-m40i-in-pre-production-clothes/

 

[Jdmuscle]

Yeah toyota.. let the masses sample the car.. u know u are reading this. Don’t be afraid. Just say you’ll have a manual at some point and no one will kill you.. lol

 

[mkivalex]

Well if BMW is planning to reveal the car in the next few weeks. Hopefully we start to get some more leaks from Toyota

 

[LEG1T]

Most impressive and hopeful news I've read so far...

"382hp"

So if the Z4 gets 382 hp, i'm expecting the Supra to cross over into the 400's.

Very good news indeed, keep in mind BMW will be releasing an M version aswell, compare this to Gazoo's top trim and we should be all good in the power department.

 

[Modal170]

Most impressive and hopeful news I've read so far...

"382hp"

So if the Z4 gets 382 hp, i'm expecting the Supra to cross over into the 400's.

Very good news indeed, keep in mind BMW will be releasing an M version aswell, compare this to Gazoo's top trim and we should be all good in the power department.

They were in europe and said 37k euros, so it coms out to 41k over there.

If this is BMW's base that comes with 382 HP, dear lord. What would a 50k Toyota that is a pure bred sports car do?

EDIT:

GBP is different from Euros. comes out to be 55k in USd, so the same as the Supra. False alarm

 

[Captain_Kirk]

Don't get too excited guys, remember the bimmerpost insider said only the non EU Z4 was getting the 380hp version. The Toyota will just have the 350hp version.

http://www.6post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=901686

2019 G29 Z4
- sDrive30i
- sDrive M40i

October 2017

• Good news/bad news about G29. Good news: M40i will have power output at the upper end of our expectations (not very far from M2/S55). Bad news: I haven't seen any G29s with a manual.
  sDrive30i will not surprise - same engine as G20 330i. Interesting colors are Misano Blue, San Francisco Red, and Frozen Grey II. And you'll be able to build a Superman Z4 too. Mid-2018 market intro as previously established.

February 2018

• Supra details: three engines (EU-only 195hp 20i, 255hp 30i, and 335hp 40i - and this means the 380hp Z4 M40i will be offered only by BMW and only in North America and a few other non-EU markets). Intro later this year, common sense suggests it will be simultaneous with Z4. It will be Toyota in name and body design only - everything inside the car is the same familiar BMW stuff: same options, same colors, same interior materials. Speaking of colors, it feels almost like a throwback to the 00s: Glacier Silver, Atacama Yellow, and Crimson Red are coming back, though there'll also be a new matte gray. For the interior, you'll be able to choose between fabric, alcantara, and leather, and (the gods have heard us!) all of these choices will be available in the U.S. Wheels: 17" standard with 18" and 19" optional on 20i and 30i, 18" standard and 19" optional on 40i. 40i gets standard M sport diff, while on 30i it will be optional in something that BMW would call "ZMP". Market positioning for the car seems to be distinctly lower than BMW, for example, the barebones 30i will have manual seat adjustments and no nav system. And, finally (cue the sad trombone): all models are automatic only.

 

[Modal170]

Don't get too excited guys, remember the bimmerpost insider said only the non EU Z4 was getting the 380hp version. The Toyota will just have the 350hp version.

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