BMW Z4 2019: prices, specs and release date

There are a few weeks to go before BMW officially unveils its new Z4 but fans can get a sneak preview of the sports car now thanks to a series of leaked images. 

The most recent batch of spy shots show the German sports car in production-ready form. The images suggest it will share several design elements with the new 8-Series coupe.  

The convertible is on course to receive the same 350bhp turbo straight-six engine as the compact M240i, putting it in direct competition with Porsche’s critically-acclaimed 718 Cayman and Boxster sports cars.

But fans won’t have to wait long until BMW officially showcases the all-new Z4. The sports car is tipped to make its public debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance motor show in Monterey, California, on 26 August. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the new Z4: 

When does it come out?

BMW hasn’t given a release date for the new Z4 just yet. 

But Autocar say it expects the drop-top sports car to make its debut (in production guise) at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance at the end of the month before going on sale in March 2019.

How much will it cost?

Auto Express says buyers can expect to pay around £37,000 for the new Z4. This makes it around £8,000 more expensive than its now-discontinued predecessor. 

What will it look like?

It’s hard to say, given that BMW has only showcased the sports car in concept form. 

But the trio of leaked images posted by Instagram user liucunyi appears to show a production-ready version of the sports car.

While BMW hasn’t confirmed whether the car in the images is the new vehicle, the designs seem to match pre-production versions that have been spied testing at the 12.9-mile Nurburgring racing circuit in Germany. 

If the images are of the new Z4, BMW appears to have transferred a number of design cues from its 8-Series coupe onto the sports car. These include the car’s taillight design, aggressive front-bumper styling and sculpted rear end.

The company’s signature kidney-style grille is back but it’s slightly larger on the Z4 than in previous models. This makes the front end look wider, as does the new taller headlight cluster.

The car snapped by the Instagram user is badged M40i, which Autocar says is tipped to be the range-topping model at launch. Mid-to-lower spec cars are likely to have marginally less aggressive styling, however. 

What about performance?

BMW will probably launch the Z4 with two engine options when it’s released next year, but more engine options could emerge later in the car’s life cycle. 

Kicking off the range will be a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine badged sDrive30i, according to Motor1. The engine is rumoured to produce around 250bhp. It will be coupled to an eight-speed automatic gearbox made by the engineering giant ZF. 

The range-topping M40i model, meanwhile, is powered by the same 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six engine as the current M240i coupe. This is expected to produce roughly 350bhp and will also be paired to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.