Despite being on the roads for more than 15 years, the Z4 still makes us drool over its handsome looks. Last year, the Z4 Roadster Concept was unveiled at the Pebble Beach, California, but since then, we haven’t heard much. Currently, the production version of the car is undergoing testing at the BMW test center in France, to improve its driving dynamics. The next-generation Z4 continues to feature the trademark long bonnet and short overhangs. The highlight of the car - this one comes with a soft top, unlike the second generation Z4 (also called the E89). Excited already? Continue reading.

So, What’s Different This Time?

As far as the specifications are concerned, the upcoming Z4 comes will get an all-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 tires, an M sports brake system, and an electronically controlled locking differential.

"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."

Is The Miramas Centre As Good As The Nürburgring To Test The Z4?

BMW wants to make the Z4 more of a performance-oriented car this time, and the Autodrome de Miramas test center offers perfect conditions to demonstrate its driving dynamics potential. Used by BMW to develop and test new models for more than 30 years, the center comprises a long asphalt oval and a motorway ring road for high-speed tests as well as slalom, serpentine, and circular tracks to go with a number of handling courses and circuits featuring highly diverse types of surface.

This intense testing process already indicates that the new Z4 will offer a sporty flair. The new generation is expected to be more effective in terms of agile handling, spontaneity, and precision, without losing out in the comfort disciplines.

Our Take

From the press release, it’s clear that BMW has focused mainly on the Z4’s driving dynamics with the next-gen model. While the exact specifications are not out yet, we expect the new Z4 to get a power bump along with the new engine., The second-generation came packed with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder that produced 240 horses and 260 pound-feet of torque, which was just not up to the mark when compared to the competition. In retrospect, the old Z4 was an affordable roadster with neutral dynamics. This time, we expect that the car can be thrown around corners at higher speeds, without any drama.

The Z4 has been refreshed just twice, prior to this, in 16 years. Given how long it's taken for the third-gen model to arrive (including being out of production since 2016) should BMW have electrified it? Considering the fact that its rivals still feature combustion engines (Think about the Audi TT and Nissan 370z, to name a few), this seemed like a good opportunity to buzz some electric. However, the real question is - can it topple the Porsche 718 Boxster and occupy the pole-position? We’ll have to wait to see that, but nevertheless, the new Z4 is definitely a notch up. There’s no word on the pricing, but the four-cylinder 30i could be priced around $50,000, while the bigger, six-cylinder M40i could be in the $60,000-$70,000 range. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Further Reading

Read our full speculative review on the 2018 BMW Z4.

Read our full speculative review on the 2019 Toyota Supra.

Read more BMW news.