You may have noticed the web is abuzz with the new BMW Z4. The reasons are as simple as it gets. BMW is apparently about to reveal the Z4 this year or early next year, and they are creating as much hype as possible. Some drove the pre-production prototype, others leaked patent image renderings, while BMW officials – in this case, Peter Langen, BMW Head of driving dynamics – hinted that the new BMW Z4 won’t have much in common with its previous iteration.

“The task was to build a new sporty open car, not a follower of the old Z4,” he commented. “They’re completely different. We designed the new Z4 as a new kind of sportiness.”

The 2020 BMW Z4 roadster is a katana in the world of cleavers!

Let me quote Langen once again.

“For us, it’s really important. We made a decision to have more SUVs because customers want to have these cars, but it’s also important to underline sportiness and joy, which are the brand values of BMW. The Z4 will show those values very well.”

Well, now you know who is a cleaver and who is a katana.

Decisively working on a dynamic, sporty and engaging car, destined to reach the status of the Ultimate Driving Machine, BMW engineers reimagined its architecture, suspension, drivetrain, and the roadster concept. The new Z4 won’t be a hardtop like in the previous generation. You may be amazed, but this isn’t the biggest change the new Z4 faced.

-* Two-thirds of its engine (four-cylinder and six-cylinder units) will sit behind the front axle

-* Due to engine position, the weight distribution is at a perfect 50:50 between front and back

-* It will have a super-quick, programmable eight-speed automatic.

-* BMW managed to slash 110 pounds of weight compared with the previous iteration (now at 3384 lbs)

-* It has adaptive dampers on all four corners,

-* It has an electrically controlled locking differential

-* At launch, we will see the introduction of the Z4 with a four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines including the top of the mill Z4 M40i.

In short, the Z4 will be less of a hairdresser car and more of a proper sharp sports machine sturdy enough to handle the grunt of the 340+ horsepower, six-cylinder turbocharged engine. This engine, ladies and gents, will be much the same as in the BMW M2. Finally, something juicy in the Z4. Installing a conventional weapon like this under the front bonnet and following up with the tech proves of is ready for a fight. The BMW Z4 M40i will go after the Porsche 718 Boxster and the Jaguar F-Type Convertible V6. Lesser versions will, definitely, look to take on the Audi TT and Mercedes SLC

Remember the ravishing BMW Z4 Concept from 11 months ago?

Revealed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California 10 months ago, the BMW Z4 Concept announced what we can expect of the new BMW soft-top roadster. Ravishingly styled with a long bonnet, high shoulder line, and swept back windshield, it was the first proper look at the new age of BMW sports cars.

We liked it.

Considering the fact that BMW tends to craft their concept cars as close to production cars as possible, I am fairly certain that the car we are eagerly waiting to appear with the Z4 moniker will look much like this.

To support this claim, I am revisiting a short statement, Marc Gilles, BMW Z4 Concept Designer, gave to press when unveiling the car. He said, “here we have 80-percent of the hardcore engineering requirements in terms of aerodynamics and cooling and things like that, so we are, in effect, previewing a close to production model.”

In that case, you are better off resting your eyes on the official photo of the original BMW Z4 Concept than looking at the patent images and the camouflaged model.

The car will look a lot like that stunning concept car.

The Concept, however, does not reveal it all. The new Z4 will have a soft top and, apart from the obvious stylistic exclusivity, this setup offers a few important prerequisites. First of all, it is lighter compared with the hardtop setup. Secondly, it will open and close faster, and thirdly, the roof will be rather compact. It will fold fast on a platform behind the rear seats never intruding even an inch into the boot which has a capacity of 265 liters.

Rather generous for a roadster.

What about the Toyota Supra? Isn’t she supposed to be similar to the Z4?

I said she. I did. The Supra is beloved, adored, and cherished. She’s not an it anymore. This is exactly what Toyota's biggest problem is. Can you imagine keyboard warriors uncontrollably vomiting all over the Supra if Toyota fails to deliver?

They have to make it a she.

That is probably one of the reasons Toyota partnered with BMW. Firstly, BMW is badass with sportscars, and secondly, Toyota is definitely controlling risk with it.

“Risk control is the method by which firms evaluate potential losses and take action to reduce or eliminate such threats,” investopedia.com reports.

Releasing a Supra developed on top of an exceptional BMW chassis and drivetrain is just that - risk control.

While we still do not have much to go on with the new Supra, some things are a certainty. This car will ride on the same basis as the BMW Z4. It will probably have much the same tech arrangement, but will not have a roadster version - only a coupe (at least at launch, anyway). Furthermore, Toyota might opt to use a BMW sourced engine and transmission for the car too. The Turbocharged, 3.0-liter straight-six used the smaller M cars is definitely spirited enough to be under the bonnet of the new Toyota Supra. Also, it’s possible that the Toyota Supra engine gains a lot more power compared to the most powerful Z4. 400-plus horsepower is quite possible.

Conclusion

The BMW Z4 looks to reinvent the Ultimate Driving Machine gist, and it will do so with high-tech solutions sourced from all around BMW tech repertoire. Although we will not have the Z4M or the one with the manual (as it seems now), the Z4 should more than compensate for those mischiefs with its powerful dynamic astuteness, vigor, and great looks.

Further Reading

Read our full speculative review of the 2020 BMW Z4

Read our review on the BMW Z4 Concept.

Read our driven review on the current BMW Z4.

Read our full speculative review on the 2019 Toyota Supra.

Read more BMW news.