Pour one out for the BMW Z4 – the end is nigh.
BMW's family of Z roadsters has always been a popular choice with car and lifestyle enthusiasts alike for years. Overlooked for most of its life, the German Z car has grown into a very capable and respected sports car, with the back catalog including icons like the M Coupe and the Z4 M. In its latest iteration, the 2022 BMW Z4 Roadster may not have a full M version, but it's still a thrilling machine. Famously related to the Toyota GR Supra through an excellent platform, and storming six-cylinder engine, the new model has garnered a lot of praise. But as it turns out, it hasn't done enough to secure a future for itself. According to Spanish publication Motor.es, the Z4 will leave the scene when its lifecycle comes to an end in 2025 and only BMW knows what the future of the other Z car holds.
The unfortunate truth is that it's not only BMW that is canning a drop-top sports car; Mercedes-Benz has been forced to kill off S-Class Convertible and SLC-Class, Audi is doing away with the TT, and the R8 rag-top is likely done for as well. The truth is that unless you're selling C8 Corvettes or a Mazda Miata, sports convertible sales are not doing great.
The death of the Z4 is also being laid at the feet of the Porsche 718 Boxster which is widely regarded as the best sports convertible in its class. The Z4 was born to compete with Porsche, but in recent years has fallen short. Fortunately, we still have a few years to enjoy the Z4 in before it gets put out to pasture. Released in 2019, the third-gen Z4 is getting ready for a facelift, but if rumors are true, don't expect much in the way of feature updates. According to Motor.es's sources, the update won't even include the updated digital dash and iDrive 8 upgrade being installed in other models.
The BMW Z4 is currently available with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque and can sprint to 60 mph in only 5.2 seconds. The sDrive M40i is the one to go for if you're after real performance with 382 hp and 368 lb-ft from a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-pot and a 3.9-second 60 mph dash. The Z4's only hope for survival is to return as an electric sports car, but this seems unlikely at this stage.
The news leaves us with one question, though – what's going to happen to the Toyota GR Supra without a BMW to share a platform with? The A80 Supra stuck around for nearly a decade before going into hibernation, and we'd hate to see the same happen to the new Supra which has been a smash hit for the brand.
Keyword: Say Goodbye To BMW's Only Two-Seat Sports Car