Agility, performance and precise handling have always been top priorities for the Z4 family but the new two-seater’s body, powertrain and chassis have received the greatest amount of development work to make sure the new Z4 Roadster arrives with a genuine sports car performance pedigree.
If the chassis is the legs and muscles of a top performing athlete then the engines are the heart and lungs. The all-new BMW Z4 Roadster has gone through a thoroughly complete training program and features two new powerful TwinPower Turbocharged engines and brand new front and rear suspensions developed specifically for the Roadster.
The rigid body structure, chassis mounting points, along with the intelligent lightweight design and optimized aerodynamic properties deliver the perfect platform to provide the driver with a Roadster capable of tackling the most challenging tracks while at the same time providing increased levels of comfort for top down cruising along the coast.
The new BMW Z4 Roadster has a low-slung, sporty and athletic appearance when viewed from any angle. The proportions have grown in every area over its predecessor: 3.3 inches longer, 2.9 inches wider and 0.5 inches taller. The wheelbase has been shortened by 1.0 inch which, combined with the notably wider tracks (+3.86 inches in front and +2.45 inches in rear) and a perfect 50:50 weight distribution, all contribute to the much enhanced vehicle agility.
Z4 sDrive30i: More power from the new four-cylinder engine.
To complement the new chassis’ increased capabilities, the new BMW Z4 Roadster arrives in 2019 first with a new, more powerful 2.0 liter four-cylinder TwinPower Turbocharged motor featuring an increase of 15 hp and an impressive 35 lb-ft of torque over its predecessor. The updated BMW engine package include a High Precision Injection system whose maximum pressure has been increased to 350 bar / 5,076 psi. The TwinScroll turbocharged engine under the hood of the new BMW Z4 sDrive30i delivers an output of 255 hp between 5,000 and 6,500 rpm, with peak torque of 295 lb-ft. available from 1,550 up to 4,400 rpm. The result is a 0 to 60 mph sprint time of 5.2 seconds.
Z4 M40i: BMW M Performance model with straight-six engine.
For those seeking even more exhilarating performance, the all-new 2020 BMW Z4 M40i Roadster’s 3.0-liter six-cylinder in-line engine delivers instantaneous response, an appetite for revs and smoothness while offering an increase of 47 hp over its predecessor. The new 6-cylinder engine’s standout features include a water-cooled exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head, quicker TwinScroll turbocharger response and direct injection technology which now works at increased maximum pressure of 350 bar / 5,076 psi. Drivers have 382 hp at their disposal between 5,000 and 6,500 rpm, plus 369 lb-ft. of peak torque from 1,600 to 4,500 rpm. The BMW Z4 M40i Roadster sprints from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds.
Eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission
Both models of the new BMW Z4 Roadster, sDrive30i and M40i, come equipped with a standard eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission with shift paddles on the steering wheel. Besides a wider ratio spread, the latest version of the automatic transmission offers even sportier gear shifts. The shorter ratios for the transmission’s lower gears improve acceleration and the unit’s improved internals allow it to operate more efficiently. The transmission features Launch Control for accelerating hard from a standing start with maximum traction. The eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission fitted in the BMW Z4 M40i has been configured with M-specific shift characteristics to complement the straight-six engine’s power delivery.
New chassis: increased agility and comfort.
The chassis technology in the new BMW Z4 Roadster has been developed to deliver the best possible agility and handling dynamics, thanks to a newly designed double-joint spring strut suspension at the front and a new five-link suspension in the rear, a first for a BMW Roadster. This chassis combination offers the best balance between sports car handling and ride comfort. The front suspension sub frame and control arm mounting points are extremely rigid, which lends to precise cornering characteristics as well as having a beneficial effect on the drivetrain’s acoustics. The sports car tuning of the front suspension dynamics aids the new Z4 Roadster’s steering precision. Aluminum control arms and swivel bearings reduce unsprung weight resulting in superior agility and efficiency. The new rear suspension also employs a lightweight aluminum/steel design. The large supporting base and very rigid structure of the rear axle subframe as well as the bracing used for connecting it to the body result in extremely precise wheel guidance.
Another standard feature is the sport steering with variable power assist and ratio. This particular version of the power steering system is designed to promote not just straight-line stability in the new BMW Z4 Roadster, but also provide precise feedback during cornering and effortless low-speed maneuvering.
The car’s impressively sporty handling characteristics are aided by powerful lightweight braking and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) systems, whose wealth of features includes the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), and Dynamic Brake Control (DBC). The standard Performance Control function gives the new BMW Z4 Roadster even nimbler handling by varying the distribution of drive torque to the rear wheels according to the situation at hand.
M Performance model drivetrain
The Adaptive M Sport suspension, M Sport brakes and M Sport differential, standard on the all-new BMW Z4 M40i Roadster and optional on the Z4 sDrive30i, raise the car’s already impressive handling bar to even greater heights. With these chassis systems on board, the differences in the car’s responses between the COMFORT, SPORT and SPORT+ modes, selected with the Driving Experience Control switch, are particularly noticeable. Featuring a 10 mm lower ride height, the Adaptive M Sport suspension includes electronically controlled dampers, which offer both comfortable and more aggressive ride and handling dynamics. The electronically controlled M Sport rear differential gives the handling of the new BMW Z4 an even sharper sporting edge. An electric motor generates a locking effect in the differential that equalizes torque distribution between the inside and outside rear wheels when cornering, making it possible to power out of bends with greater momentum. The active differential lock also works effectively in reducing both understeer and oversteer.
The standard 18-inch light-alloy wheels and optional 19-inch items are all shod with mixed-size tires. The wider rear tires’ increased potential for directional control was factored into the chassis tuning for all variants of the all-new Z4 Roadster.
The new BMW Z4 Roadster isn’t just about classical roadster proportions and spirited driving – it is imbued with state-of-the-art features to pamper both driver and passenger alike. The options list contains a myriad of ways to customize the all-new BMW Z4 Roadster to suit the owner’s personal style.
The array of cutting-edge driver assistance systems available for the Z4 Roadster is unrivalled in this segment. They are designed to optimize specific aspects of comfort and safety and relieve the strain on the driver during both long-distance journeys and in city traffic. The list of options includes Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, the Lane Change and Lane Departure Warning systems, as well as a Parking Assistant including Back-Up Assistant. The new BMW Z4 is also the first Roadster to be made available with an optional BMW Head-Up Display.
