The next-generation BMW Z4 will be built in joint with the upcoming Toyota Supra. The previous joint-venture from Toyota, which were the Toyobaru twins developed with Subaru, developed two almost identical cars. However, the BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra will actually be quite different. The BMW Z4 will be wear a chassis designation of G29, to go with the rest of the new ‘G’ named BMWs and the Toyota Supra will wear a J29 chassis code.
Previous reports hinted at BMW’s plans to build a top-of-the-line Z4 M with 450-hp from an inline-six, but a new report today delivers contradictory news. According to Road & Track – citing a BMW M2 project leader – the upcoming G29 Z4 won’t get a full M treatment. As our sources mentioned, a Z4 M40i is likely to come to fruition featuring the fantastic new B58 3.0 liter turbocharged I6 engine. The M40i variant will likely be far sportier and more aggressive than the current Z4 sDrive35is, with a few tweaks done to the chassis as well.
BMW expects its new Z4 Roadster M40i to compete directly with the Porsche 718 Boxster S. The soft top roof and new lightweight chassis techniques, as well as some Toyota roadster know-how, should enable this new BMW Z4 to get closer to Porsche’s famous Boxster than ever before.
Austria’s Magna-Steyr is already gearing up to produce both the German and the Japanese version of these new exciting sportscars.
