2019 BMW Z4 fast tracked for Australia

BMW Australia has confirmed that the 2019 BMW Z4 will be fast tracked for Australian release. Initially due to land locally in the second half of 2019, it will now reach Australian shores in March 2019 thanks to Australia’s high position in the global BMW hierarchy.

Sharing a new platform with the new Toyota Supra, the new Z4 is larger than the car it replaces. It will launch with two four-cylinder turbo variants and a six-cylinder M40i halo model sitting atop the local range. Australian pricing and specifications will be confirmed closer to the car’s launch.

According to BMW, the new Z4 “has been systematically designed for maximum agility, thrilling dynamism, plus supremely precise steering characteristics with instantaneous response.”

“The new 2019 BMW Z4 combines its sporty on-road prowess with a wealth of highly advanced, top-class equipment features on the driver assistance, operation and connectivity fronts” said the company.

Immediately obvious with the 2019 BMW Z4 is its bold styling, which continues BMW’s styling direction change with its latest products such as the next generation X5 SUV. Australian BMW designer Calvin Luk is responsible for the exterior style of the car, including the stacked LED headlights and wraparound LED tailights. A range of colours and wheels are available up to 19-inches in diameter, and the soft-top is available in either black or anthracite with silver highlighting.

The interior is also a departure from the previous Z4, with a huge 10.25-inch screen in the centre and an obvious upmarket departure for interior quality. Standard on all models is a digital driver’s display, as well as BMW OS7.0, which includes the latest voice recognition technology from the company. Like the exterior, a number of interior colours and trims are available for customers to choose from, from black leather to the cognac leather shown.

Measuring 4,324mm long, 1,864mm wide, 1,304mm tall and with a 2,470mm wheelbase, the new generation of Z4 has grown significantly compared with the car it replaces – 85mm longer, 74mm wide and 13mm taller, to be exact. BMW claims that thanks to the car’s newly-soft top roof, bootspace has been increased by 50 percent to 281-litres. Sitting at the top of the range for now is the Z4 M40i, which is powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder engine producing 250kW of power and 500Nm of torque. The 2019 BMW Z4 M40i is capable of a 4.6 second sprint to 100km/h, yet also return as low as 7.1L/100km on a combined cycle.

There are more affordable Z4 models in the range, however. Opening the range is the Z4 20i, which is powered by a 145kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. BMW claims 6.1L/100km and a 6.6 second 0-100km/h sprint. In the middle of the range is the Z4 30i, which is powered by an uprated 190kW/400Nm version of the 20i’s petrol engine. It is capable of a 5.4 second 0-100km/h sprint, and returning the same 6.1L/100km fuel consumption as the 20i.

All models are equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the M40i also has an electrically-controlled rear differential.

BMW claims that the new Z4 is the most advanced roadster ever made, which is backed up by the Z4’s available equipment list – note that Australian specifications remain as yet unannounced, though will likely include more equipment than elsewhere in the world. Standard on all models is city speed autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, a soft top roof that raises in under 10 seconds and can be operated at up to 50km/h, dual-zone climate control and BMW’s iDrive 7 with a 10.25-inch infotainment screen.

Available optionally is active safety equipment such as adaptive cruise control, lane change warning, rear collision prevention, rear traffic alert, speed limit information, a colour heads-up display, a 464 watt Harman Kardon sound system, wireless phone charging and Apple CarPlay.

The 2019 BMW Z4 will be launched in Australia in March 2019. Local pricing and specifications will be announced before then.

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