The end of the BMW Z4 Roadster is coming into view. Production winds down in the first half of 2026, and once the Final Edition clears U.S. showrooms next spring, the long-running two-seater will bow out with no successor approved. It’s not the first BMW nameplate to disappear, but this one stings more than most — because the Z4 is one of the last BMWs that still feels unmistakably, unapologetically old-school.
And that’s exactly why its departure matters.
A Shape That Still Carries BMW’s Classic DNA
In a BMW world full of crossovers, illuminated grilles, and sprawling dashboard screens, the Z4 remains a reminder of how BMW used to shape a sports car. Long hood, set-back cabin, short overhangs, and rear-drive proportions that couldn’t be mistaken for anything else. It still looks the way a BMW roadster should look — athletic, balanced, and timeless.
There’s even a touch of James Bond nostalgia baked into it. The Z3 stole the spotlight in GoldenEye nearly 30 years ago, but the design lineage is still easy to see. Few BMWs today have such a clean, purposeful look. No styling gimmicks, no need to explain the design language — just classic proportions that do the talking.
The Updated Handschalter Shows What BMW Still Knows How to Do
If there’s a single reason the Z4 deserves a proper sendoff, it’s the Handschalter. BMW did the unthinkable in 2024: it gave the Z4 M40i a six-speed manual late in its life cycle. And it wasn’t some afterthought. It drives like something built by people who still understand what a manual sports car is supposed to feel like.
The steering is alive and predictable. The rear axle is playful but never nervous. The chassis has that familiar BMW blend of precision and elasticity — the ability to handle rough pavement while still transmitting everything that matters. Among modern rear-wheel-drive sports cars, it’s one of the most satisfying machines you can point down a backroad.
And that engine. The B58 inline-six remains one of BMW’s best engines every made: torquey, smooth, and full of character even in this era of emissions filters and noise regulations. Paired with a manual, it’s the closest thing BMW sells today to the old-school straight-six roadsters that built its reputation.
A Cabin From a Different BMW Era — In a Good Way
The interior is one of the Z4’s most underrated strengths. Yes, it’s dated compared to the curved displays and digital walls in newer BMWs, but that’s exactly what gives it charm. The dashboard is still driver-oriented. The climate controls are still physical buttons. iDrive 7 keeps things familiar without taking over the entire car.
The digital screens are small by modern standards and intentionally restrained. The instrument cluster still looks analog. You can get in, drop the top, twist the dial, and drive — without a tutorial on hidden menus, color themes, or virtual widgets.
It’s the last BMW sports car where simplicity feels intentional.
The Final Edition Sends It Off With Respect
BMW is giving the Z4 a proper sendoff with the M40i Final Edition for the U.S. market. Every car comes in Frozen Black with Shadowline trim, staggered 800M wheels (19-inch front, 20-inch rear), M Sport brakes with red calipers, and a cabin trimmed in black leather and Alcantara with red stitching. It arrives fully loaded, regardless of transmission choice, at $78,675.
Even in its final months, BMW didn’t mail it in. The side sills carry “Final Edition” lettering, the wheels are unique, and the specs aren’t stripped down. It’s a genuine farewell — something increasingly rare in the industry.
There Is No Replacement Lined Up — And That Says Everything
BMW has no approved successor for the Z4. Not hybrid, not electric, not even conceptual. The Supra will return without a BMW platform, but Munich isn’t planning a new Z car of its own.
A roadster is a tough sell in 2025. Production is expensive, margins are low, and regulations are tightening. But the bigger challenge is philosophical: if BMW ever brings a roadster back, it may not feel like this one unless it stays internal-combustion.
We already have a preview of what the future might look like. Porsche’s community is struggling with the idea of the next Boxster being electric. Even Porsche openly acknowledges the emotional gap between an EVs and ICE cars. If BMW were to revive the Z one day as a Neue Klasse EV, it might be quick and efficient — but it wouldn’t recreate the emotion that defines this car.
The Z4 works because it’s mechanical, analog-leaning, and human in scale. Those qualities don’t translate easily to batteries and motors. And enthusiasts know it.
