Thanks to Roundel correspondent Tom Plucinsky, who is also employed by BMW NA, we were able to get a sneak peek at the third generation of BMW’s Z4 roadster, code G29. This is the car that has been jointly developed by BMW and Toyota; BMW gets the roadster, and Toyota gets a sport coupe, probably called a Supra.
At this point, we know that the new Z4 will have four- and six-cylinder versions, and that the new roadster features an interesting variety of components that seem to have been pilfered from the M2 performance bins.
Note the extreme windshield rake, a traditional feature of every Z4 generation. (BMW AG)
We won’t see the car without its paisley pajamas until August—perhaps at Monterey?—but even with that black-and-white camouflage, the new flyer is instantly recognizable as a Z4 in the video above, taken at BMW’s Miramas test facility in France; it’s obvious from the cornering angles that this little sled is a handlin’ fool, and with a turbo six putting out 382 horses and 369 pound-feet of twist, the new Z4 is nimble ande fast. And the driver likes to kick the back end out in the corners, too—a guilty secret ritual of Z4 drivers everywhere.
And for a beautiful drone’s-eye view of the track and the tiny roadster, see the video below.—Satch Carlson
