Last year BMW led us to believe that it might not have a replacement for the Z4 roadster until 2020 or beyond. But recent spy photos indicate that BMW's partnership with Toyota has already produced a new roadster—one that may have reached the road-test phase of development.
This camouflaged ragtop raises a few questions: Is this the Z4's replacement, or a new class of BMW roadster? Many industry observers are already calling it the Z5, which could make it the Z4’s successor just as the Z4 replaced the Z3. We’re inclined to believe the Z4 replacement theory, since BMW is not likely to run two roadster production lines given the soft sales of convertible sports cars these days. BMW sold only 1,829 Z4s in 2015. It is the oldest model in BMW’s catalog, having been introduced in 2009.
The car in these photos looks to be larger than a Z4, which sort of goes along with BMW’s “bigger is better” philosophy in next-generation vehicles.
The BMW-Toyota roadster development agreement is three years old. Most observers have guessed that the partnership will produce a Z4 successor for BMW and a new Supra for Toyota. There is also talk of alternate powerplants, since Toyota has a lead in hydrogen-powered electric fuel cells and BMW has proved it knows how to build plug-in electric hybrids. Remember that BMW has promised an electrified version in every model range, so eventually we can expect at least a plug-in hybrid version of a new roadster.
Analysts have further speculated that BMW will be responsible for the chassis and powertrain in the joint project. It will almost certainly be a rear-wheel drive car.
While renderings of possible BMW and Toyota sports cars have speculated at some pretty wild designs, the spy photos of the heavily camouflaged BMW test mule don’t reveal all that much of the car’s styling. BMW has taken to fastening fake body panels on its test cars to hide the real design lines, but if these shots are of a possible production test vehicle, we can at least see that the car has a high sideline and a relatively low roofline.
Also of interest is that BMW may be tipping its intent to return to a soft convertible top for its mainstream sports car, although there are rumors that a hardtop coupe version might follow the roadster after a year or so.
If these photos are signaling that we are within two years of a Z4 replacement, and that replacement might have a soft—and presumably lighter—top, and if BMW installs more aluminum and carbon fiber to further reduce weight, we might expect a great-handling and fast sports car sooner rather than later. Perhaps that by itself will revitalize roadster sales in the U.S. and make BMW glad it stayed in the convertible sports car game.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of Automotive News.]
