The decline in consumer demand for roadsters over the past few years has forced automakers to scale back their droptop lineup. Before combining the AMG GT Convertible with the SL, Mercedes discontinued the S-Class Convertible and SLC. The C-Class and E-Class with a folding top might be eliminated by the three-pointed star, leaving only the CLE model. The A3 Cabriolet and the R8 with a fabric roof have both been discontinued by Audi.
The 4 Series and 8 Series at BMW, according to a recent rumor, will merge to form a refreshed 6 Series. In addition, we are currently hearing that the Z4 Roadster’s days are numbered. According to reliable sources, the compact cabrio will be saying goodbye in around three and a half years, according to the Spanish website Motor.es. According to reports, production will stop in October 2025.
According to the source, a new Z4 Roadster has been ruled out, which means the sports cabrio will never be produced again. Before the year is up, a version with a minor facelift will be released. Motor.es indicates the LCI will be small, which is logical given that it is impractical to invest a sizable sum of money in a product that sells slowly.
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Apparently, BMW has already decided against replacing the new Z4.
According to a source in US automotive media, BMW has already decided that the new Z4 cannot be profitable enough and will not pursue a replacement.
Even though the new BMW Z4 has only recently gone on sale, it’s been rumored that the company has already chosen not to replace it when it eventually wears out.
BMW’s earnings have significantly decreased since 2015. In the wake of dieselgate and a likely hefty anti-trust penalties that the EU is about to publish, its share price has decreased from over EUR120 in 2015 to EUR68 this week. Another factor hurting BMW’s sales is the ongoing trade conflict between the US and China, two of its major markets.
According to Automobile, BMW’s total number of engine and equipment modifications must be cut in half for CFO Nicolas Peter to achieve savings of EUR13 billion between now and 2022. Additionally, after the conclusion of their anticipated production runs, vehicles including the 2-series convertible, 7-series, Z4, and the two-door 8-series will be permitted to be dropped off the list. That translates into millions of development euros saved over the following three years.
It’s quite unusual for a brand-new model to be let loose before the honeymoon phase has even finished, but there are no particular quotes in the piece that support this claim. Last week, we drove it back-to-back with its sibling, the Toyota Supra.
This information, of course, means that Toyota won’t be able to replace the A90 Supra without raising the price to a level that would put it in competition with the Porsche 911, and we all know that’s a battle that the Toyota logo, no matter how good, can’t win. If correct, this information will serve as another death knell for the Supra.
Instead, a number of BEVs, including indirect successors for the i3 and i8, are reportedly being developed by BMW. The latter vehicle might have as much as 544 horsepower thanks to a new turbocharged engine and larger electric motor. If it still goes by the name “i8,” early reports indicate it might reach 160 mph.
It is said that BMW is dissatisfied with its sales.
According to a claim from the Spanish website Motor.es, the BMW Z4 would allegedly stop manufacturing in the middle of 2025. According to the report, the roadster isn’t selling as many units as the German automaker would like.
The Spanish narrative suggests that the Z4 won’t sulk until it is retired. A makeover is reportedly planned for 2023 to give the roadster a modern style.
As the Z4 nears the end of its life cycle, BMW must make a difficult decision.
According to reports, the BMW Z4 isn’t selling as well as expected, and 2025 may mark the model’s end of production.
Since BMW unveiled the new Z4, which is paired with the Toyota Supra, as a 2019 model in 2018, its sales haven’t been particularly strong, particularly in the United States. After three years on the market, the Z4 has achieved sales totals in the U.S. of 7,717 units, or an average of 2,572 units sold annually. Of course, 2019 was the best year with 2,941 sales. Contrarily, the Z4 has been significantly more successful in Europe, where it was sold 9,681 units in 2019 and 8,314 units in 2020. Are these sales numbers sufficient to keep the Z4 on the market for the remainder of the decade and possibly for a new generation? In any case, according to a recent source, BMW plans to discontinue the Z4 roadster in 2025.
Sales of 12,000–13,000 examples per year in Europe and America don’t sound bad for a niche market where there aren’t many vehicles, but when you consider that BMW sold 10,000–12,000 examples of the Z4’s predecessor on the U.S. market alone in the mid-2000s, it’s safe to say that the Z4 probably isn’t meeting sales expectations. And such is the rationale given by BMW for discontinuing the Z4 in mid-2025 by the Spanish website Motor.es.
In any case, the good news is that BMW won’t just let the Z4 suffer a painfully slow death. The Z4 will receive an update in 2023 with a new appearance, according to the rumor, which has not yet been confirmed. Don’t anticipate anything too drastic, though; it should be a straightforward mid-cycle upgrade. It should be noted that the Z4 will be seven years old by mid-2025, which would be about right for the conclusion of its lifecycle given that it will be introduced for the 2019 model year. Therefore, it is not as though BMW is cutting the cord too soon. It is also understandable that sales aren’t strong enough to justify a replacement, but if sales unexpectedly increase following a makeover, this report may be proven false as BMW would have good reason to introduce a new generation.
The Z4 can come with a hardtop.
A hardtop option for the BMW Z4 has not been available since the model before 2019. The Mercedes-Benz SL-like folding metal roof was a feature of the previous hardtop variants, but the 2019 and later Z4 is only offered as a soft-top convertible. It’s doubtful that the 2023 BMW Z4 will differ from the current model.
But there is still hope for Z4 enthusiasts who desire a coupe. The Toyota Supra GR is the sister vehicle of the Z4, if you don’t mind giving up the BMW label. Much of the BMW Z4’s basis is used in the Supra, which has a sportier hard-top design.
To learn more about the Toyota Supra, the Z4’s sibling vehicle, scroll down to the article after that.
After this generation, the BMW Z4 might be discontinued: report
In terms of philosophy, BMW’s Z range started with the Z1 in the late 1980s and expanded to the popular Z3 in the 1990s. The vehicles are BMW’s interpretation of a sporty roadster, but according to a recent report, production may stop after this Z4 generation.
For BMW, recent times have not been good. The carmaker revealed its plans to reduce expenses in order to switch to electric vehicles in March. Additionally, its CEO Harald Krueger recently resigned after allegedly losing BMW’s sales lead in premium vehicles by failing to enter the luxury EV market sooner. All of this suggests that vehicles like sports cars and roadsters that don’t generate significant revenues may be phased out.
Georg Kacher of Automobile Magazine recently published an article on how BMW executives might raise earnings in the face of a trade war, more pressure to create electric vehicles, and a general fall in sales in the automotive industry. Cutting possibly underperforming models is a simple approach to save money.
According to Kacher, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi are all reportedly having trouble turning a profit on vehicles that cost less than EUR40,000 (about $45,000), thus the automaker has “created a list of doomed products.”
In the narrative:
The rear-wheel-drive 1 Series, 2 Series, and lower-trim 3 Series cars are on the company’s list of dying models since they hardly or never contribute to the bottom line. The 2 Series convertible, standard-wheelbase 7 Series, Z4 successor (sorry, Toyota), and both two-door 8 Series models are also being laid to rest, in addition to the three-door 1 Series, 2 Series Gran Tourer, and 3 Series GT.
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According to the source, the 7 Series and 8 Series Gran Coupe will coexist. Additionally, the X2 may be discontinued soon, even if an X8 is rumored to be in the pipeline. Joy.
Since BMW chose to share its platform with Toyota for the Supra in the first place, it is likely that it knew the Z4 wouldn’t benefit it in any way. The Z4 might eventually be scrapped yet continue to exist in some capacity as the Supra.
All manufacturers offer large cars and crossovers. The Z4 is what distinguishes BMW’s portfolio from the competition. Though I would understand if it did, I hope it stays.
Inquiries on this have been made to BMW, and we will provide an update if we hear back.
Updated at 8:08 a.m. on July 31. EST: A BMW representative reacted, saying, “We are unable to comment on the speculative future product information in the Automobile Magazine story.”
BMW Z4
Punchy acceleration and an energizing exhaust sound are provided by the standard 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine.
Although the Z4 boasts incredibly agile handling, the ride is constantly tight and rough.
The powered soft top may be opened and closed while traveling at speeds of up to 31 mph in just 11 seconds.
Although the iDrive infotainment system takes some getting used to, with practice it becomes simple to use.
After a three-year absence, the BMW Z4 roadster is back with a soft top, a livelier personality, modern sophisticated safety systems, and better fuel efficiency.
With its standard 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, the Z4 offers quick acceleration and energizing exhaust noise.
With a speed of up to 31 mph, the motorized soft top can open and close in just 11 seconds.
The iDrive control scheme is challenging to learn but becomes intuitive with practice.
It is compatible with Apple CarPlay, although after the first year, a subscription is needed. For 2020, a 3.0 liter six-cylinder turbo is new.
The cloth top of the first version Z4 was replaced with a retractable hardtop for the second generation.
Although the handling is competent and safe, it lacks the satisfying tactile feedback and thrill potential that a driving enthusiast seeks.
Even for people of ordinary girth, the bowstring-taut ride can be nearly unpleasant at times, and the cabin, despite being beautifully constructed, is a tight fit.
Antilock brakes, braking assist, electronic stability control, and rollover protection via roll bars behind the head restraints are all included in the standard safety equipment.
With significantly larger internal space and a choice of two six-cylinder engines, the Z4 debuted in 2003.
The Z4 kept the rough ride of the outgoing vehicle despite being nearly incomparably better than the Z3 (which it replaced).
Additionally, it lacks agility in part due to the inaccurate and non-linear steering.
The M coupe and roadster use a 3.2-liter engine that is even more potent and produces 330 hp, making both of the available 3.0-liter six-cylinder engines strong.
Why does BMW no longer produce the Z4?
It makes sense for BMW to discontinue the Z4 given current trends in the rest of the car sector. Since BMW unveiled a completely new Z4 in 2019, the car hasn’t sold well. The convertible contributed to 2,941 of the Z4’s sales in 2019, the model’s finest year. BMW sold 2,412 Z4s in 2017