BMW Z3 Introduction

BMW Z4 (2019 on)
After a brief period when no Z4s were manufactured, the current version went on sale in 2019. This one has a retractable fabric roof, public enthusiasm for coupe-convertibles having faded in previous years.

The platform is the one used for most of today’s rear-wheel drive BMWs, while the 2.0-litre four-cylinder and 3.0-litre six-cylinder engines are both turbocharged. As available in some markets including the USA, the latter is the most powerful Z4 engine yet, with a claimed maximum figure of 382bhp.

The Z4’s Japanese cousin
After nearly two decades, Toyota brought the Supra name back to life for a coupe very closely related to the new Z4, built on the same Magna Steyr contract production line at Graz in Austria.

The BMW platform, interior and engines are used for both cars, though their exterior designs are significantly different. News of the collaboration between the manufacturers was greeted with disapproving tuts from critics, as these things usually are, but it is not unusual within the motor industry, and truth be told the sports car market is no longer large enough to justify major investments over a single model.

BMW Z07
The Z07 was a tribute to the BMW 507, capturing the spirit of the 1950s car in a 21st century design language rather than attempting to copy it. One of its most notable features was a ‘double bubble’ roof, which had not been used on the 507.

Displayed at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, the Z07 was powered by the 4.9-litre V8 engine used in the contemporary BMW M5. It was only ever intended to be a concept car, but it did lead directly to another BMW Z model which people could actually buy.

BMW Z8
The production version of the Z07 was named Z8 and was very similar to the concept car, for example sharing the 395bhp M5 engine. The major change was that the much admired double bubble hardtop of the concept car was abandoned in favour of a folding fabric roof.

The Z8 was on the market from 2000 to 2003. Substantial pre-event publicity was provided by the car’s appearance in the 1999 James Bond film, The World Is Not Enough. The car wasn’t universally admired when new from drivers who expected a sports car but instead found a grand tourer, appreciation of the Z8 has increased since, along with valuations.