The 2019 BMW Z4 is a 250kW return to roadster form

Matthew Hansen
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Photos / supplied

Photos / supplied

Whether you're a tin-foil hat believer that new-car 'leaks' are an orchestrated PR play or not, you have to concede that they do make things pretty interesting. And the all-new BMW Z4 is probably one of the year's best examples.

A first image leak emerged at the beginning of last week; the images obviously from some kind of private showing. Then some of the curious first press images were published online a few days later. 

Well, the time's come for the actual reveal. Here's the new BMW Z4 in all of its formalized glory.

BMW launched the vehicle by profiling two models; the Z4 M40i and the M40i First Edition. The latter is pictured in the more dramatic lens-flare-for-Africa launch images, and can be spotted via its black wing mirrors, 19-inch two-tone wheels, and its metallic Frozen Orange paint. Other First Edition foibles include BMW's Individual High Gloss Shadow Line trim and adaptive LED headlights.

In terms of the M40i, not much of what we've seen has offered new insight into the interior or the exterior. Among the few discoveries is the heads-up display above the digital cluster. Otherwise, this is the same angular, suave interior we profiled last week.

No, the main learnings from the release are performance based.

The 3.0-litre inline six has a confirmed power output of 250kW, and will propel the M40i from 0–100km/h in 4.6 seconds. That's about two tenths quicker than the previous-generation top-spec model, despite having the same amount of power on tap. It's comparable performance to a manual Porsche Cayman S ... though a PDK Cayman would live it in its Porsche dust.

An M Sport braking system is among the engine's supporting act. Sports suspension with electronically controlled dampers will help drivers tip it into corners with confidence, as will an M Sport rear differential and the Z4's 50:50 weight distribution.

Pricing detail — foreign and domestic — is still to come, as are details of the Z4's entry-level 30i model. These could well be confirmed on September 19th, when the Bavarian manufacturer have said more information is set to be released.

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