If you want a brand new BMW Roadster, the Final Edition is your last chance before production ends. BMW confirmed that the two-seat Z4 will disappear from the range after April 2026, and the Final Edition will arrive in a very limited edition with one configuration and two transmission options, closing a chapter that goes back more than 20 years.
The Z4 Final Edition is only offered as an M40i. Power comes from a 3.0-liter inline-six with TwinPower Turbo technology that produces 3,882 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. You can pair it with either a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed Steptronic automatic. Hitting 60 mph is 3.9 seconds with the automatic and 4.2 seconds with the manual, with top speed at 155 mph for both variants.
The manual version receives a unique suspension tuning for the Edition Manual package, including additional springs on both axles, a reinforced front stabilizer clamp, a revised rear damper control mapping, updated software for the variable sport steering and adapted logic for the traction control and the M Sport differential. These changes are intended to give the manual car a more connected feel and sharper response without turning the Z4 into something harsher or punishing.
Visually, the BMW Individual “Frozen Black metallic” paintwork immediately catches the eye. It interacts with the light in a way that exaggerates the Z4 proportions without feeling forced. The Shadowline package refines the trim elements in high-gloss black.
It covers the mirror caps, kidney grille, lower intake, breathers and exhaust tips. The Moonlight Black top and the red calipers of the M Sport brakes complete the look. The wheels are offset with 19-inch M Dual Spoke Bicolor 800M wheels on 255 profile performance tires up front. The rear has 20-inch wheels on 285 tires.
In the interior, the seats are made of Vernasca leather and Alcantara with red contrast stitching. The same stitching can also be found on the dashboard, center console and door panels. The M Tricolor seat belts and engraved Z4 Final Edition door sills remove any doubt about what you’re driving. The floor mats have red piping. Standard equipment includes the Driving Assistance package, the Premium package and a Harman Kardon surround sound system.
Looking back, the Z4 debuted in 2002 as the successor to the Z3. It continued a line that included the 328 Roadster, the legendary 507 and the Z8. At its peak in the 2000s and early 2010s, the Z4 was able to compete with other compact sports cars such as the Mercedes SLK, Porsche Boxster and later the Cayman.
The first generation Z4 responded to criticism of the softer SLK with real torsional rigidity and balance. Compared to the Porsche Boxster and Cayman, the Z4 quickly won the loyalty of drivers who enjoyed the dynamics of a roadster without paying attention to mid-engine behavior.
The second generation continued this tradition with more powerful powertrains, a refreshed appearance and the introduction of the retractable hardtop. After a presentation of the Z4 Concept in 2017, the third generation reverted to a fabric top and debuted at Monterey Car Week in 2018.
Although it shares its platform with the Toyota GR Supra and both cars are built at the Magna Steyr factory in Austria, the two are very different sports cars on a common basis. The Supra appealed to coupe fans and tuning-oriented drivers, while the Z4 stayed true to open-air dynamics and steering feel.
Priced at $77,500 plus $1,175 destination, the Final Edition closes a glorious chapter in BMW’s history, and if you’ve long admired a stick-shift, front-engine, rear-drive sports car format, the time to buy a brand new one is short.
Images: BMW
