We bring you the first live photos of the BMW Concept Z4 unveiled today at Pebble Beach. BMW Group head of design, Adrian Van Hooydonk presented the car which previews the production roadster out in 2018. The production Z4 is a joint project between BMW and Toyota. The platform will also underpin a Toyota sports car that’s expected to be the long-awaited successor to the Supra.
“The BMW Concept Z4 expresses the new BMW design language from all perspectives and in all details. From the dynamic looking front to the striking flanks to the clean-cut tail end: a few lines and the subtle interplay between surfaces are enough to generate a sense of power and emotion,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design.
The Concept Z4 features squinting headlights that sweep upward toward wedge-shaped lines on the side. BMW’s signature kidney grills and the shark nose front end have both been updated for Concept Z4. The side view reveals the front and rear overhangs are short, and the cabin moves slightly forward. The air intakes are low and wide, giving a focused look. Carbon-fiber elements grace the front and the rear diffuser while the car is painted in a BMW Frozen color, Energetic Orange, a theme that is repeated inside the car.
The 20-inch wheels on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber are perfect for the sporty character of the car.
Inside, the classic sports car with a modern twist theme carries on. The three-spoke steering wheel is simple and elegant, yet futuristic and modern. Aside from those massive red paddle shifters add some flamboyance but this is a simple cockpit, overall. Instrumentation is displayed via a TFT screen, with a clockwise speedometer on the left and a counterclockwise tachometer on the right. While this is a very concept-y cabin, it does have a lot of modern BMW elements that could make it to production.
BMW didn’t really delve into powertrains for the concept. It’s believed that when the Z4 comes to production, it will carry both four- and six-cylinder engines, like most of the rest of BMW’s lineup. The Z4’s underpinnings, which were developed in a joint venture with Toyota, will also live on as the next-generation Toyota Supra.
[Photo: John Hietter]
Those headlights don’t look like a BMW.
I’ve been making those comments around forums. Half corona lights with and small angel eyes stacked on top.
Looks like they let Toyota do the styling, my i3 in a way reminds me of the 2002 Touring. The new Z4 looks Asian.
But still looks beautiful.
I’m not so sure, it doesn’t look like a BMW, but I’ll wait until the production version debuts. Never judge a car by its concept.
Even as a concept it looks beautiful, this is BMW’s new design language. I for one do appreciate it. If you have a look at X2 concept you’ll see that’s where it started then 8 series and now Z4. They all look stunning.
Neither did the original Z4, I didn’t even realize they were round under their cover till I saw them on @ night – evolve or die!
Nissan 350Z?!
80% they said. I sure hope the remaining 20% of design changes will include a new headlights with proper angel eyes.
Aside from the headlights. I really really like this roadster. Inside and Out.
it looks like, they did some expense optimization…so they used headlights from 8concept… but that small inner light, put on top of the bigger one :) … parts will be the same.. but it looks totally different :D
z4:
https://www.bmwblog.com/2017/08/17/first-live-photos-bmw-concept-z4-pebble-beach/#jp-carousel-249429
8:
https://www.bmwblog.com/2017/08/17/bmw-concept-8-series-introduced-pebble-beach/#jp-carousel-249563
A bit korean-ish design…
But a very resolved and progressive design overall.
Nice to see things finally moving in BMW drawing boards.
Must have missed those Korean roadsters…
the new BMWs look more Japanese than the actual original Japanese cars, instead of giving us new looks nobody has asked for , work on the quality of your products that the rubbers wont deteriorate after a year, the transmissions won’t fail and go in safe mode just after warranty, the cooling system won’t become brittle and leave the drivers stranded, and burn the all aluminum inferior engines warped, fix the damn injectors that they wont fail prematurely, sometimes I think you just started a car company and don’t know how to build a car, let alone the design and look of you cars. look so stupid inside and out.
Newsflash! Other manufacturers available, stop punishing yourself. And us.