2026 BMW Z4 Is Almost Gone: Why the Final Roadster Still Matters

The clock is quietly running out on the BMW Z4. Not with a dramatic announcement, not with fireworks, but with a production timeline that’s nearly exhausted. The G29-generation Z4, now entering its 2026 model year, is approaching the end of the line, and with it goes something BMW doesn’t really replace elsewhere in its lineup. A two-seat roadster. Rear-wheel drive. No apologies.

With the German-based carmaker selling more than 2,000 Z4s in the US alone last year, the model is set to become a quick seller, especially with the production set to wind down in roughly a month.

Exterior

There aren’t major visual overhauls for 2026, and that seems intentional. The Z4’s proportions remain intact, and the front end avoids any extreme interpretation of BMW’s kidney grille. In Final Edition form, the car can be specified with matte black paint, while the rest of the standard Z4 color palette remains available as well. It’s understated, but purposeful.

Interior

Inside, the Final Edition brings red interior accents and an Alcantara steering wheel. The cabin reinforces what the Z4 is meant to be: focused and uncomplicated. There’s also a reminder of the car’s identity baked right in—this is a roadster. There’s no fixed roof, no attempt to soften that reality.

Complete Powertrain Information

The heart of the conversation is the B58 turbocharged six-cylinder engine, producing nearly 400 horsepower. In Z4 M40i form, it can be paired either with an eight-speed ZF automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. That manual, however, isn’t standard.

The BMW Z4 is available through the Edition Handschalter Package, which adds $3,500 to the whole price. The pack is available on the M40i variant and features noticeable aesthetic features. More than that, this is the only way to buy a Z4 with a B58 engine and a manual gearbox. Sadly, once production ends, that combination disappears.

The automatic transmission still has its appeal. It enables a 0–60 mph sprint in under four seconds and delivers fast upshifts and eager downshifts. But the manual exists for a different reason.

Pricing

The only explicitly stated pricing detail is the Edition Handschalter Package at $3,500. No base prices are referenced.

Conclusion

The Z4 occupies a strange but meaningful place in BMW’s lineup. It’s the brand’s only roadster, its only two-seater, and effectively its only dedicated sports car. It manages to balance seriousness with a sense of levity—after all, it doesn’t even have a roof—while still delivering what BMW claims to stand for: driving enthusiasm.

Rear-wheel drive. Top down. A turbo-six breathing just under 400 horsepower. Optional manual. There isn’t much else like it, wearing a BMW badge in 2026. And there won’t be, once this one is gone.