BMW Z4 facelifted

UPDATED 29/09/2022: BMW Australia has today locked in an “early 2023” arrival for its incoming new BMW Z4 roadster line-up, which in a surprise move will not be subject to any price increases despite the updated cosmetics and equipment levels.

That means the 2023 BMW Z4 range will continue to open from $90,900 plus on-road costs for the entry-level sDrive20i and top out at $133,900 for the six-cylinder M40i flagship.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE PUBLISHED 28/09/2022: Can it only be two years since the BMW Z4 came out to widespread controversy? Yes, it can, and in keeping with a new BMW tradition, the two-seat roadster is already being facelifted.

However, the tweaks are limited to a new grille, more options and the fitment of the M Sport package as standard on both four-cylinder variants.

But all three BMW Z4 variants available in Australia, where pricing and specs are yet to be announced for the MY23 convertible, already come standard with the M Sport pack.

That means the biggest change for the 2023 BMW Z4 is a double kidney grille now featuring horizontal rather than vertical struts, in a departure from the plane-inspired details of Calvin Luk’s original design.

Hallmark features of the new-look front-end design are remodelled side air intakes in the three-section front bumper design above LED headlights.

The M40i flagship, meantime, is differentiated by trapezoidal exhaust outlets and Cerium Grey mirror caps.

In Europe, new standard equipment for entry variants includes 18-inch double-spoke bi-colour M alloy wheels with 225/45 front and 255/40 rear tyres, while a new option is 19-inch V-spoke Jet Black alloys with matt finish, diamond polished rim edges and 255/35 front and 275/35 rear tyres.

Meantime, three new paint colours will join the range – Thundernight metallic, Portimao Blue metallic and Skyscraper Grey metallic, alongside four other colours including BMW Individual Frozen Grey matt metallic.

Another new option will be dark headlight inserts dubbed M lights Shadow Line, which in Europe can be had along with optional Adaptive LED headlights.

The fabric soft-top, which continues to open or close electrically within 10 seconds at speeds up to 50km/h, remains black as standard but can be had in Anthracite Silver.

So there’s no news under the bonnet, where BMW says Australia’s top-shelf Z4 M40i will continue to deliver the higher 285kW power output it announced in late 2019 – just six months after the current model’s local release.

While emissions regulations keep European Z4’s strapped down to a maximum of 250kW, Australia is one of a handful of countries including Japan, South Korea, Canada and the US to offer the 'big' version of the Z4 M40i’s 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine.

As before and as in Europe, peak torque is 500Nm over 1600-4500rpm, while 0-100km/h acceleration happens in a claimed 4.1sec (down from 4.5sec for the 250kW version).

Remaining positioned below the M40i in the three-grade BMW Z4 line-up are two four-cylinder variants powered by the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with different states of tune – the sDrive20i (145kW/320Nm) and sDrive30i (190kW/400Nm).

The entry-level BMW Z4 20i weighs 1435kg and hits 100km/h in a claimed 6.6sec, while the 30i hits 100km/h in 5.4sec (also for the eight-speed auto) and the six-cylinder M40i hits the scales at 1565kg.

In Germany, the BMW Z4 sDrive20i comes as standard with Vernasca leather, which can be specified in Black, Ivory White, Cognac or Magma Red.

Meantime, the BMW Z4 30i and M40i have leather/Alcantara trim with blue contrast stitching and blue piping as standard, while extras from 30i level include an M leather steering wheel, M Sport seats,

M pedals, M door sill finishers, ambient lighting and, for MY23, a Sensatec-clad instrument binnacle.

The M Sport package continues to include firmer suspension (springs and dampers, the latter electronically variable in M40i models), M Sport brakes with a choice of blue or red callipers and, for the M40i, an M Sport rear differential.

Standard across all Z4s in Europe is variable sport steering, seat heating, wind deflector, extended storage, through-loading system, front/rear parking sensors, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and dual-zone climate control.

Likewise, standard range-wide safety tech extends to Front Collision Warning with brake intervention (AEB), Lane Departure Warning including lane return and Speed Limit Info, but in Europe safety options include Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go, Lane Change Warning, rear collision warning, crossing traffic warning, Parking Assistant and Reversing Assist Camera.

And while a head-up display is also optional in Europe, all Z4s come with BMW Live Cockpit Professional with twin 10.25-inch screens, BMW Maps navigation, a hard-drive-based multimedia system, the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, Wi-Fi hotspot and alarm system.

Due for release in Europe in November this year, meaning early 2023 deliveries for Australia, the MY23 BMW Z4 will likely bring price hikes.

Currently, the Z4 range is priced from $90,900 plus on-road costs (2.0i M Sport), rising to $112,900 (3.0 M Sport) and $133,900 for the M40i flagship, which now comprises 30 per cent of sales globally.

The third-generation Z4 has found more than 55,000 homes worldwide since 2019, with Germany accounting for 26 per cent of sales, followed by the US (17%), China, the UK and Japan.

“In a generally diminishing vehicle segment, the BMW Z4 has maintained extraordinarily consistent sales volumes since it went on sale,” said BMW.

“From day one, it has been by far the highest-selling model in a hotly contested class populated exclusively by German premium brands.”

The upgraded 2023 BMW Z4 will continue to be built alongside its twin under the skin, the Toyota Supra, by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria. Stand by for Australian pricing and equipment details.

Join the conversation at 

our Facebook page

Or email us at 

editor@carsales.com.au