Leaked: New BMW Z4 to keep concept car styling

Pictures of the 2019 BMW Z4 have appeared online over the weekend and, in the latest leak to hit the German car-maker, the all-new roadster has emerged completely undisguised.

The three images, discovered by a forum user on SupraMVK.com, reveal that BMW's next Porsche Boxster rival will stay remarkably true to the stunning concept revealed at the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, despite an earlier leak suggesting the Z4 would feature toned-down styling.

It's now thought the previous patent renderings depicted a base model and not of the flagship M40i pictured in the recent leak.

That explains why the latest pics show a car featuring the concept's wide kidney grilles and a front bumper that trades a simple and elegant shape for something with far more visual aggression.

Look closer at the front bumper and it's possible to see the Z4's front-end incorporates plenty of air bending aids in the form of air blades tasked with channelling cool air to both the radiator and front brakes.

At the rear of the car, once again the leaked images appear to show how faithful the production Z4 will remain to the concept, with the new BMW roadster sporting both a boot lid incorporating a duckbill spoiler and a pair of fractionally smaller (functioning) extractor vents in the rear bumper.

Beneath the bumper there's the show car's trapezoidal rear exhaust outlets and hints of a subtle rear diffuser.

From the side, the modestly sized gloss-black alloy rims are almost identical to the concept's, while the complex body surfacing and front fender extractors mimic the original.

Only the clunky door-handles and gawky rollover hoops detract from a striking piece of design.

The latest images also confirm the Z4 will come with a fabric roof, and the canvas material is clearly seen folded behind the hoops.

Developed alongside the eagerly anticipated replacement for the Toyota Supra, the next BMW Z4 is based on the same rear-wheel drive architecture and will be powered by identical engines.

According to most recent reports the M40i will come with a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline six-cylinder with around 283kW.

For now, it will be the most powerful Z4 following comments from BMW's M boss, Fank van Meel, who explicitly ruled out a Z4 M.

To help compensate for the lack of a Z4 M, the M40i will come with a different front axle, bigger brakes, a limited-slip differential and plenty of weight-saving parts like lighter wheels to boost performance.

The M40i will also come with a high-performance brake system, although it's not known if this option will be offered as standard.

The new BMW Z4 is expected to make its official debut at the end of the month at this year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, before heading off to France for its official launch the Paris motor show at the beginning of October.