Here’s one for the purists - the BMW Z4 roadster is now available with a manual gearbox.
For a few years now, since around 2016, the BMW Z4 has been equipped exclusively with an eight-speed automatic gearbox with no option of a stick.
But all that is about to change.
Customers who lease the top-of-the-range Z4 M40i will be able to add an optional ‘Handschalter Pack’.
And that not only hones the chassis and gives the soft-top mixed-size wheels - 20-inch at the rear, 19-inch at the back, for better handling - but also unlocks a six-speed manual gearbox.
That addition is something Z4 fans have been crying out for, and BMW reckons it’ll offer ‘pure driving pleasure’.
Power from the 3.0-litre engine in the Z4 M40i remains the same at 340 hp.
The manual Z4 M40i takes marginally longer to reach 62mph from a standstill than the automatic Z4 M40i, at 4.6 seconds compared with 4.5 seconds, but you get the fun of rowing through the gears yourself rather than letting the car’s brains do the thinking for you.
A BMW spokesperson says the system ‘delivers the unrivalled shift feel for which BMW models are renowned’, and adds: “The direct flow of power between engine and transmission combined with the driver’s central involvement in gear changes reinforces the emotional bond between driver and vehicle. A precisely defined shift action enables the gears to be changed swiftly and intuitively.”
The Pack also brings exterior style flourishes, including that ‘Frozen Deep Green’ metallic paint you can see here.
Meanwhile all versions of the BMW Z4 M40i, Pack or no Pack, feature variable sport steering, M Sport brakes and an M Sport differential at the rear axle, along with adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled dampers.
The BMW Z4 M40i Handschalter is priced from £60,675.
And you can lease the BMW Z4 with Select Car Leasing from £542 per month*.
*Prices include VAT. Credit is Subject to Status, Ts and Cs and Arrangement Fees apply. Excess mileage may apply. Stock levels and prices correct as of 31/01/24.
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