A Future BMW Z4 Replacement Could Make Purists Very Unhappy

It's not like BMW is hurting for performance vehicles, but amid a world of ultra-fast, ultra-heavy hybrid M cars, the 3,600-pound Z4 carried the company's sports car mantle with a folding soft top overhead, an inline-six at the front, and big smiles behind the steering wheel.

Now, we have the new BMW i3. The electric sedan debuts the production look of BMW's Neue Klasse vehicles as it pertains to its enduring 3 Series lineup, which should include the next gas-powered 3 Series later this year. It's a cleaner look overall, but questions are already being asked about Neue Klasse designs and electric powertrains as they pertain to future BMWs. You probably see where this is going.

What's In Store For The Next Z4?

Despite the exquisite but thus-far fictional rendering above, BMW hasn't made any official announcements regarding a Z4 successor. However, at the i3 debut, BMW Brand Senior Vice President Bernd Koerber left the door entirely open for future sports cars. In fact, he suggested such a vehicle was likely. But if it does materialize, it may not have an inline-six engine – or any engine for that matter.

“I would say [an EV sports car] is not unlikely, but there's nothing imminent."
-Bernd Koerber

Yes, it's a round-about way of answering a question, but it confirms two things. BMW is certainly thinking about another sports car after the Z4, and despite negative EV trends, the automaker might not move away from the segment as so many other brands have. Of course, given the widespread volatility in the automotive market these days, it's borderline dangerous for any automaker to commit one way or another to electric or combustion power.

That said, we also know BMW isn't stepping away from its gas engines. The company has said that, moving forward, its future Neue Klasse vehicles will co-exist as both electric and combustion vehicles. The new i3 debut is a prime example of that, launching the next-generation 3 Series design first as an EV with combustion models to follow. And when it comes to high-performance versions, that means more inline-six engines, too.

Could that mean a future Z4 successor might be an electric vehicle and a combustion model with an I6? Given the Z4's niche as a sports car, offering two distinct versions for a future offering may not be sustainable. But BMW at least has the ingredients to go either way.

Not The First Electrified BMW Sports Car 

If BMW does charge-up a future Z4 successor, it won't necessarily be new ground for the company. The i8 was a sharp two-seater in both coupe and convertible form during its six-year production run, though it wasn't a full-on EV. It utilized a plug-in hybrid powertrain consisting of an electric motor and a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine. When it finally left the scene, it generated a combined 269 horsepower and could reach 60 mph in approximately 4.5 seconds.

Those numbers were very close to the Z4, and despite its electrified powertrain, the i8 also had a similar weight of around 3,600 pounds. However, BMW is also home to the 2.5-ton M5, so staying on the lighter side of the equation isn't something the company is particularly good at these days.

Could a fully electric or a PHEV Z4 replacement win the hearts of enthusiasts? That's a question that likely won't be answered for at least a few years, and by then, the automotive landscape could look very different compared to today. In any case, BMW is keeping its options open.