BMW Z4 M40i | Time to Say Goodbye to the Iconic Roadster?

John Marcar has spent a week at the wheel of BMW's Z4 M40i and is pleasantly reminded that analogue cars in 2026 are still an option... but for how much longer, is another question entirely.

I'm testing a lot of new cars at the moment, many of which boast interesting features like autonomous cruise control, one-pedal driving, and hybrid systems that allow up to 1,000km of driving without refuelling or recharging. The vast majority of new cars tick lots of boxes for people wanting efficiency, practicality, and convenience, but for anyone hoping to fulfil the criteria of excitement, emotion, and passion, those boxes are often left unchecked.

Sure, there are still plenty of cars on the market that offer excitement, passion, and soul, but most are now limited to the fortunate few willing to spend £100k+ on a new car.

Sad but True: The Convertible RWD Sports Car is Dying

If popular culture has taught us anything about cars in the past 100 years, it's that a blast through the countryside with a roof folded flat is an exceptionally good way to enjoy a Sunday. In films, television, and even music videos, small, convertible sports cars have symbolised freedom, excess, and fun.

In the early months of 2026, though, it's becoming more apparent that the RWD two-seat roadster is becoming an increasingly rare thing. The Mazda MX-5 is still an option for those who want a peppy 2.0L lightweight sports car, and at the other end of the scale, the Porsche Boxster is an option for anyone wanting a mid-engined variant with a handful of howling flat-six engines to choose from. Then there's the other obvious option, the BMW.

BMW’s Z stands for Zukunft

Out of the three cars, the Mazda is now the only model with an obvious future ahead of it. Mazda is discussing a new MX-5, which will likely debut in 2027-2028. Porsche has remained committed to the Boxster model; however, there is currently a lot of debate and confusion about what might power future models, and for many Boxster fans, the idea of the small convertible Porsche being powered by anything other than petrol is enough to put them off. And then we come to the BMW Z4. In case you weren't aware, the 'Z' stands for 'Zukunft', which is the German word for 'future'. Currently, though, for Z4 fans, 'Die Zukunft sieht nicht gut aus.' - Which, when translated to English, means: 'The future does not look so good'.

The final Z4...

Just one month from the time of writing, the last BMW Z4 will roll along the production line in Austria for the final time before the model is removed from production schedules entirely. As to the question of what will follow, currently, according to BMW, the answer is nothing.

If market analysis tells us one thing, it's that SUVs are now the top choice for buyers in Europe. The demand for small, rear-wheel-drive roadsters is dwindling, and as a result, manufacturers like BMW are pulling out of the segment altogether.

One last hurrah

With the knowledge that the model will soon be canned, I wanted to jump into a Z4 and experience a raw and engaging BMW while there was still an opportunity. The BMW press office kindly arranged delivery of its last model on the fleet, a San Francisco Red Z4 M40i with the most exciting optional extra ticked - 'The Handschalter Pack' which directly translates to 'hand switch' - and crucially indicates a six-speed manual gearbox.

When the BMW Z4 was launched in 2002, it followed an eight-year run of the hugely popular Z3. Back in '02, chances are, if anyone were to question the availability, option or even the idea of buying a small rear-wheel-drive convertible sports car without a manual gearbox, they'd have either been laughed out of the showroom or been considered some sort of maniac; however, in the 24 years that have followed, consumer demand for manual gearboxes has dropped so significantly that many manufacturers no longer offer cars with three pedals at all.

There are still manual gearboxes available on BMW models; however, the six-speed's days are now numbered, and if you do want one, you'll have to pay for it... The Handschalter Pack is a £5,325.00 optional extra on the Z4. Considering the retail price on the model before options is £56,180.00, the idea of spending almost 10% on top of that for not having an automatic gearbox might be a hard pill to swallow for some buyers.

Is the Manual Worth the money?

In a word, yes. That said, I'm not going to pretend that £5,325 is an insignificant amount of money. Still, the joy of clambering into a new sports car in 2026 and wiggling the gear selector to confirm neutral is an unusually refreshing feeling.

BMW's manual box is crisp and precise; the selector throw feels intuitive and rewarding. The clutch also feels light and precise. The pedal positioning allows heel-and-toe downshifts, or, for drivers who prefer the car to do the rev-matching for them, there is a setting that perfectly blips the throttle just enough to welcome the lower gear ahead of a corner, which often grants a smile-inducing pop and rumble from the exhaust.

Roof down + radio off = big smiles

As standard, the Z4 comes with a pretty decent sound system, however with the roof down, the best soundtrack comes from the car itself. With the roof folded flat, the manual gearbox offers a whole new driving experience. The exhaust pipes are just a metre or two away from the back of your head when driving, and the B58 twinscroll turbocharged engine rewards both roars and rumbles from the twin pipes at the rear, as well as forced induction whooshes from under the bonnet. I discovered a similar joy in the BMW M4 Competition Convertible, which I took on a 2000-mile road trip back in September last year. In the Z4, much of the joy I experienced in the M4 can be had for almost half the price.

Handling and road presence

BMW's Z range has always been loved for its size and versatility, both on the road and on track. By modern-day standards, the Z4 is a small car. In the significantly larger M4 I tested last year, I often approached corners and country lanes with caution due to its width; in the Z4, the narrower body allows a more carefree approach.

The Z4's chassis feels tight and stiff, which is impressive given its lack of roof. I opted to have the adaptive suspension in its softest 'comfort' setting on the road, which provides the most versatile ride. In Sport+, the suspension would feel great on a silky-smooth piece of road or track, but on UK roads it was a little too unforgiving. Fortunately, as is the norm for BMW's M performance range, individual customisation of the driving settings allows for quick, easy adaptations to suit each driver.

Z4 M40i Engine: B58

The big perk to the M40i model is the engine. The 3.0L twinscroll turbocharged 'B58' engine is universally loved by BMW enthusiasts and for good reason. The powerplant can be found in a variety of models, from small cars like the Z4 to larger SUVs in the BMW range. In the Z4, the powerplant feels sublime. For the Z4 M40i, the B58 engine is tuned to 335 HP, which is more than enough to deliver a punchy 500 Nm of torque to the rear wheels, launching from a standing start to 62mph in 4.2 seconds. Because power is sent exclusively to the rear wheels, the Z4 feels about as engaging as most people would want. For braver drivers wanting even more engagement, there is a switchable traction control system, which allows a bit of rear-wheel slip while providing enough of a safety net to make you feel like a hero in the right (and legal) environment.

Daily Duties

A feature that's made the Z4 so popular since 2002 is its compliance and ease of use as a daily driver beyond being an engaging sports car. There are three driving modes in the Z4 M40i: the two extremes are 'Eco Pro' for a sedate drive and lower fuel consumption, and Sport, which, by default, sets all settings (steering feel, pedal response, and suspension) to the most hardcore setting. A happy medium between the two is 'Comfort', which offers a nice balance. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are some audible drawbacks to the Z4 in the form of wind noise and tyre rumble; however, both are to be expected in such a small car with large 275/40 width rubber wrapped around the 19-inch rear wheels. Even at 6'1 /186cm, the Z4 feels like a spacious and comfortable car to drive on long distances.

Concluding a week with the final Z4

My 7 days with the BMW Z4 M40i were joyous, despite 6 of those days being spent under torrential rain - perhaps it serves me right for booking a convertible sports car in February! On my last day with the Z4, I opted to drive the car back to BMW UK HQ from my home in Warwickshire to Surrey via the Cotswolds (around 100 miles), a journey which ended up feeling bittersweet. It was on that drive that I reflected most on what made the Z4 so good for so many years, and also on how sad it is that, in less than a year, there may be no small convertible BMW badged option in the showrooms.

There is still time to buy a Z4 from a BMW showroom, so if you've been sitting on the fence trying to justify it to yourself for the past few months, think of this as your call to action. New models will likely remain available in the first half of 2026, but with the final car built in March and right-hand-drive models already out of production since December '25, availability will soon dwindle.

As a proud former owner of two BMW Z models, I sincerely hope the Z range continues. When I approached BMW UK with the fearful question regarding the model's future, the response was that there is no current announcement of replacement models, and that the brand is incredibly proud of what the Z4 has achieved for BMW over the past 24 years.

words by John Marcar
photography by Henry Faulkner-Smith