The BMW Z4 roadster is soon set to receive a manual transmission option in the US, but don’t hold your breath on it coming Down Under.
A BMW Australia spokesperson has confirmed the company has “no plans at this stage” to introduce a manual transmission option for the Z4 roadster.
This is despite Toyota Australia introducing a six-speed manual transmission option on the closely related GR Supra sports car earlier this year as a no-cost option.
A number of publications in the US, including Car and Driver, got the opportunity to drive a prototype version of the Z4 with the six-speed manual transmission.
It will only be offered on the flagship M40i variant which is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six engine. In Australia this engine produces 285kW of power and 500Nm of torque.
The six-speed manual transmission itself is shared with the one available in the GR Supra but it has differently tuned linkages and bushings.
In the US it will be part of a larger option package that includes an electronically controlled M differential, retuned steering, adaptive dampers, as well as 19-inch wheels on the front and 20-inch wheels on the rear.
The current-generation BMW Z4 was revealed in 2018 and launched locally during 2019.
The Australian line-up now only consists of the four-cylinder sDrive20i and the inline-six M40i variants. All are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with drive sent to the rear wheels only.
A recent update brought a new exterior styling package, new wheel design, and fresh paint colours.
Pricing currently starts $99,200 before on-roads for the Z4 sDrive20i, and extends to $139,800 before on-roads for the Z4 M40i.
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