BMW Z4 Replacement Spied, Likely Based On Platform Shared With Toyota

These are the first spy photos of the BMW Z4 successor during some winter testing.

BMW is currently testing the replacement of the Z4 roadster which is believed to be based upon a new platform, co-developed with Toyota. The new platform is not only going to be used from the Japanese company in the next generation of the GT86, but also for the new Supra.

The two companies have been working together on this new architecture, but the final cars are expected to be totally different from each other.

As you can see from our spy photos, the Z4 replacement -rumored to debut under the name Z5- is ditching the folding metal roof of the current model for a classic soft-top. We can’t really say much about how the new model will look like as the heavy camo on the mule doesn’t reveal much. With that said, we are not going to be surprised if the new model looks less busy than the current one.

The proportions seem right though; a long bonnet followed by the cabin close to the rear axle is the classic BMW recipe for two-seater roadsters. The new model is expected to use the company’s four- and six-cylinder turbo engines.

If not this year, the new Z roadster should be introduced sometime in the first half of 2017.