The Z4 has been BMW's go-to roadster, through-and-through. It's got the looks to have smartphones coming out of pocket, and for the 2023 model year, the car gets sharper and comes with a raft of new updates and added features as well.
The open-top two-seater gets a lot of equipment as standard, plus has more options to choose from. The new features make the new Z4 a sweeter deal. The roadster experience lives on through powerful engines, rear-wheel drive, agility, and of course, the ability to charge into and out of corners with poise.
The fabric soft-top roof adds to the premium look of this BMW, and as for the exterior - it gets all the sporty elements of the M Sport package, which is now standard for all the 4-cylinder models.
With standard specifications available across all models, BMW did not feel the need to continue with the Advantage, Sport Line and M Sport grades. However, the Z4 comes in three new colors, M light-alloy 19-inch wheels and M Shadow Line lights.
The point of this feature is to tell you what's so different between these desirable sports cars from BMW, while we spot the differences between the pre-facelift model and this one.
Exterior Designs: Old vs New BMW Z4
Don't get us wrong; both sports cars look athletic and aggressive, but the latest Z4 has changes that we decided to put under the microscope. The biggest changes that stare you in the face, lie up front. The sharp-looking headlights haven't been touched; they're better off looking the same.
The kidney grille has grown in size - not overly large, but definitely bigger, while the pre-facelift model had slimmer nostrils. The hexagonal pattern is new. The fog lights have been tweaked to look a little different, but they remain in the same place.
There are newly designed bezels bordering the extra lights, and the major highlight here, is the M Shadow Line lights for the 2023 model year - this, of course, can be had as an option for the adaptive LED headlights, which are also optional. The new face definitely appeals more.
The side profile hasn't been touched, not even a bit. The 2023 model year Z4 looks just like the pre-facelift in this case, and we're not sure if we're happy or sad about it. However, there are new colors to spruce up the familiar looks, like Thundernight metallic (the one in the images), Skyscraper Gray metallic, and Potimao Blue metallic. Apart from the attractive shades, you'll find new optional 19-inch M wheels.
Again, at the back, the changes are subtle; so subtle in fact, it could easily pass off as being unchanged. But if you look closer, you'll see that the lower half of the bumper, specifically where the tailpipes are located, now sports a gloss black finish. The pre-facelift model had it painted in body color. Also, the exhaust tips and tail lights remain the same.
We like that it's gotten sportier up-front, and we think it was much needed because, with the older one, there was something not right with the nose.
Interior Designs: Old vs New BMW Z4
Inside the Z4, again, the changes are subtle. Apart from new materials and color options to choose from, everything stays untouched - and this includes the entire design, from the dashboard to the seats, and everything else.
The standard M Sport package for the Z4 sDrive30i features sports seats, M pedals and footrest, an M leather steering wheel, and a dashboard upholstered in SensaTec leather.
Powertrains & Performance: Old vs New BMW Z4
The 2023 Z4 continues to have an appetite for revs, smoothness, and prompt power delivery. All three petrol engines are available, and the four-cylinder unit in the Z4 sDrive20i comes standard with a 6-speed manual transmission. The entry-level model can be had with an optional 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission that is standard for all the other engines in the model line-up. You get shift paddles and launch control as well.
The 3.0-liter, 340hp engine that produces 369 lb-ft of torque is the unit you'll find in the Z4 M40i. The pair of 4-cylinder engines are 2-liter units. The Z4 sDrive30i makes 258hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, while the Z4 sDrive20i produces 197hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. Variable sport steering comes standard on all variants.
The M Sport suspension comes standard on the Z4 sDrive30i; it improves driving dynamics, thanks to its firm damper and spring tuning. The Z4 M40i gets adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled dampers, plus M Sport brakes that can either be had with red or blue calipers. The top-of-the-line model also comes with an M Sport differential at the rear axle - and this can be had as an option for the Z4 sDrive30i.
Source: BMW