- The 2024 BMW Z4 will (finally) come with an option for a manual transmission.
- The six-speed transmission is part of a larger performance package, and will only be available on the six-cylinder M40i models.
- It’s the same transmission found in the Toyota GR Supra, but each has uniquely tuned linkages and bushings.
After a long period of time without it, the 2024 BMW Z4 is bringing back the manual transmission. The addition comes a year after Toyota conceded to public pushback and gave the closely related GR Supra a six-speed manual option for the 2023 model year.
Speaking of the Supra, the transmission itself is shared between both cars, but, according to BMW, each has differently tuned linkages and bushings. Another thing the Z4 shares with the Supra? The manual will only be available on the 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine variant, which BMW calls the M40i. No dice for those of you who wanted to pair the base turbo-four with three pedals.
The transmission will be part of a larger option package. While choosing a three-pedal setup is sometimes a no-cost option, it’ll likely cost in the ballpark of $3500 in the Z4. That’s because BMW made the assumption that if you want a manual, you must also want a sportier Z4.
The package includes the electronically controlled M differential that comes on all M40i Z4s. The steering is also retuned to give more feedback to the driver, while the adaptive dampers are better sorted for more aggressive driving. The manual version also gains a staggered wheel setup, with 19-inch wheels at the front and 20-inch wheels for the rear. We’ve just driven a prototype of a Z4 so equipped, so check out our review for driving impressions.
According to BMW, the manual Z4 isn’t going to be a limited-run offering. The manufacturer is planning to build as many as people are willing to buy. BMW says the first manual versions of the Z4 are expected to enter production in the first quarter of 2024.
Associate News Editor
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.