2019 BMW Z4: preview images released ahead of today's unveiling

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After a selection of leaked shots of the new BMW Z4 were leaked online via Instagram recently, official sketches have been posted ahead of the car's Pebble Beach reveal later today.

The new sketches show the car's design in full, albeit exaggerated, and confirm the authenticity of leaked shots from earlier in the month. BMW has also confirmed the existence of a special First Edition car, which is is expected to arrive ahead of the regular production Z4 in March 2019.

Those leaked shots, from an unknown source, quickly spread all over the web after their publishing, showing the Audi TT rival's exterior and interior design. They show that the production roadster takes close inspiration from the original concept, with an exterior featuring a raft of technology inspired by BMW's latest models.

The car in the leaked images is badged M40i, which is expected to be the range-topping Z4 model. A shot of the engine bay confirms it will use a turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder unit shared with the M240i, expected to produce about 350bhp. 

BMW Z4 prototype: first drive of new roadster

In June, a series of patent images revealed the car's styling, showing the car's swept-back headlights, flat rear lights and wide kidney grilles, akin to the 2017 Z4 concept. However, these new pictures seem to be the first sighting of the final production model.

BMW has previously confirmed the Z4 will be revealed at Pebble Beach in August before its specifications are announced at the Paris motor show in September..

The Z4 model has been caught on camera testing for more than a year. BMW announced the future Z4's arrival back in 2015 and revealed the concept version to preview its design last year.

 

Powering the new Z4 will be a choice of BMW's latest turbocharged petrol engines. Alongside the turbocharged 3.0-litre engine of the M40i, pictured in the leaked images, there will also be a Z4 30i which will use a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder that produces about 248bhp.

Both engines will come with standard rear-wheel drive and a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox.

A full-fat M version of the Z4 is not on the cards.

The Z4 shares parts with the upcoming Toyota Supra, following Toyota and BMW's decision to co-develop a new sports car platform.

Toyota Supra: latest pictures, performance figures and predictions

While the Z4 will be a convertible, Toyota's new car will be a spiritual successor to the original Supra and as such will wear a hard top, as shown by spotted development cars.

Inspiration for the new Supra's design has been taken from the striking FT-1 concept, first seen at the Detroit motor show in 2014.