BMW is considering making six-speed manual transmission available in the top spec of its Z4 roadster, which is currently restricted to eight-speed auto.
The corresponding statement originates from BMW Blog quoting a representative of the company, who never stated directly that such a car was guaranteed to come out. Other sources indicated that a stick-shift version of the Z4 may appear simultaneously with the next-year facelift of the model.
As of today, only the entry-level spec called sDrive20i can be ordered with a manual gearbox. It comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine rated at just 197 PS (194 hp / 144 kW). This version is available in Germany and a few other markets, but not in most of the world including the USA. The Z4 sDrive30i with its potent turbo-four mill churning out 258 PS (254 hp / 190 kW) and the range-topping Z4 M50i with an inline-six turbo making 340 PS (335 hp / 250 kW) are automatic with no further options.
Last spring, a six-speed manual gearbox made it under the hood of the latest Toyota GR Supra, which is based on the same platform as the Z4 and the same inline-six engine. Its iMT transmission received a switchable option for automatic crankshaft rev adjustment along with a new housing, optimized gears and a reinforced clutch. In contrast to the automatic version of the A90 Supra, which has a 3.15:1 gear ratio, the manual one has a ratio of 3.46:1.