BMW Z4 Final Edition: The Last Manual BMW Roadster Gets a Frozen Black Sendoff

The curtain closes on BMW’s beloved two-seater with a hand-crafted, limited-run M40i—special paint, stunning red accents, and a manual for the faithful.

The Roadster That Shaped a Generation

When the BMW Z4 first rolled onto the scene in 2002, it did so with its chin out and its rear-drive heart pounding: a long-hood, short-tail formula that pulled directly from the golden age of sports cars. Enthusiasts swooned over the car’s engaging 3.0-liter inline-six, 50/50 weight balance, and the kind of communicative chassis BMW was famed for. The Z4 filled the space left by the Z3 and kept BMW’s roadster tradition alive—alternately admired for its poise, panned by purists for its slightly softer edge, but always recognized as the affordable dream in the BMW catalogue.

BMW Z4 Final Edition (2)

Handcrafted Heritage: A Final Edition Sendoff

To honor two decades of top-down driving joy, BMW Individual crafts the Z4 Final Edition—produced in a handful of units between February and April 2026. It’s a rare moment when the factory steps beyond M and Individual options and builds a sports car squarely for the collectors. Here, BMW’s bespoke engineers lavished Frozen Black metallic paint, commemorative sill plates, and a delicately recalibrated chassis, all delivered with that signature, factory-correct authenticity.

Backstory: Designed for the Diehards

BMW’s decision was rooted in both nostalgia and a desire to give loyalists one last hurrah before electrification and emissions targets fundamentally change the game. Nobody needed to special-order this Z4—BMW set the spec, loaded it to the roofline, and left only the transmission as your final “have it your way” moment. True fans, of course, will flock to the new Handschalter manual (and with it, unique suspension geometry, steering maps, and a re-tuned diff), though the 8-speed Steptronic automatic is available for those who prioritize speed over clutch kicks.

Sinister Style: The Art of Frozen Black

Don’t look for chrome. The Z4 Final Edition channels an almost menacing air with BMW Individual’s deep Frozen Black metallic—a color that sucks in light in a way few paints dare. The Shadowline Package dials up gloss-black trim for the mirror caps, kidney grille, lower intakes, and even the exhaust finishers. Twenty-inch dual-spoke 800M wheels out back and 19s up front underline the roadster’s staggered, crouched stance. And, in a flash of flavor, red calipers peer out from behind those wheels, matched only by the Moonlight Black soft top.

Inside Story: Red Threads and Alcantara Lux

Step inside for a Kabuki flourish of contrasts: Vernasca leather and Alcantara seats, each traced with a thick, red stitch that runs boldly across the dash, doors, and console. The “Z4 Final Edition” script on the door sills and piped floor mats provide theatrical cues; meanwhile, M-striped seatbelts and a hint of ambient lighting set an evening mood. It’s unmistakably modern: head-up display, Harman Kardon surround, and full driver assistance keep it future-facing, but the real win is how tactile, inviting, and special the space feels.

Public Reveal: Farewell on Center Stage

The Final Edition was unveiled at a contemporary design event in Munich, surrounded by every generation of BMW roadster. Amid waves of nostalgia and the soft glow of polished metal, the outgoing Z4—now at its most elegant—drew crowds as much for its exclusivity as for what it represents: the last of BMW’s truly analog, two-seat open cars.

The BMW Z4 Legacy: Classic, Modern, and Unfiltered

The Z4 Final Edition is more than a highly specified send-off; it’s a love letter to the lost art of the simple roadster. Across three generations, the Z4 kept the flame alive—never the sharpest knife in the brand’s drawer, but often the one enthusiasts actually wanted to use.

If you value wind in your hair and the thrill of orchestrating six turbocharged pistons through a manual gate, this Z4 is your grand finale. BMW might still build great sports cars, but for open-air, undiluted spirit, the Z4’s swan song reminds us that joy needs only two seats and a strip of winding road.

2026 BMW Z4 Final Edition Specifications

Parameter	Specification
Engine	3.0L turbocharged I6, 382 hp, 369 lb-ft
Transmission	6-speed manual or 8-speed Steptronic
0-60 mph (auto/manual)	3.9 sec / 4.2 sec
Top speed	155 mph
Curb weight (auto/manual)	3,543 lbs / 3,514 lbs
Wheels/Tires (F/R)	19in / 255/35R19
Exterior	BMW Individual Frozen Black, Shadowline, Moonlight Black soft top
Interior	Vernasca Leather/Alcantara, Red Stitch, M seatbelts
MSRP	$77,500 (+$1,175 dest.)
Production window	Feb–Apr 2026