2024 BMW Z4 M40i to add manual transmission in the US, no plans for Australia

The BMW Z4 M40i – the performance version of the German car maker’s convertible sports car – will now be offered with a manual transmission in the US, though the gearbox remains unavailable in Australia for now.

Last year, respected BMW insider and BimmerPost forum user 'ynguldyn' claimed the Z4 M40i would be offered with a six-speed manual transmission from 2024 – to be sold alongside the existing eight-speed automatic version.

European spy photographers have also reported seeing a test example of the car only a handful of months ago, which followed the manual Z4 M40i being spotted on BMW's Dutch website in September 2022.

Now, BMW’s US division has invited journalists from North American publications – such as Car and Driver – to drive a prototype of the manual Z4 M40i before the sports car is expected to enter production next year.

According to Car and Driver, manual versions of the M40i use the same six-speed transmission found in the Toyota GR Supra – which is a BMW Z4 under the skin – though the German convertible benefits from new gear linkages and bushings, said to improve its shift feel.

Compared to the automatic Z4 M40i, the publication also claims there have been changes to the model’s steering rack and suspension, as well as larger rear wheels – measuring 20 inches in diameter, compared to the 19-inch front alloys.

There are no changes to the BMW Z4 M40i’s turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, which produces 285kW/500Nm in Australia.

While BMW is yet to officially confirm a production run for the manual Z4 M40i, the car-maker's Australian division says it has "no plans at this stage" for the the three-pedal convertible will be sold in Australia – likely due to previous sales of the model which weren’t equipped with a manual transmission.

When the current-generation BMW Z4 was launched in Australia in early 2019, the entry-level four-cylinder ‘sDrive20i’ was sold with the choice of a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission.

However, after two years on sale, BMW Australia removed the manual option in July 2021, reporting just two examples out of the 371 Z4s sold in the period had been equipped with the six-speed.

It is also not yet known whether the manual BMW Z4 M40i will be built for right-hand-drive markets, as the only pre-production examples which have been spotted and driven were left-hand-drive.