The minds behind the current BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra have long resisted a core element of such traditional sports cars’ appeal. The two cars, developed in partnership between their automakers, launched with no available manual transmission. Toyota made a stick shift available with the six-cylinder engine for 2023, and BMW is finally getting on board by announcing the 2025 Z4 M40i six-speed manual.
Related: Which New Cars Have Manual Transmissions?
Pay the Price, Get Results
Whereas do-it-yourself gearboxes are usually cheaper (or at least a no-cost option), BMW will charge $3,500 to fit a stick into the 2025 Z4 M40i. But the transmission is packaged with a few other upgrades that sharpen the car for a demographic that will likely appreciate a more focused machine. Unique springs and reinforced anti-roll bar mounts are fitted, and the traction control and differential have been retuned. Z4s with the manual transmission also ride on unique staggered wheels, with 19-inch wheels up front and 20s on the rear.
The upcharge for what BMW refers to as the “Handschalter” (German for “hand shift”) also nets buyers some valuable cosmetic upgrades at no additional cost. Metallic paint, the Extended Shadowline Package (black exterior trim) and Vernasca leather upholstery are all included with the stick. Based on current model-year 2024 pricing, that’s at least $3,100 in extras. And those who opt for Frozen Deep Green Metallic will only have to pay $2,950 for the exclusive color.
6 x 6 = Woo!
Like Toyota did with the Supra, BMW is only offering the manual transmission with the 382-horsepower, turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine that puts out 369 pounds-feet of torque. BMW expects the Z4 M40i six-speed to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds; top speed is limited to 155 mph. Factoring in all of the extras, it might be fair to consider the Handschalter a no-cost option after all. Regardless, for a certain buyer demographic, the manual Z4 is sure to be worth it.
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