Why the BMW Z4 and Toyota GR Supra Just Won’t Die—Yet

By Team Dailyrevs June 9, 2025

Production of the BMW Z4 has been extended to 2026, despite prior plans to phase it out.
Toyota’s GR Supra Final Edition arrives as a manual-only swan song, built on the same platform as the Z4.
Both cars continue to exist thanks to strong niche demand for manual transmissions and analog driving experiences.

Manual Gearbox Saves the Day

In a market overrun by hybrids, crossovers, and the endless march of EVs, it's almost shocking to see the words “production extended” associated with two traditional rear-wheel-drive sports cars. But that's exactly what's happening. BMW’s Z4 and Toyota’s GR Supra—platform siblings born from a rare German-Japanese collaboration—have been granted a stay of execution.

What’s keeping them alive? One phrase: 6-speed manual transmission.

While automakers are rapidly pivoting to software and autonomy, the Z4 and Supra are clinging to a more analog truth. Enthusiasts have spoken—loud enough, apparently, to convince BMW and Toyota to hold the line for at least a little longer.

BMW Z4: The Handschalter Hero

BMW has now confirmed that Z4 production will continue through 2026, a move that had not been expected. Much of the credit goes to the introduction of the Z4 M40i Handschalter, a manual variant of the turbocharged inline-six model. It's the kind of enthusiast-focused move that often arrives too late—but not this time.

The M40i Handschalter isn’t a stripped-down lightweight, nor is it some retro vanity project. It’s a direct response to market feedback, proving that even in the twilight of internal combustion, there’s still room for driver engagement.

BMW’s head of product communication, Bernd Körber, summed it up succinctly: “There is still demand for an emotional sports car that’s not trying to be everything for everyone.”

Toyota GR Supra: The Final Lap

On Toyota’s end, the GR Supra Final Edition—built for 2026—is exactly what it sounds like. It's a limited-run send-off for the nameplate, reportedly restricted to just 900 units worldwide. Only available with a 6-speed manual, this version wears special paint, interior badging, and enough chassis tweaks to make it feel worthy of the “Final Edition” label.

While the Supra isn’t getting a full second lease on life like the Z4, Toyota has made it clear that the car’s swan song won’t be silent. In fact, it’s practically a love letter to the fans who kept asking, “When will we get a proper manual?”—and then actually bought them when Toyota delivered.

A Platform That Refuses to Retire

The continued existence of both the Supra and Z4 is in large part due to their shared BMW-Toyota platform. Developed jointly to reduce cost and risk, the architecture underpins both cars’ rear-wheel-drive layout and supports a turbocharged inline-six—the kind of powertrain quickly disappearing from the segment.

This partnership made sense on paper, but it has also allowed both brands to serve slightly different slices of the enthusiast pie. The Z4 leans toward open-top comfort and European refinement; the Supra shoots for track-day aggression and a Japanese performance heritage.

Yet underneath, they're siblings—and it seems neither is ready to go home just yet.

The Significance of This Revival

For automakers, extending the production of low-volume sports cars is rarely a financial win. These cars don’t move the profit needle like crossovers or electric SUVs. What they do, however, is preserve brand identity and maintain emotional ties to loyal buyers.

In BMW’s case, the Z4 Handschalter signals a final stand for the pure roadster in an era that has almost forgotten what one is. For Toyota, the GR Supra Final Edition is a respectful farewell—an acknowledgment that it didn’t get everything right at first, but it tried to listen.

And for all of us who still care about how a car feels, not just what it computes, both models are a kind of resistance: a gentle protest against the sterilization of driving.

What’s Next?

Neither BMW nor Toyota has confirmed what will replace the Z4 or the Supra in their lineups, if anything. And maybe that’s the point. These are not cars that exist because of a five-year plan—they exist because someone, somewhere, said, “Let’s make something that’s still fun.”

That kind of thinking doesn’t scale. But it sticks. And for now, that's enough.