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2018 BMW Z5 Prototype Spotted Driving In The City

BMW and Toyota are working together on a new sports car, and the German version of it is expected to be named Z5. Our friends at CarPix were on watch, and have spotted the prototype of the upcoming BMW Z5 while driving through the city.
BMW Z5 prototype 11 photos
Photo: CarPix
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Just like the previous test vehicles spotted by spy photographers, the car had a full layer of camouflage. Furthermore, its canvas top did not feature a rear window, which risked showcasing the interior of the vehicle.

The car you see in the image gallery of this article is a BMW judging by the look of its front grille, which does not manage to hide the brand’s kidney grille.

Also, the insight gained about the partnership between the German automaker and Toyota allows us to know that this prototype does not belong to another brand.

The BMW Z4’s successor is expected to receive a coupe version a few years after it comes to market as a roadster, but the possibility has not been confirmed by sources from any of the two brands involved in this partnership.

In the meantime, Toyota’s version of the model you can observe in the photo gallery is expected to be called Supra. Like the “Z5,” it will be a “midsize sports car,” and the pair will probably have the same engine and transmission options, along with the shared platform. Most likely, engines and transmissions will be borrowed from the 3 Series, meaning the Z5 will only feature turbocharged units. Expect the BMW Z5 to be showcased next year and launched as a MY2018 vehicle.

Some say BMW will attempt to reposition the Z4’s successor at a higher level, but raising the price too much would risk cannibalizing sales with the 6 Series Cabriolet. If the Z5 moves upmarket, BMW will be able to introduce an entry-level sports car in its lineup, and the car is rumored to be called Z2.
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About the author: Sebastian Toma
Sebastian Toma profile photo

Sebastian's love for cars began at a young age. Little did he know that a career would emerge from this passion (and that it would not, sadly, involve being a professional racecar driver). In over fourteen years, he got behind the wheel of several hundred vehicles and in the offices of the most important car publications in his homeland.
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