The BMW Z4 has officially been put to pasture. The German brand didn’t make a big thing of it — offering no fanfare or press release — but according to a publication called BimmerToday, the final Z4 rolled off the production line on August 22. On sale since 2002, the sporty cruiser offered a fun, comfortable alternative to the Porsche Boxsters and Audi TTs of the world, while also providing a hopped-up M version in its first generation.
But we’re not really here to talk about the Z4. We’re here to talk about what’s next.
For years, rumors about a Z4 replacement called the Z5 have swirled, and these reports are of particular interest because of BMW’s relationship with Toyota. Allegedly, the Z5 will share its chassis with the successor to the Toyota Supra, with the engine being developed by the Germans. We’re crossing our fingers for the M3’s 425-horsepower inline-six, but that’s just us. In the end, we could essentially see one vehicle with two names akin to the Scion FR-S and Subaru BR-Z, but the final products could end up being very different from each other. It’s just too early to tell.
Read more: Is BMW’s Remote 3D View a tech gimmick, or a useful tool?
On Toyota’s end, the time couldn’t be more perfect for a Supra comeback. Both the Acura NSX and the Ford GT have gone through high-profile resurgences lately, and although the Supra isn’t quite on the level of those two, its passionate fan base would welcome a follow-up with open arms. Specifics of the car are few and far between, but it’s likely the car would take styling cues from Toyota’s stunning FT-1 concept and feature all-wheel drive.
Last we heard, Toyota was planning to debut a production-ready concept by the end of 2016. If things keep going as planned, the Z4’s replacement shouldn’t be too far behind.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.