The 2025 model year sees more power for the M4, new 5 Series variants — and a manual Z4.
BMW
BMW’s lineup, already one of the more expansive in the automotive kingdom, is growing even more for the 2025 model year. As January came to a close, the Bavarian Motor Works dropped news of a bevy of updates and new model variants coming our way in the next few months, as the automaker seeks to keep its dealerships full of fresh metal with options to keep the rest of the luxury car world at bay as best as possible.
And while plenty of carmakers are happy to fire off press releases about every menial new color or special edition trim package, this burst of Bimmers actually comes with a number of interesting vehicles — ones that caught our eye enough to warrant bringing them to your attention.
So, without further ado – here are the biggest standouts from BMW’s latest round of new car releases.
2025 BMW Z4 M40i Manual
The 2025 BMW Z4 M40i.BMW
Arguably the biggest news of the hour is BMW’s decision to stick a stick in the Z4 roadster for the first time in years. It’s not a shock — the way was paved by Toyota slotting a shift-it-yourself gearbox in the Z4’s platform twin, the Supra — but it is a delight.
Opting for the six-speed manual in the 382-hp inline-six-powered Z4 (the only engine it’s offered with) means choosing a $3,500 package that also includes bespoke suspension tuning, unique colors and interior trim options and special wheels. You can order it starting in March.
2025 BMW M4
The 2025 BMW M4 Competition xDrive Convertible.BMW
No, the M4 doesn’t get a new face for the 2025 model year. What it does get is new LED headlamps and updated taillights that use laser diodes, some fresh wheel designs, and perhaps most excitingly, an extra 20 horsepower for the all-wheel-drive M4 Competition xDrive coupe and convertible models, bringing their inline-sixes up to 523 hp.
Blessedly, if you can live with just 473 hp and rear-wheel-drive, the six-speed stick remains available on the M4 coupe. No word on changes to the M3 wagon or sedan, but we’d venture the added power will make its way to AWD versions of those soon enough.
2025 BMW 550e xDrive PHEV
BMW
The most compelling new addition to the lineup of the new BMW 5 Series, in our opinion, is the 2025 550e xDrive PHEV — the first plug-in hybrid of the new 5er generation. By combining a twin-turbo inline-six, an electric motor and a sizable battery pack, this PHEV spits out 483 horsepower and 516 lb-ft, enough for a claimed 0-60-mph time of four seconds or so. (BMW tends to be conservative, so it’ll almost certainly be lower than that.)
We’ve sampled this same powertrain in the X5 xDrive50e, and found it an absolute honey of a setup, offering 40 miles of range and ample power for daily driving in EV mode as well as barnstorming acceleration when all the ponies come out to play. (It was so good, we named the Bimmer our pick for best plug-in hybrid SUV overall.) We’re excited to see what it can do in the lighter, sleeker 5 Series.
2025 BMW i5 xDrive40
BMW
The other big news from the 5 Series lineup: the arrival of the i5 xDrive40, which sits in the middle of the electric i5 lineup and is likely posed to be the volume model. It packs all-wheel-drive thanks to a pair of electric motors, cranking out 389 hp and 435 lb-ft of torque — slotting it neatly between the rear-wheel-drive i5 eDrive40 and stupid-quick i5 M60. At a starting price of $71,095, it slots between them in cost, as well.
2025 BMW 4 Series
BMW
The non-M versions of the 4 Series also pick up some updates for the 2025 model year. Like the M4 models, there are new headlamps and tail lights; the 4 Series also picks up a gentle revision to its grille. There are new wheels and paints, as well. No added power, but both four- and six-cylinder versions feature new 48-volt mild hybrid assist for added smoothness.
2025 Mini Aceman
BMW
Technically, this one isn’t a BMW, but it’s under the same corporate umbrella (they share a public relations team) and the latest batch of images and details was announced at the same time as the others, so we’re including it. Also, we’re just plain interested to see how this brand-new all-electric Mini crossover-that’s-actually-a-station-wagon fills the role of the Cooper S Clubman that we greatly loved before it shuffled off this mortal coil. Slotting between the Mini Cooper and Countryman and packing a 54.2-kWh battery, the Aceman could be the Goldilocks choice of the new Mini lineup. We’ll know once it’s fully revealed later this year.