While car enthusiasts will claim to only buy vehicles with a manual transmission, sales numbers tell a different story. Manual sales dwindle with each passing year, as even purpose-built enthusiast cars only come with an automatic gearbox. Take the 2022 BMW Z4 Roadster as an example; it's been on the market for a few years now and only offers a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic.

According to BMW Blog, that may soon change. The outlet claims that the Z4 M40i, which is powered by a 3.0-liter inline-six engine, could receive a stick shift option in the US. Rumors indicate this option is under "active consideration" by BMW.

It wouldn't be difficult for BMW to pair the Z4 M40i with a three-pedal option, since the same B58 inline-six engine was recently connected to a manual box in the Toyota Supra. The Toyota Supra shares an engine and platform with the Z4, seeing as the two vehicles were co-developed together. Toyota says it partnered with ZF and BMW to design its manual with the right ratios, lever design, and tuning, which is another way of saying it was calibrated to fit in the Supra. If we had to make an educated guess, the Z4 should get the same transmission.

This wouldn't be the first time BMW equipped a manual in the new Z4, as the four-cylinder sDrive20i model already offers one in Europe and other markets. Sadly, sales for the manual have been sluggish, leading BMW to discontinue it in Australia. If we had to make a prediction, offering a manual won't do much to boost Z4 sales in the US, which only amounted to 2,412 units it 2021 and 755 units for the first half of 2022. BMW will continue to offer manuals on its M cars like the upcoming M2, but they will only appeal to a small minority of the market.