The new 4 Series Convertible looks horrible upfront, but there’s an outstanding car hiding beneath.
BMW launched a convertible variant of the 4 Series Coupe with a significant change. The new model ditches the last generation’s bulky hardtop for a soft one. Largely unchanged to the Coupe, the convertible offers the additional thrill and enjoyment of open-top driving with nothing but the blue sky above you.
Sadly, it has also retained the Coupe’s largely abhorred kidney grille that initially debuted on the Concept 4. But that seems to be the only bad thing about the new 4 Series.
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BMW says the new fabric soft-top is 40% lighter than the old hardtop. Moreover, it only takes 18 seconds to open, 2 seconds less than the hardtop. The driver can operate the roof with the push of a button up to speeds of 31 mph. And the fabric is available in two colors — Black as standard and Anthracite Silver as optional.
By ditching the hardtop, BMW was able to expand the cargo space to 1.2 cubic feet. The carmaker also claims to have added substantial insulation to the fabric, to protect the occupants from bad weather and noise. Furthermore, there is even 0.2 inches more headroom compared to its predecessor.
For now, two trim levels will be available for the US market. The 430i comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 255 hp and 295 lb-ft torque, enough for a 0-60 mph sprint of 5.9 seconds the rear-drive model — 5.5 seconds with the X-drive.
Meanwhile, the M440i comes with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six producing 382 hp and 369 lb-ft torque paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system adding 11 hp. Both variants come with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Predictably, this version provides much more thrills in a straight line with a 0-60 mph dash under 5.0 seconds.
If you tend to disregard convertibles because of the lack of rigidity, you’ll be happy to hear that, to compensate for the loss of structural rigidity caused by chopping off the roof, BMW has made some changes, including reinforced side skirts, front and rear suspension bracings, and a new shear panel upfront.
Regarding safety features, BMW already thought of everything. To keep occupants safe even if the 4 series was to flip over and protect them from severe head injuries, it added two safety bars emerging from behind the passengers.
Styling-wise, I prefer the beautiful roofline of the 4 Series Coupe. The way it merges into the boot is just very alluring to my eyes. And like many, I’m not too keen on those enormous kidneys. However, with such exciting features, it’s safe to assume that the new 4 series should perform quite well nonetheless.
Prices start at $53,100 for the 430i Convertible and $64,000 for the M440i Convertible. There is a $2,000 premium for their X-drive model and an additional $995 “Destination Fee” on all variants. Deliveries for rear-wheel-drive variants start in March next year, followed by X-drive variants in July.
More details on BMW’s website.
