2014 BMW 4 Series Convertible: First Look
Competes with: Audi A5 Cabriolet, Infiniti Q60 convertible
Looks like: The 4 Series Coupe
Drivetrain: a 240-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (428i ) or a 300-hp, turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder (435i); an eight-speed automatic is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional
Hits dealerships: First quarter of 2014
The convertible version of BMW’s new compact coupe will officially debut next month at the Los Angeles Auto Show, but BMW released 4 Series convertible information and photos ahead of the official reveal. Not only will the convertible offer a power-retractable hardtop (like the 3 Series convertible it replaces), it’ll also be available with all-wheel drive.
Exterior styling and powertrains mirror its 4 Series coupe sibling. Power comes from either a 240-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (428i ) or a 300-hp, turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder (435i). An eight-speed automatic is standard, and BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system is optional on the 428i; the 435i is rear-wheel drive only. A fuel-saving auto stop-start system shuts off the engine when stopped and is standard across the lineup.
Like the coupe, the convertible will be available with Sport Line, Luxury Line and M Sport packages, each with specific exterior colors and interior trim. BMW says the power-retractable hardtop can be opened in 20 seconds and lowered at speeds up to 11 mph, and that the trunk offers more space than the outgoing 3 Series convertible. Top down, the 4 Series features 7.8 cubic feet of space; top up, it jumps to 13.0 cubic feet.
The 2014 BMW 4 Series will go on sale in the first quarter of 2014 with a base price of $49,675 for 428i models and $55,825 for 435i versions; both prices include a $925 destination fee. Competition from Audi (the A5 Cabriolet) starts at $44,245, including destination. The 4 Series convertible’s other rival, the G37 convertible, is being remade into the Q60 convertible; specs and pricing for this model are unavailable.
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2014 BMW 4 Series: First Look
2014 BMW 4 Series Up Close, Photo Gallery
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