M4 Convertible Unveiled. The wait for the new M4 to hit the streets is almost over and now it’s less than a few weeks before the first lucky owners will take delivery of their Coupes BMW has revealed the Convertible version, too. No doubt a Gran Coupe version of the M4 will also be in the pipeline but that will be a story for another day.
The BMW M4 Convertible F82 will feature the same 2979cc twin-turbo straight-six as its hard-top brother which develops 431hp from 5500-7300rpm and 406lb ft of torque all the way from 1850-5500rpm. There is a bit of weight penalty to pay for having wind-in-your- hair motoring though and the M4 Convertible tips the scales at 1750kg unladen, a full 253kg more than the Coupe, which inevitably takes the edge off the performance slightly. 0-62mph takes 4.6 seconds for the six-speed manual and 4.4 seconds for the seven- speed DCT. Economy and emissions aren’t too badly affected though with combined figures of 31.0mpg and 213g/km for the manual and 32.5 and 203 for the DCT. While the M4 Convertible might be considerably heavier than the Coupe it is worth pointing out that BMW has made quite impressive gains over the old E93 M3 Convertible, with the new car coming in at 60kg lighter thanks to extensive use of aluminium in the M4’s construction.
While the car as a whole very closely apes the M4 Coupe the Convertible does offer several improvements (and not just in performance and economy) over the outgoing E93 machine. The three part folding metal hard-top offers improved noise insulation – up to 2dB quieter – and a new headlining design contributes to higher levels of winter warmth and comfort. The ‘hood’ can now be raised or lowered in just 20 seconds and once your M4 is open to the elements the improved (optional) wind deflector and the (again optional) innovative air collar will help to keep you toasty warm.
The roll-over hoops for the two rear seats are now hidden behind the headrests and in the event of a sudden shower the roof can be raised at speeds of up to 8mph. A new Loading-aid raises the folded roof when it’s stowed in the boot to give owners access to their belongings in just six seconds and the luggage capacity has increased to 370 litres when the roof is closed and 220 litres when it’s stowed.
The BMW M4 Convertible will go on sale in the UK in September 2014 and will be priced at £60,745 for the six-speed manual and £63,390 for the seven-speed M DCT. Equipment will be extensive though with all UK-spec machines coming with Adaptive M suspension, 19-inch M light alloy wheels, BMW Professional media package, upgraded Bluetooth and USB, front and rear Park Distance Control, Folding exterior mirrors and heated front seats.
