Photo: CAR Magazine
With the new naming scheme used by BMW some questions were bound to be raised but I always figured that as long as the new models will be better than the old ones things will sort themselves out.
After the 4 Series Coupe confirmed that we have nothing to worry about, it was time for the Convertible to do the same. The first test drives with the new model took place in Las Vegas, last week, and CAR Magazine was amongst the first publications to get behind its wheel.
The car they had was a 435i, the top of the range model for the moment, fitted with a turbocharged 3-liter petrol engine that makes 306 HP and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque, hooked up to an automatic 8-speed gearbox from ZF.
Compared to it's Coupe brother, the hard-top is a bit heavier thanks to all the sophisticated mechanism that pull the top down. That extra weight is felt on the road, unfortunately, making the convertible a much less agile car.
Opening and closing the roof takes 20 seconds and is done in a silent matter and even on the move, at speeds up to 15 km/h (8 mph). There are no weird sounds or shudders taking place when this whole ordeal is taking place, as expected from a BMW.
The driving position is low and you get 'excellent' vision around you, at all times, whilst the seats are the best in the business. Everything inside feels premium but the overall design of the dash and center console looks a bit dated.
Overall, the car is fast and precise but not a full-on performance vehicle. You'll have to wait for the M4 Convertible for that and we're about a year away from that model being released. Until then, you can get a reasonably fast luxury open-top in the shape of the 435i.
Full Test at CAR
The car they had was a 435i, the top of the range model for the moment, fitted with a turbocharged 3-liter petrol engine that makes 306 HP and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque, hooked up to an automatic 8-speed gearbox from ZF.
Compared to it's Coupe brother, the hard-top is a bit heavier thanks to all the sophisticated mechanism that pull the top down. That extra weight is felt on the road, unfortunately, making the convertible a much less agile car.
Opening and closing the roof takes 20 seconds and is done in a silent matter and even on the move, at speeds up to 15 km/h (8 mph). There are no weird sounds or shudders taking place when this whole ordeal is taking place, as expected from a BMW.
The driving position is low and you get 'excellent' vision around you, at all times, whilst the seats are the best in the business. Everything inside feels premium but the overall design of the dash and center console looks a bit dated.
Overall, the car is fast and precise but not a full-on performance vehicle. You'll have to wait for the M4 Convertible for that and we're about a year away from that model being released. Until then, you can get a reasonably fast luxury open-top in the shape of the 435i.
Full Test at CAR
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