The new BMW 4 Series convertible is here

This M440i convertible comes across as an authentic junior four-seat sports car with its 4.9 second 0-62mph time. It is performance that BMW says would not be out of place on a track; traditionally the 4-series convertible has been content to be more of a comfy tourer.

The new soft-top flagship’s turbo straight-six engine gains a 48-volt starter-generator for mild-hybrid credentials, an 11PS power boost and torque of 500Nm. It’s fed to all four wheels and a fully variable electronic M Sport diff via a Steptronic eight-speed gearbox – there’s no manual gearbox option now on any of the 4-series.

Echoing its more dynamic ambitions, all models for the UK will be to M Sport spec while there is also an M Sport Pro option pack available as one of several new ways for the cars to be personalised.

All models also get a clever new soft-top in place of the previous model’s retractable hard-top. The new roof is 40 per cent lighter than before and uses what BMW calls ‘panel bows’ to tension it along with several layers of insulation and a flush-fitting glass rear window.

The new roof takes 18 seconds to go up or down, leaves reasonable boot room of 300 litres when folded away and can be had in either black or anthracite. Braces and shear panels give a small improvement in structural rigidity over the outgoing model.

Apart from the new “vertically emphasised” new kidney grille inherited from the 4-series coupe (and also featuring in a slightly different form on the new M3 and M4), the soft-top Bimmers are more dynamically styled than the outgoing models and also larger, 128mm longer and now 1384mm tall with the hood up. As before the cabin features four individual seats with electric sports seats up front standard on all versions.

As well as the M440i there will be 4-series soft-tops available with

two four-cylinder petrol engines and a four-cylinder diesel, while a pair of straight-six diesel engines are promised to arrive soon after the first examples, including the M440i, hit showrooms here in March 2021.

The entry model is the 420i with 184PS, rear-drive and price from £45,785 while the M440i xDrive will set you back £59,645.