BMW M4 Convertible

THE M4 Coupe might be getting all the headlines, but don't forget the new M4 Convertible - BMW is expecting nearly half of M4  sales to be of the drop· top kind. We climbed behind the wheel to see if those buyers are getting a car that's just as impressive as the Coupe.

The folding hard·top features the same 425bhp 3.0·litre twin-turbo straight-six  as its fixed-roof sibling, so the performance is clearly very similar. But it has the disadvantage of a 178kg weight penalty. In lesser versions of the 4  Series Convertible, this feels like a  serious problem, although in the M4 you can barely spot the difference in straight-line performance. Acceleration from 0·62mph takes 4.4 seconds with the optional dual-clutch gearbox - that's three· tenths sl ower than the Coupe -but there's so much torque from this engine throughout the  rev range that the weight penalty barely even registers.

One reservation we had about the M4 Coupe and the M3 Saloon was that the engine sounded a little arti ficial in the cabin. That's still the case here, but once you fold the roof down (it takes 20  seconds and can be done at up to 1 lmph), things definitely start to improve.  You can hear more of the natural exhaust noise a rough metallic growl-and you wonder why it's  such a struggle to make it sound going to be using your car on track a lot then the optional carbon-ceramic brakes (an eye-watering £6,250 extra) wi ll be better suited to reining in the Convertible's weight from speed again and again. They weigh 12.5kg less than the standard brakes, too.

And as well as being a compelling sports car, the M4  makes for a good convertible. With the roof down, the windows up and the wind deflector in place, you can cruise down motorways with next to no buffeting. It even has the same cosseting ride as the Coupe. Set the suspension to Comfort and the M4 Convertible rides over bumps a nd crests with much of the composure of any other 4  Series. The issue is that you can feel the body flexing over violent bumps - which doesn't happen in the stiffer Coupe. It's not a deal-breaker, but an example of the trade-offs Convertible buyers will have to make.

There are other subtle compromises, too, li ke the fuel economy, which falls from 34.0mpgto 32.lmpg, and the boot space, which drops from 445  litres to a still vaguely impressive 370 litres with the roof up. Fold the top, and things get cramped, with just 200 litres available.

Even with these slight negatives, the M4 Convertible still makes a strong case for itself. Nothing else can match it there is no AMG version of Mercedes' soft-top  E-Class and the Audi RS5 Cabriolet i s showing its age. So, if you like your four-seater performance cars with wind·in-the-hair thrills, the M4 Convertible is the best  car in this class.

THE M4 Convertible isn't quite as sharp or as fast as the Coupe, but then the drop-top versions of performance cars rarely are. What matters is that people still buy them, and anyone in the market for a driver-focus ed four•seater convertible should put this  BMW at the top of their list. Performance may take a slight hit, but being a ble to enjoy sunny days and hear more of that fantastic engine are worthy trade-offs.

PRAalCAUTY
Boot space falls from 370 litres to 200 litres once you've folded the hard-top. But you can move folded roof out of the way electronically for better access to your luggage .

EQUIPMENTM
exterior mirrors add to the sporty looks, plus buyers get stylish 19-inch alloys, along with air-con and heated seats New steering wheel and instrument cluster also feature .

BMW M4 Convertible
Price:  From £60,730
Engine:  3.0-litre straight-six twin-turbo
Power:  42Sbhp
Transmission:  Seven-speed dual-clutch auto, rear-wheel drive
0-62mph:  4.4 seconds
Top speed:  15 Smph
Economy:  3 2 .1 mpg
C02:  202g/ km