• News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
  • News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
Sign up Now (For Free)

Sign up for our newsletter and receive the latest automotive news in your inbox!

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing!
News
Read Now
  • All News
  • Automakers
  • Automobiles
  • Auto Shows
  • Business
  • EVs & Environment
  • Guides
  • Lawsuits/Legal
  • Regulatory
  • Ride-Sharing
  • Safety & Recalls
  • Technology
Recent
  • Push is on to Make Stealing a Catalytic Converter a Federal Crime
  • Toyota Marks 25th Anniversary of Sienna Minivan
  • Honda Offers Early Look at Prologue EV
  • Argo AI Adding Two New Testing Markets
  • Hyundai, Kia, Honda, Jeep and Nissan Fare Badly in Latest Crash Tests
  • Finally! Lexus RX to Get a Complete Makeover
  • Inflation Affecting Summer Vacation Plans
  • 2023 BMW 3 Series Gets Updated Exterior, More Tech, Mild Hybrid Drivetrain
  • U.S. Traffic Fatalities 42K in 2021 — Highest Since 2005
  • Ford Wants EVs to be Mandatory by 2035 — in Europe
Editor’s Choice
    Reviews
    Read Now
    • All Reviews
    • Classic Cars
    • Concept Cars
    • Convertibles
    • Coupes
    • Crossovers/CUVs
    • Diesel
    • Hot hatches
    • Hybrids
    • Luxury Vehicles
    • Minivans
    • Muscle Cars
    • Pickups
    • Sedans
    • Sports Cars
    • Super Cars
    • SUVs
    Recent Reviews
    • First Drive: 2023 Genesis GV60
    • First Drive: 2022 Mercedes-Benz C 300
    • First Impression: 2023 Nissan Z
    • A Week With: 2022 Lexus LC 500 Convertible
    • A Week With: 2022 Ram 2500 Power Wagon Crew Cab
    • First Drive: 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning
    • First Drive(s): 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate and AT4X
    • A Week With: 2022 BMW i4 M50
    • A Week With: 2022 Mazda CX-5
    • First Drive: 2023 Kia Sportage
    Editor’s Choice
      Guides
      Car Warranty
      • Endurance Warranty Reviews
      • BMW Extended Warranty
      • Extended Warranty For Cars Over 100k Miles
      • Extended Car Warranty Cost
      • Subaru Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Reviews
      • CarShield Cost
      • Aftermarket Car Warranty
      • CARCHEX Warranty Reviews
      • Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies
      • Used Car Warranty Companies
      • Best Car Warranty
      • Is CarShield A Scam?
      • Mercedes Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Plans
      Insurance
      • How To Identify A Car Insurance Company
      • Geico Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • How Far Back Does A Car Insurance Company Look
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance For Used Cars
      • State Farm Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance From Progressive
      • Dollar A Day Insurance
      • Auto Insurance For SSI Recipients
      • Car Insurance Rates After A Suspended License
      • Auto Insurance For Salvage Vehicles
      • Average Cost of Dodge Ram 1500 Car Insurance
      • Car Insurance Florida
      • Full Coverage Auto Insurance
      • GrubHub Insurance
      • Amazon Delivery Auto Insurance
      Shipping
      • Car Shipping Companies
      • uShip Reviews
      • Auto Shipping From California To Hawaii
      • Montway Auto Transport Reviews
      • Cheap Car Shipping
      • Easy Auto Ship Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Miami
      • Auto Shipping To Alaska
      • Car Shipping Cost
      • Auto Shipping Hawaii
      • Auto Shipping Puerto Rico
      • Sherpa Auto Transport Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Atlanta
      • Auto Shipping Boston
      • Auto Shipping. Chicago
      About
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Affiliate Disclosure
      • Sitemap
      TheDetroitBureau.com

      More than just “another” place to find news, reviews, spy shots, commentary, features, and guides about the auto industry. TheDetroitBureau doesn’t stop with the press releases or confuse a few lines of opinion with insightful, in-depth reporting.

      Contact Us

      Like what you see? Have some ideas for making The Detroit Bureau.com even better? Let us know, we’d love to hear your voice.

        Media
        Listen Now
        • Headlight News: All Episodes
        More from TheDetroitBureau
        • Guides
        • Latest News
        • Auto Reviews
        • Podcasts
        Headlight News

        TheDetroitBureau.com’s Headlight News offers a look at the past week’s top automotive news stories, as well as what’s coming up in the week ahead. Check out the week’s top story and our latest review…along with a dive into the past with this week in automotive history.

        home > news > Automakers > BMW Rolls Down the Top with New 4-Series Convertible

        BMW Rolls Down the Top with New 4-Series Convertible

        The new cabrios migrate back to lighter, faster-acting cloth tops.

        Paul A. Eisenstein
        Paul A. Eisenstein , Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
        Sept. 29, 2020
        The 2021 BMW 4-Series convertible is the latest variant of the Bavarian automaker’s new model.

        One thing you can count on with BMW is that there’ll be plenty of variants to follow the launch of every major product line. And so it is with the 4-Series coupe we first saw in June. Just a week ago the Bavarian automaker revealed the next-generation M4 and, today, we’re getting our first look at the 2021 BMW 4-Series Convertible.

        There are a number of relatively modest changes this time around, with one big switch, the 2021 cabriolet migrating away from a hardtop to a more conventional cloth top. There’s no specific explanation but a look elsewhere suggests that the era of the hardtop convertible may be drawing to a close, the victim of cost, complexity – and perhaps even an issue of mass.

        For those who might question that decision, BMW is hoping buyers will be satisfied with the new model’s increased horsepower, torque and performance numbers – along with an array of new and updated digital technologies.

        (First Look: 2021 BMW 4-Series coupe.)

        The new 4-Series cabriolet gets a cloth roof instead of the folding hard top found in previous models.

        The 2021 cabriolet carries over most of the key design revisions we first saw in June in the form of the 4-Series coupe, a more curvaceous appearance featuring a lower nose framing a larger version of the familiar BMW double-kidney grille. The double-twin LED lamps flow into a hood that is more aggressive, with subtle bulges enhancing the feeling of muscularity.

        The cloth top is roughly 40% lighter than the old model’s metal hardtop. The less complex mechanism also ensures an additional 1.2 cubic feet of cargo space – not totaling 9.0 cf. The top features new insulation designed to come as close as possible to matching the old car’s interior noise level and, at just 18 seconds, it’s a lot quicker to open and shut. It also pulls taught enough to come close to the look of the 2021 coupe’s basic fastback design.

        (Read our review of the best BMW Extended Warranty options)

        Compared to the outgoing model, the 2021 convertible is is a full 5.2 inches longer (5.3 inches with the M440i), 1 inch wider, 0.1 inches taller and boasts a 1.6-inch longer wheelbase. The front and rear tracks have each been widened more than an inch. As a result, the 4 Series is now longer, lower and wider than the 3-Series sedan.

        The interior will be familiar to BMW fans, though it adopts a bit more of an upscale feel. But the 2021 4 Series retains the traditional driver-focused cockpit layout. Both the M Sport and M440i xDrive versions add more knee padding, along with unique steering wheel and door sill plates.

        The 4 Series is now longer, lower and wider than the 3-Series sedan.

        All versions of the new 4-Series cabrio deliver increases in horsepower and torque. With the 430i and 430i xDrive models, that means 255 hp and 295 lb-ft, up 7 and 37 respectively, out of their 2.0-liter I-4 TwinPower turbo engines. The 430i will hit 60 in 5.9 seconds, with a top speed of 130 or 155 mph, depending upon wheels and tires.

        (BMW gives its vaunted M3 and M4 models a complete makeover.)

        As for the M440i and M440i xDrive, they make 382 hp and 369 lb-ft, up 62 and 39, from BMW’s B58 3.0-liter TwinPower turbo inline 6. The bigger engine cuts launch times down to 5.0 seconds even for the M440i, and top speed remains 130 or 155, depending upon tires and wheels. The M models feature a new, 48-volt mild hybrid system, stored energy used to both improve fuel economy and boost performance.

        Both engines, and both rear- and all-wheel-drive models, share the same 8-speed automatic transmission.

        One of the notable revisions to both 4-Series coupes and convertibles is the use of wider twin digital screens, the infotainment display flowing into the digital instrument cluster. Meanwhile, BMW has moved the start/stop button to the center console, near the newly redesigned gear shifter and iDrive control knob.

        The 2021 BMW 4 Series now gets an upgraded infotainment system with standard navigation and improved maps, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system also features the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant which operates much like the Amazon Alexa system by saying “Hey BMW” to operate numerous vehicle functions, from setting a destination to adjusting the radio or cabin temperature.

        The 2021 BMW 4 Series now gets an upgraded infotainment system with standard navigation and improved maps, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

        All models also feature an assortment of advanced driver assistance systems that include: lane departure warning with steering correction; frontal collision; pedestrian warning with braking function; blind spot detection; rear cross traffic alert; rear collision preparation, automatic high beams; and speed limit information.

        There’s also an optional Driving Assistance Professional Package which includes features like lane keeping assistant with side collision avoidance, and Extended Traffic Jam Assist which, BMW explains, provides Level 2 autonomy on limited access highways “which helps to reduce fatigue in stop-and-go freeway traffic by allowing for extended hands free vehicle operation.”

        (BMW Preps for new i4 EV launch, reveals plans for all-electric 5 Series.)

        The RWD Convertibles go on sale next March, starting at $55,100 for the 440i, and $64,000 for the M44oi. The AWD models won’t arrive until July 2021, priced at $55,100 for the 440i xDrive and $66,000 for the M440i xDrive. Add another $995 for delivery fees.

        Recently Published
        Catalytic converter theft

        Push is on to Make Stealing a Catalytic Converter a Federal Crime

        Today
        2023 Toyota Sienna 25th Anniversary badge

        Toyota Marks 25th Anniversary of Sienna Minivan

        Today
        Honda Prologue teaser sketch

        Honda Offers Early Look at Prologue EV

        Yesterday

        Leave a Reply Cancel reply

        Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

        Share this article:
        © The Detroit Bureau 2022
        • Guides
        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms of Use
        • Affiliate Disclosure
        • Contact Us
        • Sitemap
        Follow Us: