A Week With: 2022 BMW M4 Competition xDrive Convertible

The 2022 BMW M4 Competition xDrive Convertible could possibly be the perfect sunny weather lover.

Certainly it possesses the qualities one looks for in a warm weather automotive companion: extroverted looks, a great heart, and athleticism and speed proving its abilities are more than sheet metal deep. OK, it has a grille only a mother or a BMW executive could love, but everything else will have you falling in love. 

Overview

Joining the M3 sedan and M4 coupe, the M4 Competition xDrive Convertible is the first all-wheel drive droptop from BMW’s M performance division. The 2022 BMW M4 Convertible’s soft top is 40% lighter than the predecessor car’s retractable hardtop, which reduces weight and enhances performance. Oh, and it looks a whole lot better when it’s raised. 

Exterior

Adrian van Hooydonk, senior vice president BMW Group Design, says its look is “an emotionally powerful expression of the car’s character.” True.  But is it attractive? For this vehicle, it is. M cars should look purposeful, not suave or posh. So kudo to the designers for the M’s extended side sills, which incorporate aerodynamic elements of the bumpers, as if they were lifted from a racecar.

They don’t seem garish, even though they should. Their outrageousness factor is just enough, dancing to the edge of being overdone without crossing the line. Still, this is not a car for those in the federal Witness Protection Program, particularly if your M4s is red with the $4,700 M Carbon Exterior Package.

And let’s make it clear that the soft top looks far better than the previous model’s clunky hardtop. Then again, that’s true of all convertibles.

Interior

Every BMW owner or enthusiast should recognize the interior, which is trimmed with aluminum detailing or optional piano black or carbon fiber. Leather accented seats are standard; a full leather upholstery is an option. The $1,350 Executive Package, which includes a heated steering wheel, a motorized trunk lid, a head-up display, and gesture control. 

Overall, there is roughly the same amount of space as you’ve come to expect, substantial up front and adequate room in back. Cargo space is now up to 9 cubic feet thanks to the smaller amount of space needed for the folded fabric roof. Material and assembly quality are excellent.

The seats are firm and supportive, perfect for this car’s mission. The car’s various controls are easy to use. 

Powertrain

Output is rated at 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. That’s an increase of 59 hp and 73 lb-ft of torque from previous Competition package-equipped cars. But unlike its M3 and M4 coupe siblings, which can be ordered with a 6-speed manual transmission, the cabriolet comes with a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission rather than the previous-generation’s 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. But the new 8-speed comes with comfort-oriented, sporty, and track-focused manual modes. Rear-biased all-wheel drive is standard, but it comes with two modes.

The default mode is standard all-wheel drive, with the front wheels kicking in when needed. But there’s also 4WD Sport, which funnels more torque to the rear wheels during dynamic driving; consider it perfect for track day. You can also enable 2WD, which provides a pure rear-wheel-drive experience. 

Certainly, you can’t argue with the results: 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds, according to BMW. Top sped is 155 mph, rising to 174 mph with the Performance Package.

Safety and Technology

Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has crash-tested this car. 

Park Distance Control, Active Protection, Active Driving Assistant, and Automatic High beam assistant are standard. But you’ll have to pay an extra $1,700 for the Driving Assistance Professional Package to get Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Extended Traffic Jam Assistant, Active Lane Keeping Assistant, Active Blind Spot Detection, Evasion Aid and Emergency Stop Assistant.

When it comes to technology, the BMW M4 Convertible comes with a digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen powered by iDrive 7 that includes Navigation and cloud-based BMW Maps, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

It also has M-specific displays for the instrument cluster and optional head-up display, which includes an M Drift Analyzer, which records the duration, distance covered, line and drift angle, as well as an M Lap timer, which shows the number of laps completed so far, the distance covered and the duration of the driver’s current stint. The latter can be downloaded as iPhone app, so you can share it online with a map view of the track, a lap time comparison, and car data such as speed, engine revs, accelerator position and the lateral and longitudinal acceleration.

Driving Impressions

Let’s put it simply: this car is a hoot. I will elaborate, but really, that’s all you really need to know. And that’s what you’d expect, isn’t it? The twin-turbo inline 6 is a gushing fountain of power, providing all the acceleration you require. Its smooth demeanor will make you forget there’s not a V-8 snorting up front.

You don’t really need more power than this, unless you’d like to end up in a ditch or compressed into a tree. The powertrain provides the needed thrust with a sophistication and smoothness that allows for expert control. It’s superb. And the steering is so perfectly weighted and communicative; the engine and exhaust note are a sonorous symphony. 

Is there anything to complain about? Only that I don’t own one.

2022 BMW M4 Competition xDrive Convertible Specifications

Wrap Up

This is a car that has no real competition from any other automaker at this price point. It’s a unique proposition. In a market where consumers will drop six figures for some all-wheel-drive off-road-worthy box or an electric conveyance that take them 200 miles before needed hours to recharge, the 2022 BMW M4 Competition xDrive Convertible is a thrilling new relic, a reminder of what makes the gas-fueled automobile thrilling in a way an EV will never be.

2022 BMW M4 Competition xDrive Convertible ­— Frequently Asked Questions