BMW has spilled the beans on the 2 Series Convertible, the 1 Series Convertible’s replacement. The new Bimmer will go on sale from the 28th of February 2015, priced from £29,180.
The 2 Series Convertible is 72mm longer and 26mm wider than its predecessor, while the wheelbase is 30mm longer. This means more space for those who have to endure the back seats. Meanwhile the front and rear track and 41mm and 43mm wider, respectively.
The fabric roof closes in 19 seconds, which is still slower than on a Z4, but at least it will now open and close up to 30mph so no need to stop completely when the heavens open. Aerodynamic revisions and 4db of noise reduction make the cabin quieter and more livable.
BMW has given the new convertible L-shaped LED rear lights that are deliberately stretched across the back to make the car appear wider. At the front the twin-round circular headlights point towards the trademark kidney grille.
Boot space has been improved by 30 litres to 335 litres with the roof up and 280 litres with it folded away. A through-loading system can be specced for a bit more versatility if you need to load a long item.
Four engines are available, the most powerful of which is the M235i. Although only a half-fat M car (unlike the M4 Convertible), its 3.0-litre six-cylinder produces a healthy 326hp and 450Nm of torque, which means 0 to 62mph in as little as five seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.
A 2.0i and 2.8i petrol offer less impressive performance figures but better fuel economy. A 2.0-litre diesel, meanwhile, manages an impressive 60.1mpg with the six-speed manual or 64.2mpg with the eight-speed automatic, while CO2 emissions are 124g/km and 116g/km, respectively.
Sport, Luxury and M Sport will be available, with SE added later in the 2015. Standard equipment includes automatic air-conditioning, alloy wheels, Keyless go, Sports seats, Sport multi-function steering wheel and various safety systems including hill-start assist and Dynamic Stability Control.
There’s also BMW’s ConnectedDrive and infotainment display, which allows free updates to the maps via an LTE-capable SIM-card built into the car if you spec the Professional navigation system.
Optional extras include a wind deflector so it’s less breezy with the roof down, Lane Departure warning, Attention Assist (detects if you are drowsy), Reversing Assist camera, M Performance limited-slip differential, Adaptive M Sport suspension and a M Sport braking system.
We spent an unusually sunny day in the 2 Series Convertible – stay tuned for our thoughts on the M235i and 220d.
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