Chop Top 3-Series Cabriolet Gets Metal Roof
Here’s today’s big story: BMW has just shown off its new 3-Series Convertible and it (surprise, surprise) has a folding hardtop. The roof is a power-operated thing that folds into three pieces; no sunroof or any fancy trickery though. The job from open to close is done in 22 seconds. Yes, all of that metal and extra weight from the roof does mean that the car weighs 200 kg more than the Coupe, but BMW promises it to be rock-solid in terms of rigidity, claiming it’s their best convertible in terms of stiffness.
I think it’s a bit silly for BMW to have gone and given its convertible a hard top when it already has a perfectly good coupe. Anyhow, the 3-Series Convertible doesn’t suffer too badly from the big booty that most folding hardtop convertibles have, though its trunk is a tad on the small side. Power comes from a variety of gasoline and diesel inline-six motors, including the bonkers 306-hp twin-turbo I-6 from the 335i coupe. The range will then be expanded to include more diesels, and a 170-hp four-cylinder.
BMW’s also managed to come up with the solution of skin-searing leather without resorting to a complicated and costly ventilated seating system (which most car companies don’t offer). A new infra-red reflective dye for the leather enables the seats and armrests to stay a peachy 20 degrees cooler than the standard cowhide.