BMW Opens Up

BMW’s new 3 Series sedan is strong and agile. The recently added coupe has a quite different personality, including a 300-horsepower, twin-turbo-charged version. Everyone knew a convertible would be coming, and BMW fashioned it to impersonate the coupe—that is, until a 22-second conversion hides its three-section hardtop under the rear deck.

Coupe buyers want a lean, quick car and don’t especially like convertibles; convertible buyers want open-air freedom and the right appearance and don’t particularly like coupes. Both will love this convertible in either its 335 sport or 328 base form. The most performance-oriented BMW drivers won’t be disappointed, either.

Indeed, the new four-seat convertible has sweeping and beautiful contours, but it’s no mere boulevardier. BMW’s latest technology for stability, braking, active steering, and other attributes of superb handling are apparent. And with engine performance all important for any BMW, both convertibles come with smooth-shifting six-speed transmissions in either manual or automatic. The 328 has plenty of zip with 230 horsepower; the 335 has the same engine with two turbochargers, one assigned to eliminate the low-speed lag of most turbos.

With the top down, interior wind buffeting is as nonexistent as any cowl shake from the reinforced body. Top up . . . well, the test drive was in Miami, so I don’t recall having the top up. But what could be better in Minnesota than a convertible that ducks under a secure hardtop for the winter?

In its fourth-generation design, interior space is increased for both front and rear seats, and front shoulder harnesses are built into the bucket-seat backs to allow easier access to the rear.

Ergonomic and safety features demonstrate BMW’s ever-rising standards. Rain-sensing wipers are an example. So are active headlights that throw their brilliant beam around upcoming curves. After an accident serious enough to deploy the dual-stage airbags, a crash-sensing system automatically turns on interior lights and external hazard flashers, disconnects the battery terminal to prevent fires, and unlocks the doors in order to aid rescuers.

Such measures are thoughtful, but may not be top of mind for buyers. “If a BMW is not fun to drive, we’re out of business,” said BMW North America President Tom Purves during the car’s March introduction. BMW doesn’t have to worry about that. In a slumping market, its 3 Series is leading the company’s rising sales. The new convertible indicates that the sky is the limit—and you can see it simply by pulling a switch.