BMW introduced a redesigned 3-Series for 2019 and today we have new spy shots of a prototype for the related 4-Series, specifically the 4-Series Convertible.
The redesigned 4-Series is expected to debut in late 2019 as a 2020 model, but in coupe form only initially. The convertible will trail the coupe by about six months to a year, meaning we should see it arrive as a 2021 model.
BMW is clearly going for an evolutionary look for its new 4-Series though one major change with the convertible will be a switch to a soft-top roof instead of the current model's retractable hardtop. The simpler, sleeker design should not only improve the way the 4-Series Convertible looks but also make it lighter and more dynamic. Soft-top roofs also tend to take up less space in the trunk when folded.
Further weight savings should result from the adoption of BMW's multi-material CLAR modular platform. The new platform, which debuted in the 2016 7-Series, also means the possibility of electrified powertrains.
2021 BMW 4-Series Convertible spy shots - Image via S. Baldauf/SB-Medien
The core powertrains should be turbocharged 4- and 6-cylinder inline engines displacing 2.0 and 3.0 liters, respectively. The 2.0-liter mill should feature in a 430i model while the 3.0-liter mill should be reserved for an M440i M Performance model. Diesel and plug-in hybrid options should also be in the pipeline
Performance fans can look forward to a new generation of the M4 also coming with the convertible body style. It will pack BMW M's new S58 engine, a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-6 that should deliver around 473 horsepower in the M4.
The interior of the new 4-Series will be familiar to anyone who's been in a modern BMW. There will be a new digital instrument cluster however, which will be joined by a large infotainment screen. Natural-speak voice activation should also feature in the car.
Beyond the coupe and convertible body styles, the redesigned 4-Series will also spawn a Gran Coupe liftback sedan. An electric i4 will also join the range in 2021.
