Currently reading: 2021 BMW M4 Competition gets four-wheel-drive convertible

Lighter new fabric-roof M4 packs 503bhp and 479lb ft, and is not available with rear-wheel drive

BMW’s M line-up continues to swell following the introduction of the new BMW M4 Competition Convertible M xDrive, which is lighter and more powerful than its BMW predecessor and has an extra driven axle.

Based on the recently revealed BMW M4 Competition M xDrive, the new M model swaps the previous-generation convertible’s folding hard top for a fabric roof, which is said to weigh around 40% less.

As on the standard BMW 4 Series Convertible, it can be opened or closed in 18 seconds at vehicle speeds of up to 31mph, and it minimises heat loss and cabin noise with the use of a glass rear window and panel bow structural elements.

The M4 Convertible is priced from £81,915, a £3600 premium over the four-wheel-drive coupé, and will enter production at the same time in July. BMW has no plans to introduce a cheaper rear-driven version.

It will share its 503bhp, 479lb ft 3.0-litre straight-six engine with the hard-top and is only 0.2sec slower in the 0-62mph sprint, at 3.7sec. The top speed is limited to 155mph. The convertible seats four, with a standard-fit Air Collar system directing warm air to passengers’ necks and heads to maximise comfort when the roof is down.

BMW says the fabric roof liberates 80 litres more boot space when stowed compared with its metal predecessor, giving the car a roof-down luggage capacity of 300 litres.

Electrically adjustable, heated sports seats come as standard, although the coupé’s optional carbonfibre bucket seats are available, too.

The convertible also gets three-zone automatic climate control, LED interior lighting and a Harman Kardon sound system as standard.

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Felix Page

Felix Page
Title: Deputy editor

Felix is Autocar's deputy editor, responsible for leading the brand's agenda-shaping coverage across all facets of the global automotive industry - both in print and online.

He has interviewed the most powerful and widely respected people in motoring, covered the reveals and launches of today's most important cars, and broken some of the biggest automotive stories of the last few years. 

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Peter Cavellini 26 May 2021

The say there's a Car to suit everyone, well, I dare say you'll get a better exhaust sound with the Roof down, and it'll be fine in certain areas of the country I live, but, for the money I'd save, I'll have a roof carbon Roof please.

Bimfan 26 May 2021

I had an F83 M4 convertible, and while this one will undoubtedly be better with a smoother auto box rather than the hesitant and jerky DCT7 of that car and a lighter less rattly fabric roof, the nature of the M drivetrain and lack of bushing compliance in the suspension, doesn't lend itself to the top down cruising driving experience.

Also, I don't want to decide between nine driving mode parameters before I set off, I just want to put the top down and enjoy the rays. Ok, the engine and exhaust noise are lovely at full noise, but its basically too track focused to work well as a convertible.

As someone else has said, the M440i will be the nicer to have convertible for 99% of the time.  

CarDesign 26 May 2021
The first two-tonne M3?