This is a car for someone who either really loves the sound of a
straight six, or doesn’t want a smaller Porsche. We’re just not sure if
that person exists…
This is our first taste of the new BMW 4-series Convertible,
replacement for the 3-series Convertible range owing to BMW’s
even-numbers-for-coupes-and-convertibles policy. On paper this thing
looks good: 0-62mph in 5.5sec, a turbocharged six-cylinder, rear-wheel
drive… There’s also more rear passenger space and the boot is 20 litres
larger than before, at 370 litres.
Looks good in the metal, too. The 435i’s exterior is clearly the most
elegant of the 3- and 4-series range, building on that wide angry nose
back to the stretched taillights that give it a mini-6-series stance. It
has presence, yet isn’t over-imposing. It’s the same length as the 4-series Coupe, but that flatter bootlid gives it a more graceful, elegant look along with the polished 19-inch alloys.
It’s a handsome package, both in and out, but it seems as if BMW is
playing it a little safe, especially on the inside. There’s nothing
wrong with this interior: it’s well made, stylish and is loaded with
gear. Yet the brown undertones in our test car look cheap, as does the
cap over the dash. The interior is outclassed by the new 2014 Mercedes C-class’s cabin and give Audi an open goal when the next A5 arrives before 2016 too.
That said, this is a great car to drive – moderately, that is,
because the 435i provides a comfy, pampered driving experience. The
seating position is low, snug and offers superb vision, with everything
in easy reach. The optional head-up display is greatly underrated, and
it only adds to the joy of getting mild sunburn as we drive the 435i
through the Valley of Fire in a loop from Las Vegas Speedway.
The long sweeping corners are perfect for it: the 302bhp turbocharged
straight six has enough muscle and a great note, despite having no more
power or torque than in both the Coupe and the old E93 335i. It’s the
eight-speed auto that’s making the car feel different: it replaces the
old 335i’s superb seven-speed dual-clutch auto, and helps improve fuel
economy from 32.1 to 37.1mpg, though the coupe edges ahead with 39.2mpg
because it’s a massive 225kg lighter.
It’s not just the mpg that’s affected by the additional kilos: it’s
the drive too, and you can feel that heft as soon as you start to move.
The 435i feels heavy, with a reluctance to get the ball rolling, and a
soggy throttle with less swagger and agility than the 435i Coupe. It’s
well balanced, but it’s simply not as reactive, entertaining or
involving as the fixed-roof version. It’s perfect for cruising, though,
with superb refinement when the roof is up – which now takes 20sec, a
three-second improvement versus the old model – and a comfortable ride
on the admittedly smooth Nevada blacktop.
Yet this is a £45k car (gulp) stuck in a not-so-fast, not-so-frugal
no-man’s land where we’d rather be daft and buy an M4 Convertible, or be
sensible as can be with a 420d drop-top
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