2014 BMW 4 Series Convertible Preview: 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show

The 2014 BMW 4 Series convertible steps out alongside the recently-revealed 4 Series coupe to flesh out BMW's new 4 Series family of compact two-door automobiles.  Intended to take on rivals like the existing Audi A4 convertible and the Infiniti Q60 convertible that is on its way, the BMW 4 Series convertible borrows its drivetrains from the 3 Series sedan while offering open-air motoring and more focused styling.

What’s New for the 2014 BMW 4 Series Convertible:

• The 2014 BMW 4 Series convertible is an all-new model

New 2014 BMW 4 Series Convertible: Styling and Design

The 2014 BMW 4 Series convertible - unsurprisingly - cops its looks from the 4 Series coupe, with the added wrinkle of a retractable hard top.  BMW continues to stick to its hard top guns in the 'vert segment, claiming that buyers are willing to trade less trunk space for year-round comfort and coupe-like styling.  The 4 Series convertible comes across as visually larger than the 3 Series sedan, with a stronger road presence that has seen the car transition more fully from sporty car to GT cruiser.

New 2014 BMW 4 Series Convertible: What’s Under the Hood

The 2014 BMW 4 Series convertible theoretically has access to any of the engines available with the 3 Series sedan, but there's no diesel to be found between the front fenders of this sun-lover.  The base 428i is matched with a turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine good for 240 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque, while the 435i sees the installation of a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder mill that ups the ante to 300 horses and 300 lb-ft of torque.  Bad news for enthusiasts: the 4 Series convertible is automatic-only in the transmission department, boasting an eight-speed gearbox.

New 2014 BMW 4 Series Convertible: What Autobytel Thinks

The 2014 BMW 4 Series convertible will undoubtedly continue to appeal to the legions of fans that the previous-generation 3 Series convertible catered to - only this time, with a softer driving experience and a lack of the same kind of visceral thrills delivered by a manual transmission.  BMW has done a good job of transitioning away from building sports sedans and coupes and instead offering more full luxury vehicles, and the 4 Series convertible is poised to continue the brand's conquest of the premium market.