By: IOL Motoring Staff
BMW has just lifted the lid on its 2 Series Convertible and the brand new ragtop could reach South Africa just before the end of summer, with BMW SA promising to launch it locally during the first quarter of next year.
It has some big shoes to fill, taking over from the discontinued 1 Series Convertible that proved to be the most popular premium model in its class with over 130 000 sold around the globe.
That should be no hassle, given that it brings all the trappings of the rather likeable new 2 Series Coupé with its larger size (71mm longer, 26mm wider) and a more mature design that sets it apart from the regular 1 Series range.
The electrically-folding fabric top does its opening and closing trick in just 20 seconds and at speeds of up to 50km/h and even when the roof is down, you'll still have 280 litres of boot space in which to stash your belongings (or 335 litres when the roof is up). Three roof colours are on offer, namely the standard Black, Anthracite with silver effect and Brown with silver effect - the latter two being optional.
As before, and perhaps not the case for the future model, the 2 Series Convertible is rear-wheel driven. Furthering its dynamic case, the body's torsional rigidity has increased by around 20 percent, compared to its predecessor.
South Africans will have the choice of three engine derivatives for the rear-wheel drive convertible, all of them petrol powered. Those looking for total hairstyle annihilation will gravitate towards the M235i Convertible, shoved along by a 240kW/450Nm 3-litre six-cylinder TwinPower turbopetrol which, according to claims, blasts it from 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds.
The other two options are powered by versions of BMW's 2-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol, with the 228i producing 180kW/350Nm and sprinting to 100 in 6.1s and the 220i delivering 135kW/270Nm and getting to 100 in 7.5s.