The new BMW M3 Convertible, the third derivative and concluding chapter in the current M3 line-up, adds a new dimension to the BMW M ownership experience.

Not only is the new open-topped M3 the first M car to feature a Retractable Hard-Top, it’s the first M3 Convertible to be powered by a V8 engine and the first BMW to feature an all-new seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission (M DCT) as an alternative to the standard six-speed manual gearbox.

Although it possesses the same 4.0-litre, 420hp V8 engine as its M3 Coupé and M3 Saloon siblings, the fourth-generation M3 Convertible is very much a model in its own right. It has been designed from the ground up to be a four-seat convertible with supercar performance that showcases market-leading technology.

BMW M3 Convertible (manual gearbox)
Power (Hp) 420 Torque (Nm) 400 Zero to 62mph 5.3 Combined mpg 21.9 Emissions (g/km) 309 Price OTR £54,760

BMW M3 Convertible (with M DCT gearbox)
Power (Hp) 420 Torque (Nm) 400 Zero to 62mph 5.1 Combined mpg 23.0 Emissions (g/km) 293 Price OTR £57,350

The new M3 Convertible produces more than twice the power of the original 1988 model, yet the spirit and design philosophy remains the same. With outputs of 420hp and 400 Nm, and following the precedent set by its forebears, the M3 Convertible engine comfortably breaks the all-important 100hp per litre barrier. What’s more, the new model has a power to weight ratio that is over 10 per cent higher than the outgoing E46 M3 Convertible – itself the previous benchmark open-top sports convertible.

EfficientDynamics at the performance end of the market
The new M3 Convertible is both more fuel efficient and produces less C02 than its predecessor, despite this breathtaking performance. The introduction of BMW’s EfficientDynamics programme – which features Brake Energy Regeneration, Optimum Shift Indicator and lightweight materials – ensures that both running costs and emissions are kept to a minimum. The M3 Convertible returns 21.9 mpg on the combined cycle – a five per cent improvement over the previous generation model.

Transmission champ
A new option for all M3 buyers is BMW’s new seven-speed M DCT gearbox. Offering drivers the chance to enjoy seamless gearshifts with no interruption in power delivery, this state-of-the-art transmission is so efficient that it outperforms the manual gearbox car in terms of acceleration, fuel economy and emissions.

Lifting the lid
The new BMW M3 Convertible is the first M car to feature a Retractable Hard-Top as standard. The electro-hydraulic roof is fully automatic and can be lowered in
22 seconds. The M3 Convertible is fitted with SunReflective leather, allowing owners to leave the top down for extended periods without the risk of the seat leather overheating. With SunReflective leather, which was initially developed by BMW Motorrad to keep motorbike riders cool in hot climes, the surface temperature remains up to 20 degrees Celsius lower than conventional leather.

Chassis
Underneath the M3 Convertible’s muscular torso lies a chassis and suspension system tailor-made for the demanding requirements of an open-top car. Torsional rigidity has been significantly improved over the previous model, while the suspension has been fine-tuned to take into account the specific weight distribution of a convertible.

Safety
The combination of a strong structure and advanced occupant restraint systems means the BMW M3 Convertible offers the highest possible standards of passive and active safety for occupants. Like the standard 3-Series Convertible, the M3 version is equipped with a rollover sensor system that constantly monitors the vertical and horizontal movement of the car. If the sensors (which are located in the centre of the car, on the B pillars and in the doors) detect that a rollover is imminent, roll bars located behind the rear headrests pop up. At the same time, the front seatbelt pre-tensioners are activated and the head/thorax airbags are deployed.

M3 Convertible key facts:
• First M3 Convertible to feature a Retractable Hard-Top roof.
• The only high-performance convertible in the sector to incorporate specialist environmental fuel-saving and emissions-reducing technology.
• First M3 Convertible to be powered by a V8 engine.
• The eight-cylinder engine is lighter than the outgoing six-cylinder unit.
• First M3 Convertible to feature M Double Clutch Transmission. Available as a £2,590 option. And it’s cleaner, faster and more frugal than a manual transmission.
• 0-62mph time of 5.1 seconds* makes it the fastest M3 Convertible ever.

Hope you like this short video clip… Bid It… Bid It…

Advantages of BMW M3 Convertible: good look, secure, high displacement and high brake horse power
Disadvantages of BMW M3 Convertible:  price

Is it real? Yes. As in previous M3 introductions, the hardtop version came first, the convertible followed a respectful distance behind. So it is with the latest M3.

What they said: “And even though the M3 is inspired by the best race cars, what is really significant about it is the balance it achieves between really sporty racecar performance on the one hand and something you can use to take your kids to school on the other.”

 What they didn’t say: Based on the existing 3 Series convertible, the M3 unfortunately gets that car’s convertible hardtop. Although having a steel roof over your head instead of a ragtop sounds like an upgrade, it isn’t if you actually plan on using the trunk with the top down. Good luck getting the kids’ soccer equipment in there. To make up for the top eating up the trunk space, the back seat folds down for more storage. There’s even hooks to hang plastic grocery bags — yes, in an M3.

What makes it tick? A 414-horsepower V-8 with 295 pound-feet of torque replaces the in-line 6 of the E46, the last M3. And like the E46, the convertible weighs a few hundred pounds more than the hardtop version, making its 0-60 time convertible almost a half-second slower. The car comes with a 6-speed manual transmission, but is also being offered with a new 7-speed double-clutch transmission, which BMW says provides more continuous power than the SMG transmission that was offered in the E46.

Arriving as much of the U.S. awakens from a long, cold winter, the BMW M3 convertible is an ideal New York auto show debut to usher in the coming warmer months.

Available this spring, the M3 convertible will start at $65,725 including the $775 destination charge and features a power-retractable hardtop and a 414-hp V-8 that can propel it from zero to 60 mph in as little as 5.1 seconds.

Start shopping for your dream BMW M3 Convertible at deep discount: