With all the excitement surrounding the Mercedes-AMG GT, BMW snuck out photos of the 2-Series convertible, the replacement for the 1-Series convertible. The BMW 228i and M235i convertibles will go on sale in the United States in early 2015, with the car debuting at the Paris and Los Angeles car shows later in the year.
Aesthetically, the 2-Series cabriolet is identical to the 2-Series Coupe we wrote about last October, minus the metal roof of course. The automatic-folding cloth-top comes in black, brown, or anthracite colors; the top goes up or down in 20 seconds and can be operated at speeds of up to 30 mph. The interior is also the same as the coupe.
The BMW 228i convertible is powered by a 2.0 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, which is also found on the 228i coupe and 328i sedan, producing 240 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels or all four wheels with the xDrive system, via an 8-speed automatic transmission. The RWD 228i convertible reaches 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, while the AWD 228i xDrive convertible does it in 5.6 seconds.
The higher-trim BMW M235i cabriolet is powered by a 3.0 liter inline-6 engine, producing 320 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic gearbox. The manual reaches 60 mph in 5.0 seconds and the automatic does it in 4.8 seconds, all models have an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.
In the United States, the BMW 228i convertible will have a starting price of $38,850 for the RWD model and $40,650 for the xDrive model. The M235i convertible will start at $48,650.
