2020 BMW 4 Series Convertible nearing production

• New 4 Series will feature distinctive oversized grilles
• Fabric roof replaces bulky folding metal roof
• Set for reveal in late 2020

The new BMW 4 Series Convertible is nearing production, judging by new spy shots that show the car almost uncamouflaged. The car will be officially revealed before the end of the year and will then join the BMW 4 Series coupe in showrooms in 2021. Rivalling the Audi A5 Cabriolet and Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet, it’s likely to have a starting price of around £45,000.

Just like the coupe, the convertible will have a distinctive nose, with darkened headlights sitting either side of two full-height grilles. Despite camouflage, the rear end of the car in these images shows its new tail-lights with broad red LED elements, and we expect the bumper design to be shared with the coupe. This prototype looks to be an M Sport model - the sportiest spec besides the powerful M440i xDrive variant - and it’s likely the UK line-up will consist of these two models only. Unlike the previous model, the new coupe won’t get a Sport trim level, so it’s likely the convertible will follow suit.

New BMW 4 Series coupe vs Audi A5: specs comparison

Besides the oversized grilles, the other big change is that the car gets a fabric roof instead of the metal roof seen on previous models. All of the company’s latest convertibles, including the BMW Z4 and BMW 2 Series Convertible, use a fabric roof now, bringing weight-saving benefits and a more elegant look.

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The 4 Series has a different front end from the BMW 3 Series (on which it’s based) to emphasise the distinction between the two cars. The BMW 4 Series will have a greater focus on performance, so we expect that it’ll be offered with the most powerful engines in the 3 Series range. Most engines will be 2.0-litre units, besides the M440i and the upcoming BMW M4 Convertible. These cars are expected to produce around 370bhp and over 500bhp respectively, using a six-cylinder 3.0-litre engine. An M4 Convertible will likely cost over £60,000.

As with many cars in development, it’s likely a plug-in hybrid version will join the range at some point. If it shares its mechanicals with the BMW 330e hybrid, it’ll feature a 2.0-litre petrol engine alongside an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery. That car offers an electric range of 41 miles, super-low CO2 emissions and up to 289bhp.

The interior is expected to be shared almost entirely with the 3 Series, so you can expect the latest version of BMW’s iDrive infotainment system and a crisp digital instrument cluster - although this may be reserved for higher-spec models.

See which are the best convertibles to buy this year, or read more about the 2020 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.