BMW M4 Convertible

The 2022 model year marks the addition of the Convertible to the M4 lineup and will be only available in a single trim to choose from this year. For 2022, BMW M4 Convertible comes in the full-blown Competition trim with the xDrive AWD package as standard for the first time. Mechanicals stay identical to its coupe sibling and the 3.0L twin-turbo inline-6 stays untouched. A lightweight trunk lid and carbon fiber reinforced roof mechanism promise to shed even more weight from the previous generation of convertibles. 

The 2022 BMW M4 Convertible gets a host of standard equipment while the Competition package brings in more lightweight stuff. The cabin comes loaded as you would expect for the price and features like a 12.3-inch driver’s display, a 10.1 infotainment system, premium leather upholstery, multi-zone climate controls, heated power-adjustable sports seats, and ambient lighting all come in as standard. 

You get LED exterior light all around and the car stands on 19/20-inch combination M-Sport wheels. Adaptive suspension and electronically controlled dampers come in from the factory while carbon-ceramic brake rotors are an $8,150 option. That’s not all, BMW also offers a myriad of options in their configurator which could push up the prices of this car past 100 grand quite easily. 

Which trim should you buy?

Since the 2022 BMW M4 Convertible will only be made available in a single trim, there is nothing much to choose from. BMW does offer a plethora of safety, convenience, and performance add-ons as options but we think the car comes well rounded from the factory. The only option we would recommend going for is the $4,700 M Carbon fiber exterior package as it does help in boosting the sporty appeal.

2022 BMW M4 Convertible Release Date

BMW has already brought in the online configurator and has started accepting bookings for the 2022 BMW M4 Convertible. The productions are set to go by the end of the third quarter this year with deliveries expected through the fourth quarter.

Fuel efficiency is not one of the strong points of the2022 BMW M4 Convertible. With a claimed combined efficiency of 18 mpg, you are looking at anywhere around a 280-mile range on mixed driving conditions. Also, the tiny 15.6-gallon gas tank is of no help in improving things and with a maximum efficiency number of 23mpg on the highways, the possible range you can squeeze out from this car is limited to around 360 miles, which is not all that impressive for what basically is a cruising machine.

The Lexus LC 500, despite sporting a massive 5.0 V8, comes up with some surprising numbers on the highways. It manages to return close to 25 mpg thanks to that 10-speed transmission. This combined with the class-biggest, 21.7-gallon tank, you can easily extract over the 500-mile range from this machine, something unseen in this class. It does fall in city efficiency though, returning just 15 mpg. The C63 S Convertible hits the sweet spot with decent economy figures and a rather big fuel tank. The Camaro with its big block drinks a lot of gas but manages to cope up with a large fuel tank. The BMW meanwhile, does lack both a real-time economy and a big gas tank falling to the bottom of the pack.

BMW has always been one of those premium brands that has been sticking to the conventional dashboard layout and in this day and age of buttonless experience, we think it is a boon. There are lots of metal tactile and backlit buttons throughout the center stack providing easy access to basic controls. Everything is named and is placed where you expect it to be. A 12.3-ch driver information screen and a 10.25-inch iDrive system keep everything in sync with modern times.

There is a lot of leather and soft-touch material in use. Carbon fiber trims and Competition brand badges at places remind you that you are sitting in something special. The M-Sport steering wheel is chunky and feels great to hold. The sports seats hold you nicely and there are a million ways to adjust them. You get over 41-inches of legroom so there’s enough space to play with. The second row meanwhile is best left unused. With literally no legroom and the roof touching your head, claustrophobia is sure to set in quickly.

The Lexus LC 500 offers the best front seat experience here. If you plan to take the car to distances, there is nothing more comfortable than the Lexus here. What doesn’t work for it is the tiny 3.4 cu-ft. trunk, smallest in the company. The rest of the pack stays almost the same with one bettering the other two variably. The M4 Convertible surprisingly has the biggest trunk on offer in this comparison and is almost thrice the size of the smallest one here. Some standout cabin features expected in the 2022 BMW M4 Convertible are;

• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 10.1-ich BMW iDrive system
• Heads-up-display
• 3-spoke leather-wrapped M-sport steering wheel with paddle shifters
• Multi-zone climate control system
• Leather upholstery
• 3-stage heated front seats
• Power front seats with backlit M-logo, power bolster, and 4-way power lumbar
• Multi-adjustable ambient lighting
• Auto-Dimming inside RVMs.
• M-seat belts

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2022 BMW M4 Convertible would come with a 10.25-inch color touchscreen/ infotainment system with an iDrive 7.0 user interface. The initial impression on the unit stands decent. It definitely is not the most responsive screen out there but does offer an easy-to-browse interface. The iDrive touchpad, as always, is a wasted addition to the touch screen. 

The system offers real-time navigation with traffic updates. Android Auto, Apple Carplay, and Sirius XM come in as standard. A 12-speaker 408-watt premium audio system also comes in as standard. BMW-connected services and BMW teleservices can also be availed through this system. Some standout infotainment features expected in the 2022 BMW M4 Convertible are;

• 10.1-inch touchscreen with iDrive 7.0
• Advanced real-time traffic information
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity
• BMW Connected Services
• Hands-free Bluetooth with audio streaming
• 12-speaker 405 Watts Harman Kardon premium Audio system
• Remote software upgrade capability.

The looks of the 2022 BMW M4 convertible have been receiving so much criticism and have already earned the title of being one of the worst designed front ends in the brand’s history. The already clumsy silhouette would find it hard to impress people sporting the black soft drop-top. We could not go on entirely criticizing the big nose as like every other great design, it might grow on us as we start seeing more of these on the streets.

The design gets a bit more interesting as we reach the tail end, with those 3D tail lamps reminding us of the sleek Z4s and 8 series. The sculpted muscular bumper with the low diffuser and four-tip exhaust makes it look properly sporty from the back. The animated tail lights, the 19”/20” combo M-wheels, and the Shadowline exterior trim does help it garner some attention. The $4,700 m carbon-fiber exterior package will help spice up things a bit more.

The Camaro ZL1, despite housing the biggest engine here, comes out to be the lightest measuring in at just 4,120 pounds. That is over 15 pounds of the second lightest car here, the C 63 S Convertible. The LC 500 Convertible boasts the longest wheelbase here, thus offering the best cabin experience along with the heaviest body. Meanwhile, the 2022 BMW M4 convertible strikes a middle ground, offering the best possible room without compromising practicality. Some standout exterior features expected in the 2022 BMW M4 Convertible are;

• 19”/20” M double-spoke Bi-color wheels
• Shadowline exterior trim (gloss black trims)
• Sports exhaust with quad tailpipes
• Twin-slat kidney grille
• Carbon fiber reinforced roof
• LED headlamps with programmable LED daytime running light
• Adaptive LED brake lights

The2022 BMW M4 convertible has not undergone any kind of crash test by the IIHS or the NHTSA, nor has its coupe counterpart. This has not kept BMW from packing in the latest driver assistance system into the car and the car comes with a whole host of it. The 2022 BMW M4 convertible also comes with some of the most advanced roll-over protection systems given the car has a retractable roof. Multistage airbags, automatic locking retractors, enhanced automatic collision notification and battery terminal disconnecting impact sensors are all part of the standard package. Some standout safety features expected in the 2022 BMW M4 Convertible are;

• Active driving assistant
• Frontal collision warning
• Active blind-spot detection
• Lane departure warning
• Automatic High beams
• Dynamic cruise control
• Adaptive tail lights
• Front and rear park distance control
• Rear-view camera

2022 BMW M4 Convertible vs 2021 Mercedes AMG C63 S Convertible

Both cars have nothing between them when it comes to base prices. Even though the BMW looks down on performance on paper, it is the quicker car here. Developed from the roots of the M4, the 2022 BMW M4 Convertible also sets the handling benchmark of drop-tops.

The BMW turns out to be slightly more practical with its bigger boot while the Mercedes hits back with its better fuel economy numbers and drivable range. You could also say that the Mercedes looks a bit better in comparison. That said since performance is the primary focus here, the 2022 BMW M4 Convertible takes a slight edge over the Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 S convertible.

2022 BMW M4 Convertible vs 2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible

The 2021 Lexus LC 500 sells at a considerably high price tag over the 2022 BMW M4 Convertible. For that money, you get a relaxing and opulent cabin with a stress-free powertrain on duty, perfect for cruising duties. It also has the biggest gas tank, making it capable of cruising over 500 miles on a stretch.

The one thing is standing against it is the tiny cargo area, a place where the BMW trumps. The BMW is also quicker and engaging to drive the machine over here. So, going down in one is completely dependent on what your requirements are and the willingness to spend over 100 grand on a car.

2022 BMW M4 Convertible vs 2021 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible

The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 convertible starts at a lower price tag. You also get more power and torque from Chevy’s big-block V8 as well. It is also the only one with a six-speed manual on offer here. But when it comes to real-world performance, the BMW outshines the Camaro ZL1 Convertible partly because the Chevy makes it a bit of a handful for many.

The 2022 BMW M4 Convertible also turns out to be an efficient, much better built, and well-equipped premium option here making it worth every penny you pay extra over the Camaro ZL1 Convertible.

Looks are the primary reason behind getting a car but in reality, it doesn’t tell you half the story of what the actual car is capable of. This is the case with the 2022 BMW M4 convertible as well. Hiding under all the controversy the design has stirred up is a mechanically sorted machine. It is easily the most capable convertible in its class and no amount of belittlement can harm its dynamic potency. Add to that the decent fuel economy, comfortable cabin, and class-leading practicality, you have got yourselves an all-rounder convertible here, perhaps the best one.