Spotted: BMW i4 Convertible Affirms That Electric Convertibles Are Becoming Mainstream

      Stefan Baldauf / SB-Medien

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      We now have confirmation from a spied prototype that a BMW i4 Cabriolet is indeed in development. It appears that it will feature the Neue Klasse design and utilize a traditional cloth roof rather than a folding hardtop. Insiders suggest that this model is expected to debut for the 2028 model year.

      Convertible electric vehicles are (almost) nonexistent, with the Maserati Gran Cabrio Folgore being the only genuine option at the moment. The unfortunate Polestar had envisioned an exciting electric convertible called the Polestar 6. I recall seeing a concept of it at The Quail a few years ago and found it captivating, but I wasn’t surprised by its postponement. With Polestar’s current situation in the U.S., it seems unlikely that this vehicle will reach production.

      However, BMW has a solid understanding of the automotive market and a long-standing history of producing convertibles. It will be intriguing to see what compromises the i4 Cabriolet will need to make regarding weight and range to be practical. Perhaps the inherent skateboard-like design of electric platforms will actually make this a superior option compared to some existing convertible models.

      The current i4 is available in four main variants, all featuring a “gran coupe” (sleek four-door) design: i4 eDrive40 (the base model with 335 horsepower), i4 xDrive40 (all-wheel drive with increased power), and i4 M60 (the performance variant until a true i4 M is introduced).

      The range for these vehicles varies from approximately 230 to 330 miles, depending on specifications.

      It’s very likely that BMW will also launch an i4 hardtop coupe around the same time as this Cabriolet, but the U.S. release for both may lag behind that of Europe. A local BMW representative mentioned that U.S. dealers are having difficulty securing iX3 allocations due to high demand for those models back in Germany.

      Convertibles may not make much practical sense, but they are undeniably enjoyable to drive. If you disagree, you simply haven’t experienced one in the right conditions. In any case, I’m excited to see that automakers are still embracing a sense of fun.

      Spotted a prototype? Inform us at tips@thedrive.com.