The convertible hits UK showrooms on 5 April, and will go head-to-head with Audi’s new A3 Cabriolet. Crucially in this fashion-conscious sector of the market, it looks every bit as good as the pretty CS1 show car.
The distinctive profile is long, with a sporty nose-down shape and strong shoulder line. The fabric roof folds back neatly and is stowed beneath a metal tonneau cover behind the rear seats, providing the newcomer with an uninterrupted look.
BMW’s design team resisted the temptation to go for a folding hard-top on the grounds of style and practicality – and with the roof down, it’s hard to disagree, because the 1-Series appears clean and well proportioned. Yet while a soft-top mechanism takes up far less boot space than a metal hood would, the rather measly 305-litre luggage capacity is still reduced to 260 litres in top-down mode.
The roof does score for its operation, though – it’s fully automatic and folds away in 22 seconds. It can be operated at speeds of up to 30mph, too, so you won’t be forced to hold up traffic as you struggle to protect yourself from a sudden rain shower or get caught out at traffic lights.
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