BMW M cars and convertibles are not something you see that often in India, but BMW, listening to its customers’ needs, has launched the M440i Convertible in India at ₹1.09 crore, ex-showroom. The baby M4 gets the same underpinnings as the M340i, but comes with a two plus two seating configuration and a soft-top roof that opens and closes in 18 seconds, while retaining the same turbocharged inline-six engine producing 369bhp. It is for those who want the thrill of an M car but don’t want to miss out on the convertible experience.
Exteriors
The standout feature of the new BMW M440i is that it gets a fabric soft-top roof compared to the hard-top roof of the previous-generation 4 Series Convertible. The roof opens and closes in 18 seconds at speeds of up to 50 kmph. Other changes on the exterior include a bigger, redesigned kidney grille, fresher M Adaptive LED headlamps and taillamps inspired by the M4 CSL, an M Sport diffuser, along with 19-inch alloy wheels and dual exhaust tips at the rear.
BMW is offering the M440i in eight new colour options: Portimao Blue, Brooklyn Grey, Cape York Green, Fire Red, Arctic Race Blue, Black Sapphire, Mineral White, and Alpine White.
Engine and Gearbox
Powering the BMW M440i is a 3-litre turbocharged ‘B58’ straight-six engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, producing 369bhp and 500Nm of torque, mated to an eight-speed gearbox. It gets BMW’s xDrive system, which helps propel it from 0 to 100kmph in 4.9 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 250kmph. It also comes equipped with the BMW M Sport exhaust, adaptive sports dampers, an M Sport rear differential, variable sport steering, and M Sport brakes to enhance its sporty M credentials.
Interiors
On the inside, it gets a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with BMW iDrive 8.5, along with a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display. It gets a 2+2 seating configuration on the inside, with sport seats as standard with a memory function, a three-spoke leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, and M Sport bits sprinkled over the interior, with Sensatec upholstery available in Black, Tacora Red, or Cognac colourways. Other features include a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a head-up display, and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
Safety features include six airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), hill hold, a vehicle immobiliser, and ISOFIX anchor points.
Prices and rivals
The BMW M440i offers serious M car performance with the added cool factor of a convertible. It is one of the few convertibles on sale in India, with its competitors being the Mercedes CLA Cabriolet and the BMW Z4 in BMW’s own lineup. BMW has launched the M440i at ₹1.09 crore, ex-showroom. The bookings are now open, and deliveries will begin shortly.
