Summary
BMW plans to release electric i4 Convertible and Coupe versions in 2028. These new two-door models will be built using BMW’s advanced 800-volt Neue Klasse platform, and will fill a significant gap in the current electric convertible market.
BMW plans to release an all-electric i4 Convertible around 2028. Known internally as the NA3, this new model will be built using BMW’s next-generation Neue Klasse platform. It’s designed with a classic convertible layout – meaning it will have a fabric soft top, seating for four, and two doors. Unlike some modern convertibles, it won’t use a retractable hardtop. Simultaneously, BMW is also developing an i4 Coupe (codename NA2) with the same 2028 timeframe.
Developing an electric convertible usually creates significant challenges for engineers, often leading to heavier cars with weaker structures and reduced driving range. BMW’s new ‘Neue Klasse’ platform addresses this issue directly. This advanced electrical system allows for extremely fast charging – up to 400 kW – and originally promised a range of around 440 miles in the upcoming i3 sedan. Even though the i4 Convertible will have an open roof (reducing aerodynamic efficiency) and require extra weight for reinforcement, it’s expected to still offer over 350 miles on a single charge. Inside, drivers can expect BMW’s latest Panoramic iDrive X system featuring a display projected onto the windshield.
Electric convertibles are extremely rare worldwide. Besides a few limited releases in Europe, like the Fiat 500e cabrio and MG Cyberster, American buyers only have one choice: the very expensive Maserati GranCabrio Folgore, which costs over $200,000. Other companies, such as Tesla and Polestar, have delayed their planned roadsters repeatedly. BMW avoids the high costs of developing a dedicated convertible by using a common platform for all its cars, allowing them to utilize their existing dealerships and customer base.
The launch of these two new models marks a significant shift for the brand. Production of the current i4 Gran Coupe will end next year, with a gap before the updated NA2 and NA3 versions arrive. The gasoline-powered 4 Series convertibles will stop being made around mid-2029, meaning both gas and electric versions will be available for about a year. Currently, there are no plans to replace the gasoline coupes in the next ten years, so the electric i4 models could become the only remaining 4 Series vehicles.
2026-07-28 11:56