BMW 435i M Sport Convertible - One Good Reason To Break The Rules

BMW 435i M Sport Convertible - One Good Reason To Break The Rules

BMW 435i M Sport white Showcase

At Top Gear, we employ several sets of rules. Nothing too strict, really. Just simple slices of etiquette such as, “when in doubt, go flat out”, “always pick the V8”, and “you’re not a petrol head till you’ve owned an Alfa”. But there’s another steadfast rule, namely “no man is to ever share an open-topped sports or luxury car with another man, especially in vests”, unless your lifestyle supports that sort of thing. If it doesn’t, well the last thing you want is your mouth writing checks that your... well, you get the picture.

Yet pair up we did, in twos and sometimes three at a time on a recent test drive of the new BMW 435i Convertible between the Las Vegas Speedway and the Valley of Fire, both situated in Nevada, USA. Even in the sub-20 degree climate, the desert air provided enough heat to make the prospect of piloting an alfresco BMW a pleasant enough experience, so the appropriate button was thumbed and the three-piece metal folding roof given another chance to impress us with its 20-second flamenco into the boot – a feat possible at speeds not exceeding 18kph.

The interior of BMW 435i M Sport

On that subject, the coupé-cum-cabrio boasts an aerodynamic drag value of 0.28 with the slippery top up, and a still penetrative 0.33 when it’s down.

We had been ushered into a white 435i derivative, so here was a blown straight six spewing forth 225kW and 400Nm to the rear wheels, much like its predecessor, the outgoing 335i Convertible. The new car is 40 per cent stiffer and 20kg lighter, with an extra 20 litres of luggage space. And since it’s based on the 3 Series saloon, it also benefits from a longer wheelbase, wider footprint, and a lower and more purposeful stance. So it’s bigger, but is it better?

Headlight test BMW 435i

In a word, yes. The latest 3 Series was a marked improvement over the previous car and the 4 Series Coupe is a marginally sportier iteration. This car feels nearly identical, a refreshing example of a nip and tuck that hasn’t neutered the dynamics. Even with the USA’s tediously restrictive speed limits and oppressive nature of the local law, we were able to whip the 4 Series through the red canyon walls at a fair pace, showcasing a typical BMW helm – thick-rimmed, heavy, and full of feed-back. Handling felt perfectly complementary, and the engine/transmission combo remains a gem for spirited driving especially when the road ahead isn’t bone straight, encouraging the ZF ’box to send the revs bouncing as it swaps with conviction from cog to cog. There’s a lot of driving pleasure to be had here, paired with great comfort and bags of luxury too. But still, get it only if you have a very valid excuse not to take the more affordable Coupe and even then only if you’re secure about your male identity. That turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six will definitely help you with the latter.