BMW 2 Series Convertible arrives in Oz

BMW Australia has launched its 2 Series Convertible this week, in a three-variant range echoing the 2 Series Coupe range already on sale.

Initially, the 220i and 228i will be offered in local dealerships, the go-faster M235i variant delayed until April (2015).

"The M235i vehicles have been delayed by one month, and we'll see them here in April," said BMW Australia general manager of corporate communications, Lenore Fletcher, citing supply issues owing to the model's popularity in other markets.

The soft-top four-seater arrives in dealerships from $54,900 (plus on-road costs) for the entry-spec 220i Sport Line, some $7600 above the list price of its nearest competitor – the Audi A3 Attraction Cabriolet.

But in spite of the difference in price, the 2 Series Convertible range is the only real challenger to the five-variant Audi A3 Cabriolet line-up, the pair vying for rank in the niche small prestige convertible segment.

Unlike the four-ring-branded drop-top, however, BMW's 220i Convertible comes with more power (+25kW) and torque (+20Nm), an eight-speed automatic as standard and favoured rear-wheel drive dynamics (the base Audi is front-wheel driven). It's also 1.4sec faster in the sprint to 100km/h (at 7.5sec), although with a combined cycle fuel figure of 6.2L/100km it's thirstier to the tune of 1.3 litres.

Like-for-like the Audi A3 Ambition Cabriolet comes closer on price and specification (from $52,200 plus ORCs) to the entry-spec 2 Series Convertible, although Audi does not offer an immediate rival to BMW's 228i Convertible (from $68,990 plus ORCs), despite also offering its Ambition-spec Cabiolet with quattro permanent all-wheel drive (from $55,200 plus ORCs).

All-wheel drive (xDrive in BMW parlance) is not available anywhere in the local 2 Series line-up. But 228i Coupe and Convertible and M235i Coupe and Convertible models are sold in North American and selected European markets.

Currently, BMW will not offer its 140kW/400Nm turbo-diesel-powered 220d Convertible in Australia. This leaves BMW with no competitor against Audi's A3 Ambition 2.0TDI Cabriolet (from $52,500 plus ORCs). BMW says take-up of diesel-powered models within the segment was expected to be too small to make it worthwhile, adding complexity at a dealer level as a further issue.

That leaves BMW's turbocharged six-cylinder M235i Convertible (from $85,800 plus ORCs) to play-off against the Audi S3 Cabriolet (from $70,500 plus ORCs) at the top of the tree. With 30kW more power (240kW) and 70Nm more torque (450Nm) the rear-wheel drive M235i Convertible seems worth the extra coin. Though plaudits for Audi's quattro permanent all-wheel drive run high, arguably negating the increased power (and price) of the Bavarian marque.

BMW Australia says it's conscious of the separation in price and specification between its nearest (read: only) prestige soft-top competitor, telling motoring.com.au the 2 Series Convertible will likely appeal to a different buyer.

"It's a classic BMW that we think is really going to make a mark, and that we think will really help us grow our volume this year," said BMW Australia's head of product and marketing, Shawn Ticehurst.

"It's beautifully balanced, it's all about style and it has exceptional build quality. BMW innovation shows through and through in this car, and they're not common at this price point. We've worked very hard with our colleagues in Munich to get an accessible price point on this car, and at $54,900 we're confident we've achieved that for the marketplace."

Mercedes-Benz does not currently offer an immediate rival to the BMW 2 Series Convertible nor the Audi A3 Cabriolet. Presently the cheapest convertible model in Mercedes' local line-up is the entry-spec SLK 200, which retails from $87,200 (plus ORCs). The two-seater competes closely with the Audi TT Roadster, (from $71,950 plus ORCs) and BMW Z4, (from $79,990 plus ORCs).

Mercedes-Benz is expected to offer a rival to the Audi A3 Cabriolet and BMW 2 Series Convertible in the form of its slightly larger (also four-seat) C-Class Convertible when it arrives later this year.

The BMW 2 Series Convertible range was developed alongside its hard-top sibling, and likewise commences with the 220i variant (from $54,900 plus ORCs). It is topped by the mid-spec 228i (from $68,900 plus ORCs) and flagship M235i (from $85,800 plus ORCs).

The soft-top 2 Series range features an electrically-operated cloth roof – which retracts in 20sec at speeds up to 50km/h — and includes standard features such as BMW's Driving Experience Control, a reversing camera, parking sensors, alloy wheels and cruise control with braking function.

The go-fast M235i variant adopts lower M Adaptive suspension, bigger brakes, variable sport steering and 18-inch alloy wheels, as well as sports seats, a multi-function leather-bound steering wheel, leather trim for gearshift lever, an M driver's footrest and aluminium decorative trim with coordinating strips in matt Estoril blue or high-gloss black.

The BMW 1 Series Convertible sold 5094 units in Australia during its time here. It's a success story BMW Australia says it hopes will grow with the arrival of its newest model. By contrast, the new Audi A3 and S3 Cabriolet, which have been on sale since July last year (2014) have already sold 700 units to the end of January 2015.

BMW finished 2014 with cumulative passenger and SUV sales of 22,722. The figures place the German prestige importer in second place behind Mercedes-Benz (27,121), but ahead of Audi with 19,227 sales.

Year-to-date the rankings see Mercedes-Benz again topping the sales charts with 2274 vehicle sales, ahead of Audi (1925) and BMW (1732) respectively.

"We've been very pleased with BMW's increase of 10.7 per cent across 2014, the best sales year that it has ever had," said Fletcher. "MINI, whilst it had two new vehicles, the three-door and the five-door, did suffer some stock supply problems, nonetheless we managed to be up 1.4 per cent by the end of the year. Motorrad (motorcycles) had an absolutely sensational year, and was up 23 per cent, and this in a market that was overall two per cent down."

Fletcher said the results were stronger again in 2015, and that to date BMW Australia sales were looking strong across its vehicle and motorcycle divisions.

"At the end of February 2015 we are calculating that we will be up 13.2 per cent on the same period last year," Fletcher explained. "That's a sensational result for us, and we're very happy with that. MINI is up 27.5 per cent, and that's a result of forward orders and stock freeing up. Motorrad is up 19 per cent already as well, and we're looking forward to continuing that throughout the year."

Visit motoring.com.au again soon for our local launch review of the new BMW 2 Series Convertible.