SPY PICS: New BMW 4 Series exposed

Similarly to the new Z4, BMW has eschewed folding a hard-top in favour of old-school fabric roofing material for its upcoming seventh-generation G22 4 Series Convertible.

These recently-snapped spy photos of the BMW 4 Series Convertible variant of the just-launched seventh-generation G20 BMW 3 Series sedan indicate that, along with the return to a fabric roof, there will also be some skin changes in the switch from four-door sedan to two-door convertible.

With all the plastered-on, spy-defying cladding, it's not easy being definitive, but it seems clear that the two-door 4 Series -- convertible and coupe -- will feature their own interpretations of the all-new 3 Series design.

This will include the profiling of the side panels, which look to feature an upswept crease from the top of the front guards rearwards, and possibly the suggestion of a clamshell bonnet with less of a power bulge than the 3 Series sedan.

The bonnet shut line appears to be set a bit lower at the sides than the sedan too, dropping almost to the level of the rounded mudguard bulge, just above the wheel arches. What happens when the bonnet meets the headlights and upper grille is concealed by the heavy camouflaging in this area, but it's reasonable to expect the convertible and coupe will differ to the sedan from the front view also.

For similar reasons the rear-end is difficult to decipher as well, although it would be reasonable to assume that the same logic will apply.

The next-gen BMW 4 Series will generally benefit from the lower weights enabled by the switch from all-metal to part-fabric convertible construction, while in-cabin comfort and noise levels are unlikely to be disturbed.

As with the current BMW 3 Series, the soft-top BMW's engine range will be all-turbo, extending from a three-cylinder 1.5-litre to inline four and 3.0-litre six cylinders, likely to come in both petrol and diesel form. It's a given that plug-in hybrid versions are also likely be included in the mix.

With the new BMW 4 Series Convertible and Coupe expected to launch in Europe in late 2019, 12 months after the 3 Series sedan's reveal – which is earmarked for Australia in March 2019 – it's reasonable to assume that we won't see the two-door variants arriving here before March 2020.