BMW announced its new 2 Series convertible, including the M235i and this 228i, in September 2014. While the M235i will be the choice of most enthusiasts and weekend track rats, the standard 228i and the 228i xDrive will be the ones found at Whole Foods and Macy's, and will constitute the bulk of 2 Series sales. That's not a bad thing, however, as the BMW's latest drop top checks all the right boxes for topless automotive fun.
A high-strung, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine comes boosted by a twin-scroll turbocharger and is backed by an eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters or a six-speed manual. The quick-shifting flappy paddle helps the 228i hit 60 mph in a surprising 5.7 seconds. What's more, the 228i's chassis share many of its designs and parts with the 228i coupe, giving it some street cred right out of the box.
The 228i xDrive brings an extra level of usability to the 2 Series Convertible's lineup. With a normal torque split favoring the rear axle, the xDrive 2 has plenty of sport still in its chassis. However, when the weather turns rough, all four wheels grip the road. The xDrive system even makes itself useful in the dry, helping the 228i xDrive knock a tenth of a second off the 228i's 0 to 60 mph time.
While the now-dead 1 Series may have been the first drop-top contender in the premium sub-compact segment, the new 228i and 228i xDrive take the legacy into the future. If 1 Series 130,000 units sold worldwide is any indication of the 2 Series Convertible's potential success, BMW's latest convertible will have no trouble finding homes.
Click past the jump to read more about the BMW 2-Series Convertible.
BMW 2 Series Convertible originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 11 September 2014 16:00 EST.
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