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The first V8-powered M3 convertible from BMW has been designed to look like the coupe version - when the roof is up.
The luxury German car-maker was always going to equip the cabriolet with a retractable folding hard-top rather than a fabric soft-top.
The convertible follows the coupe and sedan. The coupe is already on sale in New Zealand, priced at $170,000 for the standard variant and $182,000 for the faster HP (high performance) example. The sedan is due soon and the convertible is expected in June.
The convertible's hard-top is made of lightweight steel which, when folded down into the boot space, gives the M3 a flat shoulder-line. BMW says the two-door bodyshell meets a new high standard in torsional stiffness.
The tell-tale signs of the latest-generation M3 models is the powerdome in the bonnet, large air intakes and flared wheel arches.
The powerdome creates room for the 4-litre V8 engine, which produces 309kW (420bhp) and 400Nm of torque at 3900rpm and is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.
BMW says the V8 engine is 15kg lighter than the outgoing straight-six unit and comes with technology that also improves economy to a town and around average under tests in Europe of 12.9 litres/100km, or 22mpg.
