BMW have been players in the convertible game for some time now, from the M3 to the 2 Series. The German brand is no stranger to making open-roof cars, and the new M4 continues that lineage with some new changes to the model. Unfortunately, the grille is not among those changes. Maybe having less roof around you will make the gaudy grille worthwhile.

2022 BMW M4, better with no roof?

With the necessary grille criticism out of the way, it’s time to take a deeper look at the new BMW M4 convertible. BMW states the top will go down in around 18 seconds. Not bad, but nowhere near as fast as the Aston Martin Vanquish’s 7-second roof dance. It will also be offered in hard-top trim at some point, like last generation’s M4. But convertibles are heavy, and BMW knows this.

As such, the Leipzig-based brand has gone to considerable trouble to reduce the weight negatives found in most convertibles. The M4 soft top is a claimed 40% lighter than the outgoing model’s top, which will help to lower the center of gravity a little whether the top is up or down. The folks at Bimmer also say the new M4’s top also takes up less space in the trunk, again negating some of those notorious convertible drawbacks.

Adding all-wheel drive, is more better for BMW?

An open-top means it’ll be easier to hear that fantastic six-cylinder found in the M4. The twin-turbo I6 produces 503 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. But this time, there’s something different about it. It’s not the transmission, which is still the eight-speed paddle-shifter found in the coupe. It’s what moves the M4 that’s different. The new drop-top BMW M4 will pack the company’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

As ever, xDrive offers some real performance gains along with enhanced traction. The new M4 convertible flies up to 60 mph in a blistering 3.6 seconds. This isn’t the only trick the M4’s drivetrain has up its sleeve. The BMW M4 convertible can be used in two-wheel drive mode, disengaging the front axle and sending all 503 hp to the rear wheels. Be careful, as doing this also turns off some of the driver aids, like DCS.

Can the features overcome the looks?

Convertibles aren’t just about how a car drives. If that’s all you care about, you’d likely be better off with the coupe pictured above, although maybe in a darker color so as to hide that heinous snout. A drop-roof is about the experience over anything else. Having the roof down lets in sun, wind, and exhaust. The M4 convertible is about enjoying your surroundings more than the car and letting down your hair for a while. Sure, there are more practical offerings, but practicality is for people who don’t own a convertible. That said, maybe the experience of the M4 is better than it looks.