2028 BMW i4 Convertible Spy Shots Reveal Neue Klasse

A masked silhouette glides past a coastal road, its soft top hidden beneath a quilt of heavy camouflage. Our spy photographers caught the moment: BMW is testing a topless Neue Klasse prototype, and it looks ready for summer drives with the roof down.

This is not a tweak on an old recipe. Under the wraps sits the electric 4 Series convertible, codenamed NA3, a 2+2 that promises more rear-seat legroom than you might expect and a usable trunk despite the roof mechanism. Engineers appear to have stuck with a classic soft top, a pragmatic choice to keep weight down while preserving the long, low profile drivers want in a luxury cabriolet.

Topless ambition and tough choices

Convertibles lose stiffness when the roof vanishes. With internal combustion cars, automakers add underbody reinforcements to regain rigidity. For an EV the story is different because the battery pack already occupies the floor, acting as a structural element. That helps, but it does not remove the challenge. BMW must strike a balance: keep torsional rigidity high while avoiding excessive weight that would sap range and handling.

From these first photos the i4 Convertible already looks its own car, not a simple clone of the i3 sedan. Headlights sit flatter. The grille feels taller. Angles are sharper and the face reads bolder than the outgoing 4 Series. Those changes hint at a design language BMW wants to separate from past generations while staying unmistakably Bavarian.

The timing is intriguing. BMW has just celebrated early production milestones for its Neue Klasse SUV, and even staged high-profile brand tie-ins. Now a convertible joins the rollout, potentially replacing the i4 Gran Coupé in the lineup. That would be a bold move, considering the relative scarcity of electric convertibles in this segment worldwide. There is a gap in the market. Will BMW fill it gracefully or misjudge demand?

Practical details matter. A soft top keeps weight down, but folding mechanisms still eat trunk space. Battery placement should help maintain a low center of gravity and retain some structural integrity, though expect reinforcements along sills and bulkheads. Range will be a talking point once BMW reveals battery packs and efficiency targets; convertibles typically carry a weight penalty, so the engineering compromises will be visible in the spec sheet.

Public debut should come late in 2027, with model years listed as 2028 or possibly 2029 if North American deliveries lag. Cameras will likely follow as BMW peels back the camouflage in stages. For now we have a promise: a stylish, electric open-top with clear Neue Klasse DNA, aimed at buyers who want sunshine without sacrificing the luxury feel.

Is this the convertible EV the market has been waiting for? Time will tell, but the first images already spark curiosity and, for some, genuine excitement.