BMW i4 Cabrio could arrive in 2028 with more than 700 km of range

BMW is continuing to grow its ‘family’ of models built on the Neue Klasse platform. Following the launches of the iX3, i3 and, more recently, iX5, the Bavarian manufacturer’s electric offensive will continue over the coming years with further additions. These could include an all-new convertible.

Prototypes of a two-door model with a fabric roof, which we ‘caught’ during testing, point in precisely that direction. All signs suggest these are the first development vehicles for the forthcoming BMW i4 Cabrio, which is expected to reach the market in 2028.

Rather than simply broadening its line-up, BMW appears determined to enter niches that rivals have largely abandoned. The forthcoming i4 Cabrio could be one such model, joining a segment in which fully electric convertibles can still be counted on the fingers of one hand.

Only the name changes

Although the letter “i” will now precede the model designations, the range logic remains unchanged: the number will still identify the model’s segment and positioning. The key difference lies beneath the bonnet, as the powertrain will be exclusively electric.

Even so, this is unlikely to be the only option offered. As is currently the case with the 3 Series and i3, the forthcoming i4 Cabrio is expected to be sold alongside an equivalent version powered by combustion engines. The two models will be visually very similar, but aimed at buyers with different preferences.

Compared with the i3, the most obvious distinction will naturally be the lack of a fixed roof. This is where one of the greatest technical challenges of any convertible emerges: ensuring structural rigidity without using the roof as a structural element. Convertibles usually employ additional reinforcement beneath the bodywork to compensate for the missing roof.

In electric cars, however, that area is almost entirely occupied by the battery, forcing engineers to find new ways of delivering the same structural stiffness without adding excessive weight.

Despite the camouflage, it is nevertheless possible to see that the future BMW i4 Cabrio will closely follow the Neue Klasse design language of its i3 ‘sibling’. Highlights include the new light signature integrated into a black strip at the front, along with cleaner surfaces than those of the brand’s current models.

One of the more unusual details concerns the door handles. Unlike those on many recent electric cars, they do not appear to be fully retractable, instead using an opening mechanism similar to that fitted to other BMW models.

The cabin has not been photographed, but it is expected to match that of the i3 and iX3. Everything points to an interior centred around BMW Panoramic Vision, a display running across the entire base of the windscreen, accompanied by a 17.9-inch central screen.

More than 700 km of range?

BMW has yet to disclose any technical specifications for the future i4 Cabrio, although the recently unveiled i3 offers an indication of what the convertible could deliver. The new model is expected to use the Neue Klasse platform, developed exclusively for the brand’s electric vehicles, and should inherit much of the saloon’s technology.

In the i3, the version already confirmed is the i3 50 xDrive, featuring two electric motors - one on each axle - for a combined output of 345 kW (469 hp) and 645 Nm of torque. Thanks to its 800 V electrical architecture and 108.7 kWh battery, it claims up to 900 km of combined-range capability (WLTP).

Later, mirroring the iX3 strategy, the range is expected to gain a more affordable variant with a single rear electric motor producing 235 kW (320 hp) and 500 Nm, paired with an 82.6 kWh battery. Its range is expected to exceed the 637 km (WLTP) claimed for the SUV.

Despite the likely platform sharing, the prototypes indicate that the i4 Cabrio could have a slightly shorter wheelbase than the i3. Should that prove correct, there may not be enough room to accommodate the larger-capacity battery, limiting the maximum range available in this version.

Arrives in 2028, but not alone

Due to reach the market only in 2028, the new BMW i4 Cabrio will not arrive on its own. The brand is also preparing a fully electric Coupé version, as well as equivalent variants with combustion engines.

According to rumours, future electric BMW M4 models are also already under development in Coupé and Cabrio forms, inspired by the M Concept Neue Klasse prototype. At the same time, M4 versions fitted with the current inline six-cylinder engine are expected to remain on sale.