BMW has announced an entirely new model variant that will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. With the refinement of BMW diesel engines currently unsurpassed, the time is ripe for the introduction of the 320Cd Convertible, a model that marries two sectors of the car market popular with buyers in the UK. Statistics show more than a third of all BMW UK sales are diesel, while a sixth of all BMW sales are Convertibles.
Powered by a 2.0-litre engine that develops 150bhp at 4,000rpm, torque is an impressive 330Nm at just 2,000rpm, with 295Nm of this being developed at 1,500rpm, an engine speed only slightly above idle. It is interesting to note that the engine surpasses the EU4 exhaust emissions standard even without a particle filter.
Top speed for the 320Cd Convertible is 131mph and zero to 62mph is dispatched in 9.7 seconds. The frugality of the common rail diesel engine means fuel consumption in the combined cycle is 44.8mpg. Power is transmitted to the road via a six-speed manual gearbox.
Mechanically very similar to the recently launched 320Cd Coupe, the Convertible stands apart courtesy of changes to the engine management unit, a final shorter drive and a modified exhaust system. The suspension settings have also been adapted from the Coupe for use in the Convertible.
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