Like the coupe the convertible's interior quality is near perfect, with seriously high-grade plastics, beautifully finished leather and top-tier metal accents. Wood is also available, as is just about anything else you'd like to personalize your BMW with.

Just like its hardtop relative, the convertible's high quality interior is almost perfect. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

As I mentioned in previous reviews, BMW's once controversial i-Drive user interface is much less confusing in its new 2.0 guise, with only a few easy steps to configure the navigation system, climate control, audio system or personal settings. I really like the big, aluminum knob and find the system easy to navigate even when driving.

A few additional items set the 645 Ci Convertible apart from its competitors, one being adaptive headlights that have the ability to "see" around corners prior to the car's arrival. Also on the list is a head-up display (HUD) system that projects important information right onto the windshield, a good idea that minimizes the need to take a driver's eyes off the road. The new drop-top also features Active Cruise Control (ACC), which can be set to keep a safe distance from traffic ahead automatically. I also enjoyed the optional LOGIC7 audio system, delivering impressive sound quality even when the top was lowered.

The convertible is wonderfully agile, impressively powerful and built to a level of sophistication that few of its peers can match. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

While I love the coupe, the new convertible is even more elegant. Somehow the tall rear decklid looks even better when the top is down. It's a styling statement that should look as fresh four years from now as it does today, a benefit that BMW's new designs are now starting to show signs of achieving.

Will the new model one day be as revered as the 503 convertible? There's no reason why it won't, other than the fact that BMW will no doubt sell more than 418 examples. It's wonderfully agile, impressively powerful and built to a level of sophistication that few of its peers can match. What's more, it's positively gorgeous, the most important asset of a destined classic.

Specifications:

• Price Range (base MSRP): $108,500
• Body Type: 2-door convertible
• Layout: front engine, RWD
• Engine: 325-hp, 332 lb-ft, 4.4-L, 32-valve, DOHC V8
• Transmission: 6-spd manual (opt 6-spd auto with manual mode; opt 6-spd sequential manual)
• Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS and EBD
• Curb Weight: 1,815 kg
• Acceleration (est 0 - 100 km/h): 5.8 seconds
• Top Speed (electronically governed): 250 km/h (155 mph)
• Seating Capacity: 4 (2 + 2)
• Cargo Volume (trunk): 350 L (12.4 cu ft)
• Fuel Economy (est city/hwy): 16.1 / 8.0 L/100 km
• Warranty (mo/km): 48/80,000 comprehensive
• Direct Competitors: Cadillac XLR, Jaguar XK8 Convertible, Mercedes-Benz CLK Cabriolet / SL500, Porsche 911 Cabriolet, Volvo C70 Convertible
• Web Site: www.bmw.ca

Note: Additional larger photos available in photo album.