BMW Is Reportedly Developing an All-Electric i4 Convertible for 2028 on Its New Neue Klasse Architecture
The Maserati GranCabrio Folgore is currently the only electric convertible available to American buyers above $200,000 USD.
Summary
BMW is developing an all-electric i4 Convertible and Coupe slated for a 2028 debut
The upcoming two-door models will ride on the 800-volt Neue Klasse architecture
This strategic launch addresses a massive void in the global electric convertible market
BMW is reportedly preparing to drop an all-electric i4 Convertible for the 2028 model year. Carrying the internal codename NA3, the upcoming drop-top will ride on the automaker’s dedicated Neue Klasse architecture. The formula sticks strictly to the classic Bavarian script by featuring a traditional fabric soft top, four seats and two doors. The engineering team is completely bypassing any folding hardtop mechanics. An accompanying i4 Coupe, codenamed NA2, is also in development on the exact same timeline.
Building a battery-powered convertible notoriously plagues engineers with severe weight and structural rigidity penalties that typically decimate driving range. The 800-volt Neue Klasse platform solves this inherent problem. Utilizing an advanced electrical foundation capable of 400 kW fast charging, the architecture previously yielded a 440-mile estimate for the upcoming i3 sedan. Even after sacrificing aerodynamic efficiency and adding reinforcement weight for the open roof, the i4 Convertible should comfortably deliver over 350 miles of range. The cabin is slated to receive the Panoramic iDrive X system with a windshield-projected display interface.
The segment for electric convertibles remains virtually nonexistent on a global scale. Aside from niche regional releases like the European Fiat 500e cabrio or the MG Cyberster, American buyers currently have exactly one option. That sole vehicle is the Maserati GranCabrio Folgore which commands a staggering price tag over $200,000 USD. Rivals like Tesla and Polestar have repeatedly pushed their own roadster projects back indefinitely. BMW sidesteps the financial risk of building a standalone halo car by leveraging a universal platform across its entire lineup to capitalize on an established dealer network and a massive existing buyer base.
This dual-release strategy signals a major transitional phase for the brand. The current i4 Gran Coupe is slated to end production next year. This means the badge will sit idle for a brief period before the new NA2 and NA3 variants arrive. The outgoing internal combustion 4 Series convertibles are scheduled to conclude their production run by mid-2029. That timeline creates roughly one year of showroom overlap between the gas-powered cars and their electric successors. With no combustion-powered coupe successor currently greenlit for the next decade, the battery-powered i4 models might soon stand as the sole torchbearers for the entire 4 Series lineage.
