BMW M3 Gains Folding Hardtop, M-DCT Twin-Clutch Gearbox

The decision for BMW to build the M3 Convertible was inevitable

, sooner or later. The official announcement just came in after the Detroit rush, and therefore we now have photos and information to share.

The M3 Convertible, like the M3 Coupe and Sedan will feature the powerful 4.0-liter V8 engine, enabling it to travel to 60 mph from a standstill in 5.3 seconds. It can be told apart from the 335i Cabriolet and other 3-Series drop tops by its quad tailpipes and more aggressive bodywork. In fact, apart from the door panels and the three-piece folding roof, just about every panel on the M3 Cabriolet is different from regular models.

There are two important differences between the new M3 Cabriolet and the previous generations, the first being that BMW has just announced a

seven-speed twin-clutch transmission as an option to the standard six-speed manual; the successor to the SMG sequential manual gearbox. The transmission, built by Getrag, can be selected in six different manual modes and five different automatic modes depending on what mood the driver is in - sporting or cruising. In its sportiest mode, the new gearbox, dubbed “M-DCT”, can shave 0.2 seconds off the 0-60 mph time compared to the standard manual.

The second major introduction is that the M3 will feature the 3-Series Cabriolet's folding hardtop roof, providing year-round versatility, with open skies a 22 second wait away. Although the roof adds 507 pounds to the car's curb weight over the Coupe, the M3 Cabriolet still possess a better power to weight ratio than the outgoing model with an impressive 10.1 lb/hp. Being able to hear the sound of the V8 engine as it reaches redline in perfect clarity will make the extra cost for the drop-top model worth every penny.