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2014 BMW 4 Series Convertible [w/video]

Here it is, the fifth generation of BMW's 3 Series Convertible - only this one begins with a "4," having been rechristened as a droptop version of the new 4 Series Coupe. With thirty years of work on this same recipe and having gotten it so right for much of that time, the Munich compact premium convertible has been a WYSIWYG affair for decades: once you saw its sedan paradigm, you knew what it was going to look like in roofless two-door form, and what you saw is exactly what you got.
It is ridiculous to think that BMW would choose this new model and its new nomenclature to muck things up. The new car has, though, gotten larger and roomier, and even though it's now part of the racier coupe division within the company's compact line, it has gotten more, shall we say, mature. Driving even further away from the days when handsomely tipped bartenders could work their way into one, The Ultimate Tanning Machine had shed even more elan, going instead for elegance and an attitude befitting its $49,675 starting price (including $925 for destination).
It strikes a few odd notes, but what it does best, it still does better than anything else out there in its price range.

Car companies may need to start curbing model proliferation

Looking at the current automotive landscape, especially from German makers, you quickly get the impression that less definitely isn't more. BMW alone offers its 3 Series platform in practically every segment possible, including the regular sedan and 4 Series Gran Coupe, which would seem to be direct competitors. Porsche might be the winner, though, with 20 different variants of the 911 listed for sale on its US website. However, some of this model madness might be reaching an end as companies begin cutting back spending or shifting money to other priorities.
According to Yahoo Finance, the offerings from the German automakers are up 25 percent over the past three years to over 200 models in Europe. The peak is expected to come around 2018 at 230 separate vehicles, according to consulting company PwC.
Amazingly, BMW, which is among the poster children for this model explosion, might be changing its tune. "I'm sure there will be points in the future where we look at certain cars and say, 'Maybe we need to think differently now,'" said head of sales Ian Robertson in an interview, according to Yahoo Finance. The statement certainly sounds shocking coming from a company rumored to have 23 front-wheel-drive vehicles all using a single platform on the way.

BMW M5 Pure Metal Silver Limited Edition is a US special

America usually misses out on limited-edition models, but BMW has just made an ultra-exclusive version of its M5. Only 50 units of the Pure Metal Silver Limited Edition will be made, and the high-performance sedan is a US-only affair. Built upon a M5 with the Competition Package, the special edition boasts more power and a unique paint job to make it stand out from the regular M5. The Pure Metal Silver Limited Edition is up to 600 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, which is 25 hp and 16 lb.-ft. of torque more than a M5 fitted with the Competition Package. The added power is from an increase in boost pressure and "targeted modifications." Thanks to the M dual-clutch transmission with Drivelogic, zero to 60 mph is dealt with in 3.9 seconds. The special edition is only marginally quicker than a base M5, so the power increase is more useful in bar trivia than in the real world. On the outside, the Pure Metal Silver paint job is one of the special edition's defining features. The color is BMW's most expensive paint option – it costs $10,000 in BMW Individual's Catalog. While being insanely expensive, the paint job is stunning and gives the M5 a chrome-like look. Besides the paint, the special edition retains the 20-inch M alloy wheels, black M Performance kidney grill, and M Performance Exhaust with carbon bezel as the M5 with the Competition Package. The interior features Merino (gray) leather with contrast stitching and aluminum trim to match the sedan's unique paint job. Each vehicle will have a badge (ranging from one to 50) highlighting the vehicle's limited quantity on the trim. Pricing for the Pure Metal Silver Limited Edition starts at $130,900 plus a $995 destination and handling fee. That represents a $30,000 price hike over the M5 with the Competition Package. That's a whole lot of silver for a gray car. But the special edition does come with the M Driver's Package as standard, which raises the top speed to 190 mph and includes an entire day of high-performance driving at BMW's Performance Center in California or South Carolina. The ultra-exclusive M5 will be available in August. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2016 BMW M5 Pure Metal Silver Limited Edition News Source: BMWImage Credit: BMW BMW Luxury Special and Limited Editions Performance Sedan limited edition