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Those Germans have done it again, and no, I’m not talking about their irritating and inevitable progress at Euro 2008. BMW, those giants of the motoring world have unleashed another gem, the 1 Series Convertible. BMW believes the 1 Series has the right look and the right price to appeal to a younger group of motoring acolytes. 

 

BMW has positioned the 1 Series convertible between the hugely popular Mini convertible and the recently introduced 3 Series convertible, providing it with a formidable five-model range of top-down cars that also includes the 6 Series convertible and Z4 roadster. For the record, BMW will sell around 13,500 Convertible models in the UK this year. 

Folding hardtops have become the fashion in upscale convertibles like the 2007 BMW 3 Series Convertible, as carmakers attempt to add a measure of all-weather utility and overnight security to the traditional convertible formula. But naturally the more affordable BMW 1 Series Convertible has an electrically operated fabric top which folds compactly into the rear deck beneath a hard tonneau cover. 

BMW says the electrically operated roof can be opened and closed in 22 seconds at the press of a button. This isn't the quickest time on the convertible market, but it's certainly a best-in-class effort and speedy enough to get the job done at a traffic light. (It's also as quick as the effort from the 2007 BMW hardtop convertible can manage.) The 1 Series top can also be operated at speeds up to 25 mph. Even with the roof down you would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between the way the coupe and convertible drive. With the roof up there is a little wind rustle, though engine and road noise are kept well suppressed. 

The top will be available in the usual beige and black colours, but there's also an optional anthracite scheme that incorporates metallic fibers in the weave of the fabric. It creates a shiny appearance that BMW hopes will find an audience among buyers seeking something out of the ordinary. 

Prices start at the £22,000 mark, which looks pricey when you consider that the larger Volkswagen Eos costs from around £20,000. But the 1 Series Convertible is a great all-round package - good to drive, refined and classy. An added bonus for buyers is that it even ticks a few boxes when it comes to being green and cost effective to run. 

1 Series Convertible gets the pick of BMW's small engines, ranging from the 118i, through to the 120i and 125i and the range-topping (and obscene) 135i. There's even a diesel option - the 120d - which has up until now been fairly unusual to find in a small, upmarket convertible. The 125i is one of the most popular petrol options - and with good reason. It's a smooth 3.0-litre engine with 215bhp on offer and comes with a six-speed gearbox. A great all-rounder, it's as happy in town as it is driven briskly on the open road. The diesel is not only swift, but economical too. Drivers can expect fuel economy of between 50-55mpg, with average fuel economy of 55.4mpg and CO2 emissions of just 134g km. 

Continuing with the green feel, if there can be such a thing in a petrol run car, all models feature a new, clutched air conditioning pump. When not in use, the pump decouples and uses only 200 watts, or ten per cent, of the normal power needed to drive a conventional pump. In addition, other than the range-topping 135i Convertible, all models feature electronic power steering. In contrast to conventional hydraulic power steering, the 1 Series’ electronic system operates on an ‘on demand’ basis, reducing engine output normally needed to power the steering hydraulics. 

All four-cylinder manual gearbox cars feature BMW’s Auto Start-Stop system as standard. In urban traffic, when the gear is deselected and the clutch pedal raised, the engine automatically cuts out, thus eliminating emissions and any fuel consumption while static. When the traffic starts moving, the clutch is depressed in order to select the gear to pull away and, immediately, the engine fires back into life. 

The exterior of the new 2008 BMW 1 Series is hit-and-miss, but few can argue that the interior sports a wonderfully functional and well-styled cockpit. The dash is, as you’d expect, well laid out. The switches are logically placed and the interior oozes quality. Every car gets an engine stop/start button instead of twist key ignition - it gives the 1 Series a real sense of occasion. 

BMWs used to have a reputation for being stingy with standard equipment and offering nearly everything as an option. Not so with the 1 Series - everything you'd expect to find on a car of this type and price is there. Key options that will make life on board more comfortable and add value when you sell are electric seats, sports seats, and park distance control and satellite navigation.
 

As far as safety goes, a key issue, especially in convertibles, the 1 Series Convertible is very well kitted-out with six airbags as standard. Should the car roll, then sensors trigger rollover hoops, that pop-up in the blink of an eye - much in the same way as airbags work. 

So far, some 100,000 people have signed up to receive information about the 1 Series on BMW's web site, and BMW executives are hoping that the 2009 BMW 1 Series Coupe and 2009 BMW 1 Series Convertible will create the same excitement that the introduction of the Mini aroused. 

Should you buy one? Yes, No, Maybe. Convertibles are never about practicality; they're about the wind in your hair and sun on your cheeks, and if those are the things that set your heart atwitter, the 1-series convertible begins to look like a good bet. Unfortunately, sunshine on this fair isle is as unpredictable as the wind. 

 

Vital Statistics 

Prices -  £22,335 - £32,415

Rivals -  Audi A3 Cabriolet; VW Eos; Volvo C70; Ford Focus CC.

Ideal Driver -  Davina McCall

By Paul Tuthill/MOLI