BMW M3 Convertible goes on sale

The new BMW M3 Convertible has now gone on sale here in the UK. Priced at £54,760 on-the-road, BMW expects to sell approximately 900 M3 Convertibles in a full year. This compares to 1,900 M3 Coupés and 400 M3 Saloons.

Not only is the new open-topped M3 the first M car to feature a Retractable Hard-Top, it's the first M3 Convertible to be powered by a hkgh revving V8 engine and the first BMW to feature an all-new seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission (M DCT) as an alternative to the standard six-speed manual gearbox.

The new M3 Convertible produces more than twice the power of the original 1988 model, yet the spirit and design philosophy remains the same. With outputs of 420hp and 400 Nm, and following the precedent set by its forebears, the M3 Convertible engine comfortably breaks the all-important 100hp per litre barrier. What's more, despite it's extra weight, the new model has a power to weight ratio that is over 10 per cent higher than the outgoing E46 M3 Convertible – itself the previous benchmark open-top sports convertible.

>> Furter details of the BMW M3 Convertible

Daihatsu Copen gets 5 year warranty

British customers of Daihatsu's cute Copen sportscar will now receive five years’ unlimited mileage warranty plus five years’ UK roadside recovery. The offer is not transferable and applies to all retail sales. It runs until the end of the year when it will be reviewed.

The introduction of a new 1.3 litre engine last year plus a £2,500 price cut, the curvy Copen is enjoying an enthusiastic following with supplies still not keeping up with demand.

Popular for it's fun styling and effortless electric metal folding roof, the revised Copen costs £11,495 on-the-road.

This is despite having alloy wheels, air-conditioning, remote central-locking, radio/CD player, boot spoiler and many more standard features.

>> Furter details of the Daihatsu Copen

Brabus SLK

Brabus have released there new customisation program for the latest face-lifted Mercedes-Benz SLK. The program consists of aerodynamic enhancements, custom alloy wheels, suspension as well as a power upgrade.

Brabus' 6.1 litre version of Mercedes' V8 engine takes the power up from 360 hp to a hefty 445 hp compared to the AMG 5.5 litre unit. All this power is transfered to the wheels through a seven-speed automatic gearbox and Brabus' own limited-slip differential. Brabus claim all this results in a 0-62 mph time of just 4.3 seconds leading to a top speed of 190 mph (305 km/h).

The selection of Brabus 17-19 inch custom alloy wheels are pinned to the road by sports suspension springs which lower the car by 30mm all round. Meanwhile stopping power is increased by six-piston aluminum fixed calipers and 355 mm vented and slotted discs in front and 300 mm discs with four-piston aluminum fixed calipers at the rear.

For the new aerodynamic body parts wind tunnel testing was used to maximise effectiveness. The front spoiler reduces lift while driving at high speeds the side rocker panels improve the airflow between the front and rear wheels. The rear receives a Brabus apron, boot spoiler and room for the four chrome tailpipes of the stainless-steel sport exhaust system.

Live online convertible car auctions

BCA Blackbushe will be staging two special Live Online UK convertible sales on behalf of LloydsTSBautolease and Black Horse on the 14th and 28th April.

The sales are expected to attract hundreds of buyers from all over the country to bid on the 200 or more convertibles featuring at each event. Additional buying power will be generated by BCA’s Live Online internet bidding service, which is open to all account card customers and Black and Gold loyalty card holders who are unable to attend in person.

Both events are expected to feature a wide selection of convertibles ranging in value from under £5,000 to over £50,000 with a mix of business, ex-lease and finance cars on offer. All the cars will be pre-sale prepared by BCA Smart Prepared to look their very best.

There is a mouth-watering selection of vehicles already entered for the first sale including Audi A4 and TT, BMW 3-series, M3, Z3 and Z4, Chrysler Crossfire, Lotus Elise, Mazda MX5, Mercedes CLK and SLK, MG-TF, Porsche Boxster and TVR Tuscan.

Also on offer will be convertibles from Ford, GM Vauxhall, MINI, Nissan, Renault, Peugeot, Saab, Volkswagen and Volvo.

Simon Rossiter, Auction Manager for LloydsTSBautolease commented “By working with BCA to manage these special events we can offer a large number of convertibles in one place at one time.”

Alan Gupwell, National Account Manager, BCA commented “Themed events such as this create a great deal of interest with our buyers. Despite our notoriously changeable weather, British motorists buy more convertibles than our European cousins and values tend to rise as the warmer months approach. Average prices for a typical premium three-year old, 30,000 mile convertible sold at BCA have already increased by around 3% in the first three months of this year, underlining the demand.”