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2015 BMW 2 Series Convertible will flip its lid for $38,850

For the most part, they look almost identical to their coupe versions, except that they now boast an electrically folding soft top.
BMW is dropping the top of the 2 Series in early 2015 in the US with convertible versions of the 228i and M235i. They'll make their world debut at the Paris Motor Show later this year and will show their faces on this side of the pond at the 2014 Los Angeles International Auto Show.

British automakers take costly precautions as Brexit 'no deal' fears grow

LONDON — Carmakers in Britain have triggered some Brexit contingency plans, such as certifying models in the EU, and are working on redrawing production schedules and stockpiling more parts to defend against any loss of unfettered trade after Brexit. The moves are aimed at ensuring plants, which rely on the just-in-time delivery of tens of thousands of components, can keep operating after Brexit on March 29, but will add costs and bureaucracy which could risk their long-term viability. London and Brussels hope to agree a deal by the end of the year to avoid tariffs and trade barriers, but Prime Minister Theresa May's proposals have been criticized by both Brexiteers, who want a cleaner break from the bloc, and the European Union. McLaren Automotive is looking at having its cars certified by both a British and an EU agency to smooth sales. It is also planning to stockpile critical components and change shipments into the EU around Brexit if there is disruption. "I will sell a little more in January and February and plan to pick the volume up in May and give us a leaner period through the change point," Chief Executive Mike Flewitt told Reuters. BMW, which said last week it would move the annual summer-time shutdown of its British Mini plant next year to April, is looking for lorry parking areas and warehousing on both sides of the channel and is seeking to sign contracts to lease certain locations, a spokesman said. It is also investing in IT systems to handle any new red tape as carmakers estimate tens of thousands of new documents could be needed if tariffs and customs are imposed. The German carmaker's Brexit plans are costing millions of pounds, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. But Honda, which builds 10 percent of Britain's 1.67 million cars at its Swindon plant in southern England, is not in the market to buy "huge amounts of warehousing space," its Europe boss Ian Howells told Reuters. "It's been a very precise calculation or estimation of what components need to be brought in," he said, adding the firm could also alter its output to sell more into the EU at the start of next year. Waste of money? Many British carmakers have also asked suppliers to look into how they would handle delays at ports, executives told Reuters, as thousands of parts, engines and finished models move between Britain and the continent every day.

BMW i8 wins 2015 Car Of The Year award in UK

Those Brits sure do like those Bimmers, don't they? The BMW i8 plug-in hybrid was recently awarded UK Car of the Year from a group of more than two-dozen British automotive journalists, UK's Telegraph reported. Last year's winner of the first-ever such award? The BMW i3 electric vehicle. The i8 was feted for its combination of performance, styling and fuel efficiency. The car pairs a three-cylinder gas engine with a 96-horsepower electric motor and can go from 0-60 miles per hour in just over four seconds while having a fuel-economy rating of 76 MPGe. Last November, the i8 was given Autoblog's 2014 Technology of the Year award and the 2015 Luxury Green Car of the Year by Green Car Journal, so the British journalists are not alone in their sleek PHEV love. "This is a truly great honor for BMW's visionary car and proof that sustainable mobility can be beautiful and fun," BMW spokesman Kenn Sparks told AutoblogGreen. Other winners for individual categories from the UK this year included the Rolls-Royce Ghost (which won for Best Luxury Car), Ford Mondeo (Best Family Car) and Renault Twingo (Best City Car). Check out our First Drive impressions of the i8 here. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2015 BMW i8: First Drive View 62 Photos News Source: Telegraph via Hybrid Cars Green BMW Hybrid car of the year