New BMW M Concept, £1.5k cheap thrills...

... and where have all the convertibles gone?

By Cam Tait / Thursday, 2 July 2026 / Loading comments

Remember the uproar when BMW unveiled the nostril grilles that would end up on the front of the current M3 and M4? Of course you do, and it’s still a sore point for some in the M crowd today. So you’ll be happy to hear (or see) that the company is dropping the much-maligned snout for its next M3 and M4, with the recently revealed M Concept Neue Klasse previewing a design that’s proving far less divisive than what came before. We recently got up close and personal with the M Concept during the Le Mans weekend, so we’re kicking off this week’s episode of The Gassing Station podcast with a deep dive into what we’re told isn’t far off the final article.

As you may have read in Sam’s coverage, the next M3 and M4 will be available in both electric and combustion iterations, the former packing four motors (one per wheel) outputting a figure that’s expected to be north of 700hp. The latter, meanwhile, will see the return of the superb S58 straight-six, now compliant with the stringent Euro 7 regulations and unencumbered by a heavy plug-in hybrid system. No word on power yet, but the fact that BMW is offering buyers the choice of two very different powertrains is enough to get us excited about what’s to come. Of course, that’s just scratching the surface, so you’ll need to have a listen to the pod for the full breakdown.

After giving the format a slight rejig for our live podcast at our inaugural 98 Collective event at Girardo & Co, buying challenges are back on the menu for this week’s episode. PHer His Lordship wants a cheap but fun runabout and has all of £1,500 to spend on it. With an MX-5 their preferred, but out-of-budget, choice, Sam’s chosen this drop-top Audi A4 for £1,495 as the next best thing. It looks to be in fantastic condition for a car that’s covered 134,000 miles over its 26 years on the road, which admittedly can’t be said for the MG TF I found. Judging by its latest MoT, there are a few bits here and there that need addressing, but it’s arguably closer to His Lordship’s ideal car than the A4, and they did say they didn’t mind a project. But if you think you can do better, then feel free to drop your suggestions in the topic here.

Speaking of convertibles, Lil_Red_GTO has found an article claiming that convertible sales are on the decline. It’s said that sales have dropped by nearly 90 per cent over the last 20 years, and suggestions that manufacturers putting all their eggs into the SUV basket are to blame. However, there’s a surprising lack of enthusiasm for drop-tops in the comments, with some claiming that it’s just too hot to enjoy convertibles in the summer months. If you feel otherwise, then make sure to argue your point at the topic here, but maybe have a listen to pod first to hear both sides of the story.

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