Dähler built an M2 Convertible because BMW wouldn't

BMW is never going to build an M2 Convertible because the brand's execs think the coupe is too hardcore to make a good droptop, but the Swiss tuning firm Dähler Design and Technik is happy to fill the demand. The company's creation looks good enough to come straight from the Bavarian automaker's factory.

Dähler doesn't go into detail about how the conversion works, but the body suggests that the company isn't hacking up authentic M2s. Instead, it appears the firm is taking the existing 2 Series Convertible and using the droptop as a base for further performance modifications.

The company's work creates an M2 that's even more potent than what BMW offers from the stock coupe's 365 horsepower (272 kilowatts) and 343 pound-feet (465 Newton-meters) or 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) during short periods of overboost. Dähler offers the vehicle in two tunes. Stage 1 pushes the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six to 402 hp (300 kW) and 428 lb-ft (580 Nm). The company claims this version can sprint to 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) in 4 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph (290 kph). The Stage 2 upgrades bump the output to 419 hp (313 kW) and 450 lb-ft (610 Nm), which also allows a top speed of 186 mph (300 kph).

The tuned engine should sound good because Dähler installs a custom stainless steel exhaust. The system includes a pair of dark tips that come out of each corner of the rear.

To keep this performance under control, Dähler offers eight-piston brakes calipers with 15.75-inch (400-millimeter) rotors. The company's M2 Convertible rides on an adjustable coil-over suspension with 16 levels of independent customization for the rebound and compression.

The interior remains largely stock, except for Dähler's MID-display-unit that replaces the center HVAC vent on the driver's side. The little screen shows performance information like the water and oil temperatures.