IT'S not often you can get your top off in Britain but when the sun shines, there's no finer place to do it.

With BMW's stylish 2 Series drop top, there are few, if any better looking four seaters to do it with.

A replacement for the 1 Series convertible, this car is ultra-stylish and with the diesel power unit on board pacey and fuel efficient.

It is beautifully refined and balanced, and a stiffened body shell dispenses with the so-called body flex associated with convertibles.

Obviously, with a soft roof to stow, it will not be the most practical of cars, and it really is more of a 2+2, but a couple young teenagers fitted pretty comfortably in the snug rear seats.

The roof itself folds seamlessly into the boot space in just 20 seconds at the touch of a button, and can be carried out at speeds of just over 30mph.

Boot space is clearly compromised by the roof, but you know all of this when you go for a convertible. With the roof in place 335 litres is available, still making it the largest boot in its class, while rear access benefits from an 11mm wider aperture when the front seats are tilted forwards.

Extra stowage space comes from large door pockets, a spacious glovebox, a central storage compartment and two cup holders.

It is longer and wider than the model it replaces and looks stunning, provoking no end of interest both when parked and on the roads.

It has a sleek profile, with smart alloys wheels, raked windscreen, sculpted lines and long bonnet which features the iconic double kidney grille between the familiar twin-round circular headlights. It looks just the job for wind in the hair motoring.

The interior is still one of the highest quality around with high-end soft touch finishes to dash and doors and classy ambient lighting.

It is dominated by the iDrive controller and infotainment system which controls major functions like sat nav, connectivity and car settings.

Being a BMW, even with no roof, it's a given that handling, with its rear wheel drive, will be good and the narrow, winding roads of Lakeland put that reputation to the test big style.

Powered by the 190bhp two-litre diesel engine, it has exceptional handling, gripping like a limpet on bends and always feeling stable and controlled. There is great feedback from the nicely-weighted steering. The ride is firm but comfortable.

Mated to a six-speed gearbox, acceleration is brisk, hitting 60mph from a standing start in just 7.5 seconds, but still capable of delivering a claimed 60.1mpg. My figures showed nearer 53mpg, still mightily impressive given the range of driving conditions, from motorways to twisting country lanes and hill passes.

The excellent economy means trips to the petrol station are fewer and low CO2 emission of 124g/km make it an attractive business option.

Standard kit is decent, with the usual electrics, automatic air conditioning, drive performance control, Keyless entry and multi-function leather steering wheel. Also included are front and rear parking sensors.

The standard electronic assistance systems include stability and traction control, plus assisted braking and a host of standard safety kit you would expect on a premium car.

The car can also be fully connected with the outside world through a wide range of standard-fit and optional ConnectedDrive features ConnectedDrive services for the first time which include wireless updating of navigation data.