One of the greatest leaps in automotive progress this past decade has been the taming of the convertible. Once requiring a tradeoff — open-air enjoyment versus performance and year-round comfort — today's convertibles are increasingly civilized beasts, making the body style more practical than ever.

Despite its considerable handling and power, however, the gorgeously redesigned 2012 BMW 650i has missed out on all that progress.

It remains a convertible at heart, with an incredibly loud ride and a gigantic blind spot with the top up. When the top's down, though, drivers will enjoy a pleasant open-air experience as a terrific-sounding exhaust powers them down sun-kissed roads.

• New Looks
• Performance
• Convertible Faults
• Features
• Safety
• BMW 650i in the Market