BMW M3 Coupe Convertible Spied Winter Testing...Again

Compared to the previous generation E46 M3, BMW is moving away from a convertible soft top, and instead using a three-piece retractable metal top. Since these latest shots capture the same test car we caught a year ago in the same location, Northern Sweden, wearing the same license plates and body camouflage, we suspect development of the CC may have been delayed causing engineers to return to Lapland for further testing. As a result, we believe the M3 sedan's launch, originally planned for Geneva 2008, was moved up to Tokyo, which took place last month, and now we can expect the M3 CC to debut in Geneva. No big deal for BMW, besides the fact that they missed the opportunity to launch the M3 Coupe Convertible in sunny southern California at this past Los Angeles Auto Show for its North American debut. Will they wait another year to do so or will the spring time in Europe suffice?