Convertibles

After teasing us with the Z4 Concept Roadster last year, BMW has finally pulled back the covers on the production version of its much-anticipated new 2-seat convertible. First up from the Z4 line is the 2019 M40i First Edition, a sporty version that packs a 3.0-liter inline-6 engine.

The Mercedes AMG GT series is one of my favorite two-seaters on the road today. I’ve spent a little time behind the wheel of the AMG GT S, pushing it around the circuit at Road America, and it was quite an impressive car.

The BMW i8 is one of those cars I really want to love, but after having driven one, I can’t get much past “strong like.” It looks fantastic – heck, it’s concept car you can actually buy.

Aston Martin’s foxy DB11 sports coupe is getting a convertible variant in the form of the 2018 DB11 Volante. The open top version of the DB11 shares much of the visual appeal of the hard top, but with the opportunity to enjoy some wind in your hair.

Mercedes-Benz has debuted its new E-Class Cabriolet. The car is designed to have a silhouette that is similar to the E-Class Coupe, only with a drop top. Up front is a dramatic grille with bright LED performance headlamps (or optional Multibeam LED headlamps), and around back the LED taillamps are designed to resemble the glow of a jet engine.

In general, I don’t think cars should be made into convertibles unless they were engineered that way from day one. Typically, chopping the roof off of a production vehicle causes all sorts of stability and body roll issues, regardless of how much you want the wind blowing through your hair.

Audi has gone official with U.S. pricing of the 2017 R8 V10 Spyder, and as expected, this drop top beast isn’t priced for most normal folks out there. It starts at $175,100 before tax, title, and license.

Mercedes-AMG has unveiled roadster version of the AMG GT for fans of the car who prefer to take their high-speed runs and wondrous exhaust note with the top down. The Mercedes AMG GT Roadster is the more civilized of the two with the GT C Roadster being the hottest version in the line.

Frankly, today’s automotive marketplace offers few choices when it comes to drop-tops. Cruising convertibles for four passengers are particularly rare these days. The days of going for a drive, with no place to go, the top down and the wind in your hair are few and far between.

Audi has been making its TT Roadster since 1999, and it’s always been a fun, and visually appealing little 2-seater. While previous generations might have been enjoyable, it never handled as well as I’d want a sports car to.

OK, so maybe it’s a little hyperbolic to set a video of the Hennessey Venom GT Spyder breaking the record for world’s fastest convertible to President Kennedy’s inaugural “Ask not what your country can do for you” speech.

A few months back, I had the opportunity to drive the new 2016 Chevy Camaro SS Coupe, and thought it was spectacular. However, the weather was cold and snowy, with lots of twisty, turny and slippery mountain roads.

Volkswagen recently rolled out one of its more interesting concept designs in a while, a compact crossover with a retractable soft-top. At first glance, it’s reminiscent of the good old Rabbit convertible, but it’s actually a bit larger and taller – more like a Nissan Juke or a Honda HR-V.

Mercedes-Benz has been updating many of its cars, and the latest unveiling is the 2017 Mercedes-Benz SLC – their compact, 2-seat convertible. The car comes in SLC300 and AMG SLC43 versions. The base SLC 300 gets a 2.0-liter turbo four making 241 hp and 273 lb-ft.

I’ll admit right up front that I was a bit disappointed with the specs of the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider that have gone official. I was hoping the car would have significantly more power than its MX-5 cousin, but that isn’t to be.