Convertibles

It's hard to overestimate the thirst of the American auto market for sexy, sporty, small roadsters – while sales of the Pontiac Solstice may be slowing down, the Saturn Sky is taking off, and the Mazda Miata MX-5 is holding more or less steady as it has for nearly two decades. That's what...

Audi’s new A5 Coupe is yet to go on sale in many markets but that hasn’t stopped several renderings previewing the convertible version from surfacing. This new rendering gives us another look at the car’s styling ahead of its launch in roughly twelve months time. The A5 Cabriolet...

Citroen is set to unveil its new C5 Airscape concept car at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show, giving a preview of the styling of the next C5 model as well as the debut of a carbon-fiber folding roof. Other styling features of the concept include its high waistline, ribbed panels, 19in alloy...

With Cerberus Capital Management in charge of Chrysler, the immediate goal for execs is to implement a massive turnaround plan which will see thousands of jobs lost and extensive cost cutting in most departments. Last month, plans for the flagship Imperial sedan were thrown out and any new model...

Just two months ago we reported that Jaguar was expanding its XK range with a new 3.5L V8 engine that would allow it to lower the entry price to the model significantly. The initial sales results are now in and the model has been so successful Jaguar is expanding it to the Cabrio model. Despite the...

Several prototypes of BMW’s 1-series cabriolet have been spotted undergoing testing across Germany ahead of the car’s likely unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. As the images reveal, the new car will stick with a traditional fabric roof and will feature a revised tail-end...

Hamann has released its latest performance and styling kit for the BMW 3-series convertible, which includes power mods for the entire range and individual styling accessories for both the body and interior. To achieve its power upgrades, engineers have recalibrated the standard ECU, which leads to...

After the official first drive of the new BMW M3 Coupe in Spain this week, many of the drivers came away with the consideration that the new E92 M3 has lost the raw and primal edge of the previous E46 model. We can only assume that a drive in the new convertible version, due for release in the...

DaimlerChrysler’s ultra-luxury brand Maybach, suffering from poor sales and a limited lineup, could expand its range with rumored convertible and SUV models in an effort to increase profitability. Though chances of a high-end SUV are slim, the likelihood of a convertible model based on the...

Fiat’s new 500 minicar was only unveiled on Wednesday but already attention has turned to the upcoming Cabrio and performance Abarth versions of the stylish subcompact. Pictured here is an artist’s impression of the convertible version that’s due to go on sale in the first half of...

America’s top selling convertible is about to get another variation with the announcement that Ford and Carroll Shelby will be launching a new GT Mustang drop-top for the 2008 model year. Though the first cars aren’t expected to hit showrooms until August, Mustang fans will be able to...

The convertibles of today are generally known as little two-seat roadsters like the MX-5 and S2000. But it wasn’t long ago that a different kind of beast cruised the ocean promenades - the four door luxury convertible. According to Motor Trend, Mercedes-Benz is set to revive the tradition...

The convertible version of Saab’s recently launched 9-3 sedan has been spotted ahead of the car’s official release later this year. It seems that Saab’s engineers aren’t too worried about camouflaging the vehicle now that its sedan and wagon siblings have already been...

The convertible version of Audi’s potent RS4 sedan is destined to hit showrooms in the US, with the first cars arriving early next year. Only 300 examples of the drop-top RS4 are expected to make it across the Atlantic, which means the Canadians will have to miss out. After launching its...

Porsche specialist 9ff has announced the release of a high-performance tuning pack for the convertible version of the new 911 Turbo. It didn’t take long for the power-hungry guys over at 9ff to transfer their performance know-how from the coupe to the cabrio. The car was only officially...

Executives at Kia have decided to shelve plans for a drop-top version of the cee’d hatch, despite the project already being in an advanced stage. Product planners cite poor profitability and Kia's small market presence as reasons for axing the plans. During a recent visit to Kia’s...

After months of spy shots, Porsche has finally lifted the veil on the 911 Turbo Cabriolet. As with the 911 Turbo Coupé, the Cabriolet will also be powered by a 3.6L six-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine with biturbo turbocharging and Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG). The powerplant already...

The spy shots last week told us what to expect and now GM has unveiled the 2008 Corvette, fitted with a new 6.2L LS3 V8 engine developing 430hp and 575 Nm of torque. Other changes include the option of a new dual-mode exhaust system, improved manual and automatic transmissions, better steering...

To some, the heavier and less rigid Convertible version of the potent M3 may be a poser’s car, but BMW’s engineers are hard at work making the drop-top every bit as hard edged as its Coupe sibling. Numerous prototypes have been doing the hard yards around the Nürburgring in preparation...

Updated: Click here for official Audi A3 Cabrio information Audi’s top brass have confirmed that production for the new A3 Convertible is scheduled to start at the luxury brand’s car plant in Brussels by late 2008. Positioned against its arch rival, BMW’s new 3-series drop-top...