A convertible is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof. The collapsible roof section is typically made from flexible canvas or vinyl, although plastic, aluminium and steel have occasionally been used in elaborate folding designs.
Volkswagen is already offering a Convertible and a GTI Convertible for their Golf line, so it would be ridiculous not to apply the same treatment to the most powerful model in the Golf line-up: the R version. The model is expected to make its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month, but Volkswagen already offered the first details on the model.
The new Golf R Convertible has been described as "the first-ever open-top R model and the fastest-ever production open-top Golf," and it pretty much offers the same features as the hatchback version. The difference will be of course its fully electric insulated hood that can be lowered in 9.5 seconds and raised in 11 seconds at speed up to 18 mph.
Updated 02/07/2013: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specs. Hit the jump to read more about the new Volkswagen Golf R Convertible.
We know that Aston Martin is going to add a Vanquish Volante model to its lineup ever since the coupe version was unveiled at the 2012 Paris Auto Show. However, up to this point the car has never been caught testing. Well, that is until today, as our spy photographers caught it playing on snow and ice in Northern Sweden.
As everyone is expects, both the coupe and convertible versions will be almost identical, so is no wonder why this prototype is almost camouflage-free, hiding just the shape of the rear spoiler with some plastic.
The main different between the two models will, of course, be the fabric roof offered in the Volante version. Under the hood, the car will keep the same 6.0-liter V-12 that delivers an impressive 656 horsepower. Power will be delivered to the rear wheels via a six-speed Touchtronic 2 automatic transmission.
Expect the new Aston Martin Vanquish Volante to be unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.
The Volkswagen Beetle GSR will undoubtedly garner most of the attention at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show, but nobody should sleep on another Chicago-bound Beetle.
Just like its brethren, the Beetle Convertible Turbo R-Line comes packed with so many exterior and interior upgrades that spruces up the already fresh-looking Beetle. The exterior offers new bi-xenon headlights matched with LEDs to go with an R-Line badge on the front grille that makes sure everyone knows that this Beetle comes loaded with the program. Aluminum-alloy wheels measuring 19-inches and a new sport-tuned suspension was fitted into the car to further improve its driving characteristics.
As for the interior, Volkswagen went to lengths to give the Beetle a sportier look, highlighted by a "metallic-finish" dash and door trim, a flat-bottom R-Line multi-function leather steering wheel, stainless-steel R-Line scuff plates, aluminum sport pedals, and plenty of leather on the seats. Volkswagen also added a number of tech features, including an RNS 315 navigation system, keyless access with push-button start, and the totally awesome and ear-soothing Fender Premium Audio System.
At the end of the day, the R-Line upgrades are enough to spice up the Beetle Convertible Turbo. Some people might think that there’s not enough to warrant the badge, but for us, these add-ons are well worth your time.
The Land Down Under is fixing to get an infusion of M awesomeness after BMW’s Australian division launched a series of limited-run M Sport models as part of the company’s "Festival of M".
That’s really great, made even more so by the fact that the M Sport lineup will feature a number of models, each coming with their own unique modifications. The biggest of the bunch is the X5 M Sport Limited Edition and BMW Australia decked with a bevy of new components. The M Sport body kit is obviously fitted into the SUV, as was a chrome M Sport tailpipe finisher, bi-xenon headlights and a set of 20-inch M double spoke alloy wheels. Looking at the photo of the SUV, though, there doesn’t appear to much of a difference from the standard model.
Meanwhile, the interior is dressed up too, at least to a certain extent. There’s the M leather-wrapped steering wheel with gearshift paddles and electric seats. Other components include a Navigation Professional package, an automatic tailgate, a rearview camera, voice control and anti-dazzle exterior mirrors. This one isn’t exactly our cup of tea, at least compared to what the other M Sport limited edition models.
The next two are the 5-Series and Z4, both of which will receive an M Sport package that includes an M Sport suspension, a new aero kit, a leather steering wheel, a set of bespoke 18-inch alloys, blue leather-piped velour floor mats, chrome-plated "Limited Edition" door sill finishers, an anthracite headliner for the coupe, and blue-stitched upholstery. Now this is more like it. The mixture of aesthetic and aero upgrades is definitely right in our wheelhouse. If you can get aftermarket performance upgrades on that Z4, then you really have something there.
Finally, the 1-Series and 3-Series Coupe and Convertible have received M Sport Plus packages, comprising of an aluminum glacier silver interior trim with glossy-black kidney grilles. The 3er, in particular, also has new sport seats, black exterior mirror caps, and stainless steel foot pedals.
If given a choice, we’re definitely rolling with the Z4 M Limited Edition. Its program is comprehensive enough without being too tacky.
Check out the price list of all M Limited Edition models after the jump.
Shortly after Audi unveiled new generation A3 hatchback at the 2012 Geneva Motor it has been rumored that a convertible version will arrive in just a few months time. If until now all we had were rumors, today our spy photographers have caught the car testing for the very first time. To make it even better this is not just the standard A3 Convertible, but the even more powerful S3.
The new generation A3 Convertible will be based on the A3 sedan version we have caught testing the other weeks, meaning that it will be a little bit prettier than the current generation: you should imagine something like a smaller A5 Convertible.
In fact this is a move everyone expected, considering the current generation A3 Convertible is not the prettiest thing we have seen.
Expect the new Audi S3 Convertible to be unveiled at the end of 2013, most likely in Frankfurt.
Do you remember the McLaren MP4-12C Terso tuning package Fab Design announced last year? The same treatment has also been applied to the Spyder version and the result is equally impressive. The model, which is officially called the Terso Japan Limited Edition, was unveiled at the 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon and will be limited to only 10 units.
Just like with the Terso Coupe, the new Spyder version receives a pretty impressive aerodynamic kit and some amazing updates under the hood. For the exterior, the tuner adds a new front skirt with larger air intakes, new side skirts, redesigned side air intakes, a new rear bumper, a new diffuser and a rear spoiler.
The car sits on a set of 20-inch, three-part forged wheels wrapped in Dunlop SP SportMaxx tires. For the interior, Fab offers their customers the possibility to choose between a wide range of leather, Alcantara, carbon fiber and aluminum.
Under the hood, Fab applied the same treatment as they did in the coupe, as they have installed a new in-house stainless-steel sports exhaust and a three-chamber carbon tailpipe. The end result is a total of 680 horsepower and a peak torque of 527 pound-feet. The 0-to-60 mph sprint now takes just 3 seconds and the top speed goes up to an impressive 213 mph.
The neighborhood of Beverly Hills in Los Angeles doesn’t lack in its share of fancy sports cars, luxury cars and supercars. On just about every corner you’ll find one of these vehicles, just like luxury automakers that have dealerships scattered all over the surrounding areas.
One of them is Bentley Beverly Hills, and recently they came out with a limited edition Continental GTC that’s fixing to have an owner whisk it away. The car has been distinctively painted with custom Tiffany Celeste Pearlescent paint that we haven’t seen on a Bentley before. Needless to say, the finish looks downright stunning.
Adding to the visual visage of the limited-edition Continental GTS with a choice of either liquid-silver or matte-black-finished 22-inch CEC C881 wheels wrapped in a set of Continental Extreme Contact ultra-high performance all-season tires.
No performance upgrades were given to this limited-edition Continental GTC, so expect to see the same 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine that produces 500 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque. The engine is definitely one that should give the looks of the limited edition Continental GTC a suitable technical partner.
The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray has become a fixture in our fantasies in the short time that it’s been alive. As it turns out, we might need to reserve a little bit of space for the convertible version of the Corvette Stingray because it’s debut is going to take place sooner than later.
Autoweek is reporting that the 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible will make its world debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. In case you didn’t know, the Geneva Motor Show opens to the press on March 5th and 6th, then to the general public from the 7th to the 17th. That puts us less than two months from the debut of the new drop-top Stingray.
In addition to news about its expected debut, sources also told Autoweek that the Corvette Stingray will be badged as a 2014 model and will find its way into dealerships near the end of the year.
It’s only one of two COPO Camaro Convertible models in existence and the other one is sitting pretty at the GM Heritage Center so don’t bank on that hitting dealerships anytime soon.
So it’s pretty understandable that the COPO Camaro Convertible that hit the auction block at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale over the weekend fetched $400,000. The winning bid may be a surprise to some people, but in reality, it isn’t. Apart from the obvious exclusivity, this muscle car is also primed to perform, carrying a 327-cubic-inch engine and 4.0-liter supercharger that produces 550 horsepower.
Most importantly, proceeds from the sale of the COPO Camaro Convertible will go to the American Heart Association. We can’t imagine a better way to part with $400,000 than to use it to acquire a real two-off muscle car. He gets the car and the money he spent goes to a worthy charity that will undoubtedly have plenty of use for it.
The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray has just been unveiled and the first official images of the Convertible version have already leaked on the internet. As you can see the Z51 rear spoiler has been dropped, which likely means that this package won’t be offered for the convertible version. Also, the convertible version features smaller wheels than the coupe version. Everything else remains unchanged, except, of course, the car’s soft top.
No official details have been offered up to this point, but under the hood the convertible version will get the same engine as the coupe: an LT1 6.2-liter small-block V-8 engine, which produces an estimated 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. With the few extra pounds, you should expect the convertible model to be a little bit slower, but we’re pretty certain that the 0-to-60 mph sprint time will remain in the sub-4-second range.
We are not certain just how official these images are, but they look like the real deal to us. If so, you’ve gotta love that leaky faucet over at GM. We’ll keep you updated!
