Convertible

Volkswagen, the company that is selling an open-top crossover – namely the T-Roc convertible – is thinking about shaving the roof off the ID.3. How do we know? Well, the carmaker prepared a very short press release about it worded “What if?” and to add fuel to the rumor fire, chairman Herbert Diess took to Twitter asking for his followers’ opinion about a potential ID.3 cabriolet.

It’s not yet been 20 years since Y2K, and we’re already reaching for the rose-colored glasses when talking about the 2000s. It was a decade of rapid technological advancements, one where flip phones turned into smartphones and laptops were finally making some gains on desktop computers. It was, arguably, the decade of the Fast And Furious franchise, for the movie-going car guys, that went from glamorizing the tuner culture to being just another action franchise that happened to feature some exotics.

Above all, though, it was the decade of the electronic uprising in our sporty cars. The first flappy paddles found their way into up-market supercars, and even the more mundane machinery came with a host of electronic aids to keep them level and straight on the road. Some enjoyed having their skills behind the wheel complimented by the electronic suspension, self-leveling dampers, four-wheeled steering, and other clever robotics that made driving fast a bit easier. The purists, however, did not like the rise of electronic aids and kept searching for those cars that kept true to the old school setup of three pedals, a stick, and no help other than that given by your senses.

We’ve put together a list of 8 sports cars from the 2000s that you should still consider today. They offer the perfect blend between rawness and electronic advancement from a time when we didn’t hear doomsday preachers announcing the end of the manual transmission.

Gunther Werks’ remastered 993-generation Porsche 911 now has a drop-top sibling. The new model, called the 993 Speedster Remastered, is the latest bespoke creation from the California-based tuning firm. It’s more powerful than its coupe counterpart, and with the roof get lopped off, it also looks like a true speedster. Only 25 units of the 993 Speedster Remastered will be built. There’s no word yet on pricing, but with the coupe version fetching $565,000, expect the speedster to carry a price that’s closer to $600,000.

Healthy and safety guides tell you that a car missing a full-width windshield should not be driven on public roads yet here we are, looking at a gorgeous open-top Datsun from the late ’60s that, courtesy of the SR20DET inline-four is so fast it literally blows your cap off.

And then there’s the soundtrack and the fact that you’re never fully in the car because the doors are low enough so that most of your upper body is exposed to the elements. Grassroots Garage gets a taste of this automotive guillotine.

There are people who aren’t satisfied with just a Huracan Evo; they want more or at the very least, something that’ll serve as a physical manifestation of their status. The drive to be different is the reason the Lamborghini Huracan Evo Aperta exists. It’s a one-off, Huracan Evo-based creation that’s without a roof, windows, or a windshield. It also has a V-10 engine with more power than the Huracan Evo’s “standard” V-10 unit. In other words, it’s a Lamborghini Huracan Evo unlike any other, or as some people like to say, “it’s a one-of-a-kind, roofless monster on four wheels.”

The Porsche 718 is the entry point to Porsche’s sports car lineup. That said, with the introduction of their flat-four engines, many Porsche fans asked themselves if Porsche has lost its way. Obviously, we are not talking about the 911, since the flagship model still goes strong. That said, transitioning to a more eco-friendly drivetrain is a tricky thing to execute right, especially in performance cars that have a cult following. It seems, however, Porsche has realized their mistakes and wants to put things right. Enter the 718 GTS 4.0.

The Lotus Elise represents everything that’s great about a sports car. It’s light, tiny, and it allows you to have fun way before you reach impoundable speeds. Sadly, the ultra-light, two-door delight is on its way out and that means only one thing: special editions such as this ’Type 49’ model built some 21 years ago will only become more desirable and more expensive in future years. Want one? Get one and do so faster than that 6.1-second 0-60 mph time.

The Mercedes-Benz 300SL is one of the most iconic cars ever built by the German brand. It’s also one of the most beautiful too. Built in fewer than 3,500 units from 1957 to 1963, the 300SL is a rare items nowadays and well-maintained models can fetch in excess of $500,000. Definitely not a car for the average Joe. But while some rich folks would rather hunt an original 300SL down, other enthusiasts build restomod versions of them. John Sarkisyan from S-Klub is one of those people. Having built a coupe model in the past, he recently married the body of a 300SL to a modern Mercedes chassis and a supercharged V-8 engine. And the end result is quite impressive.

It’s no secret that coachbuilding has been slowly making a return in the automotive industry. The Spanish manufacturer Hurtan is another name that is testimony to the return of this long lost art. Just recently they unveiled their latest creation. It’s called the Hurtan Grand Albaycin and it will be coming in both Targa and roadster forms. It aims to give a modern take on the vintage-inspired compact sports car formula. But will this blend of classic design and modern tech be enough to stir up the compact sports car market?

Tesla had another moment of internet glory and hype as the Interwebs were filled with interior renders of the revised Model S and Model X. Specifically, it was the yoke-style steering wheel that caught everyone’s attention, even though it might not make it into production.

However, not everything is milk and sugar for the EV maker and its fan/customer base as the Roadster has been hit with a delay.

British automaker Jaguar has just announced a new continuation series for one of its legendary classic models, the C-Type. A race car originally built from 1951 to 1953, the C-Type joins the D-Type, Lightweight E-Type, and XKSS on Jaguar’s list of classic cars revived through the company’s Continuation project.

Just like the cars before it, the C-Type Continuation will be built to original specs using data from the brand’s archive and by scanning on original model. Only eight will be built, adding to the 53 examples that Jaguar assembled in the 1950s.

The Ferrari 812 Superfast, introduced in 2017 as a replacement for the F12berlinetta, is without doubt one of the sexiest grand tourers on the market today. And while most competitors pack turbocharged engines, Ferrari remained loyal to the mighty, naturally aspirated V-12. Some say that the 812 Superfast is the perfect modern grand tourer as far as links to iconic models like the 250 GTO go, but YouTube’s Mr JWW seems to think that the Italian GT can be improved. How? By pairing the open-top layout of the GTS with a Novitec exhaust system.

Custom-made electric vehicles are a trend that’s slowly picking up. They aren’t as popular as internal combustion-engined cars for now since there aren’t a lot of moving parts in EVs that you can play around with. We’ve seen some tuners crack the system to unleash more power for a much cheaper price than the company offers. Apart from playing with the mechanicals, some aftermarket companies have worked on the body of EVs as well. From equipping it body kits and turning them into station wagons, we’ve seen it all already.

Now, however, a company called Ares Designs has transformed a Tesla Model S into a convertible. This isn’t the first time we’re seeing a convertible Tesla, but it is arguably the cleanest one we’ve seen.

We’re all familiar with Toyota’s TRD (Toyota Racing Development). Other than looking to squeeze the best performance out of its cars for off-road or track use, the Japanese carmaker is also running TRI.

TRI stands for Toyota Research Institute, a division founded in 2016 which allows the Japanese brand to channel its efforts on making cars a safer place. Within TRI, Toyota is developing the Guardian, an automated safety system that learns how to spot a dangerous situation and react in due time. Right now, this advanced form of AI is learning how to drift a Supra.

In a world where SUVs have all but taken over the market, there are fewer sedans and coupes to choose from. That reality is even worse for those looking for something with a top that gracefully stows away in the rear for unlimited headroom on demand. In fact, if you want a decent convertible these days, you’re only good option is either going with a roadster – like the Mercedes SLC or Jaguar F-Type – or something more conventional like the Audi S5 Cabriolet or the car we have here: A Mercedes E450 4Matic Cabriolet. Naturally positioned between the C-Class and the S-Class, the E-Class starts out right around $71,000, making it perfect for anyone who doesn’t want a smaller C-Class but can’t afford the six-figure price of the larger S-Class. So, what’s it like to live with the E-Class Cabrio? Well, I’m glad you asked, because we just spent a week with it and this is our story.

Lamborghini has been giving us some pretty epic one-off cars in recent times. Now, the brand’s motorsport division is giving us another one-off Lamborghini. The marque’s main models – Huracan and Aventador often serve as a platform for some pretty epic and unique creations. It’s something of a tradition for the Italian company and now the factory of madness in Sant’Agata is giving us yet another stunning creation, loosely based on the V-12 Aventador. Here’s what you need to know about the Lamborghini SC20.