10 HOT NEW CONVERTIBLES

10 Hot New Convertibles for Summer 2013 and Beyond
By Ben Stewart, Popular Mechanics, 11 March 2013.

The calendar says March and there's still a bit of chill in the air. But that doesn't mean we can't dream of summer - time to slide behind the wheel of a freshly minted convertible and hit the road. This year there's a bumper crop of hot new drop-tops that are built to rev up the fun on just about any drive.

1. 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible

If there's one upcoming drop top built to cannonball across the country, it's the new Corvette Convertible. The only problem? We might have to wait until next summer, as the Vette won't see showrooms until the latter part of 2013. No matter. When it does hit the streets, expect a flurry of high fives at every stoplight. The new Vette's shape is a little cleaner and less fussy without the Coupe's roof and shoulder-mounted cooling ducts, so it might end up as the prettiest of all Stingrays.

Under that scooped hood is the same 6.2-litre LT1 V-8, packing 450 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. Lest anyone think the convertible Corvette is just some boulevard cruiser, the engineers have promised an experience just as rewarding as the hard top. The suspension settings were not relaxed for the convertible. For anyone who wants to take the ragtop on a road course, a Z51 package brings dry sump oiling for the power plant along with coolers for the transmission and differential.

The roof remains fabric but is crafted with more sound insulation, and will lower in 21 seconds with the touch of just one button (or your key fob). And it can all happen at speeds up to 30 mph. We can't wait for our first turn behind the wheel. [More from Chevrolet]

2. 2014 Jaguar F-Type

Jaguar's flagship XK convertible serves up power and prestige, but bend that car into a set of switchbacks and it won't keep pace with more aggressive sports cars like Porsche's 911 and Boxster. The F-Type is meant to change all that. It is certainly the most purposeful all-new sports car to come from Jag in quite some time.

Power ranges from a 340-hp supercharged V-6 up to a 495-hp V-8, with an honest 380-hp V-6 occupying the middle ground. The most powerful F-Type is good for a 0-to-60-mph time of just 4.2 seconds, according to Jag. Each engine will come paired to an eight-speed automatic - sadly, no manual transmission will come along for the ride. On the plus side, the aggressive Active Sport Exhaust on V-8 models makes a sound so good you'll swear it was tuned in Ferrari's factory. [More from Jaguar]

3. 2013 Porsche 911 Cabriolet

Since 1983, the Porsche 911 Cabriolet has been one of the most versatile and iconic convertible sports machines. Like the Corvette, the 911 Cabrio is the kind of drop top you can drive everyday - and have a blast on the weekends too. The bones of the latest one are shared with the coupe; there's a little more than 150 pounds of additional bracing to help shore up the structure of the open-air car, but that should do little to hamper the fun. After all, with 400 hp on tap for Carrera S Cabriolet models and a choice of a seven-speed manual or the wonderfully smart PDK dual-clutch transmission, this is Porsche's most potent open-air machine.

The fabric top only looks soft - underneath the cloth is a series of rigid panels. The roof raises and lowers in just 13 seconds. But don't expect the 911 to be as hushed as a Mercedes-Benz or Bentley on the freeway. The 911 Cabrio is the benchmark for drop top sports cars, but it's not the ultimate pampering machine. [More from Porsche]

4. 2013 Toyota FT-86 Open Concept

Okay, it's just a concept. Although Toyota revealed this car at Geneva this month, no production plans have been officially announced. But unlike some concepts, this is obviously much more than a styling exercise. We'd be shocked if there weren't convertible versions of the Scion FR-S and its twin, the Subaru BRZ, sitting on dealership lots within two years.

The concept car retains the coupe's two-plus-two seating, so there's little lost in translation in terms of practicality with the exception of reduced trunk capacity. Toyota says that if and when it creates a production version, the drop top would be "weight neutral" compared to the coupe. That sounds like the car's platform was designed from the start to be convertible-ready without the need to add hundreds of pounds of bracing. It should all come together in a package that will make Mazda Miata engineers more than a little nervous. [More from Toyota]

5. 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG

Yes, the $206,000 SLS AMG GT Roadster is the pinnacle of the Mercedes-Benz convertible line-up. But if that sexy beast isn't quite roomy, exclusive, or powerful enough, there's always this 621-hp SL65 bearing 738 lb-ft of torque.

The SL65 is a stealth machine. Except for the badges, lip spoiler and larger wheels, little distinguishes the SL65 AMG from the ordinary SL550 - at least as far as looks are concerned. But AMG engineers stuffed the company's incredible twin-turbo V-12 under that hood. It's an animal, and one that will run you a cool US$212,240, or twice as much as the SL550.

This car makes practical sense, which makes it the best kind of amazing. Best of all, this road rocket comes with all the pampering of the normal SL, including heated massaging seats, the Airscarf feature that heats the back of your neck on a chilly day, and an electrochromic glass-roof panel that changes from light to dark at the touch of a button. Oh, and the folding metal hardtop rises from the trunk in just about 16 seconds. [More from Mercedes-Benz]

6. 2013 VW Beetle Turbo Convertible

One of these things is not like the other: The VW Beetle Turbo Convertible isn't a fire-breathing hard-edged sports car like the other drop tops here. Yet with a 200-hp turbocharged motor under the hood, it's certainly no slouch, hitting 60 mph in less than 7 seconds with a six-speed manual.

This new Beetle convertible packs more visual heat than the old one. It's both muscled and finely tailored at the same time - the VW feels like it costs more than it actually does. Its fabric top is quiet and can raise or lower quickly while the vehicle is traveling at speeds up to 31 mph. The ride is smooth and pleasantly muffles out the worst road grit. Power down the top, enjoy the turbo's whoosh and the wind in your hair, and you might not care where you're driving. At a price of around $30,000 fully loaded, the Beetle is an inexpensive way to have some open-air fun. [More from Popular Mechanics and Volkswagen]

7. 2014 Audi RS5 Cabriolet

Audi's RS cars are perfect for clandestine missions. These ultra-performance rides look just like the rest of the Audi family, save for a few RS badges, larger wheels, and minor bodywork tweaks. They are surprisingly modest, exclusive, and very cool, and one major performance step up from the S cars.

The new Audi RS5 Cabrio is one of the quickest ways you can whisk away four people and all their stuff for a weekend of fun. In many cars, the loss of a hard roof means there's a little less rigidity and capability in the corners. But Audi has beefed up the structure to minimize those compromises. When you lower the top (which takes 15 seconds), Audi's high-revving 444-hp V-8 sounds oh-so-sweet as it nears 8500 rpm. The RS5 Cabrio will clobber 60 mph in around 4.5 seconds, thanks to the quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Like all Audis, this US$80,000 super convertible has an elegantly trimmed cabin.

The best part? Even in exotic-car-crazy cities like Los Angeles, this Audi will be one of the rarest autos on the road. [More from Autoblog and Audi]

8. 2013 Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible

Just in case there's a cool US$238,000 burning a hole in your pocket, let's talk about the GT Speed. Bentley's Continental Convertible has always been an exceptional long-distance cruise machine. Driving from L.A. to San Francisco is an easy day in one of these. The top is so quiet and the interior so comfortable that you could double that mileage and never complain.

So what's new? The engineers behind the GT Speed have raised the 6.0-litre 12-cylinder engine's horsepower from 567 to a ludicrous 616, and mated it to a new eight-speed automatic. The result is a nearly 3-ton drop top that will run to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds.

The GT Speed comes packing plenty of luxury, but be careful checking those option boxes. Bits like the US$7300 Naim audio system, US$13,875 carbon-ceramic brakes, or the US$4395 for nonstandard paint could bring the price near the US$300,000 threshold. But no other convertible will pamper you quite like this one. [More from Bentley]

9. 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible

Think you need to shell out six figures to slide behind the wheel of a 600-hp convertible? No way. The GT500 delivers an incredible 662 hp for just US$59,995. And this Mustang will hold a very special place in Ford history as the last GT500 that was developed before Carroll Shelby's passing. Wrap your hands around that suede-trimmed steering wheel, grab that vintage white cue-ball shifter (only a six-speed manual is available), and get ready to storm the quarter-mile in just about 12 seconds flat.

Unlike some performance convertibles, the Shelby didn't need much extra weight to shore up the structure. There's less than 100 pounds of extra mass. In a world where high-performance engines are covered in ugly black plastic, the Shelby proudly leaves the supercharged 5.8-litre V-8 and its fine blue SVT valve covers open for all to see. You know you've got a cool convertible when crowds gather to stare at the engine. [More from Ford]

10. 2014 BMW Z4 sDrive35is

The name might bewilder those who are unfamiliar with BMW's roadster line-up, but get past the tongue-twister badge and you'll find this is one rewarding machine with a folding hardtop. The Z4 gets a handful of minor upgrades for 2014, but thankfully the sweet twin-turbocharged 335-hp inline six remains in place, paired to a dual-clutch transmission. That means 60 mph will fly by in less than 5 seconds.

Yes, we would prefer a proper manual transmission in a car like this. But to row your own gears you'll need to step down to the less powerful sDrive35i or 28i. [More from BMW]

[Source: Popular Mechanics. Edited. Links added.]