Tag Archives: convertible
2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8 Convertible Totaled
The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8 Convertible embodies a major overhaul compared to the C7. A key revision in the series is its retractable hardtop, which is a departure from its predecessor’s soft-top roof that Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter considers as one of the reasons why the C7 underperformed in the market.
Recently, Drive 615 was looking for a quick scoop of the C8 topdown in Accelerate Yellow finish at the assembly plant of Corvette in Bowling Green, Kentucky. As he was snooping around, one version of the car caught him by surprise instead. What he saw was a totaled prototype of the vehicle.
Sitting in the yard of the automaker is a completely camouflaged version of the C8 Convertible. That means it is one of the model’s test cars. Noticeably missing in the auto is one of its front wheels and its airbags have been deployed.
We can only speculate about what caused the condition of the C8 Convertible in the video. It is possible that the car underwent a crash test, but its front and rear do not appear to be crumpled from the collision. Another scenario is that something may have gone wrong that sent its front wheel flying out along the way. Regardless, this is a clear indication that Chevy is going into great lengths in testing its cars to ensure their performance and safety.
According to Chevrolet, the new Corvette C8 Convertible will only be $7,500 more expensive than its coupe variant. That means its starting price should start at the $67,000 mark. The production of the vehicle is expected to begin before 2019 ends.
4 Questions You Need To Ask About The 2020 Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet
Convertible SUVs are not too popular these days. There’s a plunge in the demand for them but fortunately, you can still get your hands on one if you want to. German automaker Volkswagen came up with the new T-Roc Cabriolet, a high-riding compact car with a drop-top.
Why Make The T-Roc A Convertible?
VW already axed the Eos, the Golf Cabriolet, and the Beetle Cabriolet. This means there’s room in its lineup for a small drop-top convertible. What you get when you mix that gap with the need for a crossover is the T-Roc Cabriolet.
The brand also needs at least one convertible in its range so the T-Roc will be the only convertible in the VW lineup for the foreseeable future. It looks the same as the regular five-door T-Roc except that it has a soft drop-top, a raked windscreen, and only two larger doors.
Should You Get The VW T-Roc?
Absolutely! This is the first crossover cabriolet in the compact segment. If that seems to be a lot of combination, just think about this: it combines an extroverted design with the raised seating that’s characteristic of an SUV. The trunk isn’t as big as the regular T-Roc crossover but the 284 liters are just enough. When the soft top comes down, that capacity decreases to just 161 liters.
Speaking of the drop-top, it folds electronically at speeds of 30 km/h or 19 mph. The shape is alike the top created for the Golf Convertible.
What Platform Is Used For The T-Roc Cabriolet?
The drop-top version of the regular T-Roc used the same MQB platform that underpins everything from the Audi A1 to the Passat. The structural rigidity of the car, however, was affected because of the drop-top. VW said it used four cross braces and a front cross strut in key areas to make the car sturdier.
When Will The T-Roc Cabriolet Be Available In The Market?
The T-Roc will officially be revealed at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show on September 12 to 22. The market debut should be sometime in the spring of 2020. There are two packs that buyers can choose from: Style will include color themes for the interior, standard mood lighting, and 17-inch rims with a distinctive lacquered finish while the R-Line adds standard fog lights and sports seats for a sporty look.
3 Things To Know About The 2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible Number 1 Edition
The special edition of the 2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible is made more special by Mulliner, Bentley’s own customization division. While there aren’t many great special editions in the market, the Bentley is on another level.
Exterior
The Number 1 Edition isn’t your usual Continental GT Convertible. You have two options to choose from: the Dragon Red II paint finish and the Beluga Black paint finish. But, the colors of the fabric roof can be different from the body so pundits suggest that you choose Dragon Red II for the body and Beluga Black paint for the roof. The Beluga Black paint body can be had with the Claret Red fabric roof.
You can also choose a Black Line Specification package, which brings black trim elements throughout the convertible’s body. You can see this on the door handles, radiator surround, headlamp and rear lamp surround, tailpipe finishers, side window surrounds, wing vents, and the number plate surround.
The 2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible Number 1 Edition can also come with the carbon body kit and the Bentley Centenary Specification Pack that has Centenary badges.
Interior
The cabin is wrapped in all the luxurious trappings of being a Bentley and a Mulliner. The debossed “B” insignia is on the headrests and door inserts to make sure you will never forget you’re driving a one-of-a-kind Bentley edition. The steering wheel and gear level are clad in Alcantara while the dashboard is exclusive in its Grand Black wood veneer with 18-carat gold plated dials.
Engine
The Continental GT Convertible is already powerful with its 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W-12 engine that generates 626 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. That power comes through an eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel-drive. The car can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds before maxing out at a top speed of 207 mph.
3 Things We Expect From The 2020 BMW M8 Convertible
BMW finally delivered its promised M8 Convertible, the first for the 8 Series, which since its conception two decades ago has only been available in a coupe version. This luxury convertible sedan will finally give the AMG-prepped Mercedes S63 and S65 Cabriolet some competition.
It comes in standard and Competition trim, with the former getting 600 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque while the Competition trim putting out 17 more ponies.
Exterior
The M treatment isn’t that all dramatic. In fact, you’ll have a hard time differentiating the M8 Convertible from the M850i, except for the bigger inlets in the front and back and the wider arches and vents along the sides.
Out front, you’ll see the camera and sensors protruding proudly. BMW is not the type of brand that will hide their cameras and sensors behind a grille. It has an aerodynamic lip around the tip of the bumper, as well as bigger vents out front. The hood is made of carbon fiber double bubble for a lightweight material.
The wheelbase is at 111.1 inches with an overall car length of 191.2 inches, a width of 74.9 inches, and a height of 53.0 inches.
Interior
The M8 has a lot of the 8 Series’ features inside the cabin. The wide dashboard still separates the driver’s and passenger’s side. There’s a lot of carbon fiber materials in here, and you can get more if you opt for the M Performance parts. The main controls are on the dashboard but other features can be accessed through the 10.25-inch infotainment display.
The front seats are powered by a semi-electric folding function that makes it easier for back passengers to enter and exit the car. Most of the cabin is wrapped in leather and Alcantara. You can opt for tan leather with tan stitching if black isn’t your thing, but other combinations are available such as Ivory White/Tartufo, Midland Beige, and Ivory White/Midnight Blue.
Drivetrain
As mentioned above, the M8 Convertible will come in two trims: the standard and the Competition. It has the same S63B44T4 4.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V-8 with four valves per cylinder that’s also found in the M5. The standard M8 makes 600 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 553 pound-feet of torque between 1,800 and 5,700 rpm.
The Competition package will give you 617 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and the same 553 torque, but they’re available between 1,800 and 5,860 rpm.
2021 BMW 4 Series Convertible To Drop The Hardtop
If there’s one thing we noticed about the recent spy shots of the 2021 BMW 4 Series Convertible being tested, it’s the ditching of the hardtop. As BMW sets to launch an all-new 4 Series sometime this year or next year, the German automaker also revealed that the new model is going to sport a traditional soft top option, which was last used on the E46 model discontinued in 2016.
BMW said that the G23 coupe version will not feature any dramatic changes but the G22 droptop obviously will. Though the spy shots were covered with heavy camouflage, that didn’t stop us from noticing the canvas top used, as well as the longer hood and rear decklid.
Exterior
The spy shots showed that the proportions might be different from the current model but it’s still too early to tell whether BMW will stick to this size for its 4 Series. The front and rear fascias are obviously going to be more aggressive compared to what the 3 Series has. The front grille will also be inspired by the 2020 BMW Z4.
Interior
The good thing about seeing these spy shots (aside from the reveal of the soft top option) is the fact that we were finally able to glimpse the car’s interior. It looks like the BMW engineers completely lazed out from designing a new and separate cabin for the 4 Series because it looks exactly what the current 3 Series has. We can expect a very similar layout to the X3 and X4 models. The 3-Series and the 4-Series will most probably sport the same center console buttons and controls, the dials, infotainment, and the steering wheel.
Drivetrain
The 4-Series convertible, coupe, and four-door sedan will have gasoline, diesel, and electrified powertrains. This is the same lineup we can expect to see from the 3-Series, which also uses the same CLAR architecture. It is possible the 4-Series will ditch the base engine, though a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine cannot be excluded.
What Makes The 2020 BMW 8 Series Convertible Stand Out?
The new BMW 8 Series Convertible is coming with a lot of standard features. Although the Convertible looks identical to the Coupe, the dimensions are a little different and it comes with a soft top that can be opened or closed in just 15 seconds and at speeds of up to 31 mph.
At first glance, the 8 Series Convertible looks like a coupe with a soft-top roof. The convertible, however, will be shorter than the coupe and the height will be 7mm lower, too, unless you want that unlimited headroom by dropping down the roof.
The coup de grace of the 8 Series Convertible is the electric soft top that can open or close in just 15 seconds. When closed, the car is designed to have a slight taut to maintain that coupe-like appearance. While this is great, that soft-top roof will eliminate the boot space. The Convertible only has 350 liters of usable cargo room, which is 70 liters less than the 8 Series Coupe. The top will come standard in black but buyers can choose an Anthracite Silver finish for an additional price.
The soft droptop is not the only thing that separates the BMW 8 Series Convertible from the rest. BMW also included a wind deflector as standard equipment. This will help reduce wind turbulence but if you don’t need it, you can remove, fold, and stow it away.
The front seats can be electronically adjusted and they come with neck warmers. If you want this same setting on the seats and steering wheel, you have to mark these off on the options page and pay a little extra. The Convertible also comes with a new rollover-protection system that has two aluminum bars inside the front seat headrests. Should there be an accident, the bars will automatically shoot up and help protect occupants from being crushed.
3 Things We Learned About the 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster
Mercedes-AMG is finally making a top-down version of the GT R—following the footsteps of the GT C version and the GT S Roadster. There have been rumors that the Germans are planning a top-down version of the Mercedes-AMG GT R, and now, it looks like they are coming true.
Spy shots of the 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster have been leaked as the car made its first testing session.
1. Exterior
The GT R Roadster will be similar to the coupe version from the waist down. The AMG grille with chromed out vertical slats and big Mercedes emblem are very recognizable even through the camouflaged photos.
The big difference will be with what happens from the waist up. There will be a soft top, of course, as well as modifications at the rear deck. The windshield will be shorter and fully framed, there will be no rear quarter glass, and there will be roll bars behind the seats for safety purposes.
2. Interior
The interior of the GT R Roadster will be identical to the coupe, except for the unlimited headroom during open-air drives and the roll bars behind the rear seats. There will be two, manually-adjustable bucket racing seats with AMG lettering and contrasting seatbelts, flat-bottom steering wheel, and a digital instrument cluster. All of these are wrapped with Nappa leather and Dinamica microfiber treatment. There will also be a large infotainment display at the center of the stack.
3. Drivetrain
The GT R Roadster will have a similar powertrain as the coupe version, except that its 4.0-liter Biturbo V8 engine will make 577 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. That’s an increase of 74 ponies and 35 pound-feet of torque over the same engine in the GT S. The Roadster will be a bit slower in reaching the 60-mph sprint by 0.1 seconds. The coupe can reach this by 3.5 seconds while the GT R Roadster will likely take 3.6 seconds. The top speed is estimated to be at 198 mph.
2019 BMW 8 Series Convertible Images Leaked
The new 2019 BMW 8 Series Convertible isn’t due for a reveal until the middle of next year, but we’re lucky enough to see its spy shots. The car was without its camouflage and was being driven around Loch Assynt in Scotland. Clearly, this was a secret photoshoot that would be used for marketing purposes later.
Regardless, we love to see the BMW 8 Series Convertible in all its glory. The drop-top version has a large kidney grille, chiseled front bumper, and slim LED headlamps similar with the coupe version revealed at the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race last month. At the back, the wide taillights and gaping chrome exhausts also remain. All these point out to one thing: the model we see here is the range-topping M850i.
The model will be using a fabric roof to save on weight, which is essential because of the extra weight that comes from strengthening the flanks to make up for the “reduced structural integrity” due to the loss of the fixed roof. Overall, this drop-top version will weigh around 2,000kg.
The engine lineup will be similar with the coupe. The base model BMW 8 Series Convertible would be a 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel motor that can make 320 horsepower. The range-topping M850i variants will get a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 530 horsepower and can go 0 to 62mph in 4 seconds. That is slightly higher than the coupe’s 3.7 seconds because the convertible is on the heavier side.
All of the models will use BMW’s xDrive four-wheel-drive system, as well as an eight-speed automatic transmission. The M850i will also have an active rear-wheel steering, a sports exhaust, and a limited-slip differential on the rear axle.
Before the 8 Series Convertible makes it full debut, however, the German automaker will first unleash the all-new 3 Series Saloon, the Z4 roadster, and the X7 SUV.
Photos by: Iain Pollo via AutoExpress
3 Ways The 2020 BMW 8 Series Convertible Will Amaze Us
X-Tomi Design’s rendering of the 2020 BMW 8 Series Convertible.
The BMW 8 Series is back and it will officially replace the 6 Series. The 8 Series will be revived both in racing and full production forms. A BMW 8 Series Convertible model is expected to follow soon, and X-Tomi Design just came up with a rendering of the car.
1. Exterior
The 8 Series convertible will have a wide and low stance, making it look a lot like the coupe version. The electrically retractable soft top is made from fabric, and it will be the replacement for the roof that’s on the coupe model. The majority of the body will be like the coupe version—from the new kidney grille design on the nose down to the long wheelbase and set of air vents placed behind the front wheels.
The rear end will set the convertible apart from the coupe though because its trunk lid has to accommodate the retractable top.
2. Interior
The rendering shows that the interior of the convertible will be similar to the coupe version, too. That means high-end materials such as leather and aluminum are going to be used on the dashboard, the side panels, and the seats. The horizontal orientation of the Bimmer’s new dashboard and center console will be an added bonus since a lot of users have come to love the layout.
The screen behind the dashboard will be measured 12.3 inches while the digital infotainment screen is a 10.25-inch display on the center console. There will be a bevy of technology such as safety standards and more advanced systems like the gesture control.
3. Powertrain
The convertible will carry over the coupe’s twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8, which is also known as the N63. The unit can produce 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque in the coupe. The output for the convertible will likely be the same.
The engine of the 8 Series can reach 60 mph from a complete standstill in just 3.6 seconds while its top speed is 155 mph.
2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata Gets More Power, Now Has 181 HP
The Mazda MX-5 Miata is one of the most popular sports car in the history of automotive. It is so successful that there have been clamors for a much-needed update. Thankfully, Mazda heard all those appeals and decided that 2019 is the time for the MX-5 Miata to get additional power and a higher red line.
Yes, the rumors are true. The MX-5 Miata is getting a significant bump in power. It now has 181 horsepower. That’s 26 horses more than the previous generation’s engine. This little details was courtesy of Japan’s Car Watch, which recently had an opportunity to give the test mule a try.
According to the report, the 2019 Miata will be powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that can produce 181 horsepower at 7,000 rpm. That’s an increase of 26 horsepower from the current output of just 155 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. The Miata’s predecessor has an output also of 148 pound-feet of torque, but the 2019 version would have a bump to 151 pound-feet of torque.
There are significant changes in the powertrain, which accounts for the increase in power output. Specifically, Mazda added new pistons that are 27 grams lighter and new connecting rods that weigh 41 grams less than the ones fitted in the current generation.
The car’s redline increasing is due to the automaker’s installation of larger diameter throttle body, larger exhaust valves, and wider exhaust piping. The redline went up to 7,500 rpm from 6,800 rpm. Predictably, these updates would improve thermal efficiency and would lower emissions.
Moving inside the car, the Miata gets a telescoping steering wheel for the first time ever. The wheel has 1.2 inches adjustment and has a tilt function that will allow the wheel to move by as much as 1.7 inches.
Aesthetically speaking, the Miata will get a caramel brown top, full-tan leather interior, and bright finishes for the wheels.
