Summer is almost right around the corner – if not for many of you here, there’s not much to celebrate with drop top fans because convertibles and roadstars have fallen by the wayside.
While much of the discussion about carpocalyps has focused on sedans, drop tops are coming down like flies. The Volkswagen Beetle has been converted to squash, while Eos is a distant memory. Buick Cascada was dropped in 2019, when the Fiat 124 Spider died the following year. Even premium automakers are dropping Convertible and Roadstar because Volvo dropped out of the segment a few years ago and died with a sub 9-3 convertible Swedish automaker.
Mercedes has dropped the S-Class Cabrio and the once popular SLK / SLCO. Moreover, the SL and AMG GT Roadstar have been effectively integrated into one car and that same fate is going to be repeated with the CLE Cabrio, which will replace both the C- and E-Class convertibles.
QOTD: Which controversial style car has actually gotten better?
While there have been several drop tops, including the Mazda MX-5 Miata and the ever-popular Ford Mustang, it is slimmer than the previous year. With that in mind, we’re asking our readers if they’ve come up with any convertible and roadstar ideas in production.
One of the most obvious answers is the Volkswagen BlueSport concept, which was introduced at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. The two-seater Roadstar still looks great a decade later and the model would have been an attractive Miatar competitor.
Although its diesel engine was a peculiarity, it produced 178 hp (132 kW / 180 PS) and transmitted power to the rear wheels via a six-speed DSG transmission. This setup enables the car to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km / h) to 6.6 seconds, before hitting at 140 mph (226 km / h).
GM has also released a number of interesting convertible and roadstar concepts over the years, including the 2011 Chevrolet Mire, which we mentioned a few months ago. However, one of the real highlights was the 2004 Buick Velvet concept, which was rear-wheel drive and looked drop dead gorgeous. It was powered by a twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6 that produces 400 hp (298 kW / 406 PS) and 400 lb-ft (542 Nm) of torque.
Dodge Over, the daemon concept was introduced at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show. The Bill’s rear-wheel drive daemon was a sleek two-seater weighing about 2,600 pounds (1,179 kg) and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that pumps 172 hp (128 kW / 174) as a “roadstar with a vision”. PS) and 165 lb-ft (224 Nm) of torque.
Although these are just a few examples, which roadstar or convertible concept would you like to go into production?