It may still be winter, but that hasn’t stopped auto makers from
announcing some of their hottest new models for the upcoming year.
Here’s a look at three smokin’ European convertibles to dream about
over a cup of hot chocolate:
E-Class Cabriolet
The E-Class has never been the most exciting car from Mercedes-Benz,
but the addition of a convertible to the lineup added some spice a few
years ago.
Now Mercedes is giving the drop-top E-Class Convertible — along with its
coupe sibling — some sexy new styling for 2014.
The front end gets the most dramatic changes, where a V-shaped nose
and new headlight style make it look sportier, almost like the classic
SL roadster, but retaining the same “four eyes” look of the E-Class
sedan.
It also gets a state-of-the-art sensor system that Mercedes calls
“intelligent drive.” It uses both stereo video cameras and radar
sensors to create a 3D view of everything happening up to 165 feet in
front of the vehicle, plus get some idea of what’s happening up to
1,640 feet ahead. That means it can see cars, pedestrians and road
markings, then take appropriate action to improve safety or warn the
driver.
Continental GT Speed
Want to drive the king of 2013 convertibles?
Bentley claims its new flagship convertible, the Continental GT Speed Convertible,
will be the fastest four-seat car you can drive with the wind in your
hair. It has a top speed of 202 miles per hour.
This new model is powered by a 6.0-liter, 12-cylinder engine that
makes 616 horsepower, a number usually associated more with exotic
supercars than comfortable, top-down boulevard cruisers.
And, make no mistake, Bentley says the new GT Convertible won’t sacrifice comfort
or quality to reach that insane top speed. It comes with hand-crafted,
diamond-quilted hide upholstery and custom cabin trim made from your
choice of fine wood veneers.
The price? Bentley hasn’t announced it. And if you have to ask, you
probably can’t afford it.
Z4 Roadster
Twenty-five years after the legendary Z1 was introduced, BMW is
rolling out a brand-new version of the Z4 roadster for 2014.
Knowing its reputation, the new Z4 ought to be one of the best
convertibles in the world when it arrives at dealerships this spring.
It comes with either a four-cylinder or your choice of two different
inline six-cylinder engines, all of which use twin turbochargers to
boost the power output. Horsepower ranges from 240 on the base model
up to 335 on the Z4 sDrive35is.
Styling on the Z4 has historically been avant garde, with futuristic,
love-them-or-hate-them lines. The new styling is more timeless,
though, with the sloping, sleek shape of a classic roadster and
gracefully muscular hood bulges.
It also comes with a dial that lets the driver choose between Comfort,
Sport and Sport+ modes, depending on how aggressive you want it to
feel.
