NEW DELHI :

Certainly not practical or VFM (Value-For-Money) cars. In fact, they may not even be the best handlers out there, thanks to the additional weight of the folding roofs, but convertibles sure do make you feel like a million bucks. So, if you’re planning on acquiring a fancy set of wheels to paint the town red in, don’t buy yours until you’ve test driven these: 

BMW Z4:

The Z4 has always been a gorgeous looking roadster, but now it looks meaner, mature and has a road presence that will bully others on the road thanks to the massive additional air vents in the chiseled looking front apron. BMW has brought back the retro-looking swept back headlamps and with the new sleek yet stretched kidney grilles, it brings back memories of the Z8 from the early 2000s. It gets air curtain vents crafted right behind the front wheel arches, which reduces the drag and at the same adds more character to the Z4’s design. It comes with a soft-top roof that opens or closes electrically in ten seconds at speeds within 50kmph. The interiors quality, as expected, is top-notch with a 10.25-inch infotainment system mated to the i-Drive system. The instrument cluster is updated and is now all-digital. It also offers a boot space of 281 litres, which doesn’t reduce when the roof is tucked inside.   

This two-seater is available in two trims, the sDrive20i and the rampaging M40i. The former is powered by a 2-litre Inline-4 petrol engine with 194bhp and 320Nm of torque. It does 0-100kmph in 6.6 seconds and is priced from INR 66 Lakh onwards. The more powerful M40i boasts of 375bhp, 3-litre, Inline-6 motor with 500Nm of torque. The M variant starts from INR 80.50 lakh (ex-showroom) and offers additional features such as M adaptive suspension, M Sport brakes, sporty leather seats and cruise control with brake function. Both the powertrains are mated to an 8-speed Steptronic (torque converter) automatic transmission.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet:

Mercedes-Benz has beautifully balanced the classic design of a convertible with an aggressive-looking front nose inspired by its AMG range. The three pod headlamps, which offers a maximum range of 650 metres and the diamond radiator grille ensure that the cabriolet looks stunning especially from the front. Adding more spunk to the convertible, it comes with a contrasting colour soft top that tucks in within 20 seconds.

The plush leather interiors, new three-spoke steering with touch button controls and a floating 10.25-inch touchscreen unit add a lot of pomp to this four-seater cabriolet.  

To ensure that the C Cabriolet can be driven all around the year, Mercedes-Benz has placed air vents underneath the headrests which blow out warm or cool air on your neck. Apart from this, it comes standard with heated seats. Keeping comfort in mind, the convertible is also equipped with Aircap technology that reduces turbulence in the cabin for all four passengers.

The Cabriolet starts from INR 65.55 Lakh (ex-showroom) and is powered by 2-litre petrol with an output of 254bhp and 370Nm of torque and comes with a 9-speed automatic gearbox. From a standstill, it manages to do 0-100kmph in 6.2 seconds.

Mini Cooper Convertible:

It’s cute, it handles like a go-kart and is one of the most iconic brands in automotive history. Meet the Mini Cooper convertible. It does 0-100kmph in 7.1 seconds thanks to the 2-litre turbo petrol inline-4 that churns out 189bhp with 280Nm of torque. It’s mated to a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic and is a front-wheel drive. 

The signature oval-shaped headlamps, all-black mesh grille with S badge in the corner, racing lines on the hood give the Mini convertible a sporty look. Rekindling its British heritage, the Mini gets Union Jack LED rear lamps. The electrically-powered soft top opens or closes in 18 seconds within the speed of 30kmph. The foldable roof can also be used as a sunroof.

Mini has managed to retain old school charm with the round infotainment system with LED light around it and round instrument cluster. The toggle controls below the centre console add a classy touch. The convertible is priced at INR 38.90 Lakh, ex-showroom.

Rolls Royce Dawn:

When it comes to luxury, it is safe to say that Rolls Royce is pretty much the benchmark and its convertible, the Dawn, is no different. For a Rolls Royce customer, the price is insignificant rather it’s all about exclusivity, but still, we must mention how much it costs or rather that its base price is INR 5.92 Crore, ex-showroom.

What that chunk of real estate like price tag gets you is opulence like no other. The Dawn isn’t just colossal by design only, but also by its sheer size. It can comfortably pamper four passengers with plenty of legroom. Coming back to design, like all Rolls Royce cars, the Dawn too gets the marquee’s famous imposing front grille with the Spirit of Ecstasy sitting on the bonnet. According to Rolls Royce, the Dawn is the quietest open-top car made so far. The roof folds or opens in 20 seconds at speeds within 50kmph.

Everything in the cabin is crafted to perfection, be it the soft leather upholstery, the wooden panels, the quality of the switches or the Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller. The infotainment system, the chrome-finished centre console, the knobs, dials may all give a vintage feel, but they all use state-of-art technology. 

Under the hood, the Dawn gets a 555bhp 6.6-litre V12 with an insane 779Nm of torque. It is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Porsche 718 Boxster:

The Boxster has been arguably the yardstick when it comes to the mid-engine roadster ever since its debut in 1996. It is regarded so highly because of the engine layout that makes the Boxster extremely balanced while sweeping past corners. The two-seater is available in two variants — Boxster and the Boxster S. The standard version gets a 2-litre turbocharged motor with an output of 295bhp and 380Nm of torque while the S is powered by 345bhp 2.5-litre turbocharged powertrain with 420Nm. Both are equipped with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

The cabin design is clean and simple with plenty of soft-touch materials and high-quality switches. It comes with a 7-inch touchscreen unit, which is compatible with Apple CarPlay. Porsche has stuck to the old-school analogue instrument cluster with rev and speedometer needles. The Boxster range starts from INR 89.46 Lakh.

Porsche 718 Spyder:

The Spyder’s unique silhouette with a spoiler in the rear makes it stand out from the rest of the sports cars. From the front, it is slightly more rounded and has a flatter nose than its siblings. Its sole purpose is to be rapid and nimble and that is why it gets a 4-litre naturally aspirated monster that flexes 414bhp at 8,000rpm with 420Nm of torque at 5,500-6,800rpm. It has a blistering speed as it goes past the 300kmph mark and does 0-100kmph in 4.4 seconds. This fast car comes with a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.   

The cabin quality is very impressive with top-notch leather and other premium materials used, but when it comes to features, the Spyder is fairly spartan as it doesn’t even come with standard dual climate control, heated seats, though one has an option to add numerous features. The reason behind this is that Porsche wants passionate speed merchants to experience and enjoy its raw power. The Spyder starts at INR 1.6 Crore.

911 Carrera Cabriolet:

The 911’s classic design marks the essence of what Porsche is all about. Like the Boxster, the Carrera Cabriolet is available in two trims — standard and S. The former starts from INR 1.84 Crore, while the latter is INR 2 Crore onwards. The Carrera does receive some nip-and-tuck jobs like making it more muscular with bigger air vents especially the 18 vertical slats in the rear and chunkier bumpers. The Cabriolet’s soft top opens and tucks in 12 seconds. 

The Carrera standard is powered by a 3-litre Inline-6 with 380bhp at 6,500rpm and 450Nm at 1,950-5,000rpm. It does 0-100kmph in 4.4 seconds and has a top speed of 291kmph. The S version too gets the same engine but churns out a massive 444bhp at 6,500rpm and 530Nm at 2,300-5,000rpm. With a top speed of 306kmph, it does 0-100kmph in 3.9 seconds. Both are mated to 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, but the S also comes with a 7-speed manual. The standard Cabriolet is a rear-wheel drive, while the more powerful trim is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. 

As a world-class sports car, it’s got the best cabin quality that money can buy. Porsche has added some class as the instrument cluster is a blend of both analogue and digital. The rev needle sits in the middle with two 7-inch displays on either side. It also gets a 10.9-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and navigation functions.

Ferrari 812 GTS:

Ferrari 812 GTS marks the 50th anniversary of its first V12 powered convertible, the 1969 365 GTS4 Daytona Spider. It is powered by a naturally aspirated 788bhp 6.5-litre V12 with 718Nm. It’s a rear-wheel-drive mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. According to Ferrari, the GTS has a top speed of 340kmph and does 0-100kmph in 3 seconds and 0–200kmph time of 8.3 seconds.

The long elegant sloping bonnet, contrasting short abrupt rear end, and the 20-inch alloy wheels give the GTS a slender yet a sporty stance. It comes with a folding metal top that folds in 14 seconds at speeds within 45kmph. This gorgeous Ferrari costs roughly INR 5.7 Crore onwards. 

Ferrari Portofino:

The Portofino replaced the beautiful California with its charming looks, but Ferrari was focused on ensuring that the new convertible’s 591 ponies are more usable. The 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine churns out 761Nm of torque and is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It’s a rear-wheel drive. According to Ferrari, the Portofino does 0-100kmph in 3.5 seconds and 0-200kmph in 10.8 seconds. The Portofino is roughly 80kg lighter than its predecessor and that’s why Ferrari had no hesitation in using a hard folding roof. 

In the cabin, the 4-seater still has limited rear space, but it offers 5 centimeters more legroom than the California. The combination of leather and metal is artistically crafted. It comes with a 10.25-inch HD touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and the air conditioner is 25 per cent more powerful and 50 per cent quieter. 

The starting price of the Portofino is INR 3.5 Crore, ex-showroom.

Lamborghini Huracan EVO Spyder:

When it comes to aerodynamics, you can’t really get better than Lamborghini and the Huracan EVO Spyder is very much the epitome, at least when it comes to convertibles. While the world is moving towards powerful hybrid engines, the Huracan EVO has a rare gem underneath the hood, a naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 engine with a 630bhp at 8,000rpm and 600Nm at 6,500rpm. It comes with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and it is available in both rear-wheel-drive all-wheel drive. With a blistering top speed 325kmph, it accelerates 0-100kmph in 3.1 seconds and 0-200kmph in 9.3 seconds. 

The Lamborghini’s cabin continues to replicate a fighter plane’s cockpit with the multimedia screen tucking into the center console, numerous toggle switches, the signature hexagon buttons and sculpted carbon seats. The soft-top roof can be dropped in 17 seconds at speeds within 50kmph.

Huracan EVO Spyder is priced at INR 4.10 Crore, ex-showroom.