BMW 335i Convertible – acts like a coupe

	..
	..

By Dan Scanlan
MyCarData


Think sexy; think convertible; and you might think BMW.
From the beautiful 1938 327 on up to a sleek 6-Series, these Bavarian babies have always looked great topless. And when you see how the 2010 335i looks as a convertible, its skin pulled tight with sharp-edged design lines, its quad headlights glaring at the world under slightly hooded brows, there’s sexiness and muscle in this low silver beauty. And even more beautiful is the fact that you get a steel hardtop that folds like origami when you want the sun to shine in.

*Bimmer beauty ? This 3-Series design dates back to 2007, and starts with trademark twin-kidney grilles at the apex of twin hood edges that draw down the long hood, while two more crisp lines frame a wide central mesh lower air intake. Two more intakes flank it, projector beam fog lights at the outer edges, the short front overhang is inches away flared plastic front fenders framing five-spoke alloy wheels wearing very low-profile Bridgestone 19-inch rubber on bladed 5-spoke alloys. The flat-edged fender flares get an integrated side reflector, while a character line rises along the fender tops, under the windows and aft to the tip of the tail. A crisp line flows off the front fender flare and into the taillight, while another curves up the lower door sill under the gently rounded flanks. The convertible roofline is close to the standard coupe’s, not flowing as smoothly into the short trunk. It still looks great, the car sitting low and wide looking, especially when the top folds under the rear deck. Twin pipes curve out of the shaped rear bumper, the car looking quite at home one day parked with friend’s cars like a Maserati GT, Alfa GT and some 911s. And I love the DRLs, the great corona light rings of all four Xenon headlights that add to the glaring look of the car’s nose.

*BMW boudoir – Inside, BMW keeps it driver-oriented, black padded leather grain vinyl on top and bottom, with a strip of dark burr walnut in between and on the center console and Coral Red leather seats and door inserts. A thick-rimmed, leather-padded steering wheel has stereo, trip computer and hands-free telephone system buttons on the upper spokes, with alloy accents, all manually tilt and telescoping. There’s a steel-rimmed set of orange-lit gauges – 160-mph speedometer with inset gas gauge and 8,000-rpm tach with inset temperature gauge, two digital gauges for trip computer and other displays in between.

The horizontal wood strip hosts center air vents and a start/stop engine button, while a simple-to-use 13-speaker AM-FM-CD/MP3 stereo with superb sound and an auxiliary iPod jack and USB port in the center console complete the entertainment system, although it could have more power when the top is down. There’s a simple dual-zone climate control system under that, while two cupholders slide out of the dash’s right side over the decent glove box ? usable for cans, while bottles tip a bit. The center console is basic ? a rubber-padded storage nook forward of the gearshift, a single shallow cup holder aft, and a padded arm rest with the afore-mentioned storage underneath and even an air vent to keep contents cool. The door map pockets flip out for more room. And there’s warm amber ambient light coming from the upper door panels, neat at night.

The standard 10-way power sport buckets get optional heating and were aggressively bolstered and very supportive, with manual thigh support, power head restraints and power upper side bolsters for cornering grip. They also had integral shoulder belts, so access to the small rear seats was easier, aided by a power slide button high mounted near the front seat head restraints. The center console extends to the rear, with rear air vents and cup holders. But be warned ? unless the front seat passenger gives up some room, leg room is almost non-existent back there for more than a kid. And twice with the top down, the flip-down rear seat back, which accesses a storage nook, flipped down from the breeze until clipped back in place. Top up, the 9-cu. ft. trunk is decent in size. But fold the three-piece hardtop down, and there’s room for one suitcase. Good news ? we tested the heat reflective leather on the seats by leaving the top down on a Florida spring day, and the seats didn’t scorch our buns when we settled into them.

*Bavarian bravado ? The keyless ignition remote key fob means you fire our 5,300-mile-old test car’s 3-liter, 300-hp 24-valve in-line six with a button push and a snarl. BMW’s first turbocharged gas engine in decades, and a twin turbo at that, it’s a notch up from the 230-hp 328i’s motor. Combined with a slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission, our 4,001-lb (compared to the 3,572-lb. 335i Coupe due to top motors and support members) screamed to 60-mph in a quick 5.3 second in second gear(vs. 5.2 seconds for the 6-speed auto-box Coupe we tested in “Sport” mode). The engine stays on boost as two turbochargers built up pressure faster than a single, larger turbo. With all that, the 335i averaged 21 mpg on premium.

With a double-pivot McPherson strut-type aluminum suspension in front and a 5-link independent rear suspension, plus firmer springs and shocks, the result is a firm but supple ride that was the perfect combination of prima ballerina and sports car. As with most recent BMW 3-Series, there’s taut control of every move and nothing gets ruffled if you hit a bump in mid-turn. The ride was supple, comfortable on almost any road, subtly handling imperfections. It fluidly moves from corner to corner. Toss it into a turn, and it grips with little body roll and near-neutral feel. Dynamic Stability Control helped when we pushed hard, the latest version even tapping brakes in the wet to dry them, pre-loading the pads if the driver quickly lifts of the gas to aid in braking. There’s a three-second hold if you roll off the clutch on a hill, so you don’t roll back while launching. And you can tap in a dynamic setting to allow for some rear wheel slip in curves when you want to play. The power steering had great road feel, the brakes great pedal control and no fade after repeated hard use. As for the top, its three steel pieces drop in less than 25 seconds via the center console switch or by the key fob, making for a slick look that offered livable wind buffeting at speed. It’s nicely finished inside. Top down, there was almost no mirror or scuttle shake, even over bumps.

*BMW bucks ? The 328i Convertible and 335i Convertible start at $45,875 and $51,200, respectively. Our options were limited to – $550 silver metallic paint, $500 Comfort Access which lifts the folded trunk out for easier loading; $500 heated front seats; and $400 USB/iPod adapter, for a final price of $54,025. Competition ? only the Infiniti G37, VW Eos or Volvo C70 hardtop convertibles really come to mind, the Volvo’s 225-hp engine good for 60-mph in 8 seconds for $39,950 base, but not as sporty a drive. The Eos about $33,000 base with less power and handling prowess, the G37 hardtop drop-top arguably a bit sexier looking, with 325-hp and almost as good a ride and handling, for a base $43,900.

*Bottom line ? this is a look that doesn’t get old, that still drives like an athletic machine with beautiful road manners and a silky engine. And with a thief-hating folding steel top for a great look up or down, what’s not to like?





2010 BMW 335i Convertible

Specifications

Vehicle type – two-door, four- passenger turbocharged sports coupe

Base price – $51,200 (as tested: $54,025)

Engine type – aluminum DOHC, 24-valve in-line six with twin turbochargers

Displacement – 3 liters

Horsepower (net) – 300 @ 5,800 rpm

Torque (lb-ft) – 300 @ 1,400-5,000 rpm

Transmission – 6-speed manual

Wheelbase – 108.6 inches

Overall length 180.6 inches

Overall width – 70.2 inches

Height – 54.5 inches

Front headroom – 38 inches

Front legroom – 41.8 inches

Rear headroom – 36.5 inches

Rear legroom ? 31.9 inches

Cargo capacity – 9 cu. ft.

Curb weight ? 4,001 lbs.

Fuel capacity ? 16.1 gallons

Mileage rating – 17 mpg city/26 mpg highway

Last word – A sleek, quick and sure-footed (and practical) convertible that acts like a coupe.

2011 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible

Fords Special Vehicle Team (SVT) engineers are taking high performance to a new level with the 2011 Ford Shelby GT500, resulting in a car that has an all-new aluminum-block engine, even better driving dynamics and handling, improved fuel economy and more horsepower than ever. The 2011 Shelby GT500 is powered by an all-new aluminum-block 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 engine, which produces 550 horsepower and 510 ft.-lb. of torque, a 10 horsepower increase versus the 2010 model. The engine also is 102 pounds lighter than its predecessor, delivering a better power-to-weight ratio, improved fuel economy, acceleration, handling and steering precision.

2008 SEMA: Dodge Challenger Convertible

MORE SEMA INFO: www.edmunds.com HIGH SPRINGS, Florida — Dodge has no plans to offer a Challenger convertible, which provides Coach Builders Ltd. an open shot at muscle car enthusiasts looking for an alternative to the popular Ford Mustang drop top. Now in final preparations for its official debut at the upcoming 2008 SEMA Show, the Coach Builders Dodge Challenger convertible will be shown alongside the company’s Chrysler 300C and Cadillac CTS convertible conversions. Coach Builders’ Larry Moran told Inside Line that production of the Challenger convertible will begin on November 15, and that the company is “already taking deposits for getting a place in line.” The Challenger convertible conversion is priced at $16000, Moran said. A 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 currently costs $41695 including shipping charges and gas-guzzler tax, so expect to pay nearly $58000 for open-air Challenger motoring. Moran also says that “custom interiors, performance options and wheels and tires” will be offered, but the details “are not firmed up yet.” The car that will debut at SEMA was fortified with a Vortech supercharger that bumps the 6.1-liter Hemi V8 to 560 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. It rides slightly lower on a KW coil-over suspension kit and 22-inch Foose Challenger wheels wrapped in Nitto tires. The convertible conversion reinforces the Challenger with strut bars hidden inside the trunk instead of a visible roll bar, and the acrylic polyester cloth hydraulic top is padded …

Audi RS5 Rumors, Wiesmann GT MF5, 9ff GT9-R Convertible …

Audi may be following up on some rumors, but not on others, Wiesmann discusses the possibility of finishing a car live on stage at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, and Porsche tuner 9ff may be working on a GT9-R Convertible. Plus Commenter of the Week. Hosted by Derek DeAngelis. Plus a special music video produced by Wax, for Fast Lane Daily. You can check him out at www.youtube.com or at his official site www.waxdotcom.com!

Audi A5 convertible – an award winning wind in the hair ride

	..
	..

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman
MyCarData


We predict that soon you will see more and more manufacturers downsizing engines – including the makers of luxury vehicles – to help meet the upcoming fuel economy requirements. For instance, Mercedes has announced that the C-Class will again get a 4-cylinder engine.

Ford has developed and is starting to extensively use twin turbocharging technology allowing it to replace V-8 engines with V-6 powerplants and V-6 engines with 4-cylinder variants in its entire fleet including its high-end Lincoln products.

General Motors has just started selling a 4-cylinder version of the highly acclaimed 2010 Buick LaCrosse. And the new Regal will feature 4-cylinders as well

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata and the Kia Optima will arrive this year minus a V-6 engine, a naturally aspirated 4-cylinder or a 4-cylinder turbo the only powerplant choices.

The goal here is to increase the average fleet mileage while squeezing more power out of smaller, but more fuel-efficient engines and the possibilities appear endless, but the industry is in the very early stages of reaching a high measure of efficiency while eliciting great gobs of performance from internal combustion engines.

Perhaps no luxury-car maker stands out more than Audi with its award-winning 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. It is the only engine now offered in the company’s best-selling A4, and for 2010 it becomes the base engine in the A5 coupe and all-new soft-top convertible.

The engine is so good Audi discontinued the larger 3.2-liter V-6 previously available in the brand’s entry-level A3 5-door sedan for the 2.0-liter. And although it isn’t the class leader in horsepower the little turbo is still one of the sweetest and smoothest engines it its segment. In fact the engine was honored as one of Ward’s Automotive’s “10 Best Engines” for the fifth straight year.

In announcing the engine as a winner once again, Ward’s noted: “Seat time is all that is necessary to appreciate our infatuation with this magnificent example of German engineering. It oozes with practical, yet elegant, technology, including the optimized variable turbocharger that debuted last year, along with Audi’s new valve-lift system….”

If you are a “performance enthusiast” you may be saying, forget it, there’s just no place for a 4-banger in a luxury car. Nonsense, before you make this statement, we advise a test drive in the A5. Your mind might be changed. The engine in our view is the perfect mix of sports-car feel and luxury-car sensibility.

By the numbers the engine makes 211 horsepower and a whopping 258 pound-feet of torque that peaks at 1,500 rpm and holds steady all the way to 4,000 rpm. Using our seat-of-the-pants “expertise” and after scouring various magazines and on-line sites, we have determined a 0-to-60 time of around 7.0 seconds and a quarter-mile time of about 15 seconds for the front-drive convertible, which comes mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission.

Perhaps the icing on the cake – in front-wheel drive the A5 convertible is rated at 23 mpg in city driving and 30 highway with a combined rating of 26 mpg on premium fuel. Opt for quattro (all-wheel drive) – which comes with a standard six-speed automatic – and the mileage is still a reasonably respectable 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

For the power hungry – who may not be so power hungry when gas prices inevitably work its way back up in the future – Audi offers two options. The company’s very good 3.2-liter V-6 making 265 horsepower is available. Gas mileage is 18/27 with a combined 21. Also available is the S5 Cabriolet with a 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 churning out 333 horsepower. Gas mileage isn’t bad considering the horsepower at 17/26, but be aware of the $59,000 base price.

Forget the cutting-edge performance. We could live quite nicely with the delightful new A5 2.0-liter droptop. It’s one of the most comfortable open-air machines we’ve driven in recent times with good road manners and very adequate performance as noted above.

While the A5 acquitted itself nicely in our seven days behind the wheel, we must note that it is not a road carver in the likeness of a BMW 335i. The ride and handling are turned more for comfort and cruising.

Beyond that, the A5 comes with a stunning interior. Audi’s reputation for high-quality and impeccable fit and finish is enhanced with the new cabriolet. Surfaces have a low-gloss luster, and the cockpit shows the company’s mastery of mixing plastic, leather, and wood in the right proportions.

The A5 can be purchased with extremely comfortable sports seats, reminding us of some Saabs of the long-ago past. The $2,400 Comfort Package in out test vehicle added the ventilated and heated seats, upholstered in stunning milano “Cinnamon Brown” leather. The package also includes head-level heating elements built into the front seats for cold-weather top-down driving.

Audi is bound to encounter criticism for continuing with a soft top when most luxury convertibles have gone to a retractable hard-top design. But the soft top saves weight and we found its triple-lined construction keeps the interior as quiet as a steel-top vehicle. And it will open – and close – in an amazing 15 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph.

Passenger space is an issue. Leg room is at a premium in back, but we found three can ride comfortably if the front passenger powers the seat up a bit over half way. Trunk space is a decent 11 cubic feet, and the rear seat folds flat for extra cargo space.

Safety includes antilock brakes, stability control, front airbags and driver and passenger seat-mounted head and thorax side airbags, and pop-up bars in case of a rollover.

Optional safety features include a lane-departure warning system, blind-spot warning, radar-based cruise control, adaptive headlamps and rear parking sensors. Opt for navigation, and a very useable backup camera is included.

The A5 2.0-liter cabriolet starts at $42,825 including destination. While standard equipment abounds, there are numerous attractive options that can run the price skyward.

Our test car with the aforementioned comfort package, a $3,500 premium package, and a $2,400 navigation package brought the bottom line to $51,525.

Base price on the quattro with the 6-speed auto is $44,925 including destination.

The new A5 is just what we would be looking for if shopping for a compact luxury convertible. And the 4-cylinder engine makes great sense with few compromises.
And one other thing – Kelly Blue Book has bestowed the A5 with the “Best Resale Value” award in the luxury car category.

Infiniti G37 Convertible

By Russ Heaps
MyCarData


Indulging the free spirit within by driving a convertible says something about you. It screams that you have a zest for life and even the time you spend getting from “A” to “B” won’t be wasted in the confining space of a coupe or sedan. Moreover, that daily dose of wind-in-your-hair, sun-in-your-face driving pleasure provides an attitude boost that carries over into your job and personal life. Is this overstating the positive effect wrangling a convertible can have on a person? Only someone content to spend his or her day hunched over a keyboard messaging Facebook friends, or lounging in a recliner watching reruns of “Cheers” might make that accusation.

Driving a convertible is a lifestyle choice. It is nearly always a trade off. Soft-top convertibles are often less insulated from engine and road noise. Convertibles are usually heavier than their hardtop relations, which translates into slower and less nimble. Sometimes the backseat shrinks with the design change from hardtop to convertible, and the trunk nearly always does. And convertibles cost more than their hardtop counterparts. In short, the open-air driving experience exacts a price, not only in additional dollars, but in practicality.

In the near-luxury melee, Infiniti manages to stand out primarily because its product lineup, from top to bottom, is fun to drive. No Infiniti model, though, better represents the brand’s fun-to-drive character than the G37. Its 328-horsepower 3.7-liter V6, athletic handling, handsome styling and inviting cockpit gang up and overwhelm shoppers in the near-luxury arena. It is the ideal platform for a convertible.

Not escaping the compromise issue, the G37 Convertible requires some sacrifice. Tipping the scales at nearly 500 pounds more than the G37 coupe, the convertible isn’t as quick. The coupe needs just over five seconds to reach 60 miles per hour from a standstill and the convertible takes about six. At 29.8 inches, rear-seat legroom in the coupe is five inches less than the sedan. Another 2.6 inches is lost in the convertible. On paper, the convertible actually provides more trunk space than the coupe (10.3 cubic feet versus 7.4 cubic feet), but that’s because the temporary spare tire is standard in the coupe and optional in the convertible. When the retractable convertible top is stowed under the trunklid, hauling space shrinks to a measly 2 cubic feet. And this space is configured in such a way as to render it almost unusable unless your cargo consists of a couple of ham sandwiches.

Once you are over the fact that the G37 Convertible isn’t the most practical of choices, it is much easier to focus on all the check marks in the “Plus” column.

Infiniti offers the convertible in two flavors. My test G37 was the $44,350 base version. There is also a $47,805 Sport model. Additionally Infiniti included a convertible among its limited-production Anniversary Editions and it rings the register at $55,755. Built to commemorate Infiniti’s 20th anniversary, the Anniversary Edition will be available for a short time and in very limited numbers.

Sending power to the rear wheels is the job of a seven-speed driver-shiftable automatic transmission in the base and Anniversary Edition convertibles and a six-speed manual in the Sport trim. At 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, the EPA-estimated fuel economy is 1 mpg less in the automatic-equipped convertibles than in the coupe. Opting for the Sport and its manual transmission shaves yet another 1 mph off those numbers.

When putting a foot into the accelerator, not only is there a rush from the goose in velocity; but the menacing growl of the exhaust note elevates the thrill. At such times, you’ll have to really concentrate to remember that your two-suiter is stowed in the backseat because the retractable hardtop is hogging all the trunk space.

Connecting you with the pavement falls to 18-inch alloy wheels and tires. Front and rear stabilizer bars shore up the double-wishbone setup in front and multi-link arrangement in the rear, all of which comprises the four-wheel independent suspension.

Four-wheel antilock disc brakes on all four wheels are the core of a system that includes traction control, stability control, emergency braking assist and electronic brakeforce distribution.

Infiniti touts this convertible as seating four, but is best suited for two. Although the rear seat is usable in a pinch, it is anything but inviting. The eight-way power-adjustable front bucket seats, however, are generous with beefy lateral support. Leather covers the seating surfaces. The center stack neatly arranges controls for the available $1,850 navigation system, six-speaker audio system with its CD player and iPod integrated connection, and the dual-zone automatic climate control. A seven-inch color display with a mouse-like controller are located atop the center stack.

Other standard equipment includes full power accessories, six airbags, tilt-telescoping steering wheel with redundant audio controls, USB connection, keyless ignition, rear-view camera and an electrochromatic rearview mirror.

The Anniversary Edition comes standard with the Premium ($3,250) and Navigation Packages that are optional on other convertibles. It also has a unique Monaco Red Leather interior accented with real red-toned maple.

Practicality may take a backseat to indulging the inner child in the G37 Convertible, but sometimes you just have to live a little.

Volvo C70 Convertible, Porsche Trouble, Cadillac …

Volvo unveils the C70 ahead of Frankfurt, Porsche could be in serious trouble, and what does that mean for the Panamera and Cayenne models? Also, Cadillac re-ignites the CTS Coupe rumors with a new ad campaign, plus fldetours with the Maserati granturismo. Hosted by Derek deangelis.

Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, “I Am France,” More …

The long-awaited Camaro drop-top may come soon than we think, JC France and a friend find themselves in a heap of trouble, speculation rises about the Panamera, and its Commenter of the Week time. Hosted by Derek deangelis.

Camaro Convertible, Mazda Renesis Engine, Golden …

GM says the convertible Camaro may be coming soon, Mazda has a greener version of the Renesis engine for the future, a Golden Ferrari 599 custom made for Rob Walton, and could Acura be working on a 4-door coupe? Hosted by Derek deangelis.

Chrysler Sebring Convertible

By Casey Williams www.car-data.com

Chrysler Sebring Convertible

In his autobiography, former Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca recounts how the LeBaron Convertiblecame to be. Perhaps emulating Edsel Ford who had a Lincoln Zephyr customized into a two-doorconvertible for his Florida home, Iacocca ordered the top off of a Chrysler LeBaron coupe for hissummer enjoyment. The thought of him driving around in a compact K-Car, gray hair blowing, isentertaining enough. But, he claims that so many people stopped him to ask about the car that heordered it into production.

That turns out to have been a pretty smart move, no matter how the story is told. For two and ahalf decades, Chrysler has offered one of the two most popular convertibles sold in America (theother being, ironically enough, Iacocca’s other baby – the Ford Mustang). LeBaron became Sebringin the ’90s and has evolved into a very comfortable and roomy grand-tourer for four and theirentire luggage. The latest edition is available with THREE automatically latching top options:Cloth, Vinyl, or Hardtop.

Chrysler designers obviously cribbed its portfolio of models when conjuring up the Sebring ontheir CAD screens. The most obvious feature donor is the Crossfire. From the Sebring’s eggcrategrille to its deeply sculpted bodysides and wrap-around taillamps, the resemblance is obvious. Ofcourse, the Sebring sedan was shaped to look like a Crossfire sedan, no matter how inelegantly thevision was executed. Top up or down, the car looks good and hides its tall profile with a highbeltline.

Much of the interior is also a drugstore clone of the Crossfire’s. Large analog gauges, silverfinishes on the center console and doors, tortoise shell plastic on the upper steering wheel anddoors, and gated shifter look suave enough to be in a 300C. Heated and cooled cupholders keep yourlattes and sodas at the perfect temperature while automatic climate control and heated seats do thesame for yourself. Boston Acoustics speakers, touch screen audio controls, Sirius Satellite Radio,6-way power drivers seat, and tilt/telescoping steering wheel add comfort. There’s a lot of hardplastic on the doors and console, but one has to assume that is for weather resistance.

Our Limited-grade car came with Chrysler’s 3.5-litre V6 engine that produces

235 horsepower and 232 lb.-ft. of torque – all routed to the front wheels through an Auto Sticksix-speed automatic transmission. Other models come with either a 150-HP 2.4-litre four-cylinderor 186-HP 2.7-litre V6 engine.

One is never going to confuse the V6′s performance with a Charger HEMI, but it is plenty to pushthe Sebring onto the Interstate and cruise comfortably at any legal speed. The transmission isn’tthe smoothest, but gets the job done well. Fuel economy is rated a respectable 16/26-MPGcity/highway.

Engineers did the right thing by giving the Sebring Convertible thick doorsills to stiffen thebody. Where many four-seat convertibles flex and heave over every bump, the Sebring is noticeablysolid. Its four-wheel independent suspension system and precise steering are tuned right for whatare attached to a comfortable cruiser, not a purebred sports car.

Electronic stability control, traction control, and four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes provide amargin of safety on slick roads or during emergency maneuvers. Sebrings are everyday cars thathappen to offer some cool features.

In the end, all that really matters about the Sebring Convertible is how quickly andeffortlessly it can mate sky and leather-lined interior. Vinyl and cloth tops are easily stowedunder the trunklid with the press of one button and a few minutes. Simple. Spend a few dollarsmore and opt for a folding hardtop that is no harder to use, but gives the all-speed silence andweather-protecting panache of a solid roof. Soft or hard, the top looks good.

Iacocca is out in California still causing trouble by criticizing auto executives while pushingmargarine, bicycles, and probably plotting his next takeover attempt of Chrysler. We won’t talkabout what he thought of Edsel’s son, Henry Ford II (who fired him). What we know for sure is thatIacocca had a great idea in chopping off the top of a regular mid-size car, offering upscale style,and putting drivers in the left seat for a reasonable price. Thank you, Lee! Our test car has abase price of $32,055, but came to $34,845 with a long list of options. Competition includes thePontiac G6 Convertible, Volkswagen Eos, Volvo C70, and of course, the Ford Mustang Convertible.