Maserati GranCabrio Fendi

A look behind the scenes of the GranCabrio Fendi, which debuted last week at Frankfurt Auto Show. The Maserati GranCabrio Fendi is the first major fruit of Maserati's partnership with the Italian fashion house, Fendi. This union of brands is rooted in their shared values, such as craftsmanship, technology, excellence and tradition. The GranCabrio Fendi combines the art of Fatto a Mano (handmade) with Maserati's acknowledged expertise in matching its critically acclaimed chassis with its 4.7-litre V8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

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2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio

Fiat made its grand re-entrance into the United States with the adorable little hatchback, the Fiat 500 coupe. Now, the Italian automaker is officially debuting its Cabrio version at the 2011 New York Auto Show in about a week’s time. And since no auto show is complete without its string of teaser images, Chrysler has released the first images and details on the American version of the Fiat 500 Cabrio.

On the American market, the 500C will be offered with a premium dual-layer power-operated cloth top that is designed to deliver all-season driving pleasure with the top up or down. This power-operated cloth top retracts up to the rear spoiler during speeds of up to 60 mph.

The model will offer interior room for four passengers. Customers will have their choice of three exterior soft-top colors, 14 exterior colors, and 12 unique seat colors and material combination, plus a choice of two interior environments.

UPDATE 04/26/11: Chrysler has finally announced the pricing for the Fiat 500 Cabrio, slapping a base price of $20,000 on the car, including a $500 destination charge. If you want the top-of-the-line ‘Lounge’ trim, you’re going to need too add $3,500 on the price as the high-end 500 Cabrio is going to have a price tag of $23,500.

gallery:2012 Fiat 500

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2013 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible

Jaguar has made it perfectly clear that they plan on offering the same treatment found in the XKR-S to other models in the line-up. Our first attack on the rendering front was the future XFR-S, but now it’s time to see the upcomingXKR-S Convertible which will actually arrive before the XFR-S.

The design of the convertible XKR-S really won’t change much from the coupe model. The XKR-S was originally designed as a convertible anyway so expect to see the same wide wheel arches, front and rear carbon spoilers, and extra front air scoops as found on the coupe. Under the hood, Jaguar will keep the same AJ-V8 all-aluminum engine with an output of 550 HP and 501 lb/ft of torque, so the sprint from 0 to 60 mph will remain in the 4 second range, while top speed will also be about 180 mph.

Think the XKR-S Convertible will be just as popular as the Coupe version? Hit us up in the comments section below.

gallery:2011 Jaguar XKR-S

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gallery:2014 Jaguar XFR-S

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2012 Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster

Mercedes has caused history to repeat itself as they have come out with a roadster version for one of their popular coupes. This trend was seen in theSLR McLaren and will now repeat itself with the SLS AMG coupe version. The SLS AMG Roadster will be revealed in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but right now the car is under extreme testings.

In terms of design, the roadster version will remain faithful to the coupe version. However, it will drop the gullwing doors in favor of more traditional units. The SLS Roadster will be offered with Mercedes’ traditional retractable soft-top which can be opened and closed electrohydraulically while on the move up to 30 mph.

The Mercedes SLS AMG roadster version will be powered by a 6.3-liter V8 engine with 563 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. However, being a much heavier model, it will rocket from 0 to 60mph in 4.0 seconds before topping out at approximately 192 mph.

in Europe, prices will start from € 195,160, or about $278,000 at the current exchange rates. The MErcedes’ US debut will be made later this fall.

UPDATE 06/06/2011:A most unlikely source for an auto review took place as tennis superstar, Roger Federer, was given the keys to a Mercedes SLS AMG so he could loosen it up on the streets of Dubai. While the whole video was actually shot back in March, it was only released a few days ago since the car has now been officially introduced. Federer, the record holder for most Grand Slam wins in a career, failed to win the French Open yesterday, but even in his moment of disappointment, he can take solace in the fact that he was able to get behind the wheel of an SLS AMG Roadster even before the drop-top supercar hit the market. That’s more than any of us could ever wish for.

UPDATE 06/06/2011 #2:Mercedes has unveiled a pretty cool online configurator for the SLS AMG Roadster that allows fans to customize every aspect of the sports car. Enjoy!

Hit the jump to read more about the new Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster.

Exterior and Interior Like with the coupe version, the roadster version will feature a long bonnet, large wheels, and a short rear end. Both coupe and roadster versions are also built on an aluminum spaceframe, but due to the omission of a fixed roof and gullwing doors for the roadster, it was necessary to design the side sills more robustly. Tobias Moers said: "The SLS AMG Roadster is a super-sportscar – just like the Coupé. It goes without saying that AMG is also determined to achieve superior driving dynamics with this open-top variant." The roadster model will be further distinguished from the coupe with additional supporting struts at the windscreen frame and at the center tunnel, a strut mounting placed between the soft top, and a fuel tank that makes the rear axle even more rigid. The new Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster will be offered with a three-layered fabric soft top which is deposited behind the seats in a Z-formation to save space. The sports car offers a low center of gravity and is designed for speeds up to 196 mph. Engine Under the hood, the Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster will feature the same engine as the coupe: a 6.3-liter V8 engine located front-mid that will develop 571 hp and up to 479 lb-ft. of torque. The engine will be mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Mercedes has also announced that the roadster will be capable of a top speed that is just one mph lower than the coupe: 196 mph. Prices The new Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster will be put on sale after its official debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. Prices will start from about $200,000. The 2012 SLS AMG Roadster will make its U.S. debut in Fall 2011. In Europe the car is priced from € 195,160, or about $278,000 at the current exchange rates. Competition As with the coupe version, the new Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster will target models like the Ferrari 458 Italia and the McLaren MP4-12C in their convertible versions. The 458 Italia Spyder will feature the same 4,499 cc V8 engine found in the coupe version. This engine delivers 570 HP at 9,000 rpm and 398 lb-ft of torque at 6000 rpm and is mated to an F1 dual-clutch gearbox. The sprint from 0-60 mph will take a tad longer than in the coupe at 3.4 seconds while top speed will sit below 201 mph. Clearly, the performance for this Spyder is that much more than in the Mercedes, so the 458 Italia still sits higher on our "Want It" list. Of course, the 458 Italia Spyder will probably cost more since the coupe is priced at $225,000. This leaves the Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster at a minimum of $25,000 cheaper than the Ferrari. As for the McLaren MP4-12C, the company already has plans to offer a roadster version in the next few years. That roadster model’s engine will match that of the coupe with a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 that produces 592hp at 7,000rpm and 443 lb-ft. of torque between 3,000 and 7,000rpm. Top speed will remain in the 200 mph area. The 12C will reach 60mph in 3.3 seconds and an even faster 3.1 seconds with the optional high-performance tire option. Its speed tops out at 205mph. This model beats the Mercedes once again in terms of performance, but the price tag increases as well. We don’t know how much the roadster will end up costing, but the coupe starts off at $229,000.

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The VW Golf GTI cabriolet concept

Volkswagen have finally revealed more details about their Golf GTI cabriolet concept car at its world debut at lake Worthersee in Austria. Unlike the Golf cabriolet though, the Golf GTI cabriolet is still just a concept car for the time being and figures may change should the car reach the production lines. The sport feel is emphasized by razor-sharp lines and styling, with the front and rear spoilers, as well as the side sills bearing motor-sport design elements. The front fog lights have been replaced by air vents that cool the high-performance brakes. The wheels are Glendale 19” alloy, with the brake calipers painted in “Tornado red”. The interior is decked out with Nappa leather seats and GTI logos on the headrests. The gear shift, parking brake, leather steering wheel and many other areas of the interior continue the “Flash red” styling all the way to the piping on the floor mats. The Volkswagen Golf GTI cabriolet concept is now slouch on performance, the engine produces 155 kW / 210 PS which is equal to the standard GTI. This enables it to complete 0-100km/h in just 7 seconds, with a maximum speed of 240km/h. Look for more information on the VW Golf GTI Cabriolet if it makes it into production.

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Full details revealed for the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

The SLS AMG Roadster has been the worst kept secret for a long time now but finally Mercedes-Benz have released the full official details. As we mentioned in a previous article, the gull-wing doors have been replaced by a soft-top, the body is an aluminum space frame and the whole package looks rather impressive. The SLS AMG Roadster is powered by a 6.3 litre naturally aspirated 8-cylinder engine which produces 563 hp and 479 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is a 7-speed dual-clutch transaxle, together with a sports suspension with aluminum double wishbones that results in some serious performance. The suspension setup can be configured by the driver using the AMG Drive Unit, the suspension options include: Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus. The interior has been decked out to resemble the cockpit of an aircraft, the dashboard is in the shape of a wing, the air vents resemble jet engines and the E-Select lever is in the shape of an aircraft’s thrust control. The centre console displays a wealth of information to the driver, including: displaying engine oil, engine output and torque, tyre pressure, acceleration from 0-100km/h as well as perhaps most impressive, recording individual lap times. The biggest departure from the SLS AMG is obviously the inclusion of the soft-top. The fabric soft-top can be opened and closed and only takes 11 seconds to complete and can be done on the move, at speeds of up to 31mph. The soft-top, which is available in black, red and beige, stores itself behind the seats and is folded in a Z-configuration. The top has a continuous flexible water pocket that directs rainwater to the underbody via 2 apertures on each side. Look for more information closer to the release date.

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The BMW 328 Hommage

With the 75th anniversary of the iconic BMW 328 sports car, comes the 328 Hommage. The classic BMW 328 still holds the fastest average speed on the Mille Miglia circuit, maintaining 165km ph throughout the course all the way back in 1940. The 328 Hommage shares many design elements with the original, focusing on light weight and innovation. Focusing on maintaining a light weight, the designers of the BMW 328 Hommage used only the lightest and most robust materials in its construction. Carbon-fibre reinforced plastic was used in many parts of the interior and exterior, this material is lighter than aluminum and more stable. This effort to create a light-weight vehicle has resulted in the BMW 328 Hommage weighing in at just 780kg. The kidney shape of many of the early BMW cars has been maintained in the Hommage, with a vertically mounted kidney grille. The grille is incorporated into the flat silhouette and slants back in the middle blending it into the bonnet. The rear end of the 328 Hommage features large vents and is arched, further emphasizing the light-weight feel. The engine is a 3.0 litre 6 cylinder but no other information has been provided regarding the vehicles performance. Hopefully more details will be provided regarding this great reinvention of a classic car.

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The new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster
The new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster is only set to make it’s world premier at the Frankfurt/Main International Motor Show in September, but pictures and information of the vehicle testing have already been released. The gull-wing doors and the fixed roof have obviously been dropped which had lead to certain challenges and increased testing for the Merc designers. Being a soft-top one of the biggest challenges was bodyshell rigidity and the handling of the vehicle, as well as providing the same superior driving dynamics experienced in the coupe’ version. “Without bodyshell rigidity there are no handling dynamics, and neither can the close fit of the soft top be guaranteed” comments Tobias Moers, head of development. Mercedes tackled this problem with the following 2 features that would ultimately increase the rigidity of the bodyshell: Firstly the cross-member carrying the dashboard has additional supporting struts at the windscreen frame and centre tunnel. Secondly, the strut mounting stay between the soft top and the fuel tank has improved the rigidity of the rear axle. This has led to a reduction in vibration, as well as allowing the top to be safely opened and closed while driving up to 50km/h. Look for more information on the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster closer to its official release.

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Mercedes-Benz presents the 2012 SLK
Mercedes-Benz have released details of their latest incarnation of the SLK and the initial report looks promising. Mercedes have always strived for innovation with their SLK range, and the 2012 model is no different. The first SLK model that was released in 1996 came with a vario-roof to transform the roadster into a coupe with the touch of a button. The second generation SLK introduced us to the warm AIRSCARF which ensured a pleasurable driving experience with the top down, even in cooler temperatures. Not to be outdone, the latest SLK comes with innovation of its own: a panoramic vario-roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL. And while the name certainly is impressive, it is simply a roof that can change its tint to become lighter or darker with a touch of a button. The theory behind this technology is to allow the driver to make the roof completely transparent if so desired, this gives the feeling of open-top driving even in cold conditions. And conversely the driver can make the roof dark once more to provide shade in blistering heat. Time will tell how useful this feature will actually be, or if it is nothing more than a gimmick that no one really uses. Under the hood the SLK 200 BlueEFFICIENCY and SLK 250 BlueEFFICIENCY engines produce 135 kW (184 hp) and 150 kW (204 hp) respectively. The SLK 200 BlueEFFICIENCY has some particularly impressive fuel economy stats, clocking in at just 6.1 litres / 100km and 142g of CO2 which is the lowest in the segment. For some extra oomph, the SLK 350 BlueEFFICIENCY comes with a V6 engine that generates 225 kW (306 hp) and completes 0-100km/h in just 5.6 seconds with a top speed of 250km/h. The fuel economy for the 350 is not too bad either, coming in at just 7.1 litres / 100km. The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK goes on sale this year on the 26th of March in Europe. Look for more information and pricing on a local release date as the information becomes available.

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