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How the sun set on convertibles – and the soft-top EVs on the way
As manufacturers concentrate on lucrative battery SUVs, there’s a dearth of choice for sun-lovers. But the next generation of EV cabriolets will soon be emerging. By Jeremy Taylor
Alitre of petrol cost 80p, the Ford Focus was Britain’s best-selling car again and, joyously, not one SUV registered in the top 10. Twenty years ago, despite our unpredictable weather, the country was also the convertible capital of Europe, buying twice as many soft-tops as Italy – and 10 times more than in sunny Spain.
Regardless of a rain-drenched summer, open-roof car sales peaked here in 2004, at more than 90,000. British drivers were living the topless dream, soaking up a dose of vitamin D on the way to the office, frightening pedestrians with a track from the latest Dizzee Rascal CD.
But since then the sun has slowly set on convertibles, which last year claimed only one per cent of new car sales. The majority of brands no longer offer an open-top model and those hoping for an affordable, batterypowered example, could be in for a very long wait.
Despite figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders which show that battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales climbed 17.8 per cent last year, there’s currently a dearth of electric convertibles. Plug-in examples range from the tiny Abarth 500e to the even tinier Smart EQ ForTwo Cabrio and… not much else.
Max Missoni, design director at EV brand Polestar, said cost-conscious manufacturers transitioning to BEV were focussing on the most popular type of car first: SUVs. Sports utility vehicles accounted for 60 per cent of new cars in 2023, even though the government is calling on manufacturers to concentrate on smaller, more affordable electric models first.
“With the adoption of new technology like BEVs, manufacturers have to prioritise the more desirable models available to the masses,” said Missoni. “As this technology is scaled up and development and consumer costs reduce we will likely see more lower volume product lines, like convertibles, start to emerge.”
While electric cars are also heavier because of the weight of their battery packs, Missoni says a BEV platform is still the perfect basis for a convertible. “The thrill of enjoying an open-air experience, unsullied by engine noise and tailpipe emissions, makes them a unique and thrilling proposition. The challenges with building an open-roof BEV are no different to an open-roofed car with an ICE [internal combustion engine] powerplant, namely ensuring a stiff structure.”
That usually means managing more structural weight too, with stiffening added to compensate for the rigidity provided by a fixed roof. However, Polestar says it will use a stiff, bonded aluminium platform for the forthcoming
Polestar 6 convertible, which requires no additional bracing in the build process.
Due for production in 2026, the Polestar 6 LA Concept edition quickly sold all 500 build slots. Customers paid a £20,000 deposit to secure first versions of the two-seater, which is expected to cost around £165,000 and will accelerate from 0-60mph in only 3.1 seconds.
However, the first to arrive at a Maserati dealer near you this year is the GranCabrio Folgore, which looks remarkably similar to its current V6 sibling – which also looks remarkably similar to the beautiful GranTurismo of old, a stylish coupé that stayed in production for 12 years.
More expensive will be the Maserati MC20 Folgore convertible, expected in 2025. Launched alongside a hard-top version, the tri-motor, 700bhp convertible will likely cost in excess of £220,000 and also promises staggering performance.
Even faster will be the long-awaited, second generation Tesla Roadster. The fastest production car not yet built was first revealed six years ago and is now due to be delivered from 2025 onwards.
The four-seater will feature a removable glass panel roof that stores in the boot, like the targa tops of old. Thanks to rocket-like thrusters developed by SpaceX, Elon Musk claims the car will travel from 0-60mph in an astonishing, if unlikely, one second. What could possibly go wrong…
Details on the drivetrain are still sketchy at best, with a 200kWh battery
– twice that of a current Tesla car – 1,000bhp and three electric motors the latest predictions. Prices would start from around £160,000 – not exactly within reach of the average driver. So, what’s coming that is affordable?
The all-electric MG Cyberster with scissor doors is due on sale this summer, priced from around £50,000. The first MG convertible since the TF is similar in size to the Jaguar F-Type and impressed critics who drove it in China last autumn, with performance figures that outpace a combustion-engined Porsche Boxster.
A pair of electric motors offer allwheel drive to transmit the car’s 536bhp, with a 0-62mph time of only 3.2 seconds. The 77kWh battery manages 360 miles between charges. A less powerful, single-motor version of the Cyberster develops in excess of 300bhp and will offer rear-wheel drive fun, just like the original MGB.
Elsewhere, many manufacturers I contacted didn’t want to talk about BEV convertibles. Lotus, which created the 1962 Elan – one of the greatest openroof cars of all time – said it didn’t have any on the drawing board; Lexus and Rolls-Royce wouldn’t discuss future products; Aston Martin won’t launch an EV of any kind until 2026.
Last year, Mini offered a BEV convertible restricted to 150 examples in the UK that cost an eye-watering £52,500 each. However, despite production of a new cabriolet later this year, the company still won’t confirm an electric variant. Mini’s owner BMW itself has no convertibles scheduled either, while Volkswagenowned Bentley recently delayed delivery of its first all-electric model of any type to 2026.
While VW ponders a roofless version of its ID.3 hatchback and Genesis works on a production version of its X Convertible concept, buyers will likely have to wait until the next decade to experience the joys of a singed forehead and burnt thighs in an open BEV. At least Pininfarina may have build slots available for its £3.75 million B95 hypercar – if you’re very quick.
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Q My husband and I want to change one of our Peugeots to a new fivedoor. Mine is a 208 GTi, his an RCZ. I love my car’s glass roof, the sporty feel and the decent-sized boot; he loves his car’s style and sophisticated interior. But which should we change? We’re in our 70s, so would prefer a slightly higher car although I wouldn’t want to give up on style. What do you suggest for up to £40,000?
– CB A Your husband should keep his RCZ and you should replace your 208 GTi. Why? For one thing, it’s quite hard to replace a two-door coupé with a four- or five-door car that feels as stylish. About the only option that might fit would be the Mercedes-Benz CLA. It is offered as a four-door saloon or a five-door estate.
In CLA200 form, both are punchy and fun to drive, smartly finished inside and look great. The trouble is, neither comes in below £40,000. For your budget, you could easily swap your Peugeot for a BMW 128ti. This little-known hot hatch is a lovely alternative to the Volkswagen Golf GTI, with sharp handling, a rorty turbocharged engine and racy styling.
The 128ti will feel just as swish inside as your 208, if not more so, but where it really stands out is in its driver involvement, with terrific steering, a front end that bites when you turn in to corners thanks to a standard limited-slip differential, along with a lusty engine.
If the BMW doesn’t quite suit, there’s another alternative: a Volkswagen Golf
GTI. An obvious answer perhaps, but it is perennially popular for good reason: it’s a terrific all-rounder, with a great blend of ride comfort and driver enjoyment, quality and practicality.
The Golf is about to have a midlife makeover, with new models arriving in showrooms soon – as part of this, it’ll get an upgraded entertainment system which sorts out many of the woes of the older model’s glitchy touchscreen.
As a result of the changeover, I can’t confirm whether it’ll still have a panoramic roof as an option, however. uk and include your subscriber number