Tag: Convertible

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MINI

Beds are burning

MINI Cooper S convertible catches fire in western Sydney

Ever wondered what happens if you drive your car over a mattress and just keep on driving? Well, wonder no more, as a thoughtful MINI Cooper S Cabrio owner has done the experiment for you.

As you can see from the pictures the result is not pretty (there’s two more pics after the jump). The owner had not long collected the car from a western Sydney dealer when she reportedly drove over a mattress of some description. Not realising something was wrong she kept on motoring. Soon enough, though, there was a distinct smell of smoke. The driver pulled to the side of the road and within minutes her new car was in flames and just as quickly it was a smouldering wreck.

An eyewitness speaking to ninemsn said, “She was agitated, bewildered and very, very emotional. Everyone thought someone was dead. She was pretty lucky. I told her she should go buy a lottery ticket.”

Source: ninemsn and MINI2.com

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Bentley

Bentley Continental GTC Speed

Bentley Continental GTC Speed

The Continental GTC was first released in 2006, now Bentley has given things a bit of an extra nudge by releasing details and images of the GTC Speed. Power output of the 6-litre twin turbo W12 is now a mammoth 447kW (600bhp). It is Bentley’s most powerful convertible ever and commenting on the GTC Speed’s character, Dr Ulrich Eichhorn, Member of the Board, Engineering, said “The GTC Speed offers supercar performance, superb refinement, comfort and unrivalled craftsmanship all in one car. It perfectly evokes the spirit of the original Bentley ‘Speed Model’ of the 1920s.”

With the roof up Bentley claims the GTC Speed can top 200mph (322km/h), although, in order to keep sir’s toupé in place the top speed is more sedate 195mph (312km/h) when the roof has been lowered. The 0-100 dash is over and done with in just 4.5 seconds, which is very bloody quick it has to be said.

The Continental Coupé Speed, released in 2007, has become the highest selling Continental model and Bentley expects two in three GTC models sold will be a Speed variant.

Just released in the UK, the GTC Speed retails for £145,000 (AU$300,000). Ouch. What financial crisis!

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Categories
Audi

Audi S5 / A5 Cabrio show

Audi S5 Cabriolet

Audi has lifted the lid on its S5 and A5 models. From Audi’s press blurb, is this rather quaint opening line: “Dynamic and wonderful to look at, the new A5 Cabriolet is a real Audi, and an especially exciting one at that.”

What is exciting is the new 3-litre supercharged V6 in the S5, which offers 245kW of power and 440Nm of torque to the driver. Oddly enough, this new engine is badged as a V6T. The blown V6 takes the roofless S5 from rest to 100.km/h in 5.6 seconds, but, amazingly, when driven conservatively, can achieve fuel consumption of 9.6l/100km. At least, that’s the claim.

The new Cabriolet models conform to Audi’s softtop philosophy, and are able to open in 15 seconds. Closing the roof takes 17 seconds. A basic animated GIF of the roof opening on the S5 Cabriolet is shown after jump (not time accurate). Audi say the benefits of the lighter softop help improve handling over hardtop designs through a lower centre of gravity. They also reckon their use of foam inside the roof lining makes interior noise almost on par with a folding metal roof.

The use of high strength steel and strategic reinforcements in the chassis are said to complete the strengthening required after removing the roof. Rollover bars pop up from behind the rear seat in the event of an accident and there are also head and chest air bags mounted in the doors to aid side impact protection.

A full complement of engines and transmissions are on offer for the A5, including a new seven speed S-tronic on selected models. The S-tronic box is standard on the S5.

Audi’s full international press statement in shown below.

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Categories
MINI

The new MINI Cabrio

R57 MINI Cooper S Cabrio

This is the new MINI Cabrio. Shown here in 128kW turbo Cooper S guise, the roofless MINI will strike a fashionable pose at your favourite café—if you’re into that sort of thing.

The R57 Cabrio will reach Australian shores in the second quarter of 2009. It features a completely redesigned rollover hoop system, and the slightly awkward rear hinges from the old model have been deleted, resulting in a cleaner design for the hatch compartment. In the unlikely event that you do decide to roll your new MINI Cabrio, the rollbars will activate in a mere 150 milliseconds. Providing you protection when you need it, and staying out of your vision when you don’t. Neat, huh.

The automatic soft top roof opens in 15 seconds and can be activated at speeds up to 30km/h. Other features include standard Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) across the range, hands-free Bluetooth  phone capability (including iPhone), MP3 player compatibility and, oddly enough, an automatic air conditioning system that adjusts accordingly even when your roof is down.

In an ever so MINI way, there is also an optional Always-Open Timer that sits next to the tachometer on the steering column. This little dial keep tally of the number of hours your MINI Cabrio’s roof has been down. Fair enough, I suppose.

More images and words after the jump.

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MINI

MotoringFile lifts the lid on 2009 MINI convertible

R57 MINI Convertible

Leading MINI website MotoringFile has revealed the first images of the new R57 MINI Convertible. Most styling cues are as to be expected with the removal of the rear bootlid hinges and rollover bars—replaced with a pop-up system—being the most obvious exterior changes. MotoringFile also reports that a John Cooper Works version of the convertible will be available from launch.

Check out MotoringFile for more.

Categories
Audi

Audi R8 Spider seen unmasked at Nürburgring

Audi R8 Targa

NextAutos is reporting sightings of an Audi R8 Spider on roads near Germany’s famed Nürburgring. The Spider—although naming has not been confirmed—is believed to be available with the existing 4.2 litre V8 engine as well as the 5.0 litre V10, as the large tailpipes on these shots would indicate. The familiar side blades of the R8 hard top have been removed in the conversion to the soft top roof, but this certainly hasn’t lessened the eye candy appeal of the stunning R8. Expect to see an official release from Audi at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2009. Make sure you follow the link below to the NextAutos article, which has more images for your visual pleasure!

Source: NextAutos via autoblog

Categories
BMW

BMW M3 Convertible and Sedan

BMW M3 convertible

BMW M3 sedan

BMW Australia has lifted the lid off its new M3 Convertible and Sedan models. Both feature the 309kW V8 from the M3 Coupé and the Convertible will be the first BMW in Australia to offer the company’s new seven-speed double-clutch transmission (M-DCT). It will also be the first M3 Convertible to feature a retractable hard-top roof—which takes 22 seconds to fully open. The Convertible will be on demonstration in Australian showrooms in July, with the first deliveries expected after October.

The first 3 Series Sedan to feature a V8, the M3 Sedan, will arrive in Australia shortly after the Convertible and it is expected the first crop of Sedan will find their way into customers’ hands around Christmas time. The M-DCT gearbox will also be available in the M3 Sedan and the four door saloon is capable of doing the 0-100km/h dash in just 4.7 seconds. Watch out Audi RS4! Pricing for the Sedan is yet to be announced, but it should come in under the M3 Coupé.

Full press releases are available for both cars after the jump.

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Categories
BMW

BMW 1 Series Coupé and Convertible launch

BMW 1 Series launch

Earlier tonight I enjoyed the hospitality of Rolfe Classic BMW in Canberra at the launch of the new additions to BMW’s 1 Series range – the Coupé and Convertible. There has been plenty of hype about these cars on the net and I was keen to get a closer look for myself. The drinks were good, the music was good and the mingling was good. Most importantly, though, the cars were good. Rolfe had a 120i Convertible and a 135i Coupé on show and it was the 135i that I was most intent on seeing.

The 135i has the award winning twin turbo inline 6-cylinder that produces a very tidy 225kW (306hp in the old money) along with a nice round 400Nm of torque. That’s some serious mojo for a car weighing in at 1485kg. Sure, that’s no lightweight compared to BMW’s iconic 2002 Coupé of yesteryear. But, by today’s standards, and for its class, that’ll do very nicely thanks. Pricing for the 135i starts at $71,400 plus on-roads. For the average punter that may seem a lot, but compared to the 135i’s competition it is very well priced.

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