Going Topless

As the last rays of summer fade away, petrolheads can reflect on what’s been a great season for one particular genre: the convertible supercar. In the last few months, we’ve been treated to the Mercedes SLS Roadster, Lamborghini Gallardo Performante, Maserati GranCabrio S, Bentley Continental GTC, Porsche 911 GTS Convertible and of course, the long awaited Ferrari 458 Spider.

There’s a rather long and mouth-watering list of machinery there, and all have been subjected to exactly the same, almost clichéd debate. Every time another one of these roofless wonders comes along, the internet rebuffs them with arguments against al fresco supercars, saying they’re merely spoiled versions of great machines, built for poseurs and boulevard cruisers. And there may be some truth in that. But there’s actually been a change with the class of ‘11, something which has been threatening to happen in the performance car realm for a very long time. The fact is, armchair and professional car journalists alike have been saying not only are these cars comparable to their fixed top sisters, but, in the case of every car mentioned above, they actually prefer the open version.

Now why would this be? Is it that the experience of driving any supercar in financially and environmentally beleaguered 2011 outweighs the slight dynamic comprises brought about by decapitating a road-racer? Perhaps. The technical advances that allow engineers to take the roof out and only add a few tens of kilograms is also paramount; the cars retain the rigidity and responses that made us fall in love with their tin top iterations. In the sports car world, that’s invaluable.

But there is something else here too, and it comes back to that mention of the ‘experience.’ See, whether you’re a son of a sheikh with a ten-thousand horsepower garage, or a lottery winner indulging a childhood dream, the chances are a cabriolet supercar is going to be, no matter how habitable its design, a rare treat, maybe for a Sunday morning cruise, or once a month thrash. No track days, no lap times, just enjoying the sensations brought about by a rare and esoteric piece of automotive engineering. And if you only get to enjoy those sensations a few times a year, through the summer, its the very attributes of a convertible; the wind rushing through the cabin, exposure to a scintillating engine note, and added sensation of speed, that make the drive to savour even more visceral.

Something else odd is happening. Far from suffering from the added complication of swallowing their own roofs, plenty of us observing such cars from a distance actually prefer the styling on the topless models (pun partially intended – apologies). The voluptuous buttresses on the 458 Spider seem cleaner than the swooping aero sculpture on the Italia, and the Bentley Continental’s imperious lines work better without that sloping rear crashing into the rear flanks.

It’s certainly an interesting fantasy to mull over. Given the choice, of Nordschleife lap time or driving seat thrills, the smart money is increasingly on the convertible. Are you converted?

This is a guest post by Ollie Kew - @OllieInGear / tyreroar.blogspot.com