Convertible Advice

If you’re a man - particularly a married one with kids and decades between you and your single days - hearing “bachelor pad” might be ever so slightly bittersweet, but there’s also every chance those words make you remember a time in your life when you were so footloose and fancy free you were basically Kevin Bacon.

It’s often said that if you’re a smart car buyer, you’ll be shopping second hand. That’s because the shine and new car smell of a brand-new car can be fleeting. Especially once you take depreciation into account.

The most economical car argument is still a valid one, despite the fact that oil prices have stabilised around the world.

Electric cars are seen as sensible, serious and streamlined vehicles; the thinking person’s choice. Convertibles, on the other hand, are for fun, flamboyance and feeling the wind in your hair, somewhat at the expense of aerodynamic efficiency.These two concepts would seem to be at odds, which suggests, unhappily for lovers of drop-top motoring, that the age of electric cars will mean less convertibles for everyone. Wrong.As I’m sure Marie Antoinette would agree, you should be able to you have your cake and eat it too, while driving with the sun on your skin and the wind in your icing, which is why you’ll soon be able to choose a convertible electric car in a variety of shapes and sizes.While slipping through the air as cleanly as possible is a priority for EV, in order to maximise range, car companies know that not everyone buys a car for purely practical reasons. Indeed, the existence of most sports cars and all supercars proves this.Which is why there are a variety of electric convertible cars that Australia and the rest of the world will soon have access to from the likes of Mini, Fiat, Porsche, Maserati and more.At the moment, though, this is still a relatively new part of the EV market, so there are limited models currently available in Australia - and, indeed, globally. The current market for convertibles is relatively small, with drop-top models typically a spin-off of already niche sporty models, like coupes and sports cars.The initial wave of electric convertibles certainly fits that bill, with a combination of sports models and some premium products from Mini and Fiat.However, the market is likely to quickly evolve as EVs become adopted by a more mainstream audience and carmakers look for new ways to make their products appealing to customers.And the idea of driving with the roof down, wind in the hair and just the sound of nature (and not a revving petrol engine) should certainly be appealing to many.Here is a list of the already confirmed or expected electric convertible cars.While it may now be Chinese owned and build SUVs and small cars, the original version of MG was famous for building compact convertibles, like the iconic MGA and MGB.The Cyberster, a portmanteau of cyber and roadster, which combines the present and past, has been created to celebrate the brand’s centenary in 2024. And when you look at it, it’s clearly the most old MG the new MG has come up with.However, the powertrain is all about the future, with the Cyberster expected to be offered in two variants - a 231kW rear-wheel drive version and a 400kW all-wheel drive option.Expect the Cyberster to go on sale in Australia before the end of 2024 with prices to be confirmed, but likely to start north of $100,000. Looks like it might be worth it, for the looks alone.The Italian brand has taken an inclusive approach with its latest generation of GranCabrio sports cars, offering both internal-combustion engines and the all-electric Folgore version.While the petrol-powered cabriolet has a 410kW 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, the Folgore (which is Italian for lightning), has a tri-motor powertrain good for up to 610kW.Technically, that figure is only available for a short period of ‘MaxBoost’ but the ‘regular’ output of 560kW/1350Nm from the one front and two rear mounted electric motors is still very impressive.Despite having space for four, the GranCabrio can launch from 0-100km/h in just 2.8 seconds and has a top speed of 290km/h - so you and your friends can get wherever you’re going in a hurry. Yes, really, 2.8 seconds.Maserati also claims the GranCabrio Folgore will have a respectable range of up to 447km on a single charge.This is another Italian electric convertible but a very different proposition to the Maserati. The Fiat 500e is not a sports car and it has a very different roof compared to the other models on this list.Like the petrol-powered 500 convertible, this one has a canvas roof that retracts but leaves the side panels in place, so it’s not quite a true convertible but it does allow for an open-top driving experience and that’s what many people really want.\Naturally, it shares the same underpinnings as the hardtop 500e, which means an 87kW/200Nm single electric motor that drives the front wheels.Stellantis Australia hasn’t officially confirmed when (or even if) the 500e Convertible will be offered locally, but it’s a likely addition to the range in the next year or two.This is an unusual scenario because Mini has already discontinued its original electric cabriolet. The brand offered just 999 examples of the Electric Convertible back in 2023 and, as of publication, had yet to officially commit to reintroducing it with the new-generation Mini Cooper.There are a few reasons to be optimistic, however, with the Mini Convertible (the petrol one) the best-selling drop-top in the world and the limited-edition version from last year was (assuming you discount the Targa-top original Tesla Roadster) the first electric convertible offered by any brand.So, don’t be surprised if the this one re-enters the market in the near-future.Who else would build an electric sports car? The German brand has confirmed its next-generation 718 range, both Cayman coupe and Boxster convertible, will be all-electric.While likely to be (yet another) dagger to the heart of Porsche purists, the electric Boxster is crucial for the brand’s sustained success in the Chinese market.Due to arrive in 2026, Porsche has already previewed what we can expect with the Mission R Concept giving an insight into the styling of the new model, while the track-tested, Cayman-based GT4 e-Performance is serving as a rolling test lab for the powertrain technology.Putting the battery behind the seats rather than beneath the car, for mid-engine-like balance, is just one of the clever ideas Porsche will unveil here.It won’t be for sale in Australia for a few years yet, likely in 2026 or 2027, but those looking for an alternative to the Porsche should look to the production version of the Polestar O2 Concept.Make no mistake, this Volvo spin-off will take direct aim at the German sports car. Power is tipped to be in the range of 650kW, with up to 900Nm of torque, so it will be an extremely quick convertible.Not only will this be the high-performance hero model for Polestar, it’s expected to debut a new-generation 800-volt architecture.It will undoubtedly look the part, too, with Polestar indicating the final production design will stay as close as possible to the striking O2 Concept, which was revealed at the 2021 Los Angeles Motor Show.What’s less likely is the “autonomous cinematic drone” that was featured on the concept, which could be deployed on the move to take photos and videos of you enjoying your drive. Although, in our social-media-obsessed world, perhaps we shouldn’t count it out.

What is a car? A car is any four-wheeled, self-propelled vehicle that is designed to carry passengers rather than cargo.

What is the average weight of a car?The average weight of a car is 2.05 tonnes.That figure comes from averaging the weight of popular vehicle types spanning the Australian new car market.The average weight of a small/compact SUV is about 1380kg, the average weight of a medium SUV is about 1630kg, the average weight of a large SUV is about 2000kg, the average weight of an upper large SUV is about 2580kg, the average weight of a ute is about 2140kg, and the average weight of a US pick-up is about 2600kg.There are myriad factors that come into play when you're looking for a new or second-hand vehicle to buy, which will best suit you, your lifestyle and your wants and/or needs – and the weight of a car is right up there, in terms of importance.So, 'how much does a car weigh?' should be one of the first questions you ask yourself.Do you want or need your vehicle of choice to be light and nimble on its feet (rubber), easy to drive in cities and around town, and simple to park?Or do you want/need considerable heft to your car? And these are crucial questions whether you're considering the weight of a small car or an SUV or a ute.Another question you'll likely want to know the answer to is: what is the average weight of a car?Read on.Quick note: While some of us still think in tons or tonnes, the weight of a vehicle is usually listed in specification sheets as a kilogram (kg) figure, so, for the sake of uniformity, that's what we'll use in this yarn.Right, on with the show.Car weights may differ because of their different sizes, the materials used, production processes involved, and the actual intended purpose of each vehicle.A heavy-duty work ute is going to be more than just a little bit heavier than a city-based hatchback, right?And two vehicles that occupy the same section of the market – say, 4WD wagons – may also have different kerb weights*, for example, a seven-seat Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed (2125kg, as listed by CarsGuide) is lighter than a seven-seat V6 Ford Everest Sport (2454kg, as listed by CarsGuide).(* For this yarn, we're using the vehicle's manufacturer-listed kerb weight – the weight of a standard vehicle with a full tank of fuel, but no passengers or cargo onboard or accessories fitted – as our reference point.)But, generally speaking, vehicles within the same realm – i.e. small cars, SUVs, utes, pick-ups – will have similar weights to each other – within 50kg of each other – although there may be an outlier or two that straddle two categories of car, or at the very least blur the lines between two categories.The main advantage of having a light car (hatchback, etc) is its manoeuvrability. If it's light, it's small and a small vehicle makes for easier steering around town, through busy city streets and, more importantly, easier parking.The main advantage of having a heavy car (large SUV, etc) is that its weight or size tends to signify that it is better suited to transporting more people and more cargo at one time than a vehicle that is lighter and smaller.Also, the bigger and heavier a vehicle, the more robust it is.In case you missed it earlier, please note, when I mention a vehicle's weight in this yarn, I'm referring to a vehicle's manufacturer-listed kerb weight – the weight of a vehicle with a full tank of fuel, but no passengers or cargo onboard.Sometimes carmakers list tare weight* rather than kerb weight and if that's the case, I'll make sure that's noted. (* The weight of an empty standard vehicle with all fluids - oils, coolants - onboard but only 10 litres of fuel in the tank.)The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) classifies vehicle types based on their footprint (defined as length x width , rounded).So, what is the average car weight?Micro, light or small cars* – we're talking about vehicles such as Kia Picanto, Suzuki Ignis, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Kona and the like.(* Micro: "Hatch, sedan or wagon with a footprint < 6300mm"; Light: "Hatch, sedan or wagon with a footprint range 6301-7500mm"; or Small: "Hatch, sedan or wagon with a footprint range 7501-8300mm", according to the FCAI.)The Picanto (S manual) is listed as having a tare weight of 993kg, according to our weight experts here at CarsGuide.At the heavier end of the market, is the Kia Seltos, really a small SUV, and it tops out at 1495kg (in GT-Line AWD guise).But the average small car weight is around the 1200kg mark. Don't agree with me? That's great – have your say in the comments section below.The average weight of a car in kg is about 1900kg – that's taking commercially available passenger cars into account. The average weight of a large car (a hatch, sedan or wagon with a FCAI-listed footprint range 9001-9500mm) is closer to 2000kg.Large SUVs (with an FCAI-listed footprint of between 8801mm and 9800mm) can carry up to seven people; upper large SUVs (with an FCAI-defined footprint bigger than 9801mm) are able to carry up to eight passengers.The average weight of a large SUV is drawing near to the 2500kg mark, and upper large SUVs can be as heavy as 2800kg (the Nissan Patrol).Utes are classified as light trucks, which are "Vehicles designed principally for commercial but may include designs intended for non-commercial applications".They're available as two-wheel drive (4x2) or four-wheel drive (4x4) vehicles, and as a cab chassis or with a tub at the rear.These vehicles can legally carry up to five people in the cabin, depending on the body type, and have a FCAI-defined footprint of between 9001mm and 9501mm.The average weight of a dual-cab ute is around the 2100kg mark, but some variants top 2300kg (Ford Ranger) without any accessories onboard.Pick-ups, such as the likes of the Ram 1500, the Ram 2500, the Chevrolet Silverado, the Ford F-150 etc, are basically utes on steroids.These pick-up trucks are closer to 3000kg than 2000kg in kerb weight, and have an average weight somewhere in the vicinity of 2600kg.Go to the menu bar at the top of this CarsGuide page, and hit the 'Pricing and Specs' tab, and, from there, follow your instincts.Feel free to also go to the appropriate carmaker's website and download the specification sheet relevant to your particular choice of vehicle.

Becoming an instant hit when first launched back in 1964, the Mustang has been one of Ford's top dogs when it comes to performance.

'Dune buggy', or the more Australian 'beach buggy', is a pretty broad descriptor these days. As well as a new wave of recreational single-seater buggies and two-seat side-by-sides, there have been any number of home-made contraptions that have passed for a beach buggy over the years. Most of them have been crude, most have been fun machines and all of them have been dangerous.

It might be a cult hero today, but if you want to be completely honest, the Mini Moke was an utter flop when it was first unveiled. Not that it lacked any of the charm or character that has helped it become such an icon, rather that it was immediately deemed unsuitable for the very thing it had been designed to do. Designed by the Alec Issigonis - the same genius mind that sketched up the Mini – t

Defining what constitutes a ‘sports car’ is a reliably easy way of starting an argument. Some, slightly simplistic folk will insist that it means anything with wheels that’s painted red. Others that having a roof that’s convertible makes the grade. But the simplest definition is that it’s any car that values performance and the thrill of driving over whether or not you have ample space to fit your