Convertible News

There's a bit of life left in convertibles yet.

Is the small sports car the latest victim of the cost-of-living crisis?

American hypercar manufacturer Hennessey is a brand known for its purist-oriented, ultra-performance cars.

There's a reason why some nameplates have been around for so long. Many are the pioneering vehicle's in their respective segments, still dominating sales as they did 50, 60, and in some cases, even 70 years ago.

The herd of sports cars available to those on a budget continues to thin, as does the number of options for fast cars with petrol engines, but a couple of cars set to debut in 2024 keep things grounded.

Ferrari has announced a new pair of extended warranties, both aimed at keeping the value of its new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models looking solid well into their lifespans.

Joining the two-strong CLE coupe range is the new CLE 300 convertible from Mercedes-Benz.The new nameplate replaces both C-Class and E-Class two door models, with the BMW 4 Series and Audi A5 in its sights.As the flagship model, the four-cylinder CLE 300 4Matic convertible is the dearest in the Australian range at $135,900 (before on-road costs) – an $11,000 increase over the coupe.It has bespoke 'Aircap' and 'Airscarf' features to minimise toupée ruffling and neck freezing, respectively. Other convertible specifics include the 11.9-inch touchscreen's ability to tilt, minimising sun glare, and clever leather designed to stay cooler in the sun.The CLE convertible keeps the coupe's 60:40 split-fold rear seats. It has a 295L boot capacity with the soft top stowed, up 50L over the old C-Class drop-top.Standard specification includes 19-inch alloy wheels, a 17-speaker Burmester sound system, navigation, heated seats, dual-zone climate control and wireless charging.A 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder with 48-volt mild-hybrid system develops 190kW/400Nm.The electric ISG makes 17kW/205Nm and helps cut turbo lag and boost performance. All-wheel drive is standard, as is a nine-speed automatic.The CLE 300 convertible is available to pre-order now with sales beginning July 17.2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE pricingPrices are before on-road costs.

Fancy a Porsche Taycan, Audi e-tron GT or even a Tesla Model S but wish they were available as a convertible? Do you long for an electrified wind-in-your-wig experience?

Suzuki is ready to put the froth on a new hot Cappuccino!

Truly compact cars are becoming a rarity in modern motoring and it’s a terrible shame, in my humble opinion.