Bentley Continental GT V8 Convertible
Boasting an extensive racing heritage spanning close to a century, it is unsurprising that the 2020 Continental GT Convertible by Bentley exhibits remarkable performance capabilities, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds and achieving a top speed of 198 mph. The acceleration of this vehicle is characterized by a subdued and tranquil demeanor, as it maintains a composed and serene disposition even when traveling at a speed of 140 miles per hour on a highway in Arizona. With a weight exceeding 5,100 pounds, one would anticipate the Bentley to offer a luxurious touring experience. However, it appears that the vehicle also exhibits a sense of agility as it navigates the mountainous roads surrounding Sedona.
The inclusion of all-wheel drive, an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, air suspension, substantial brakes, and a powerful engine generating 542 horsepower (along with 568 ft lbs of torque, accessible from 2,000 to 4,500 rpm) significantly enhance the performance capabilities of this grand tourer, effectively transforming it into a high-performance sports car. It is worth noting that this sports car offers optional features such as massaging seats and a premium 2,200-watt Bаng & Olufsen audio system. The vehicle offers four distinct driving modes: Comfort, Sport, Custom, and Bentley. The Bentley mode enhances the suspension, engine, and transmission mappings, resulting in a driving experience that embodies the characteristics typically associated with Bentley vehicles. This mode allows the Continental GT to seamlessly navigate through curves with remarkable ease. The Comfort mode setting is designed to prioritize a relaxed and comfortable driving experience. In contrast, the Sport mode option enhances the rigidity of the vehicle’s chassis, thereby promoting a more dynamic and responsive driving performance. Lastly, the Custom mode provides the flexibility for drivers to individually tailor and fine-tune various vehicle settings according to their personal preferences.
Externally, the novel design of the vehicle results in an elongated appearance, enhanced muscularity in the rear panels, and the incorporation of quad exhaust tips at the rear, thereby imparting a more robust and athletic aesthetic. Lower the four-layer roof at velocities of up to 30 miles per hour in order to enhance auditory perception of the resonant sound produced by the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. Despite having a marginally extended wheelbase, the latest iteration of the GT exhibits a reduction in weight by 150 pounds compared to its predecessor, primarily attributed to the utilization of aluminum body panels. Furthermore, the new model showcases a diminished height, a decreased front overhang, and an expanded rear track width.
Bentley ensured that the convertible variant maintains the same level of quietness as its coupe counterpart. Naturally, the vehicle offers a range of amenities such as heated and cooled seats, crafted from premium hand-stitched leather, which can be adjusted to suit individual preferences. Additionally, the inclusion of optional neck blowers allows for personalized temperature control, providing the choice of cooling or warming effects. The center console, which is capable of three different positions, can be rotated to display either a conventional chrome-surround gauge package, a multi-media display, or a flat panel that seamlessly integrates with the surrounding dashboard. In addition to the standard V8 engine, the 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 variant offers enhanced performance with 626 horsepower and 664 foot-pounds of torque, thereby augmenting the vehicle’s top-end speed. The website bentleymotors.com provides information regarding the pricing of their products, with the starting price listed at $222,700. David Keith is a prominent figure in the academic community.
McLaren Elva
In this special collection of convertibles, the 2020 Elva stands apart: It’s the only one with no roof at all, leaving the task of battling the elements to advanced aerodynamics alone. The car’s active aero management system relies on a front deflector to direct air up and over the cockpit, changing its angle of аttаck according to how fast the car is traveling. (The Elva can also be ordered with a windshield, an item that doesn’t make the list of standard features.)
Speaking of fast … well, the Elva is fast. Power comes from McLaren’s familiar twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8; in this application, the engine creates 804 hp and 590 ft lbs of torque. The sprint to 62 mph is over and done in fewer than 3 seconds, courtesy of a suρer-smart launch control system and a lightning-quick, dual-clutch automatic transmission routing power to the rear wheels. Top speed is yet to be confirmed, but should be in excess of 200 mph. The lightest road car currently offered by McLaren, the Elva shares much with its siblings, including three driving modes that control the powertrain and chassis settings. There’s even a variable drift control setting for brave souls who enjoy kicking the tail out. The catch: Only 249 units will be offered before production grinds to a halt, so it’s time to act fast. $1.7 million; cars.mclaren.com
Aston Martin Vantage Roadster
Two years after the launch of the widely acclaimed coupe version, the 2020 Vantage Roadster makes its presence felt in the venerable brand’s lineup. The convertible, naturally, shares much of its architecture and engineering with the fixed-roof model, but key revisions have been made to ensure levels of performance remain consistent, even with the fabric top folded away.
Power comes from a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine, supplied by Mercedes-AMG, which generates 503 hp and 505 ft lbs of torque. This mechanical masterstroke is linked to an 8-speed automatic transmission that drives the rear wheels; three different drive modes (Sport, Sport+, and Track) and paddle shifters provide the capability to personalize the drive experience. Although the convertible weighs some 130 pounds more than the coupe, the sprint to 60 mph takes only a scant 3.7 seconds and terminal velocity roars into focus at 190 mph, provided the roof is up. The process of going from top up to down and vice-versa takes just under 7 seconds and can be performed at speeds of up to 31 mph.
The roadster shares its race-bred adaptive suspension system, electronic rear differential, and torque vectoring system with the coupe. But the stability control system and rear dampers feature unique software settings to give the convertible a dynamic character all its own. $161,000; astonmartin.com
Lexus LC 500 Convertible
Seven-odd years ago, Lexus began showing a seemingly endless array of strikingly beautiful concept cars at various automotive gatherings around the world. At the time, onlookers nodded in approval, but remained skeptical that the models would ever go into production. Yet here we have just the latest example of the brand’s design aesthetic—the 2021 LC 500 Convertible—a rolling piece of art soon to be available for order. Based on the Lexus LC 500 coupe, the convertible features a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 with 471 hp and 398 ft lbs of torque. In this select group of high-performance roadsters, these numbers may seem on the light side—but the Lexus should certainly be quick enough to make an impression. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission and the sprint from 0 to 60 mph should consume around 5 seconds.
The LC 500 Convertible is some 225 pounds heavier than the coupe, but it nevertheless features near perfect 50/50 weight distribution, front to back, and modified suspension tuning to create a unique driving experience. The lightweight fabric top can be raised or lowered in around 15 seconds at speeds of up to 31 mph. The climate-control system has been engineered to ensure a consistent cabin temperature, regardless of roof position, making this convertible an all-season adventurer. Price TBD; lexus.com
Porsche 718 SpyderSome four years ago, the world of entry-level Porsche sports cars was sent into a tailspin. For the 2017 model year, the Boxster and Cayman twins received a new moniker (“718”) and new turbocharged 4-cylinder engines. As with most things Porsche-related, the change represented a step forward in terms of outright performance, but it was also seen as being a move sideways by many hardcоre enthusiasts.Now, with the arrival of the 2020 718 Spyder, the naturally aspirated 6-cylinder boxer engine is back and so is the kind of open-top performance that helped create the Porsche mystique with models such as the 356 and 550 Spyder. Motivation comes from the new 4.0-liter motor, which develops 414 hp and 309 ft lbs of torque, enabling the 718 Spyder to Һit 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds.Top speed is a supercar-like 187 mph, a staggering figure when you stop to consider the humble beginnings of the original Boxster. All of this performance arrives with tradition intact: The engine is still mounted in the middle of the car for optimum handling; the convertible fabric top is manually operated to save weight; and the only transmission currently available is a 6-speed manual (a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic is on the way).In the interests of even higher levels of driver engagement, the 718 Spyder also features the latest trickery from the engineers situated in Stuttgart. In Sport mode, the adaptive suspension system lowers the car’s ride height, the torque vectoring system provides assistance in the corners, and the locking rear differential helps power the car out of those same corners. To cap it all off, the styling of the 718 Spyder strikes the perfect tone: a hint of nostalgia for this authentic 21st-century sports car. $96,300; porsche.com
Ferrari F8 Spider
Somehow, inexplicably, the engineering team at Ferrari continues to set new benchmarks in performance with each new model released. One of the more recent examples is the 2020 F8 Spider—the car that replaces the 488 Spider, an absolute monster that superseded the 458 Spider, which is arguably one of the best supercars ever built.
The open-top version of the F8 Tributo, the Spider is powered by the same twin-turbocharged 3.9-liter V8, so the numbers are downright mind-blowing: 710 hp, 569 ft lbs of torque, a 0-to-60-mph time of 2.9 seconds, and a top speed of 211 mph. The engine is a derivative of the same V8 that’s been named International Engine of the Year for the past four years (2016–19); it’s blessed with instantaneous response, zero turbo lag, and a kιck in the pants at 8,000 rpm that’s certain to terrify the average layman.
Under the surface, the Formula One–inspired engineering continues with a launch control system, electronic limited-slip differential, customizable vehicle dynamics settings, and the famed manettino switch to trigger the various drive modes. From a design standpoint, the F8 Spider is more beautiful than the brutalist 488 Spider, its sleeker aerodynamics also creating higher levels of downforce and outright performance, whether the folding hardtop is up or down. $297,250; ferrari.com