Retractable Hardtops

[HarleyEarl]

Euro carmakers are shedding some light on the subject:

Ford:





Vauxhall:







Peugeot:

[HarleyEarl]

Renault:






Volvo:

[NOS2006]

And what do we have? Just the XLR?

[HarleyEarl]

We have the Pontiac G6 coming on stream.

[Flybrian]

Volvo with the safety hood. Blech. Ugly lines even uglier.

[mjdecker]

The Astra is hot (though I don't like that color) hopefully the next Ion would have something simular as well as the hatch, sedan and coupe forms.

[ocnblu]

I guess I'm the only one who noticed the excellent use of double entendre in the title of this thread. I suddenly have the urge to ride a Harley. :o ;)

[razoredge]

Im concerned about the expence of manufacturing this kind of top as well as the reliability of such a complicated mechanical operation. Kinda like the old scissor top B body convertable problems.

Ill gladly take a hand operated canvas top with a snap on leave at home hardtop anyday to this worrysome tecnogarb.

B U I C K

[Drew Dowdell]

Europe likes their tops hard



*sigh* don't we all

[HarleyEarl]

Bluuuu!...lol Yep, let's saddle up and head out on the road on our Harley.

Razoredge, I agree about these complicated hardtops. And furthermore I don't really like all the cutlines and I like my car to actually look like it's a convertible, even with the top up. Some verts look very sexy with a soft top. They look special.

The Mercedes SLK (it's big brother as well):

[HarleyEarl]

Here is the new VW cabriolet with retractable hardtop being tested, it is rumored that it will be at the Frankfurt Auto Show:





The original VW Cabriolet concept.

Edited August 27, 2005 by HarleyEarl

[HarleyEarl]

More photos of the new Volvo retractable:

[BlkHhr104]

I know that C&G is a GM forum, but does anyone know if that VW cabrio is on the new Jetta platform, just askin to tell my sister she loves VW's im trying to convert her to become a GM fan, i think it worked when i should her the G6

[HarleyEarl]

I know that C&G is a GM forum, but does anyone know if that VW cabrio is on the new Jetta platform, just askin to tell my sister she loves VW's im trying to convert her to become a GM fan, i think it worked when i should her the G6

[post="5308"][/post]

Can't find what platform this car is based on. One of the engines it will be using is the Passat VR6. And the official name is 'Eos'.....Greek God of the Dawn. And I hope your sister buys the Pontiac G6 retractable.



Concept:

[Flybrian]

Why such horrid names?

[HarleyEarl]

Thats a VW tradition to use weird names: Jetta? Passat? Touareg? New Beetle? Volkswagen? and now Eos.

[ocnblu]

I liked the concept VW somewhat, but in the spy pictures it looks... frumpy. The Volvo looks the best with the top up, imo, it looks really good overall. The Ford concept looks good too, and the Astra.

[HarleyEarl]

It's sure a new trend these retractable hardtops. They are nice in there own right, but I like my convertible to look like it's a convertible...so I prefer a softtop. These hardtop retractables are stealth convertibles...shhh..don't want anyone to know.

[LosAngeles]

Nice to know there are Focus coupes and Cobalt convertibles that will never see these shores.... But really the greenhouses on these models all look the same as a result.