bestcars by raghuram g

Mercedes’ New McLaren SLR Roadster The world’s most expensive new convertible

Peugeot 207 CC Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe BMW 1-Series Convertible Alfa Romeo Spider Autumn 2007

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Contents 01 Editorial 02 News 03 Peugeot 207 CC 04 2008 Mansory Aston Martin DB9 Volante 05 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe 06 Mercedes Benz Ocean Drive 07 Crash! 08 Safety News 09 Saab Crash Safety 10 Mercedes McLaren SLR Roadster 11 BMW 1-Series Convertible 12 Fiat Punto Jolly 13 Alfa Romeo Spyder

03 04 11 16 18

23 24 26 27 28

32 35 36

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Welcome

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Welcome to the first edition of Convertible Car Magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new PDF publication. We have been working hard to produce an easily accessible, exciting and informative magazine for convertible car buyers, owners and enthusiasts. The convertible car is the oldest form of motoring but has never been more popular than it is today. This year will see the highest number of sales of convertible cars on record and the trend sees no sign of slowing. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s understandable to see why drop-top motoring is so popular, not only are the cars more glamorous than their hard topped alternatives but they offer a driving experience which is unsurpassed. The home of Convertible Car Magazine lies in the UK and unfortunately much of the summer season was plagued with cold, damp weather. Not something conducive to roof-down motoring but yet we are left appreciative of what we get and try to make the most of every ray of sunshine! Unfortunately the poor weather has temporarily affected the used market, which we investigate on page 9. We hope you enjoy this launch edition of the magazine and are always pleased to read your feedback through the website. http://www.convertiblecarmagazine.com

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Edited by: Stephen Ashdown Graphic Design by :Phoot Creative

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E L B I T R E V N O C

S W E N

to the d e c u n introd mpetitio g n i o e are b elcome c s from s e l b i e w rt pdat iting . This onve u e c r h t o i f w xc ne be dw me e n the More than ever e standar o s f et ews o ur roads i se th n i a d r mark n o rers a ill reach o ars. ues t u n i t t c n co anufa s which w ple of ye m l a r car cou seve new next

Polish from Pebble Beach Lexus unveiled its fifth Pebble Beach Special Edition SC 430. As previously, the 2007 version is an understated cosmetic package rather than a performance upgrade. The specification includes: • Smoky Granite Mica paint • Camel & Ecru leather interior • Espresso Bird’s-eye maple trim • Pebble Beach badging • Embroidered floor mats

Prestige small convertibles on their way Both BMW and Audi have compact convertibles under development for release by next summer. BMW are set to launch a convertible version of their 1-Series model to accompany the coupe also under development. The first pictures of this can be seen on page 32. Meanwhile Audi have been working on a cabriolet version of their A3 model. Both cars appear to be designed with a fabric folding roof and 2+2 seating.

• Illuminated door scuff plates • 18” six-spoke chrome wheels • Rear spoiler The edition is limited to 360 US cars, and they’ll be available from late August.

The market for smaller prestige convertibles has opened up as both Audi and BMW have gradually increased the size and price of their A4 and 3-Series models.

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Alfa Romeo 8C Spider The Alfa Romeo 8C Spider concept made a big splash at both the Pebble Beach concours d’elegance and Goodwood Festival of Speed this year. It’s strongly suggested that this car will go into production to follow it’s hard topped sibling the 8C Competizione coupe. Alfa Romeo are producing of a limited series 500 units of the 8C Competizione this year. The coupe features a Ferrari derived 4.7-litre V8 engine wrapped up in a sleek carbon-fibre body and a chassis based on the Maserati GranSport Spyder. This should result in a top speed of around 185mph and a 0-60mph time of around 4 seconds. Based on the sales success of the 8C coupe it is hoped that the Spider prototype will lead to a production run next year. As with the coupe, the production run will be small; raising the profile of Alfa while not stepping on the toes of other Fiat Group brands. The price, like the car will be exclusive and available to the lucky few.

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Kia sharpen their pencils It’s not often that heads turn when a Kia rolls down the street, but this may be due to change as Peter Schreyer the man behind the Audi TT and the new Beetle is hard at work in their design studio. His latest concept is the Ex_cee’d Convertible pictured here. Based on the new three-door cee’d hatchback, due to go into production at the Zilina factory in Slovakia from December, the ex_cee’d shares the same platform, but features all-new exterior panels and a powered folding fabric roof. By adopting a fabric roof, the ex_cee’d deliberately goes its own retro way rather than following the trend towards cabrios with folding metal roofs. Peter Schreyer paid special attention to designing a classic cabrio with a traditional soft-top roof: “I’m convinced that the fabric roof will have a renaissance. We’ve all lived with the romantic idea of open-air driving for a long time and for me, the fabric roof is the quintessential element of a truly rewarding cabrio.”

Summertime at VW

Kia Motors Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer has recently been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Britain’s preeminent school of art and design, the Royal College of Art, in recognition of his contribution to automotive design.

As convertible fans VW is one of our favorite corporations. Not only do they produce the excellent Eos Coupe/Cabriolet but their group of companies produce eight convertible models with 39 different engine variants. Also from the group are the eternally youthful New Beetle convertible from Volkswagen and Audi’s TT Roadster and A4 convertible. Then there is the breathtaking Bentley Continental GTC and stately Azure. Under the Lamborghini brand they offer the powerful Gallardo Spyder and imposing Murciélago Roadster. Never before has there been such a large variety of open-air cars from one corporation.

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Smart ForTwo Cabrio The new Smart ForTwo has grown a little for it’s release onto the US market but it’s still a nippy little car and very much a two seater. The new car is more practical and more comfortable than before making it easier to live with when venturing away from it’s native city streets. Urban areas are still where this car shines; it’s agile, easy to drive and parks in places most drivers wouldn’t consider. General quality has improved as has the interior noise insulation making the ForTwo a more comfortable place to travel than the previous generation. The new 1 litre three cylinder engine has increased power and while it’s not a fast car it doesn’t feel under-powered and is fun to drive. Luggage space has increased which is a welcome revision and power steering is now an option making tight manoeuvres even easier. Since the early demise of Smart’s other models (the Roadster and ForFour) the ForTwo is now their key product.

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Peugeot Flux The Flux is the winner of Peugeot’s 4th Design Contest. As a result, the team at Peugeot’s Style Centre began creating a full scale model of Mihaï Panaîtescu’s winning project. The key to the concept is it’s versatility, being as at home on sandy beaches or sweeping mountain roads as it would commuting in the city. It’s dynamic, open cockpit shape make it lively and fun to drive as the occupants are always in contact with their surroundings. Propulsion comes from a slim rear mounted hydrogen power plant. The car is also in the process of being crafted virtually for inclusion in XBox game “Project Gotham Racing 4”.

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Rain stops play for used convertible values Values of used convertible cars in the UK failed to climb to their usual seasonal highs this summer, according to EurotaxGlass’s, publisher of Glass’s Guide to Used Car Values. “This has been the worst year in living memory for used convertible values,” comments Adrian Rushmore, Managing Editor at EurotaxGlass’s. “In previous years, asking prices for most secondhand convertibles increased during the spring and early summer in response to an uplift in consumer demand. For example, from May to July last year convertible values rose by up to 10 per cent. By contrast, a combination of factors has led values to remain static at best during the peak buying months of 2007.” Rushmore cites a number of reasons for 2007’s lacklustre convertible market. “Following an alltime high of 116,000 new convertible registrations in 2004 - almost 20 per cent up on 2003 - a substantial number of additional used three year old examples will have reached the used market during 2007. These additional volumes will have played a significant role in subduing prices of second-hand models.”

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“In addition, since 2003 sales of new convertibles have consistently exceeded 100,000 units, leading to increased volumes of younger cars being available for sale, again keeping prices in check.” This situation has developed against the backdrop of growing numbers of new drop-top models being offered by manufacturers: in 2003 there were 377 convertible models available new, and this number increased to 531 by 2006, a rise of over 40 per cent. The final issue affecting convertible values has been the poor weather experienced throughout the UK this summer, which has done nothing to raise the level of demand in this segment. “Dealers report that retail demand for secondhand convertibles has been much the same as in recent years,” adds Rushmore. “But the increase in supply of cars over the last few years has meant that buyers of these models now

have a greater choice than ever. Consequently we have not seen the seasonal price hikes which have become an established feature of the market. “Looking ahead, we do not expect values to drop away to the extent they have previously done at the end of summer. That said, they will still fall and could reach new lows in the autumn, though we do not predict a price crash. What seems clear is that price rises of up to 10 per cent during the spring and early summer are now a thing of the past,” Rushmore concluded. This prediction is matched by CAP who suggest that the increasing availability of hard-top cabriolets, with their reassuring sense of protection from the elements, brings stability to the sector.

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The new BMW 6 Series Convertible BMW has announced a revised BMW 6 Series model line-up and the launch of a new engine to the range.

Power certainly isn’t lacking either, with 286 hp and 580 Nm of torque the 635d will reach 100km per hour (62mph) in just 6.6 seconds.

The BMW 635d opens up a new sector of the market for BMW by mating the acclaimed twinturbocharged diesel to the marque’s flagship Grand Tourer. The launch of the BMW 635d coincides with the introduction of fuel saving and emissions-cutting Efficient Dynamics technology to the rest of the 6 Series range to improve performance. The model has also been given a subtle restyling to mark the technological changes.

The exterior of the car features a revised headlight arrangement featuring LED technology and clear lenses, and a new style of front valance. The vertical struts on the front spoiler have been repositioned to accommodate a different shape of air intake for the car and the kidney grille is larger compared to the outgoing model.

Despite having the world’s most powerful production six-cylinder diesel under the bonnet the BMW 635d Convertible still manages 39.2 combined Miles Per Gallon. No other competitor can offer such frugal motoring in a Luxury convertible while still satisfying the demands of sophisticated buyers who insist on the best in performance and refinement.

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Inside, and customers of 6 Series Convertible models can specify Sun Reflective Technology leather. This bespoke upholstery has embedded pigments in the leather that reflect infrared radiation in the sunlight and can reduce leather temperature by up to 20 degrees centigrade. The new BMW 6 Series goes on sale in the UK in October.

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Peuget 207CC When launched earlier this year the Peugeot 207 CC had a lot to live up to. It’s predecessor, the 206 CC was the world’s best selling Coupé Cabriolet and had established a new market for small, affordable hard topped convertible cars. If the 207 CC is to match worldwide sales figures of over 360,000 then it needs to be a stylish, well made and practical car. After a test drive we can assure you that it doesn’t fall short in any of these areas. Peugeot have stepped things up a gear with this new model. The quirky rear deck has gone, as have the manual roof release levers giving a roof

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that is now fully automatic. It folds smoothly away in about 25 seconds. The 207 CC is available in two trim levels, Sport and GT, and with a choice of two petrol and one HDi diesel engine. The Peugeot comes with either manual or automatic dual-zone air conditioning and the option of a ‘fragrance diffuser’ should you prefer a perfumed cabin. The 2+2 seating only leaves room in the back for extra luggage or the smallest of children but it may be welcome space compared to a less practical 2 seater.

Luggage space is good and the standard equipment is impressive, including sports seats and alloy wheels along with various electric gadgets. On the road the 207’s body feels more rigid and steering is nice and sharp. Performance isn’t ground breaking although the top end 150hp petrol engine gives a sporting drive. There is fun to be had but really this car’s strength is it’s ability to add every-day practicality to a stylish convertible. It’s a car with far more competition than it’s predecessor but improvements in quality and design make it competitve with the likes of the Tigra, Mitsubishi Colt CZC and Nissan Micra C+C.

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On the road the 207 CC’s body feels more rigid and steering is nice and sharp 3

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HERE CONVERTIBLE CAR MAGAZINE IS THE NUMBER 1 PUBLICATION FOR THE CONVERTIBLE CAR INDUSTRY. It is read by thousands of people every month and our circulation is growing by the day. Our readers have a keen interest in motoring, convertible cars and accessories. They value quality products and have a high level of disposable wealth. By advertising in Convertible Car Magazine or on the www.convertiblecarmagazine.com website you can reach a market of owners and buyers of luxury cars as they seek to make a decision on future purchases. To receive a media pack and find out more about how your business can benefit from Convertible Car Magazine please contact us on +44 (0)1743 232844 or go to www.convertiblecarmagazine. com/contact-us.htm

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Mansory, the German modifier of the grandest of British marques has released their latest convertible. This latest creation is a more subtle affair than the LE MANSory wide-bodied Bentley Continental GTC shown in September. The majority of the modifications are cosmetic and performed to a very high standard. Most obvious is the new front spoiler and grill complete with driving lights not dissimilar to Astonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new DBS model. The body modifications also include new side skirts and a rear diffuser all made from carbon fibre. Carbon fibre is also featured in the interior where it is inlaid into the maple wood trim.

2008 Mansory

Aston Martin DB9 Volante 3

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2008 Mansory

Aston Martin DB9 Volante

At the business end, the Mansory also features lightweight forged aluminium wheels and Brembo 6 piston brake calipers to keep everything under control.

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“Thi car gave u the hance to thek about the very rZre of converXble otoring”

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The two-door, four-seat convertible is a less formal interpretation of classic Rolls-Royce design. Using the lightweight rigidity of an all-aluminium spaceframe, it marries modern technology to a sleek, streamlined convertible body.

The Rolls-Royce Drophead CoupĂŠ has been carefully crafted to be aesthetically pleasing, yet practical too. Wood, leather, chrome and brushed steel have been used where most appropriate. Form and function have equal billing.

Its exterior lines echo the timeless styling of the great Rolls-Royce cars: a long bonnet, large-diameter wheels, short front and long rear overhangs and the quintessential dynamic line descending along its flanks.

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Inside, the design emphasises the airy openness of top-down motoring, embracing the elements and creating a stunning, social environment.

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Front opening coach doors have been specified for the new car and add considerably to the ease of access to the rear seat, as well as to the overall aesthetics. Unique to Rolls-Royce, the doors dramatically transform the Phantom Drophead Coupé’s looks, giving a side profile reminiscent of classic sports cars of the ’60s. Crucially, they also aid the overall stiffness of the body as the rear hinged doors allow for an uninterrupted A-pillar. Luggage is housed within a picnic boot, a split tail compartment that opens in two parts giving easy access to the 315 litres of space. The lower tailgate

provides a comfortable seating platform for two adults when lowered. Careful engineering of the folding soft-top roof means that it stows in a relatively small space resulting in a luggage compartment that remains unaffected regardless of whether the roof is up or down. The fabric hood is the largest of any modern convertible car and its acoustic insulation is exemplary. Five layers of material ensure that the cabin remains a serene space, even at speed. Lined with cashmere it has been tailored to stow in a relatively small space.

At the core of the Phantom Drophead Coupé is an advanced aluminium chassis, perhaps the single most significant component in delivering the marque’s legendary refinement. Lightweight and exceptionally strong, it impacts positively on ride comfort, handling and safety. Hand made, it requires over 140 metres of welding in each chassis. Power is supplied by the same 6.75 litre naturally aspirated V12 engine found in the Phantom saloon, giving surprisingly capable performance and a 0-60mph time of 5.7 seconds.

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Ocean Drive The Rolls Royce Drophead is not the only high-end luxury convertible. Bentley produce the elegant Azure and soon they will be joined by this four-door offering from Mercedes-Benz. The huge Ocean Drive S600-based concept seen here has been approved for production in the 2011 model year. The last four-door convertible of any volume sold in volume was the 1961-1967 Lincoln Continental. It weighed about three tons and suffered significant body flex.

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Crash! When the worst happens we’d all rather be safe than sorry, so we looked into the safety of the modern convertible car. When driving a convertible for the first time many people feel concerned that the lack of a roof gives a less cocooned feeling compared to a hard-top. Some raise concerns of the safety of using a convertible for every-day driving so we looked into the various safety features of today’s modern convertible and how well they meet safety standards.

earn good ratings in all three Institute tests. A new requirement for 2007 is that the winning vehicles must offer electronic stability control. This addition is based on Institute research indicating that ESC significantly reduces crash risk, especially the risk of fatal single vehicle crashes, by helping drivers maintain control of their vehicles during emergency maneuvers.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have conducted their first ever crash tests of convertible cars with the Saab 9-3 and Volvo C70 earning the Institute’s “Top Safety Pick” award for superior crash protection.

The performances of the 9-3 and C70 are impressive,” says Institute president Adrian Lund. “These cars combine what convertible buyers should look for if they’re shopping with safety in mind. The Saab and Volvo not only provide good protection in high-speed front and side crashes but also have good seat and head restraint designs for protecting against whiplash in rear crashes”.

A selection of ten of the world’s best selling convertibles were rated. The Institute rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests plus evaluations of seat/ head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts. The first requirement for a vehicle to become a Top Safety Pick is to

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The Saab 9-3 Convertible has also become the first ever soft-top car to achieve the maximum five-star safety rating under the Euro NCAP collision test programme.

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While the Audi A4 and BMW 3-Series earn good ratings in frontal offset tests, both are rated marginal for side impact protection and poor for protection in rear crashes. Side impact protection is marginal in 3 cars: The Institute’s side test represents what happens when the striking vehicle is a pickup or SUV. The BMW 3-Series and Audi A4 equipped with standard side airbags and the Pontiac G6 with side airbags as optional equipment earn the second lowest rating for side impact protection. “The 3-Series and Pontiac G6 are especially disappointing because they’re new models,” Lund says. “Other auto manufacturers have figured out how to provide good side impact protection for occupants of convertibles.” Two of the least expensive models among the 10 the Institute tested are the Chrysler Sebring and Mitsubishi Eclipse, both of which recently were redesigned and earn good ratings in front and side crash tests.

WHO DOES THE TESTING? The UK’s Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre, better known as Thatcham is independently not-for-profit organisation aiming to carry out research targeted at containing or reducing the cost of motor insurance claims.

“You could spend twice as much for an Audi A4 convertible, which is an older design based on the previous A4 sedan, but it’s rated marginal in our side test,” Lund says. Based on the Volkswagen Eos’s performance, the Institute expects a redesigned A4 to perform better when it’s released. The IIHS recommends buying a convertible with rollbars, which deploy automatically if sensors detect the possibility of a rollover. Pop-up rollbars are standard on the 9-3, C70, Eos, 3-Series, and A4 but unavailable on any of the American or Asian brands the Institute tested. Rear crash protection is mostly poor: Significant differences also were apparent among the convertibles in the protection they afford in rear crashes. Only the Volvo and Saab are equipped with seat/head restraint designs that provide good protection against whiplash injury. The other 8 models are rated marginal or poor for rear crash protection.

vehicle security systems and for our work in testing seats for whiplash prevention. Less well known is the fact that we provide some 70% of the data that insurers use to define a car’s insurance grouping. Thatcham have also been a member of the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) since 2004.

They are best known by motorists for testing

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WHAT IS EURO NCAP? PEUGEOT 207 CC AWARDED 5 STAR SAFETY Launched in March of 2007 the Peugeot 207 CC has proved popular due not only to it’s improvements in quality and design but to a focus on accident protection. 207 CC was awarded a maximum Five Star Euro NCAP occupant protection rating giving it the highest scoring super mini based convertible car. Sharing the same platform as the Peugeot 1007 clearly has given the new Peugeot 207 CC inner strength, but adding an active roll over protection system exceeds the requirements of Euro NCAP. The 207 CC borrows from the 407 the use of two impact absorption structures which distribute impact energy more efficiently in the event of a collision and

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also enhance repairability and pedestrian impact protection. A strong structure and active roll over protection are not the only safety systems in the 207 CC’s armoury as it also has five airbags, pre-tensioning seat belts with force limiters and Isofix mountings for child protection on the passenger seat that comply with the new three-point fixing standards.

Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) is an independent organisation whose evaluations contain accessible and objective information as a guide for consumers and manufacturers. They have an unrivalled reputation as one of the world’s leading organisations which is driving forward vehicle safety, whilst offering invaluable advice and test results direct to consumers.

The 207 CC is priced in the UK from £14,795 on-the-road.

Their occupant safety tests involve three types of collision: a 40 mph (64 km/h) frontal impact against a deformable barrier (representing another vehicle) with a 40 per cent overlap; a 30 mph (50 km/h) side impact against a deformable barrier and an 18 mph (29 km/h) side impact against a rigid pole. Dummies are used to assess the extent of potential injuries to the driver and, in the frontal impact, also the front passenger.

For a our initial review see page 11.

http://www.euroncap.com

Active safety is also a strong point with the standard fitment on the GT model of ESP and directional automatic headlamps.

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When tested in 2007 the Saab 9-3 Convertible received five stars for occupant safety, the highest rating possible in Euro NCAP’s frontal and side-impact crash tests. The 9-3 Convertible was developed alongside its saloon sibling and, despite its drophead design, Saab engineers adopted the same crash safety performance targets for both products. They were able to meet such tough requirements for a convertible by incorporating substantial reinforcements of the A-pillars; the chassis cross-members, including a completely new box structure behind the rear seat; lower B-pillars and side sills. In addition, while developing the 9-3 Convertible’s DynaCage occupant protection system, Saab helped pioneer one of the world’s most comprehensive rollover crash test programmes. Pop-up rear roll bars, seatbelt pre-tensioning and the A-pillars, supporting a strengthened windscreen header rail, are all combined under Dynacage to provide an integrated safety system in the event of a rollover or its possible onset.

“Euro NCAP... can be a useful guide for consumers,” says Per Lenhoff, Head of Crash Safety Development at Saab Automobile. “However, our Real-Life Safety concept is, as always, the controlling factor which guides crash safety development at Saab.” The SAHR (Saab Active Head Restraint) has been standard equipment in both the Saab 9-3 and the 9-5 ranges since 1998. In November 2001, The Journal of Trauma in the United States published a comparison study between SAHR-equipped Saabs and older Saabs with traditional head restraints. The survey was based on actual collisions and showed that SAHR reduces the risk of serious whiplash injuries as a result of rear end impacts by 75 per cent.

SAAB MAKES AN IMPACT

Nobody knows more about crash protection than the Swedes so we looked into what makes the 9-3 the only soft topped convertible with a 5-star Euro NCAP rating

Although Saab welcomes Euro NCAP’s independent findings, its work in crash impact protection will continue to be based on the Saab ‘Real-Life Safety’ strategy, which involves studying the outcome of actual crashes in everyday road conditions. In this way, Saab focuses its safety engineering efforts on much more than achieving a favourable Euro NCAP test result.

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Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Mercedes-Benz will launch its SLR McLaren super sports car in the form of a roadster this September. The exceptional qualities of the Roadster are attributable also to the fully retractable top, which blends harmoniously into the flowing lines of the SLR McLaren. Its newly developed roof material, which is available in three different colours, not only guarantees complete suitability for everyday use in all weathers, but also endows the high-performance sports car with characteristics that are exceptionally unusual in a roadster.

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The roof opens and closes semi-automatically in less than ten seconds, thereby combining the desire for convenience with the puristic character of the roadster. To open, the roof merely needs to be unlocked from the windscreen frame and be briefly raised, after which it folds away electrically. Since an aluminium cover is integrated into its front section, the roof elegantly closes off the top when retracted.

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The open two-seater is equipped with a racingtype chassis featuring high-performance carbonceramic brake discs, thereby setting extremely high standards. Its front-mid-engine provides for optimum weight distribution. With 460 Kw/626 hp and a maximum torque of 780 Nm, the AMG V8 compressor engine, which is coupled to an AMG Speedshift R five-speed automatic transmission, accelerates the Roadster from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.8 seconds.

The exclusive standard equipment includes semianiline-leather-upholstered carbon-fibre bucket seats which can be individually adapted to the driver and front passenger by means of differently sized seat pads; dual-zone automatic airconditioning; a high-quality BOSE premium sound system; a multifunction sport steering wheel with gear-change paddles, and a navigation system with integral radio and CD player.

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“semi-aniline-leather-upholstered carbon-fibre bucket seats which can be individually adapted to the driver and front passenger by means of differently sized seat pads”

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Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster 3

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BMW 1-Series Convertible

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BMW are set to launch their 1-Series Convertible in 2008 with 128i and 135i soft-top variants. It’s an attractive car with a distinctive flared shoulder line which runs parallel to the road, leading the eye back to the L-shaped rear LED tail lights and giving the vehicle a lower, sportier look. Although this will be the least expensive convertible in BMW’s range they’re not scrimping on features or equipment. It has a fabric roof operates in 22 seconds at speeds up to 25 miles per hour and will be available in either black or taupe however there is also an optional Moonlight Black version, unique to the 1 Series Convertible, interwoven with fine shiny metallic fibres. This new fabric soft-top produces a shimmery metallic silver appearance in sunlight. Among the innovations is a climate-control system with a convertible mode designed for open-roof conditions while options will include a wind deflector and sun-reflective leather trim.

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BMW 1-Series Convertible

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ON A JOLLY Throughout the summer, a unique Fiat Panda prototype has been driving on the roads of the charming island of Capri. The new Panda Jolly is a specially-built one-off concept car designed by Centro Stile Fiat to reflect the traditional Fiat Jollys that ferry people around the island. The Panda Jolly is destined to perform an exclusive service of courtesy, transporting VIP tourists who visit the island of Capri to their destinations. Suspended between sea

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and sky in the gulf of Naples, Capri has been synonymous for centuries as a classy tourist haven with perfect weather conditions, and is therefore the ideal scene for the new Fiat concept car. The Panda Jolly draws inspiration from the world of nautical design, strongly recalling the lines and spirit of the Swinging Sixties. The exterior is finished in sky blue reflecting the original cars, while itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interior was developed exclusively by Paolo Lenti, a name highly

regarded in the interior design world for innovative weaving technology. The modular seating design is created from frames of satin-finish steel, and on the Panda Jolly has been covered with rope, a material inspired by sailing boats. Rope is also anti-allergic, non-toxic, antibacterial, hardwearing and highly resistant to UV rays. The seating cushions, which are filled with sponge and covered with pure cotton, are colour coordinated to match the rope material. CONTENTS PAGE

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ALFA ROMEO SPIDER Alfa Romeos have always been like an Italian playboy - full of passion but not very reliable. The new Spider represents a new face for the company. Not only is it as beautifully designed and engineered as Alfas of the past but now it has the build quality and reliability to match. Equipment levels are excellent in all specs with dual air conditioning, cruise control and rear paring sensors among the standard features. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a practical 2-seater with a useful space behind the seats as well as a good size boot.

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Three engine options are available, 2.2 JTS and 3.2 V6 petrol and a 2.4 JTD diesel. All offer swift performance but the sound from the V6 makes it worth the extra money alone. Power is transmitted well to the road through a tight grippy chassis while good brakes bring it swiftly back to a stop. Our only gripe was that the steering could do with being a little sharper. At last the Spider puts all that Italian passion into a useable, well put together car that wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t leave you standing at the side of the road.

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the sound from the V6 makes it worth the extra...

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