Soak Up The Sun And Drive In Style
Anyone who loves automobiles must own at least one convertible before he dies — goes a saying among car enthusiasts. The truth is, no car, and certainly no SUV, can touch the romance and adventure of a convertible, the possibilities that open up the second you open that roof.
Convertibles today are safer, more practical and better built than before. And thanks to tighter-fitting soft-tops and the rise of retractable hardtops, seasonal hibernation is no longer a must. Convertible tops today can seal the interiors from the elements. Manufacturers are building stiffer chassis with reinforced supports for less flex and much sportier ride.
Convertible is not a popular body style in India. Reason? All the dust and pollution that characterises our roads, and budget-conscious buyers. Things are changing rapidly though. Convertibles are slowly becoming a luxury statement as most of the luxury car manufacturers are bringing their convertible models to India.
In the automobile industry, convertibles occupy a unique niche. They are not cars as much as indulgences, an emotional purchase that has nothing to do with practicality or taking the family for a Sunday afternoon outing. At the end of the day, convertibles are all about exclusivity and making a personal statement. An expensive personal statement.
“Audi currently offers the Audi A5 Cabriolet and the Audi A3 Cabriolet in the product portfolio — these models are high in performance and lifestyle quotient,” says Rahil Ansari, Head, Audi India. “For a category like Cabriolet, the mindset of a customer is to enjoy life and freedom to the fullest. We focus on the experiential element when a potential customer test drives the car and realises what a fantastic appeal the top-down has.
At the start of the luxury convertible brigade are Mini Convertible and Audi A3 Cabriolet. These cars are popular with people who want the wind-in-the-hair feeling while driving a convertible and yet stay in budget. As we move up the chain, we find the Audi A5 Convertible and the C300 Cabriolet from Mercedes; higher up is S Class Cabriolet from Mercedes-Benz, priced at Rs 2.72 crore. With the S Class Cabriolet, one can get all the top-of-the-line extravagance and comfort of an S Class with the added luxury of a rag-top design.
“While many may argue that India is not the best fit for cabriolets and convertibles in terms of weather, our patrons believe in owning the best of products that truly enhance their status quotient in society and give them a comprehensive luxury ownership experience,” says Roland Folger, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India. “Younger buyers fancy convertibles for the love and thrill of owning one of their dream drop-top vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz offers a wide range of convertibles that suit many requirements, like the C-Class, E-Class, S-Class and Mercedes-AMG GT roadster in cabriolets and Mercedes-AMG SLC 43 as a hard top convertible.
“Indian buyers are incessantly evolving, and we believe there is strong potential for the AMG and dream cars in the country and we will continue to offer some never seen products for our patrons and brand enthusiasts,” adds Folger And there is more. Italian automobile manufacturer Maserati, known for racing, sports, and grand touring cars, offers its GranCabrio in India at a price tag close to Rs 3 crore. Powered by a 4.7 litre race car V8 engine, it offers class, style and strength — all the things that you associate with the Maserati is packed in the GranCabrio.
“Convertibles have always been a style statement across the world; in addition to that, they provide a more palpable driving experience. Hence, the concept of convertibles is gaining popularity and is a rewarding choice,” says Bojan Jankulovski, Head of Operations, Maserati India. He further says that convertibles don’t make for a very popular car type in India. “Owing to the fact that the weather conditions aren’t particularly favourable for ‘topless’ driving and furthermore, dusty conditions mean that even if you have a convertible, the roof will probably not be down often. However, the idea of driving in style and brushing the wind in the hair while cruising down the highway is quite tempting, not to mention the exclusivity of owning something rarely seen on our roads in India.”
Cars from classic coach makers such as Rolls Royce and Bentleys that are preferred for their opulence by Indian industrialists and celebrities from the film industry also offer drop-top convertible models in India. The Drop Head Coupe from Rolls Royce is priced close to Rs 10 crore and at this price it is an ultra-rare beast. It features rear-opening doors, an interior that is more crafted than built, and an exterior design inspired by 1930s yachts; you can even specify it with optional teak decking. The Bentley Continental GT Convertible variants are priced upwards of Rs 5 crore. If you plan to customise your Rolls Royce Drop Head or Bentley GT Convertible, the price increases exponentially but it delivers luxury on a new level; a rarity on a different scale while taking bespoke coach build personalisation to new heights.
These handcrafted cars with endless customisation options from the factory not only offer exclusivity even in rich-boys club, they are the epitome of ultra luxury open-top driving pleasure.
