Last Saab Convertibles for sale in the UK

Final Saab 9-3 Convertible

The demise of Saab has been a sad story that has run out over the last couple of years. A combination of a lack of investment and dropping sales meant that the once highly popular Saab 9-3 Convertible was stretched out over a prolonged life-cycle. The 9-3 still has many fans though and many were sad to find the car out of production.

If UK buyers move fast though, there are 26 final right-hand drive cars made available for sale from Saab Parts UK through Saab’s national network of 87 Authorised Repairers. These cars potentially have a historical value as the last cars of this long standing brand.

Each car has been hand finished by Saab dealership, ANA, in Trollhättan, Sweden with the final high specification interior and exterior features.

The cars are in a range of colours and three levels of specification are available; SE, Aero and Independence Edition. The all-turbo powertrain line-up comes with a 160hp and 180hp, 1.9-litre twin turbo diesel engine and two new 2.0-litre petrol engines providing power outputs of 163hp and 220hp respectively.

Final Saab 9-3 Convertible

All the MY12 Convertibles offered for sale come with a high level of standard equipment including alloy wheels, leather trimmed interior, heated front seats, park assist and Bluetooth phone integration along with a host of safety systems including electronic stability programme, six airbags and Saab Active Head Restraints.

On the Road prices for these last remaining four seat Convertibles start from £22,750. Interested prospects are encouraged to contact their local Saab Authorised Repairer in order to secure more details and to register their interest early.

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Acura NSX Convertible premiers in The Avengers

Acura NSX Convertible

This summer’s blockbuster adaptation of Marvel’s comic book The Avengers is sure to be a big hit not only with kids but also car fans with one of its biggest stars being a unique Acura Convertible sports car.

Acura is well established in the North American market as the premium brand of Honda and currently produce a slightly confusing line of similar looking large cars. They have however shown interest in bringing back a supercar based along the lines of the Honda NSX. The NSX Coupe concept was shown in Detroit earlier this year and having got the approval of many fans it is said to be heading for production in around 2015. Until then though we get to look at the convertible supercar version at the hands of Marvel’s Tony Stark. The convertible NSX appears similar to the Coupe in many regards and has raised hopes that the brand may also put this car into production. The car shown in the publicity pictures however lacks headlamps suggesting that it is more ov a concept than a realistic production proposal.

Following on from the 2011 film Thor, Acura is building an established role as the official vehicle of S.H.I.E.L.D., the international peacekeeping agency of the Marvel Universe. Throughout The Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents will drive various Acura vehicles although only the Acura NSX Convertible was created specifically for the film.

Like the original car, the NSX Concept features four wheel drive but this time the high performance comes from a hybrid power source. Since the Honda S2000 ended production this is the first hope of a new Honda Convertible.

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Volkswagen E-Bugster unveiled in Beijing

Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept

This week’s Beijing auto show has brought out a few surprises with manufacturers saving some of their more unusual concepts for the open-minded Asian market. The VW E-Bubster is one such concept that we are particularly fond of. This electric convertible takes the cute VW Beetle and turns it into a cut-down sports car.

We can see a lot of influence from sister brand Porche in the design. Sat next to a Porsche Boxster Spyder it must look like its chunky, cheaky-faced brother. It remains likeable though in a very ‘Herbie’, characterful way. There are no pretensions of trying to be a high-perfomance car here.

Volkswagen E-Bugster

Compared to the VW Beetle Coupe the windscreen is cut down by 90mm and the long speedster rear end hides the batteries which take the place of rear seats. The styling gives us a clue to what the upcoming VW Beetle Cabriolet will look like and it also gives us an idea of future Volkswagen power systems.

An 85 kWh electric motor gives a range of 110 miles and provides acceleration enough to take the E-Bugster from 0-60 mph in 10.9 seconds. While charging from a domestic AC outlet can be done overnight it can also be charged in 35 minutes from a specialist DC source.

The E-Bugster also incorporates a Formula 1 style Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) to pass charge to the battery whenever the driver’s foot leaves the accelerator pedal.

Electric power may not have passed into the mainstream market quite yet but it is good to see development continue. Meanwhile a new fossil-fueled replacement for the old VW Convertible will be on its way soon.

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BMW i8 Spyder unvieled at Auto China 2012

BMW i8 Spyder Concept

BMW have been working hard on their electric eDrive cars over the last couple of years. Their lithium-ion powered intelligent motor management systems are impressive and look to debue soon on their road cars starting with the 1-Series ActiveE. The BMW i8 Spyder however is very much a concept but one that reflects the future of the brand and gives design clues to the next generation of BMW convertibles.

On show for the first time in Beijing the i8 Spyder is a stunning design exercise. The mid-mounted eDrive motor like all electric power-trains promises high levels of torque from a standing start and a silky smooth acceleration giving a very responsive feel. The cars range and economy should also be outstanding.

BMW i8 Spyder

Convertible cars remain an unusual site in China. Despite the countries incredible rate of development and the massive growth in car sales, the combination of road style, high temperatures and city air pollution have meant that so far convertibles mostly remain limited to enthusiasts.

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One-off Rolls-Royce Hyperion Convertible for sale

Rolls-Royce Hyperion

Back in 2008 we reported on the Pininfarina designed Rolls-Royce Hyperion that was such a hit at that year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The car was built to order for Roland Hall, an avid Rolls-Royce collector by the Italian coachbuilder’s Special Projects division. Hall soon grew tired of the car or at least moved on to other projects as the Hyperion was sold for a rumoured $6 million sum and it is now offered for sale once more.

Underneath the flowing carbon-fibre bodywork are the underpinnings of a Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe however unlike that car, the Hyperion is stricktly a two-seater. The Rolls-Royce V12 remains intact and the dashboard is unchanged although moved back in the body to make way for the lengthy bonnet.

The custom made Rolls-Royce is this time for sale in Abu Dhabi for an undisclosed price.

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Daihatsu Copen production ending

Daihatsu Copen Roadster

The Daihatsu Copen is to finally end its production run with a 10th Anniversary Edition. The long lived roadster has an enthusiastic following thanks to it’s cheeky personality and fun but frugal handling. The final edition of this convertible car is limited to just 500.

The Copen started life as a Kei car, a specific category of Japanese micro car which enjoys tax and insurance breaks thanks to the car and engine’s small size. The Daihatsu Copen Roadster was among the most popular of these cars to break into the European market. Early cars came with a tiny 659 cc turbocharged engine which complied with Japanese regulations however later exports had a 1.3 litre 16 valve engine which gave a smoother power delivery. The Copen could not be described as a fast sports car but it is still great fun to drive. The small proportions give it a go-kart-like feel and an illusion of travelling at higher speeds.

Macho it’s not and although tiny in size it will seat two adults and carry a small amount of luggage. The interior is comfortably equipped with a power-folding hardtop and a neat layout.

There have long been rumours of a replacement and while back in 2007 Daihatsu displayed the OFC-1 concept at the Tokyo Motor Show this does not seem to have been followed up with a production model. As the last Kei convertible perhaps this type of sporty little car is seen as too niche a market in current times. We hope not.

Daihatsu Copen Roadster

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