Convertible cars, for those that don’t know, are cars that have some form of detachable or retractable roof. This allows drivers to expose the top part of their car to the open air for a more “casual” feeling drive. The two standard types of convertible roofs are soft top and hard top. Soft top roofs are usually made from a soft material like vinyl or fabric and are much more flexible when it comes to retracting them. The only downside to having a soft top is that it may not “flow” with the design of the car and over time, the sun will deteriorate the color and material, making the soft top look silly. Hard tops are often more desirable because they blend in better with the look of the car. However, retracting a solid roof is much more difficult. Through means of hydraulic lifts or electronic pulleys, a hard top isn’t so much retracted as it is folded. The roof is designed in such a way that it can be folded back, like a map or pamphlet, and stored and hidden in the rear of the car. This extra storage room usually adds extra length and width to a car, sometimes making the car look disproportionate.
In exchange for a nicer view and better driving experience, drivers of convertibles often sacrifice many other things. The first being safety. Because the car doesn’t have an attached roof, if an accident were to ever occur, the impact energy would have be distributed elsewhere and not through the standard roof (the roof often acts like a shock absorber or roll cage). This prompts convertible manufacturers to install other safety features to absorb the impact. The other downside to convertibles is reduced rear visibility. Because the roof has to be installed in such a way that it can be folded later on, the rear window is often truncated so the roof can have more of a slant to it.
One such automaker that has utilized convertibles in their car designs is Audi. Audi made a revolutionary jump in the convertible industry with their TT. The TT featured a rigid plastic top that could be retracted. The problem with other plastic tops is that they would jam when being retracted or strapped back on. Adding a rigidity to the plastic made things easier to maneuver. Another move made by Audi on the TT was a revolutionary wind blocker. When traveling at high speeds with the top down, there’s a huge gust of wind that overwhelms passengers. To counteract this and to prevent people’s faces from being blown left and right, Audi introduced special wind flaps to push the air in the opposite direction, away from passengers’ faces.
Many models in Audi’s lineup have convertible options. Cars in the A series, like the A3, A4, and A5 all feature convertible options. Also, Audi’s R8 super-car has a retractable top option. But unless you have money to spend, it may only be a dream that you would get to drive to the beach in something as nice as that.
Further Readings:
- Audi A4 5dr avant 1.8 T FSI 160 SE Technical Specifications
- Audi A4 5dr avant 1.8 T FSI 160 S Line Technical Specifications
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