With these 10 convertibles you will cruise cool through the summer

Cruising through Switzerland in an open-top convertible is the most original form of driving. After all, the first automobiles rolled along over 120 years ago without a roof and side windows. Here are ten fresh-air gliders with a good weather guarantee.

Ferrari SF90 Spider

The SF90 Spider is the first open-top Ferrari with plug-in hybrid drive. At the heart of the project is, of course, a V8 turbocharged petrol engine. Its 780 hp drive the rear wheels and is supported by three electric motors with a total output of 161 kW (220 hp). Two electric motors drive the front axle and take over pure electric operation as well as reverse gear. This makes the transmission three kilos lighter. The third electric motor is flat and round and positioned between the V8 combustion engine and the transmission. This made it possible to create a short wheelbase, which helps the super sports car with a total of 1,000 system hp to achieve insane cornering speeds. It takes only 2.5 seconds for the SF90 Spider to reach 100 km/h, after 6.7 seconds you already have 200 km/h on the speedometer - and the top speed is 340 km/h.

The Ferrari SF90 Spider basically has a plug-in hybrid drive, but not one for saving, but one for sprinting. The electric motors elegantly bridge the torque gaps of the gasoline engine. Of course, the SF90, whose metal folding roof opens in 14 seconds, also drives purely electrically. But for the 25 kilometers of purely electric range promised by Ferrari, you are hardly allowed to drive much faster than walking pace. The SF90 Spider is therefore the ideal vehicle for those who want the highest technical level, but do not want to miss out on the versatility and thrill of open-top driving.

• Price: from CHF 535'481.-
• Drive: Petrol + 3 electric motors 574 kW/780 hp + 161 kW/220 hp
• Boot capacity: 74 litres
• Consumption: 6.9 l/100 km
• CO₂ emissions: 156 g/km
• Efficiency class: F
• Total emissions (at 200,000 km): approx. 60.7 t CO₂
• Cost/year (for 15,000 km): approx. CHF 70,836

BMW 430i xDrive Convertible

If you're looking for a four-seater convertible, you'll quickly come across the BMW 4 Series. This was completely relaunched in 2021, is based on the current BMW 4 Series Coupé and enriches the ever-thinning range of convertibles in our country with an active driving model.

Compared to the previous generation with a retractable steel roof, the current 4-series convertible grew by 13 centimeters to 4.77 meters in length and was also three centimeters wider. This makes the whole car look more stretched and elegant. Not least thanks to the return to the much more aesthetically pleasing fabric top. But the fabric roof not only looks prettier, it is also 40 percent lighter than the earlier hardtop and, when folded flat behind the rear seats in 18 seconds, requires less space than the more elaborate steel construction. The trunk, which has grown to 385 liters, benefits from this.

With the latest model update, the curved display already known from other model series with a 12.3-inch display behind the steering wheel and another 14.9-inch monitor in the dashboard is now available as standard. All available engines are combined as standard with an eight-speed Steptronic transmission, which can now also be operated via shift paddles on the steering wheel.

• Price: from CHF 67'590.-
• Drive: Petrol 180 kW/245 hp
• Boot capacity: 385 litres
• Consumption: 7.3 to 8.0 l/100 km
• CO₂ emissions: 166 to 182 g/km
• Efficiency class: E
• Total emissions (at 200,000 km): approx. 59.4 t CO₂
• Cost/year (for 15,000 km): approx. CHF 13,979

Ford Mustang V8 Convertible

Since the beginning of this year, the latest generation of the popular US muscle car Ford Mustang has been available to order in Switzerland – as a fastback or open-top convertible. What should particularly please die-hard petrolheads is that Ford remains true to the booming V8 under the mighty hood: In the seventh edition of the pony car, the five-liter naturally aspirated engine produces 328 kW/446 hp and 540 Newton meters of torque and heaves the almost two-ton convertible to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. The new Mustang is no longer a bargain, but the price from 70,800 francs is still more than fair.

While US competitor Dodge is switching to electric drives for the new edition of the Charger and is the only combustion engine to offer only a twin-turbo inline six-cylinder, Ford could even consolidate its position as a muscle car manufacturer with the new V8 Mustang - despite the global electric strategy. Ford has also been using the Mustang name as a driver in the electromobility business for years. However, the electric crossover Mustang Mach-E is only moderately popular with real pony car fans, as it has few similarities to the original apart from the name - and is not offered as an open convertible.

• Price: from CHF 70,800
• Drive: Petrol 328 kW/446 hp
• Boot capacity: 332 litres
• Consumption: 12.3 l/100 km
• CO₂ emissions: 280 g/km
• Efficiency class: G
• Total emissions (at 200,000 km): approx. 90.0 t CO₂
• Costs/year (for 15,000 km): approx. CHF 16,697

Fiat 500e Cabriolet

No other convertible electrifies so much: If you want to be on the road with an open-top electric drive, you can hardly avoid Fiat's iconic Cinquecento. Because there are simply still hardly any other open and affordable electric cars as an alternative. In addition, the Italian convertible also does its job great.

In the underbody is a drive battery with a capacity of 42 kilowatt hours - that should be enough for an average of 320 kilometers. If you just whizz through the city, it could even be up to 450 kilometers, because the 500e then recovers a lot of energy via recuperation. Without tailpipes and emissions, open-top driving is even more fun – even if the opening in the roof is limited to the electrically retractable fabric headliner. On the other hand, no wind storm can ruffle the freshly blow-dried hairstyle.

• Price from CHF 39'000.-
• Drive: Electric, 87 kW/118 hp
• Trunk: 185 – 460 l
• Consumption: 13.9 kWh/100 km (equivalent to 1.5 l/100 km petrol)
• CO2 emissions: 0 g/km
• Efficiency class A
• Total emissions (at 200,000 km): approx. 21.9 t CO2
• Cost/year (for 15,000 km): approx. CHF 8,646

MG Cyberster

The electric drive seems to be dealing the death blow to the convertible segment. Many convertibles with combustion engines have now been cancelled without replacement. And open electric cars are hardly in sight. The only exception is the Cyberster from the Chinese brand MG. On the market in Europe since spring, the two-seater roadster with the casual scissor doors will also come to Switzerland in the fall. Prices have not yet been determined, but in Germany, for example, the rear-wheel drive is offered from 56,000 euros and the top version from 70,000 euros.

There is then a choice of a rear-wheel drive with 250 kW/340 hp and an all-wheel-drive vehicle weighing just under two tons with 375 kW/510 hp and 700 Nm of maximum torque. The latter sprints to 100 km/h in a breathtaking 3.2 seconds and its forward thrust is only locked off at 200 km/h. MG specifies the range for the Cyberster with a 74 kWh battery at around 440 kilometres. Prices for Switzerland have not yet been definitively calculated, but in Germany the rear-wheel drive is available from around 56,000 euros and the top version from 70,000 euros.

• Preis: ab ca. CHF 60’000.-
• Antrieb: Elektro 250 kW/340 PS
• Kofferraumvolumen: k.A.
• Verbrauch: 17,9 kW/h/100 km (entspricht ca. 5,7 l/100 km Benzin)
• CO₂-Ausstoss: 0 g/km
• Effizienzklasse: A
• Gesamtemissionen (bei 200’000 km): k.A.
• Kosten/Jahr (bei 15’000 km): k.A.

Porsche 911 Carrera Cabrio

Der Porsche 911 ist ein Phänomen. Kaum ein anderes Auto wird über einen so langen Zeitraum – genau 60 Jahre – mit dem gleichen technischen Konzept unter der gleichen Typenbezeichnung gebaut und verkauft. Jede neue Modellgeneration ist der DNA des Originals treu geblieben. Typisch sind die geschwungenen Kotflügel vorn, ein keilförmiges Fliessheck, der Zündschlüssel links vom Lenkrad und dahinter ein zentraler Drehzahlmesser. Und als Antrieb dient stets ein röchelnder Sechszylinder-Boxer-Motor, der meist das Heck kraftvoll anschiebt.

But soon a new era will also be heralded for the 911. With the facelift, Porsche's brand icon also gets a hybrid module for the GTS variant. And soon, other variants are likely to be electrified as well. A true Porsche fan has to cope with that first. And that's probably why many are now quickly stocking up on a classic 911 Carrera convertible. At least this is the conclusion that can be drawn from the extremely positive sales figures in Switzerland this year.

• Price: from CHF 162'700.-
• Drive: Petrol 290 kW/394 hp
• Boot capacity: 132 litres
• Consumption: 10.3 to 10.6 l/100 km
• CO₂ emissions: 235 to 242 g/km
• Efficiency class: G
• Total emissions (at 200,000 km): approx. 82.5 t CO₂
• Cost/year (for 15,000 km): approx. CHF 26,381

Mazda MX-5

Convertibles always have impressive price tags? Here's an exception: Mazda's MX-5 reanimated the ailing segment of compact, inexpensive fun roadsters in the early 1990s. But while the cars around it became bigger and heavier, the Japanese carmaker maintained the good-and-cheap concept of the speedy two-seater to this day.

Nowhere else can you drive as cheaply as in the basic version of the MX-5 with the top down. With 132 hp, this is surpassed by some small cars on paper. But rear-wheel drive, high revs and Mazda's lightweight construction more than make up for it. Every pass trip becomes a journey through time when you throw back the top beforehand – of course with a casual hand gesture backwards – and then experience the road and the surroundings more directly than in any other convertible. It's nice that such a two-seater still exists.

• Price from CHF 35'600.-
• Drive: petrol, 97 kW/132 hp
• Trunk: 130 l
• Consumption: 6.2 l/100 km
• CO2 emissions: 140 g/km
• Efficiency class D
• Total emissions (at 200,000 km): approx. 47.6 t CO2
• Cost/year (for 15,000 km): approx. CHF 9,537

Mercedes CLE 200 Cabriolet

If you're a convertible fan and attach more importance to a pretty look than to top performance, you'll have a hard time. Because the convertible segment is increasingly concentrating on high-horsepower bolides and models from well into the six-figure price range. But while other manufacturers are increasingly saying goodbye to the convertible business, Mercedes remains loyal to sun worshippers at least with the SL and the new CLE – many of whom probably miss the compact SLK roadster, which has been removed from the range.

Der elegante CLE ist eigentlich die Zusammenführung der zwei früheren Cabriovarianten der Mercedes C- und E-Klasse. Allerdings positioniert er sich eher Richtung grösserer E-Klasse, um so auch Kunden aus den höheren Segmenten abzugreifen. Optisch macht der Benz fürs Sommerwetter denn auch etwas her – mit angewinkelten Scheinwerfern, langer Fronthaube und kurzem Heck. Letzteres dürfte der Grund sein, warum sich Mercedes ein voluminöses Blechklappdach verkniffen hat: Das klassische Stoffdach faltet sich elektrisch innert 20 Sekunden ins Heck. Für budgetbewusste gibts den offenen Viersitzer als Einstiegsversion CLE 200 mit «nur» zwei Liter grossem Vierzylinder und 150 kW/204 PS ab verträglichen 74’200 Franken – ohne Optionen versteht sich.

• Preis: ab CHF 74’200.-
• Antrieb: Benzin 150 kW/204 PS
• Kofferraumvolumen: 295 bis 385 Liter
• Consumption: 7.6 l/100 km
• CO₂ emissions: 172 g/km
• Efficiency class: E
• Total emissions (at 200,000 km): approx. 61.1 t CO₂
• Cost/year (for 15,000 km): approx. CHF 14,624

Mini Cabrio S

The city centre is just as much your territory as the winding mountain road? Then you should risk more than just a look at Mini's open-top convertible S. Because with compact dimensions, it is at least as much fun in parking spaces as it is with the roof folded back electrically on a Sunday joyride. Typical Mini: the trunk with flap à la bread box, which still holds 215 liters.

It's hard to believe how the engineers were able to fit the necessary stiffeners into this tight body with a rear children's bench. Because even with the soft top open, the Cabrio S feels as nimble as the Mini version with a firmly welded roof when winding around corners. Inside there may be a little much plastic, but also funny retro design. The former central speedometer now houses an entire infotainment system including navigation. This city runabout cuts a fine figure everywhere. And if the basic variant is not enough, take the more powerful and expensive Cooper S version.

• Price: from CHF 44'500.-
• Drive: Petrol 100 kW/136 hp
• Boot capacity: 215 litres
• Fuel consumption: 6.0 l/100 km
• CO₂ emissions: 137 g/km
• Efficiency class: C
• Total emissions (at 200,000 km): approx. 52.7 t CO₂
• Costs/year (for 15,000 km): approx. CHF 10,758

VW T-Roc Cabriolet

An SUV with a convertible top? It sounded like a crazy idea, which Land Rover once tried to do with the open-top version of the Evoque. That may be long gone, but the concept still attracted the market leader Volkswagen. It cut off the roof of its successful T-Roc model without further ado, replaced the four with two doors – and the off-roader with fresh air supply was ready. A rolling high seat, so to speak, for the perfect overview of forest and field.

VW had to do without the all-wheel drive otherwise available in the T-Roc for technical reasons, but the four-seater with the large fabric top is still perfect for experiencing nature. Within just nine seconds, the roof folds into the short stub rear. Then nothing but the windshield separates you from light, air and mood. Propulsion is provided by fast turbocharged gasoline engines with up to 150 hp.

• Price from CHF 42'600.-
• Drive: petrol, 81 kW/110 hp
• Trunk: 280 l
• Consumption: 6.7 l/100 km
• CO2 emissions: 152 g/km
• Efficiency class D
• Total emissions (at 200,000 km): approx. 56.1 t CO2
• Cost/year (for 15,000 km): approx. CHF 10,312