Mercedes Now - While so many other cars have moved towards folding-metal hardtops, the ‘E’ uses a traditional three-layer fabric top that powers down quickly with one button. That also means a reasonable 11.5 cu.-ft. trunk that loses less space when the roof is stowed than its rivals.
Perhaps the most aesthetically questionable new feature is Benz’ AIRCAP system, which is essentially an electronically activated spoiler that pops up off the windshield header to divert airflow over the cabin. It does work more deftly than the bulky screens and blockers that usually cover the rear seats in competitors’ models, but when deployed, looks a little foolish, especially in a brighter color.
At the launch of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-class convertible, the German carmaker brought along some classics from its past. We were thus reminded that golden oldies such as the 1971 280SE 3.5 were great four-place convertibles that could be hustled at reasonable speeds but couldn’t be considered sports cars.
The E-class cabriolet doesn’t feature a folding hardtop, using instead a traditional cloth roof that’s nearly an inch thick. The top is sealed well and seemed to be nearly as quiet at highway speeds as a metal roof. It takes about 20 seconds to furl and unfurl, with another five seconds added for all four windows to chug up or down. One benefit of the cloth top is that it allows for decent trunk space: 11 cubic feet with the top down and 14 with it up. That’s a great deal more commodious than the trunks of folding-hardtop convertibles when their tops are lowered.
Scorching acceleration meets sunny accommodations for four in the new E550 Cabriolet. Brimming with technological advances and innovative luxuries, it's also the most affordable V-8 4-seat convertible on the market. From its AMG-design lower bodywork to its paddle-shifted 7-speed transmission, every element of the E550 Cabriolet exudes power and control.
- 382-horsepower 5.5-liter V-8 engine
- 18-inch wheels and Dynamic Handling suspension
- Power all-season soft top
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