Rag Top, Topless, Drop Top, Convertible, Sun Fun, Hardtop, Soft-top and more. Okay folks, we are not talking about women outfits here, we are talking about the top 10 convertibles for this summer.

The automotive industry has come back with a vengeance developing and marking some of the best convertible cars yet. When a new panoramic sunroof just does not do it for you need to go completely topless then you may want to take a look at one of the top 10 Topless Cars for this summer.

#10

Mini Cooper
Price: $21,950

The Mini Cooper has made its mark as a favorite “little” car and recently a favorite due to the high gas prices. This soft top convertible has the same attractive cues as does the regular coupe. Also available is a version with a retractable soft-top that glides back for a panoramic vista roof view.

#9 and #8

Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky
Price: $22,165 and $25,525

You can consider both the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky the little sisters or brothers of the Chevy Corvette, a convertible version of course. The new power plants may consider these little roadsters “pocket rockets” with a new 260hp turbocharged 2.0 liter. With that version it may set you back about 30 grand. Saturn Sky Test Drive.

#7

Ford Mustang
Price: $24,475

We have seen it, loved it, and now we still enjoy the infamous Ford Mustang with a soft drop top. When we say fun in the sun, this is it. Still one of the most affordable sports coupes you can buy on the market. As always, you can let your hair blow in the wind and still have some cash in your pocket for some expensive gas.

#6

Chrysler Sebring
Price: $26,160

This has got to be one of the most driven convertibles by tourists, business execs and those who want an inexpensive alternative to drive around in the sun. Rental car companies are not shy about offering a convertible and the Chrysler Sebring is usually THE choice. Recently added to the line-up is a hardtop convertible so you do not have to worry about a Mickey Mouse stalker cutting open your top to steal your iPod. Chrysler Sebring Convertible Test Drive.

#5

Honda S2000
Price: $34,300

The Honda S2000 is pretty much self explanatory by now. If you do not know about the Honda S2000 then you have been out-of touch from the automotive industry for a LONG TIME. This one is MONEY, quality in a pocket rocket with solid performance out of a 4-banger. If you live revving beyond the limit while enjoying the outside environment then this is the car for you.

#4

Chevrolet Corvette
Price: $54,575

Do you want some power pushing you around while the wind wisps past your face? No we don’t mean getting punched in the face, we mean the Chevrolet Corvette Convertible. Probably the fastest convertible you can buy for the money. 0-60 in 4.0 seconds, 430hp, over 25mpg, rear wheel drive all with a drop top… can’t beat that! Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Test Drive.

#3

Porsche Boxter S
Price: $55,700

The Porsche Boxter has grown up in the recent years and blossomed into a major alternative to those seeking a German engineered toy in a semi-practical package. With 295hp you would expect this convertible to drink gas faster than it makes heads turn when you drive past a group of on-lookers. Just like the Corvette, this drop top gets 26mpg and it is truly all Porsche for a lot less than it’s bigger brother, the 911.

#2

Jaguar XKR
Price: $92,035

We tested sex on wheels some time ago and found it to be just that, sex on wheels that can stay topless all day long and keep the heads turning. This cat purrs through it’s 300hp engine pushing near 4000lbs. around on the long cat legs that provide a subtle and smooth ride. Don’t let the soft fur of this cat fool you, it can play around with the best of the big dogs all while not being shameful of going topless.

#1

Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG
Price: $132,000

This one is a no-brainer if you want to choose a “nice” convertible to introduce the homecoming king and queen to a stadium full of alumni, just don’t press the gas pedal to hard. If do you do get this baby out on an open road with seatbelts securely in place, it wont disappoint at all. It touts 604hp through a turbocharged V12 engine matted to a 7-speed multi-clutch automatic tranny. If that is not enough to keep you satisfied then the hard top will allow you and your single passenger to both go topless and still make it in time for kickoff at the big game.

[idea of article from: msnautos.com]

The all-new 2009 XF is a four-door Jaguar that fuses the style and performance of a coupe-bodied sports car, with the refinement, space and sophistication of a luxury sedan. The exterior styling is the first expression of Jaguar’s new sedan design language.

Resolutely true to the Jaguar philosophy of creating beautiful, fast cars, the XF goes further, adding a new dimension to the marquee. The four-door has the visual excitement of a coupe, but room inside for five adults to enjoy an interior that is contemporary in style, comfortable, yet uniquely Jaguar.

The XF enters in the niche long occupied by Jaguar’s S-Type. But unlike many midsize premium sedans, the new car pushes boundaries away from the ‘three box’ style and creates a four-door, five seat luxury sedan with strong coupe-like lines.

Jaguar’s new design language debuted with the XK sports car and is carried over to the new XF, even utilizing the same windshield rake angles of the XK.

The car’s visual emphasis is sporty, muscular and dynamic-a character defined by a sweeping silhouette inspired by the XK, a powerful grille, dramatic side window graphics, and strong shoulders. The rising waistline gives the car a much higher tail providing twin benefits of much improved aerodynamic performance and a larger trunk volume.

The car’s Jaguar character is defined by its face-centered around a bold intake grille that is quintessentially British. The one-piece HID clusters wrap around the corners of the body onto the front wings. The front lower bumper includes powerful air intakes, carrying chrome ‘splitter’ blades whose simple modern lines evoke the technical, strongly engineered shape of a propeller blade.

The stance of the car is completely new for a Jaguar sedan and gives the car a ‘ready to pounce’ look.

The car’s wide rear track not only enhances the handling and dynamic values of the car but also reinforces the visual confidence of the new shape. The bright signature blade, which proudly carrries the ‘JAGUAR’script, extends beyond the trunk and into the taillamps. The LED taillamps wrap around onto the rear wings, leading your eye out to the broad, muscular rear wheel arches. The wheels lie at the corners with fenders sculpted to make them look like powerful, bulging muscles. The XF is fitted with 18, 19, or the segments first 20in. alloy wheels that have been engineered for the best combination of comfort and performance.

The exterior details have been designed as if they are finely crafted items of jewelry. The distinctive bright aluminum finisher around the side window is unusual in being a single-piece pressing and is an unmatched piece of craftsmanship. The side extractor vents have the Jaguar name embossed on an ‘ingot’ bar across the center, while the ‘venturi’ shape below the tail-which hints at the car’s sophisticated aerodynamics-is positioned about large, stylized twin chrome tailpipes.

The car is unmistakably a Jaguar and its badging identifies it as such: a large ‘growler’ badge is prominent on the front mesh grille, while adding the Jaguar ‘leaper’ to the rear boot lid is another powerful signature.

Relax inside and you are in a very special place indeed. There is space-more than many will imagine given the XF’s sports sedan design-but also the sense of being in a perfectly-proportioned, agile car. There is comfort, but it is the craftsmanship, materials and attention to detail that impressed me most.

New thinking on seating design-the front 14-way adjustable/cooled/heated leather seats are deliberately sculpted and reduced in size but not comfort-liberates space and makes access easier too.

Real wood-more than any Jaguar since the econic Mark II sedan in the 1960’s-underlines the luxurious interior. Even the car’s ‘Morzine’ headlining material is a step up from conventional materials with the entire cabin roof and A-pillars trimmed in this eye-catching finish.

Many features are invisible until needed-a different approach from carmakers that push technology as a dominant interior theme. The rotating vents revolve out of sight when they are not in use; the touch screen controls many features, allowing mechanical buttons to be reduced to a discreet panel below the navigation screen.

The center console has two large compartments with veneered lids. It has an interface for an iPod or other MP3 player, and can take a 44oz. cup and two regular sized cups.

One feature that maximizes space efficiency is an industry first ‘JaguarDrive Rotary Gear Selector’. Get into the car and the start button in front of the Selector pulses red, like a heartbeat. Press the button to start and the cast alloy Selector raises into the palm of your hand. Simultaneously, the navigation system initializes to its home page and the rotating vents turn 180-degrees from their flush, ‘parked’ position to their functional open position.

Phosphor blue mood or ‘halo’ illumination echoes the ambience you might find in a favorite bar or restaurant. It surrounds the switch panels, console, electronic parking brake, Rotary Gear Selector, overhead console, under the door releases, and instrument cluster. The luxury theme continues with chrome highlights on the column stalks.

The XF offers two levels of audio systems-a 320-watt Alpine system with 9-speakers and a subwoofer; and the extraordinary Bowers & Wilkins 440-watt surround sound system with 14-speakers with remote subwoofer.

Standard interior features not mentioned above includes power up/down express all-windows, central locking system, Jaguar Voice Commands, thick carpeting, floor mats,
grab handles above each door and variable-speed wipers.

The car moves with authority through its standard 300hp, 4.2 liter all-aluminum, DOHC, V8, or even quicker, with a supercharged 4.2 liter V8 making 420hp. Both are mated to a smooth shifting 6-speed sequential transmission with paddle shifters on the 3-spoke, leather, and power tilt/telescoping, steering wheel. The four-wheel independent suspension is a perfect blend of precise performance and a comfortable ride no matter the road surface. Up front are unequal length wishbones with weight-saving aluminum components, and the multi-link rear are both subframe mounted for maximum control, including straight-line stability and strong anti-dive characteristics under heavy braking.

The supercharged XF uses electronically controlled, two-stage, adaptive dampers whose characteristics are automatically adjusted within milliseconds in response to road conditions and your driving inputs, for the best balance between comfort and control.

The variable ratio power-assisted steering system gives you instant response to your inputs with great precision and feel for the road and excellent on-center feel.

Quickly and safely slowing the XF down from speed are large, 12.83in. vented front and 12.83in. vented discs, while the supercharged model gets larger 13.97in. vented front discs.

Keeping you in control during your drive are standard ABS, Brake Assist, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Traction Control, Dynamic Stability Control, Cornering Brake Control and Engine Drag Torque Control. For the first time, the XF adds Understeer Control Logic which mitigates understeer by intervening through the engine management and braking systems to decelerate the car and help restore grip to the front wheels. During spirited driving adventures you can turn the DSC control off to achieve more slip exiting tight turns.

Options available include rear camera parking assist, adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring system.

The all-new 2009 Jaguar XF is a ‘tour-de-force’ in the premium, mid-size sedan segment utilizing all-new sheet metal, a brilliantly designed and contemporary interior with the latest in safety systems to keep you safe on your way.

COPYRIGHT:2008:HARVEY SCHWARTZ

SPECIFICATIONS

Name of vehicle:
Jaguar XF Premium Luxury

Price: $56,175.00

Engine:
4.2 liter, all-aluminum, DOHC V8

Horsepower:
300 at 6,000rpm

Torque:
310 at 4,100rpm

0-60 mph: 5.1 seconds

Fuel Tank Capacity: 18.4 gallons

EPA Mileage Estimates: (City/Highway) 17mpg/23mpg

Drive configuration:
Front engine/rear-wheel-drive

Transmission:
6-speed automatic with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters

Front suspension:
Unequal length double-wishbones, coil springs, gas-charged shock absorbers, 31mm stabilizer bar

Rear suspension:
Independent, multi-links with gas-charged shocks absorbers, coil springs, 12.6mm stabilizer bar

Wheels/tires:
19X8.5in. aluminum alloy wheels/245/40R19in. summer high-performance tires

Brakes:
Front: 12.83in. vented discs
Rear: 12.83in. vented discs
ABS, Brake Assist, Electronic Brake Force Distribution

Overall length: 195.3in.

Overall width: 80.8in.

Overall height: 57.5in.

Curb weight: 4,017lbs.

Remember the car company that is coming out with a $2500 car? Yes, the nano car from the company Tata. Well, Tata Motors will announce their purchase of Jaguar Land Rover March 5th or March 6th. This news comes about as car companies feel the crunch of the slowing economy and Ford setting their dates for the sale. Jaguar and Land Rover being owned and operated by Ford with several counterparts from other manufactures remains to be sold off to Tata Motors.

Quote from autonews.com:

Tata Motors will announce its purchase of Jaguar Land Rover on March 5 or 6.
The dates have been agreed between Tata and Ford, which is selling the two luxury brands, following talks with trade union leaders last week.
Roger Maddison, national officer of Unite, the largest union in the UK auto industry, told Automotive News Europe Tata had agreed to meet guarantees sought by workers’ leaders.
He said, ” Everything seems fine as far as we are concerned; it’s just the lawyers working on it now.”
Union leaders spoke with Ford and Tata to resolve final details before the drawing up of a memorandum of understanding for the sale.
In earlier talks with the two companies, unions had been seeking assurances that Tata would continue to source engines, stampings and other systems from Ford’s plants in Bridgend in Wales and Dagenham, near London.
All Jaguar and Land Rover engines come from Ford plants, as do many of Land Rover’s stampings.