For Mercedes-Benz, 2016 is quickly becoming the year of the convertible and the roadster. There’s no other manufacturer that offers so many and such young convertibles and roadsters as Mercedes-Benz Cars. The new C-Class Cabriolet – the latest in a long line of dream cars – has just had its world premiere in Geneva. Other signs of spring are the two updated SL and SLC Roadsters. The latest range of convertible dream cars extends from the smart fortwo cabrio and the C and E-Class Cabriolets to the S-Class Cabriolet.
Cabriolets by Mercedes-Benz Cars
Did you know that…
… the smart fortwo cabrio and the S-Class Cabriolet are 12 shoe sizes apart? The front tyres of the smart are in size 165/65 R 15, with a width of 16.5 cm. That corresponds to shoe size 27. The S-Class Cabriolet has somewhat larger feet: its standard tyre size is 245/50 R 18. 24.7 cm corresponds to shoe size 39.
… a smart fortwo can theoretically cover 116 kilometres with the fuel reserve in its tank, and the S-Class around 94 kilometres? 5 of the 28 litres in the tank of the smart fortwo 52 kW twinamic are a reserve, the combined NEDC fuel consumption is 4.3 litres/100 km. The data for the S 500: 80-litre tank, 8-litre reserve, NEDC consumption 8.5 l/100 km.
…Tanja was one of the first test drivers in both cars? Tanja is the nickname the convertible developers have given to a test dummy used to measure draughts in the wind tunnel. The young lady is fitted with a total of 16 speed sensors. These measure the flow rate of the airstream in the interior when the roof is open. The values obtained are weighted, as a draught around the neck area is much more annoying than e.g. at the crown of the head. Adding the weighted values together produces the so-called “feel-good factor”. This is a number describing how well the occupants of a convertible are protected from draughts.
…both engines (52 kW smart, S 500) have the same compression ratio of 10.5:1? But that is all they have in common. The S 500 has more than twice as many cylinders as the smart (8 vs. 3), and more than six times the output (455 hp vs. 71 hp).
…smart drivers are able to open their soft top at three times the speed allowed for S-Class drivers? Drivers of the largest Mercedes-Benz convertible are able to open the soft top at up to 50 km/h, fortwo drivers at up to a maximum speed of 151 km/h.
…both models are the latest variants in a successful model family? The S‑Class Cabriolet is the sixth variant in the current S-Class family launched in 2013, while the smart cabrio is the third variant of the new generation launched in November 2014.
… the engines of the Mercedes-AMG S 63 4MATIC Cabriolet and the smart fortwo cabrio 52 kW twinamic have similar mean piston speeds of 16.59 and 16.26 m/sec.? The stroke and engine speed at rated output is 90.5 mm and 5500 rpm/81.3 mm and 6000 rpm respectively.
…all convertibles produced by Mercedes-Benz Cars must absolve the same stringent tests? These include e.g. endurance testing with 20,000 opening/ closing cycles and a car wash test with 500 cycles.
… convertibles are built for use in the summer, but at Mercedes-Benz Cars they still have to absolve stringent winter tests? These include dependable opening and closing of the soft top in temperatures ranging from -15° to +80°C.
… the word “Cabriolet” comes from the French verb “cabrioler”? “Cabrioler” in French means to leap or caper about. In the early years of the automobile, however, open-top motoring as a guarantee for high spirits did not yet need a special body design. Because the period between 1886 and around 1920 was dominated by the open-top automobile anyway.And the term “Cabriolet” comes from the time of the horse-drawn coach: it was the name given to a light, open coach drawn by two horses. This 2-horsepower vehicle was mainly reserved for pleasurable excursions in fine weather.
… up until the 1950s, there were six different types of convertible body produced by Mercedes-Benz — not counting roadsters? The different body types:
- The Cabriolet A was a two-door, usually two-seater car. Its soft top extended right down to the doors.
- The Cabriolet B likewise had two doors, but also had four seats and side windows for the passengers in the rear.
- The Cabriolet C had the same arrangement of doors and seats as the Cabriolet B, though it lacked the rear side windows.
- The Cabriolet D was a four-door car with four or five seats and a heavier soft top.
- The rare Cabriolet E had six seats and the heavier soft top.
- The Cabriolet F was the same as the Cabriolet E, except for additional side windows behind the rear doors. Both had four doors.
… S-Class enthusiasts had to wait 15 times longer for a Cabriolet than smart fans? The new S-Class Cabriolet is the first open-top luxury four-seater from Mercedes-Benz since 1971. The first smart fortwo cabrio, on the other hand, was already introduced in spring 2000, i.e. around three years after the launch of the completely new mobility concept.
… the smart fortwo cabrio has its top down faster than the Mercedes S-Class Cabriolet? It takes around 12 seconds for the smart, the “tritop” fabric soft top of which is electrically opened and closed. The time for the (naturally larger) soft top of the S-Class Cabriolet is around 20 seconds. For full open-air enjoyment the smart driver can also remove the side roof frame struts.
Cabriolets by Mercedes-Benz Cars
Summer in the city: The new smart fortwo cabrio
In March 2016 the new smart fortwo cabrio entered the stage as a particularly iconic variant of the new model series. The open two-seater is three cars in one: At the touch of a button it is transformed from a closed two-seater into a car with a large sliding canvas sunroof, or a fully-fledged convertible with the soft top completely open. This enables the fresh air driving experience to be adapted to the weather or the driver’s mood. This flexibility made possible by the “tritop” folding sunroof and removable roof struts is a special feature not only in this segment. At the same time, the new smart fortwo cabrio is the only true convertible in its vehicle class. In its least expensive version it has the 52 kW engine and the twinamic dual clutch transmission. In addition to the three lines passion, prime and proxy, customers can choose from a large range of safety and comfort details – including smartphone integration via MirrorLink®.
Open-top luxury: The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet
The new S-Class Cabriolet is the sixth variant of the current S-Class family, and the first open-top luxury four-seater from Mercedes-Benz since 1971. It offers a distinctive, sensual and exclusive design, and the cutting-edge technology of the S-Class. Mercedes-Benz lays claim to building the world’s most comfortable convertible. When it comes to climate comfort, the enhanced automatic wind protection system AIRCAP, the AIRSCARF neck-level heating system, the heated armrests, the seat heating also in the rear plus the intelligent climate control ensure that this is indeed the case.
