Autoblog

Opinion seems to be split concerning the design of the Chrysler Sebring Covnertible, images of which we posted a couple nights ago. Those of you who have commented on the Sebring's chopped top either love it or hate it. That's an actual improvement over its four-door sedan counterpart, which so far has been almost universally panned on the web for its design.

Convertibles are generally more stylish than sedans, and the Sebring Convertible is no different. We'll admit our icy reaction to the sedan has thawed a bit thanks to the better looking drop top. Chrysler has posted this video on YouTube that allows us to see the three-piece hard top opening and closing, the actual depth of the trunk, and a walkaround of the car and it's interior that better shows off the vehicle's proportions.

[Source: YouTube via DaimlerChrysler}

Mazda officially unveiled the MX-5 Roadster Coupe this morning at the British International Motor Show, and it has the makings of a big winner. In the Northeastern and Midwestern United States, where rough winters are enough to scare off some convertible shoppers, this car is going to find many friends. If you're willing to accept the weight penalty for the retractable hardtop -- the Roadster Coupe weighs 81.5 pounds more than the standard MX-5 Roadster -- you'll be hard-pressed to find a four-season roadster this good.

The folding hardtop looks simply fantastic when closed, and it retracts in just 12 seconds. Like the soft-top MX-5, the driver has to manually unlock the center-mounted latch on the windshield and then press a button to let the motors work the rest of the magic. At first glance, it looks pretty much like any other MX-5 on the road with the top down (there are subtle differences). The roof itself is ingenious, folding into 3 sections that stow behind the seats, leaving trunk space unaffected. Considering the MX-5's size and its limited trunk space to begin with, this is a packaging triumph, and it gives dealers a great selling point to work with beyond the obvious benefits of the hardtop itself.

(More info and photos after the jump - Now updated with Mazda's comprehensive press release)

{Source: Mazda]