Celebrity Life

There are few more convivial, charming or stylish ways of taking a drive than with the top down.

With that sentiment in mind, here are four of today's most desirable luxury convertibles.

Rolls-Royce Dawn

[gallery ids="212337,212349,212348"]

The nearest thing to driving an Aquariva speedboat on the public road, the Rolls-Royce Dawn is the personification of automotive elegance, 21st-century style. Vast in dimensions, sleek and gorgeously uncluttered in lines and extravagantly appointed within, it would scream ultimate indulgence if it weren’t for the fact that it’s all so incredibly tasteful.

Unless you’re one of the 50 customers who snap up the special-edition Silver Bullet (shown here), which is inspired by bespoke roadsters of the 1920s and replaces the two rear seats with a leather-clad titanium tonneau, there’s plenty of room for four passengers, who are wafted about in outrageous luxury, basking in the sun and breeze, not to mention the envious gaze of the less-fortunate masses. Power comes from a gently turbocharged 6.6-litre V12 engine, which generates more than 560bhp and a thumping 780Nm of torque from as low as 1,500rpm – meaning acceleration that, though rapid, is less terrifying than subtly relentless.

Although introduced just a few years ago, this current Dawn is probably nearing the end of its production cycle, as the Ghost on which it's based was recently replaced by a brand new model. But no matter, this regal ragtop is about as sweet and desirable as the best luxury convertibles can get – and if royalty doesn’t happen to be your thing, it’s also the Roller that makes every one of its privileged occupants feel like a rock star.

Bentley Continental GT Convertible

[gallery ids="212343,212341,212342"]

If Rolls-Royces are for kings or cads (two supposed opposites that, of course, sometimes turn out to be one and the same), Bentleys are for gentlemen – or, at least, that’s the saying. And if any motor car could be said to uphold the values of the English gent today – stylish, well-mannered and just a little bit raffish – then surely it’s the Bentley Continental. Reintroduced into the British car-maker’s line-up some 18 years ago, the Continental also played a big part in re-establishing the marque’s sporting credentials – and the current Conti, though large, rather heavy and extremely luxurious, is the most sporty of the lot.

Crucially, it’s built on a platform initially deployed on Porsche’s impeccably handling Panamera and, just like the Pana, one of its two engine options is a 4-litre twin-turbo V8 (though if 540-odd horses are insufficient there’s also a 626bhp, 6-litre W12), so it certainly walks the walk. There’s all-wheel drive and active suspension, so the thing grips like a sports car should and wafts like a limo too. And then there’s the stunning interior, all put together by hand and fashioned from the finest materials.

Order the Continental GT in softtop form and as well as being capable of annihilating autobahns it’s also the perfectly relaxed boulevardier, so once you’ve arrived at your destination after gobbling up much of Europe, you can dawdle to your dinner date in the highest style, all eyes on you. True, there isn’t quite as much room in the back for two passengers as in Rolls’ more spacious Dawn, but in ultra-posh Mulliner spec like the Continental shown here it puts the “grand” in GT like few other cars we can think of.

BMW 8-Series Convertible

[gallery ids="212344,212346,212345"]

Although sharing a platform with the more stately 7 Series saloons, the 8 Series Convertible is intended to display a more sporting demeanour, thanks partly to what BMW calls a “carbon core” chassis. The reality is somewhat different, as the rather heavy 8 works hard at being genuinely nimble and is thus more grand tourer than sports car – though the high-performance M8 variant does offer much more of a hardcore experience.

Fortunately, the 8 excels as a swift, large and fairly luxurious carriage for transporting four people in style between two faraway points on the map, and this is especially true of the M850i xDrive. In this guise, the big Beemer ragtop comes with a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 worth 523 horsepower, as well as all-wheel drive – and to be honest it’s seriously quick, though its heft doesn’t make it the most wieldy of machines, in spite of BMW’s sterling efforts in the chassis department.

As to the interior, you’ll note we used the words “fairly luxurious” and that’s because, although the cabin is made from premium materials, well equipped and equally well put together, it’s not that different from lesser BMWs and thus not particularly special – and especially not when compared with the hand-built opulence of the Continental, which could and should be the 8-Series Convertible’s natural competitor. Hugely fast, cleverly engineeered and very comfortable, it’s both an impressive piece of kit and a continent cruncher par excellence, but a little more luxe on the inside wouldn’t go amiss.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet

[gallery ids="212339,212340,212338"]

We’ve long nurtured a soft spot for the unostentatious elegance of Mercedes’ mid-size E-Class Cabriolet, and the air of ease that this excellent automobile imparts. Built less for outright speed than comfort, it’s a car for lazily meandering through landscapes rather than carving them up – and though it’s no Roller or Bentley, it still makes its occupants feel like a million dollars as they cruise, top down, along La Croisette or past the casino in Monte Carlo.

It’s based, of course, on Mercedes’ deeply impressive, spacious and sensible E-Class saloon, which means there’s plenty of room for four and oodles of comfort, too. And though slicing off the roof doesn’t do too much for body rigidity, that really shouldn’t be an issue in a vehicle that’s mostly about refined relaxation. That, of course, isn’t the entire story: for those journeys when you need to get there in double-quick time, Mercedes does have an ace up its sleeve with the recently introduced AMG E53 Cabriolet, which mates a mildly hybridised 3-litre straight six producing 429bhp with a nine-speed multi-clutch gearbox and 4Matic all-wheel drive.

Thus fettled, the Cab can move at a fair old clip, reaching a maximum of 250km/h (though surely not with the roof down, dear) and hitting 100 in less than 4.5 seconds – and it even gets a dollop of attitude with AMG’s aggressive Carrera Americana-style grille (not to mention the optional Dynamic Plus package that even offers Race and Drift modes – both entirely unnecessary in a car such as this). To which we’d say, sure, go for the extra power, eschew the race-track tech and then revel in a motor car that’s as much about the slow lane as tearing up the fast one.

The post Roofless Streak: Our Picks of the Most Desirable Luxury Convertibles appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Don’t let Holliday shopping get you down, the 2020 Bentley Collection offers gifts for all ages. Your favorite automaker is hard at work preparing the best in leather, audio, and fashion accessories. Little ones will enjoy a pint-sized Continental GT along with a plush Birkin Teddy Bear. Golfers will enjoy new clubs along with an […]

The post 2020 Bentley Collection Offers Gifts For All Ages appeared first on duPont REGISTRY Daily.

How do you build a car by hand in the age of COVID? That is the most closely guarded secret as the 2021 Bentley Flying Spur production begins today. The world’s only Carbon Neutral car factory is located in Crewe. Using the latest in personal protection, the skilled coachbuilders invest over 100 hours in each […]

The post 2021 Bentley Flying Spur V8 Production Begins appeared first on duPont REGISTRY Daily.

This is where high voltage finally meets high style. Although many have tried to build electric cars with an old-world feel, it takes more than good intentions to pull it off. That’s why Bentley’s big electric future is coming soon. Yesterday we told you this press conference would be big and now we have the […]

The post Bentley’s Big Electric Future Is Coming Soon appeared first on duPont REGISTRY Daily.

Only a few years ago we would have laughed at a luxury electric car. But climate change is irrefutable, and so is the push for cleaner transportation. That is why Bentley’s electric future will be presented tomorrow. Their latest Beyond 100 film will be live-streamed from Bentley Newsroom at 11 AM Eastern Time. Bentley Offers […]

The post Bentley’s Electric Future Will Be Presented Tomorrow appeared first on duPont REGISTRY Daily.

A new Bentley Jewelry collection has been launched that includes brilliant gemstones meant to mirror the exterior paint colors of Bentley automobiles. Within the collection are precious gemstones that have been selected, cut and polished at the Heinz Mayer factory, Bentley’s jewelry partner. Gemstones like tanzanite, the Padparadscha sapphire and Mandarin garnet can be found […]

The post New Bentley Jewelry Collection Features Brilliant Array of Gemstones appeared first on duPont REGISTRY Daily.

The allure of the Continental V8 convertible has been bouncing around my noggin for a few years. Because we specialize in new & pre-owned luxury and exotics, I have had ample time to drive new and older versions of the Continental. Of course, their fit & finish is top-notch, but no two cars are the […]

The post Bentley Offers Over 5,000 Interior Options appeared first on duPont REGISTRY Daily.

The Breakdown 2020 Bentley Continental GT MSRP $202,500 Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Bentley Centenary Limited Edition $10,200 Bonobos The Stretch Italian Wool Topcoat $498 Bonobos Washable Merino V-Neck Sweater $98 Mizzen+Main Leeward Dress Shirt $125 Bonobos Refined Stretch Chinos $138 Magnanni Segovia Cap Toe Oxford $375 Tom Ford Tortoiseshell Lionel Sunglasses $475 The Outlierman […]

The post What To Wear In The Bentley Continental GT appeared first on duPont REGISTRY Daily.

In keeping with our English theme this morning, Bentley is showing a stunning lineup at Goodwood. When you mention anything Bentley, people assume their twin-turbo twelve cylinder is under the hood. While that is true for the Bentayga Speed, it is flanked by the Continetal and Flying Spur. Both sporting black trim, its a dead […]

The post Bentley Shows Stunning Lineup At Goodwood appeared first on duPont REGISTRY Daily.

A twelve-cylinder Bentley in your garage is a life goal for many of us. Their flagship sedan pulls no punches to offer 626 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. It has everything you could ask for, and now offers the most efficient powertrain in their history. Something dark and intriguing hit our inbox this morning. […]

The post 2021 Bentley Flying Spur V8 Is Lighter & Darker appeared first on duPont REGISTRY Daily.

In 1930, the legendary ‘Bentley Boy’ Woolf Barnato was living a life of luxury and was a three-time Le Mans winner (consecutive). If there was anyone in the world of motorsport that was living on top of the world, it was Barnato. To prove just how fast he was in his Bentley Speed Six, he […]

The post Write It Down With the New Bentley “Limited Edition Barnato” Pen Series by Graf von Faber-Castell appeared first on duPont REGISTRY Daily.