2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Video

Coupe and convertible body styles plus three engine choices make the redesigned-for-2012 VW Beetle a versatile vehicle. If you pick the convertible, however, you'll be opting for style over practicality and even driving fun, says Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays. The power soft-top is quick, but visibility is bad; the cabin is full of ergonomic comfort issues, and a clumsy ride takes the fun out of any drive, Mays says.

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VW Beetle Turbo, Jetta GLI Get Power Boost

Volkswagen has a midyear upgrade planned for its Jetta GLI and Turbo models of its Beetle coupe and convertible. The cars' 200-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder is now rated at 210-hp; Volkswagen says the revised engine is quicker and more efficient thanks to reduced weight and other mechanical updates.  

As equipped, the 2013 Beetle Turbo coupe goes from zero to 60 in 6.6 seconds, a hair faster than the previous model. The GLI boasts similar performance figures. Volkswagen expects fuel economy to go up too; it estimates that Beetle Turbo models should see a 4% to 9% increase in efficiency. 

There's also a few exterior changes to both cars. All Beetle Turbos will now get grained black R-Line-model bumpers and more exterior chrome trim. Model-year 2013 GLIs with the more powerful engine get LED taillights on all three trims.

Cars.com Reviews the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible

Although Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays grudgingly admits the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle is cute, he cautions shoppers that its beauty is only skin deep. Its good looks can't make up for the convertible model's sloppy handling, clumsy ride and severely limited visibility — just to name a few issues.

2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Review

2014 Corvette Gets Modest Price Bump

The C7 version of Chevrolet's iconic Corvette Stingray gets modern styling, a more powerful and efficient powertrain, and a modest price increase for 2014. The coupe will start at $51,995 when it goes on sale this summer and the convertible at $56,995. Model-year 2013 coupes start at $50,595 (all prices include a $995 destination fee).

Power comes from the next-generation of Chevy's 6.2-liter V-8, good here for 450 horsepower and a zero-to-60 sprint of less than 4 seconds. GM expects it to exceed the current version's EPA rating of 26 mpg highway thanks to fuel-saving direct injection and cylinder deactivation systems. A new seven-speed manual with rev matching also joins the lineup for 2014.

Standards on both body styles include eight-way power seats, two configurable driver and infotainment screens, Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system, rearview camera, nine-speaker Bose audio system, Bluetooth connectivity, USB port/auxiliary input jack, keyless access with push-button start and power tilt/telescopic steering wheel. The convertible comes standard with a new electric top that can be lowered using the key fob.

Options on the coupe include:

2014 Audi R8 Lands at Dealerships as 'Iron Man 3' Readies Launch

The "Iron Man" movies have an uncanny ability to make you wish you could walk in another man's shoes — or fly in the super suit of "genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist" Tony Stark. While it's unlikely Iron Man suits will be available at Men's Wearhouse anytime soon, you can at least drive the same car as Robert Downey Jr.'s Stark. The all-new 2014 Audi R8 went on sale April 11 and will be prominently featured in the upcoming "Iron Man 3."

You don't have to have billions to get your hands on this high-performance luxury sports car, but you will have to have an abundance of disposable income. With Audi's seven-speed optional S tronic transmission, the V-8 coupe starts at $125,250, the V-10 at $161,550 and the V-10 Plus at $180,895. The Audi R8 Spyder roadster with the V-8 and S tronic transmission starts at $138,750 and the V-10 at $175,050. All prices include a $1,250 destination fee but exclude a $3,000 gas guzzler tax.

2014 BMW 6 Series: What's Changed

• Most significant changes: The introduction of an M6 Gran Coupe; optional six-speed manual, carbon ceramic brakes and all-wheel drive on all non-M6 models
• Price change: TBA
• On sale: Early June
• Which should you buy, 2013 or 2014? An expanded lineup, revised multimedia system and available all-wheel drive make the 2014 model pretty appealing.

With the 2014 model year comes the introduction of the M6 Gran Coupe along with a roster of new and expanded options for the returning members of BMW's 6 Series lineup. Set to launch June 5, the new high-performance, rear-wheel-drive M6 Gran Coupe, which debuted at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, will join 2014 versions of the 640i and 650i Gran Coupe, as well as 640i, 650i and M6 coupe and convertible models.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible: Up Close

The Corvette Convertible looks like it was designed specifically as a convertible. It was, in fact, co-developed with the coupe and looks that way with nearly perfect body lines and flow that don't detract from the Corvette's overall aggressiveness.

Forget about the coupe all together.

More 2013 New York Auto Show Coverage

This convertible with a silver-blue exterior at the New York International Auto Show is one of the best-looking 2014 Corvettes. It took a while for me to come around on the seventh-generation 'Vette, partly because of a red example on display at other auto shows. That red coupe's carbon fiber removable top and other darkened highlight trim pieces created a boy racer vibe and overall dissonance with the rest of the bright red exterior. That's not the case with this one, since it doesn't have a hardtop and hides the black surrounds of the taillights and other trim for a cohesive look.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible Video

Through no fault of its own, this week's debut of the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette convertible at the 2013 New York International Auto Show fit squarely in the "Yeah? And?" category. GM has a perfect record of offering a convertible version of a next-gen 'Vette, so it seemed unlikely that the automaker would choose to break its streak during the iconic sports car's 60th anniversary tour, which began with the seventh-generation coupe's show-stealing appearance at the Detroit auto show in January.

More 2013 New York Auto Show Coverage

Continuing with this no surprises theme, Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays says not much has changed in the drop-top conversion in part due to an already-increased rigidity that required no structural reinforcement. Check out the video below.

Soft-Top, Hard Cash: 2013 Audi RS 5 Cabriolet Prices Announced

If you're a high-performance Audi faithful who's just got to feel more wind through your hair than a lowered window can provide, your 2013 RS 5 Cabriolet awaits. Take note, though: For the price difference of that soft-top compared with the coupe, you could buy a used convertible 2003 Audi Audi A4.

Audi announced pricing this week for the new RS 5 Cabriolet, which will go on sale next month for a whopping $78,795, including an $895 destination fee. For comparison, that’s a full $11,000 more than its 2013 coupe counterpart and $17,000 more than the 2013 Porsche Boxter S. To be fair, the rear-wheel-drive Porsche won't provide anywhere near the 450 horsepower or 317 pounds-feet of torque that the all-wheel-drive RS 5's 4.2-liter V-8 — good for a zero-to-60 time of 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 174 mph — boasts.

Not expensive enough? A $6,000 stand-alone package offers ceramic brakes on the front rotors for superior braking performance.

Recall Alert: 2012-13 Porsche 911

Porsche is recalling 2,263 model-year 2012-13 versions of the 911 Carrera and Carrera 4 coupes and convertibles due to a problem with the exhaust system, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The affected vehicles were manufactured from March 7 through Nov. 12, 2012 (check your vehicle's build date on a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb), and equipped with the 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine and standard exhaust system. In these cars, the tailpipe could fracture and fall off the car, becoming a road hazard.

The automaker has not yet provided an owner notification schedule. "Porsche is not aware of any defects or reported failures on any customer-owned vehicles. All defects determined to date were reported on internal Porsche test vehicles with higher mileages [greater than 25,000 miles]," the automaker said in a statement.

Owners can call Porsche at 800-767-7243 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more information.

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