Our cover car, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK, goes on sale this summer. We don’t have to tell you it looks gorgeous and you can probably imagine, or at least dream about, its sporty prowess. It’s great, too, to be able to press a button and watch that roof do its disappearing act into the trunk. With this model, Mercedes-Benz has also become the world’s first automotive manufacturer to offer an optional transparent glass roof that can be darkened in seconds at the touch of a button. Its name sounds like something from a 1950s Cadillac ad — it’s called the panoramic vario-roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL (in capital letters on the press release — someone in the marketing team has been watching too many episodes of “Mad Men”.) Standard equipment also includes the Attention Assist (also in capitals) drowsiness detection system. Pricing will be announced at the show, but for a ballpark guesstimate, the model it’s replacing is currently priced at $54,175. — Liz Turner
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Fiat will be lifting the lid on its super-cute bambino, the Fiat 500C (above) at the NYIAS and it will be in dealer showrooms in time for the warm weather. It’s not a true convertible, but the electric cloth roof slides right back to let the sunshine in, leaving the windows and fixed side pillars in place. This allows the 500C to retain its general roof structure, and keeps the body more rigid. That’s good for ride, handling, safety — and price. That’s because the car shares many of the same body panels as the top-spec Lounge hard-top, which sells for $19,500, so the convertible’s price shouldn’t be far off. We don’t have many details as we go to press, but road tests from Europe report that the 500C is snug and quiet with the roof up and far less prone to rattle and bounce than other inexpensive soft-tops. — Liz Turner
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The new Chrysler 200 Convertible (above) can also be viewed at the show. It’s on sale at $26,445, and the company is stressing its high-quality, including improved interior materials compared with the poor old Sebring’s cheap plastics. Exterior design and sheet metal upgrades for 2011 include: front and rear fascias and fenders, grill featuring the new Chrysler brand winged badge, new hood, LED light pipe accents in front headlamps, rear deck lid and exterior mirrors, new projector headlamps and fog lamps, new LED taillamps and an LED center high-mounted stoplight. Suspension tweaks have achieved a more enjoyable drive, with sportier cornering ability and a more comfortable ride. The all-new Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 engine, working through a six-speed automatic transmission, provides 283 horsepower and its fuel economy is rated at 19 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. The proven 2.4-liter World Gas Engine, has been recalibrated and is now mated to a six-speed transmission for a fun and fuel-efficient driving experience. The 200 Convertible powered by the 2.4-liter I-4 engine produces 173 horsepower and 166 lb-ft. of torque and has an EPA fuel economy rating of 18 mpg city and 29 mpg highway.The optional hard-top convertible is a must. We’ll wait to see if it’s only a favorite with overseas visitors keen to rent an affordable convertible. — Liz Turner
