The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet, which comes as an E350 and an E550, is such a vehicle.  Going against the trend of a power-operated retractable hardtop convertible, this is a true ragtop and it looked beautiful.  Our gun-metal grey cabrio arrived with a beautiful blue cloth roof and it was a sight to be hold.

Before I go any further, I should explain that this is no ordinary convertible or cabriolet.  The E-Class Cabriolet comes with the Mercedes-Benz Aircap system, an innovation that significantly reduces noise, air turbulence, and drafts when the top is down.  It’s so good that I hope Mercedes hasn’t patented it, since every auto maker that makes drop tops should copy it straight away.

How Aircap works is simple.  A six centimeter wind deflector is extended out of the windshield’s frame and an air dam with headrest extensions rises behind the rear seats.  This elevates the airflow and reduces air movement within the cabin.  For cooler days, the heat coming from the car’s heating system remains in the cabin and, on warmer days, the air conditioning keeps the cabin comfortable.    The system works as well for passengers in the rear seats as for those in the front.

The Aircap system also lowers the amount of wind noise in the cabin, making it possible to hold conversations with one’s passengers, a neat trick in a convertible. According to Mercedes-Benz, Aircap can be activated at speeds up to 160 km/h (100 mph) and can remain on when the vehicle is at maximum speed.

When combined with the Airscarf system, which blows heated air on the necks of front seat passengers to keep them warm, driving with the top down suddenly becomes a year-round option.   One thought: the next version of Airscarf should have a setting that would allow it to blow cool air – but not so much as to cause a neck ache.  This would have come in handy during my time with the Cabrio as outside temperatures hovered around 37°C (99°F).  Click here to continue to Page 2.

The car’s muscular stance makes its Autobahn prowess clear; once inside, bathed in soft indirect lighting and even softer leather, the seduction has begun.  Doors close softly on their own, numerous massage settings invigorate, side bolsters grab the driver during heavy cornering, and the Distronic radar-based cruise control fully stops and starts the car in traffic (“look Mom, no pedals”).

Keyless Go is an $1,100 option that allows the driver to keep the key fob in his pocket. Once seated, a touch of the start/stop button gets one going.  The main instrument cluster is a glass cockpit; the speedometer and tachometer may look convincing but this allows other vehicle systems, including night vision, to magically appear on the LCD panel when needed.  When satellite navigation is in use, navigation instructions appear there as well.

Mercedes’ COMAND cockpit controller system is similar to what BMW first introduced in 2002 with iDrive, although I found it less intuitive than the newer iDrive systems.  The display can rotate a few degrees towards the driver or passenger, a nice touch.  It’s placed directly in the driver’s field of vision so that it can be glanced at without unduly distracting the driver.  COMAND manages multiple vehicle functions including the rear sunshade, interior ambient lighting, seat massage, and so on.  Owners should be prepared to spend time getting to know the system, including extensive voice commands, but it’s time well spent.

Mercedes placed a variety of buttons around the COMAND controller (which is located on the center console) that cover a variety of functions.  Unfortunately, their placement requires the driver to actually look down in order to determine which one to press.

The 5.5-liter V-8 delivers 382 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque, with 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds.

The S-Class is actually a very relaxing car to drive.  You can even choose from several massage settings via the COMAND system.  Active Body Control practically eliminates body roll and adds to enhanced ride comfort, even over streets that normal would jar the senses.

Safety has always been paramount at Mercedes and the S-Class is no exception.  The Distronic system’s radar sensors allow the car to prepare for an impending collision, causing the seats to move to optimize air-bag effectiveness and hold their occupants more tightly.   Windows and sunroof are also closed automatically if an impact is anticipated.  The brake system is prepressurized if an emergency stop is thought to be imminent.  In worst case, if an accident does occur, Mercedes TeleAid will call for help.

–Jonathan B. Spira is the Editor of Executive Road Warrior and Chief Analyst at Basex, a knowledge economy research firm.

Summer. A time when the business traveler’s mind turns to… convertibles!

Nothing says summer like a bright red convertible.  Unless it’s a medium-blue convertible. Or a metallic grey roadster.

In the automobile’s earliest days, all cars were open; the open car continues to be seen as sporty and adventurous and perfect for hot summer days.  The rest of the time, they were drafty, noisy, and considered less safe than cars with metal roofs.

Starting with Mercedes-Benz in 1998, car makers have found a way of marrying the driving pleasure of a convertible without its disadvantages by offering a power-operated retractable hardtop convertible.  These convertibles are practically indistinguishable from coupes and the metal roof provides enhanced safety and comfort for the occupants.

To learn more, I spent a week each with the BMW 335i Convertible, the Volvo C70, and the Mercedes-Benz SLK350.  To complete the droptop look, I needed to be outfitted appropriately so I added Car Shoe’s signature moccasin driving shoes and Prada PR52FS  sunglasses.

Opening or closing the roof of one of these cars is a sight to behold.  The windows go down, the two- or three-piece metal roof (one of the pieces is the glass rear window) opens in sections in a fluid motion, the trunk opens rearward, and each section of the roof nests above the other.  The windows go back up and the trunk can be opened in the usual manner (albeit with very limited storage space).

Even with an increasing number of cars with retractable hardtop roofs, it’s still a remarkable technology.  Expect an audience when performing this act in a public place.

BMW 335i Convertible

The 2008 BMW 335i Convertible is a driver’s car, an engineering marvel. Its twin-turbo motor was designed to cruise the Autobahnen of Germany at speeds of 150 mph yet it’s just as much at home negotiating winding mountain roads with no body roll in the corners.  And it seats four passengers comfortably.

The top lowers in 22 seconds and, for cars equipped with the Comfort Access smart key option, the top can be lowered from outside the vehicle by holding down a button on the key fob.

Inside, BMW thoughtfully places special reflective leather which can keep the seats up to 30 degrees cooler than conventional leather seats when the top is down.

The car’s Logic 7 stereo and satellite navigation system are excellent (the nav includes traffic information) and its Bluetooth phone integration is unparalleled.  But the droptop really gives an entirely new meaning to the feeling of Freude am Fahren (the Joy of Driving, to borrow from BMW’ vaunted slogan) that one experiences.

Inside, the sports seats hug the driver and front passenger and the integrated iPod/USB option provides infinite entertainment options.

MERCEDES-BENZ SLK350

Unlike the BMW and Volvo, which seat four, the Mercedes-Benz SLK350 is a true roadster, intended less for practicality and more for giving the driver the feeling of the open road. There’s no doubt that Mercedes succeeds with the SLK; its V-6 is the fastest of the three we tested as well.

Inspired by Mercedes’ Formula 1 race cars, the SLK features an aggressive, dramatic design.  Inside, the driver finds a clean dashboard layout and shapes that continue the theme with firm yet comfortable seats and great audio.

Driving the SLK with the top down is not only for hot summer days; Mercedes’ Airscarf system channels warm air to your neck and shoulders through vents in the headrests.

Volvo C70

Top up or down, the Volvo C70 is just about the sleekest Volvo I’ve ever seen (the Passion Red paint didn’t hurt it in this department).  Inside, with comfortable seating up front and a 12-speaker Dynaudio stereo that produces spectacular sound, I found myself wondering why I ever considered a car with a fixed roof.  The 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder motor provides decent power and gas mileage.

While the C70 is a looker, it doesn’t deliver spirited sporty driving.  It is however perfect for cruising on a hot summer day. For a day trip to a Biergarten on Long Island, the Volvo was the perfect way to transport two passengers (the rear seats offer very limited legroom).

Perhaps ensuring that all bases are covered, a W button gear on the shifter activates winter mode, which keeps the automatic transmission engaged in lower gears for longer periods of time (presumably the top will be up when this feature is in use).

–Jonathan B. Spira is the Editor of Executive Road Warrior and Chief Analyst at Basex, a knowledge economy research firm.

With increasing delays at airports (both due to security, weather, and, more recently, entire fleets of aircraft grounded due to safety compliance checks), more business travelers are taking to the road in lieu of flying.  Now you can use Google to send your destination(s) to your car’s satellite navigation system as well.

Introduced by BMW in early 2007 in European markets, both Mercedes-Benz USA and BMW of North America now offer drivers the ability to send a destination, including street address and telephone number, to a satnav-equipped vehicle from virtually any computer (including a smartphone) connected to the Internet.

Once you have a destination up on Google Maps, simply click on Send to Phone, choose the “Car” option, choose between BMW and Mercedes-Benz, enter your e-mail address (the address associated with your BMW Assist or Mercedes TeleAid account), and press send.  The sender can add a personal message (“Meet me at 3 p.m. at the main entrance”); this can be used to send short messages to the car for other purposes as well of course, making the service far more useful.

In a Mercedes, simply press the TeleAid “i” button to complete the download of the address to the vehicle and start route guidance: multiple addresses will require multiple downloads.  BMW’s offering is a bit more advanced in that all messages are automatically downloaded to the car’s MyInfo section within the BMW Assist menu.   You can immediately start route guidance or, if your BMW is connected to a Bluetooth mobile, you can call the telephone number that was sent without having to enter it manually.

Mercedes-Benz Search & Send is available on 2007 S-Class and CL-Class vehicles with TeleAid and on 2008 C-Class vehicles (with Multimedia package and TeleAid).  BMW MyInfo is available on the 2008 X6 starting with April 8, 2008 production and the 2009 1er, 3er, 5er, 6er, 7er, and X5.

–Jonathan B. Spira is the Editor of Executive Road Warrior and Chief Analyst at Basex, a knowledge economy research firm.