Despite often being as practical as a car wash in the middle of Death Valley, convertibles are an inseparable part of our daily dose of cool and exciting cars. There’s just something about that summer breeze and wind wrecking your hair that resonates with every car enthusiast out there. Maybe it triggers our inner yearning for freedom and/or our desire to escape the inhumanely fast-paced reality, but convertibles have often had that calming yet blood-pumping effect on almost every driver that’s ever roamed a curvy picturesque coastline road.
Psychology aside, though, open-tops are often some of the most exciting cars available across the global markets. Needless to say, they’ll remain to be so for as long as the aforementioned urges keep motivating the inner driver in each and every one of us. Here are what we consider to be the most exciting and arguably the best 2020 convertibles we can expect to see.
08. 2020 BMW 8 Series
The long-awaited BMW 8 Series has finally made a comeback after what’s been an almost two-decade-long hiatus. After the BMW flagship model’s 2-door coupe version debuted in November 2018, the convertible arrived shortly thereafter. The original 8 Series that was in production between 1989 and 1999 was only ever available as a 2-door coupe, but the new 8 Series is – aside from the convertible – now also available as a 4-door gran coupe.
Like the initial 2-door coupe, the 8 Series soft top rides on the BMW CLAR modular platform. Considering the Germans decided to go soft on the 8 Series convertible’s roof, weight savings are significant.
At the same time, the 8 Series drop-top retains all of its coupe siblings’ convenience and tech gear, albeit at a greater price. The entry-level BMW 840i convertible costs $97,500 with xDrive all-wheel drive requiring almost $3,000 more. The middle-ground M850i drop-top requires $121,500, while the range-topping M8 convertible starts from $142,500 in its regular or $155,500 in Competition form.
The BMW 8 Series convertible shares the coupe’s engines as well. The lineup starts with a 335-horsepower turbocharged straight-six, while the mid-range position belongs to the powerful 4.4L twin-turbocharged V8 which is capable of putting up 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque with ease. Last but not least, the regular M8 models manage to squeeze 600 ponies out of the same engine, while the M8 Competition models generate 617 horses. The xDrive all-wheel-drive system is standard across much of the 8 Series board alongside an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.
07. 2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Although the 2020 Mazda Miata isn’t going anywhere in terms of major updates – especially after receiving a power bump for MY 2019 – one of the most popular affordable sports cars in history doesn’t even have to be fresh in order to be cool. The fourth-generation Miata ND is as fresh today as it was when it came out back in 2015. What’s more, after the recent introduction of the Miata RF, the 2020 Mazda MX-5 can now be ordered in both a soft top and retractable fastback hard-top forms.
For the first time ever, the Miata comes with a modern telescoping steering column. Also new for MY 2019 is a now-mandatory rearview camera and a new exhaust system. Needless to say, all of the aforementioned equipment carries over into 2020 as well.
The 2020 Miata still handles like a champ while offering unparalleled driving dynamics in a package that’s tons of fun. Prices for conventional convertibles start from around $25,500, whereas the RF models cost at least $32,500.
The biggest news when it comes to the new Miata, as already mentioned above, is the new 2.0L 4-cylinder engine which further increases the sports car’s appeal by providing additional punch. With 181 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque, the new MX-5 now boasts 26 ponies and a meager 3 lb-ft more than the outgoing model, which makes it the most powerful Miata ever produced. The new engine is also revving at a higher redline. Instead of 6,800 rpm, it’ll now max out at 7,500 rpm.
Like before, the beloved Japanese compact sports car is available with both a 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmission which route its newfound power to the rear wheels. The Japanese have once again hit that sweet spot of pure driver’s pleasure and relative affordability. The only thing the Miata convertible lacks is practicality but, then again, it was never meant to be practical anyway. It was meant to be fun, and fun it’s always been.
06. 2020 Lexus LC
The LC coupe that stems from the LF-C2 concept car is currently sitting at the top of the Lexus lineup all by itself. It won’t be lonely for long since the Japanese luxury automaker is working on a Cabrio version of their best-performing car. Scheduled to appear by 2020, the Lexus LC convertible will be pitted against the likes of Audi R8 Spyder and Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster.
Of course, it’ll fall short both in terms of performance and refinement, but its German competitors are way pricier at the same time. In other words, the LC convertible will be an archetype Lexus in terms of value for money.
Considering the fact the LC coupe starts from $92,000 ($96,500 for the hybrid), the upcoming drop-top will likely warrant a sticker just shy of the $100,000 mark. Of course, additional equipment and more refined interior bits should easily push it into a six-digit territory. The LC drop-top will likely make its debut at the 2019 Los Angeles auto show after already making an appearance in Detroit.
The 2020 Lexus LC convertible will share its coupe sibling’s powertrain. Their 5.0L V8 is capable of making 471 horses and 398 pound-feet of rotational force – all of which are routed to the rear via a contemporary 10-speed automatic transmission with magnesium-made paddle shifters. The LC 500h hybrid, on the other hand, combines a 3.5L V6 with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack for a net hybrid output of 354 ponies and 369 lb-ft of torque. The upcoming LC Cabrio should be made available in both forms.
What’s more, the Japanese are also apparently working on a performance version of both the LC coupe and upcoming convertible. Dubbed the LC F, of course, it should trade in the conventional models’ 5.0L naturally aspirated V8 for a twin-turbocharged V8 of a smaller displacement. That setup should be good enough for around 600 horsepower, and while it’ll raise the LC’s price tag by a considerable amount, it’ll also bring it to a stone’s throw away in regard to its competitors’ respective outputs.
05. 2020 Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2
The illustrious Ferrari Monza nameplate stems back from the early fifties when the Italian automaker still valued racing over profit. After more than 60 years, the Monza returns seamlessly unchanged. The 2-door Barchetta body style is still here and represents the ultimate throwback to the golden era of racing when legends like Sterling Moss, Juan Manuel Fangio, and Alberto Ascari ruled the tracks.
Don’t let their smallish oval frame fool you, though. The Monza SP1 and SP2 are highly technologically advanced which is evidenced by their state-of-the-art aluminum chassis borrowed from the Ferrari 812 Superfast and carbon fiber body. The former weighs 3,300 pounds, while the latter adds another 45 pounds of additional seat weight. Apart from not having a top, you’ll also notice they come without a proper windshield. That’s because they use a tech called “Virtual Wind Shield” which diverts the air just in front of the driver.
As their names suggest, they sport just enough seats for one or two people respectively. The Monza SP1 and SP2 are the first of many upcoming special throwback Ferrari editions filed under the “Icona” series. Needless to say, they’re extremely limited in numbers and correspondingly expensive. Precisely 499 will be made in total and all will require $1.75 million.
Although the Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2 open-tops exhibit a small and lightweight sports car demeanor, there’s nothing small about their powertrain. Also taken from the 812 Superfast, the Monza’s draw breath thanks to a 6.5L V12 capable of making 789 horsepower and 530 pound-feet of twist. At least that’s what it makes in the donor model. The Ferrari Monza official specs are slightly higher though, as they produce 809 ponies.
Much like the donor car, however, the Monza offers a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic as its standard gearbox. The final product is easily able to hit 60 mph from a standstill in less than 3 seconds, although its top speed probably won’t go much further than 186 mph. Highly exclusive – yes – but still some of the best 2020 convertibles we can expect to see. Will they be remembered as some of the best Ferrari models as well?
04. 2020 Lamborghini Huracán Evo Spyder
Despite a number of different iterations of the more affordable of two Lamborghini supercars appearing in a few short years it’s been on the market, the Huracán hasn’t been properly refreshed until this year. The facelifted models with the “Evo” suffix have just reset the current Huracán lineup that went six models deep prior.
The 2020 Lamborghini Huracán Evo, however, remains available in both the coupe and spyder convertible forms. The redesigned Huracán Evo Spyder borrows much from the most expensive and most powerful Performante models. At least in terms of design, which is definitely more aggressive in Performante form. This goes for all the air inlets, the rear diffuser, and two large exhaust tips at the back. Other than that, the Italians have bumped up the carbon fiber percentage in the Huracán’s body panels without changing much underneath, and improved its downforce by 5 times in the process.
Previously available in three different tunes, the updated Lamborghini Huracán Evo top-performing model is still in the works. With that in mind, the 2020 Lamborghini Huracán Spyder Evo is momentarily available in 640-4 all-wheel drive form which, as its name would suggest, develops 631 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque (640 metric horsepower).
The Huracán’s 5.2L V10 also retains its ties with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with manual shifting mode. The refreshed convertible Huracán Evo is priced slightly above the outgoing entry-level models and starts from around $287,500.
03. 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT R Roadster
A successor to the modern iteration of the iconic gullwing 300 SL – the AMG GT R has finally become a drop-top. Not only that, but it also gets a number of new coupe versions as well, including the high-performance (as if the AMG GT R wasn’t quite a performer already) Black Series.
The GT R roadster mixes the best bits of the GT S convertible and GT R coupe in order to offer the most potent AMG GT package possible in convertible form. Like the remainder of its GT siblings, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GT R Roadster also sports some of the most advanced technology features available in the auto industry nowadays. As far as the GT convertible alone goes, the GT Cabriolet shares their three-layered automated soft top which is held in place by a corresponding three-layered aluminum, magnesium and steel frame.
Once again, like the remainder of its AMG GT siblings, the GT R Roadster is fitted with a hand-crafted 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8 mill under the bonnet. Unlike the majority of its siblings, however, the GT R convertible cranks up as much as 577 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.
Thanks to that kind of output, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GT R cabriolet is able to hit 60 mph from a standing start in around 3.5 seconds and max out at 197 mph. It also retains its 7-speed AMG Speedshift dual-clutch transmission that’s working like a clockwork in the rest of the lineup, and warrants a price tag of exactly $190,745 to begin with. Only 750 of them will be made and those are global figures.
02. 2020 Bentley Continental GT
The all-new Conti GT has just recently entered production as a 2+2 coupe. However, it didn’t take long before Bentley decided to treat us with a drop-top version of its halo car.
The third-generation Continental GT convertible borrows its stunning coupe’s looks and becomes – not only one of the best 2020 convertibles around – but also one of the best and most beautiful luxury cars 2020 has to offer.
The Conti GT cabrio’s cabin is also one of the more stunning environments currently available on the market thanks to loads of natural leather and wood that are seamlessly integrated with the high-tech gadgets such as a large revolving 12.3-inch touchscreen display. The second-generation Continental GT convertibles were available for anywhere between $220,000 and $320,000 depending on a chosen trim, and the all-new Continental retains those prices. The base V8-powered models start from $218,500, while the W12 units require at least $236,000.
The new Bentley Continental GT coupe retains a twin-turbo W12 engine setup, but its 6.0L unit is rather fresh and borrowed from the Bentayga. It’s lighter than the old version, sports a port and direct fuel injection, and a dual-mass flywheel, and generates 626 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of twist – 44 ponies and 133 lb-ft more than the outgoing W12.
The entry-level models use a smaller 4.4L twin-turbo V8 mills from Audi but don’t lose much grunt compared to their W12 counterparts. They produce 542 horses and 568 pound-feet of rotational force. An 8-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting mode is standard across the board.
01. 2020 Porsche 911
Arguably any list of best convertibles out there wouldn’t be complete without a 2-door Porsche cabriolet. The company’s most coveted 2-door sports car, the 911, has just entered its eighth-generation for MY 2020, and makes for a perfect choice to round off this best 2020 convertibles countdown.
Internally designated the 992, the next-gen Porsche 911, as expected, retains the 911’s timeless overall design, but it still rides on a platform that’s been heavily modified compared to the outgoing 911.
The major difference between the two, in terms of design, is the Porsche’s newly adopted one-piece tail-light. Other than that, the next-gen models also sport a heavily revised interior with a new infotainment system. Like before, the 911 convertibles are available in both the conventional soft top and targa top configurations.
The 2020 Porsche 911 convertibles share the engines with their coupe counterparts for the most part. Only the track-focused GT2 and GT3 variants will sport the most powerful of performance packages exclusive to the coupe form, but they’re not scheduled to appear anytime soon, anyway.
The conventional Carrera models start out with a twin-turbocharged 3.0L flat-six engine that’s now making 443 horsepower in the S/4S form thanks to a number of improvements. The 911 Turbo, on the other hand, should offer a more potent 3.8L twin-turbo flat-six, but it won’t arrive prior to MY 2021.
Considering how most manufacturers are going all-out electric and hybrid these days, it wouldn’t surprise us if the next-gen Porsche 911 goes through some sort of an electrification process as well – even if it’s only a mild-hybrid starter generator.
Even the most affordable of Porsche 911 Carrera convertibles start from north of $127,000 while the most expensive Turbo S cabriolets shouldn’t be available for any less than $200,000 once they arrive at a later date. If that’s too much for you, the recently refreshed Porsche 718 Boxster might be right up your alley. Especially the latest Boxster and Cayman GT4 versions which pack quite a punch of their own.
