There was a time when choosing a convertible meant accepting compromise. Less rigid, heavier, slower - it was the automotive equivalent of wearing flip-flops to a marathon. But now, with R&D, and lots of engineers having done lots of — er— substances, we've gotten to a point where convertibles can beat track cars. Let's count down the ten fastest convertibles ever made, and yes, a Bugatti is involved. Because of course it is. 10. Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet (2024) The "Sensible" Mental One This thing has a 3.7 litre Twin-Turbo flat-6 making 640 ponies and 590 lb-ft of torque. It'll go from 0-60 in 2l3 seconds topping out at 205 (s)miles per hour. And she weighs in at just 3,826 lbs. TWant to do the school run? Sure. Need to get groceries? No problem. Feel like doing 205 mph with the roof down? Well, that's oddly specific, but yes, you can do that too. The 992-generation Turbo S Cab is actually faster than the coupe version was just two generations ago, which shows you how far we've come. The only downside? It's about as rare as a Toyota Corolla in certain zip codes, which might hurt your billionaire street cred. Unlike most cars on this list, you can actually service this at your local dealer. The PDK gearbox is bulletproof, and Porsche's warranty department won't have a heart attack if you take it to a track day. Just be prepared for tire bills that could fund a small nation's GDP. 9. Porsche Carrera GT (2004-2007) "The Widow Maker" Launch Price: $448,000 (2004)Current Market Value: $1,500,000 - $2,000,000+ Technical Specifications: Engine: 5.7L Naturally Aspirated V10Power: 605 hp @ 8,000 rpmTorque: 435 lb-ft @ 5,750 rpm0-60: 3.5 secondsTop Speed: 205 mphWeight: 3,146 lbsTransmission: 6-speed manualProduction Numbers: 1,270 units Ah, the Carrera GT. The car that makes modern safety regulators wake up in cold sweats. This thing wasn't just a supercar; it was basically a Le Mans prototype that somehow got approved for road use. The engine? A V10 originally designed for F1, then adapted for Le Mans, then stuffed into a road car because... well, because Porsche. The V10 engine has a fantastic origin story. It was originally developed for Formula 1 in the 1990s, then adapted for a Le Mans prototype that never raced. Rather than let it gather dust, Porsche decided to build a road car around it. This is like finding an F-16 engine in your garage and deciding to build a family car around it. Ownership: Clutch replacements cost as much as a new BMW 3-SeriesNo electronic aids worth mentioning (that's either a pro or a con, depending on your life insurance policy)Values have tripled in the last decadeFamous owners include Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno (who else?) The Carrera GT gained notoriety for being particularly unforgiving at the limit. No stability control, a hair-trigger clutch, and too much power made it a handful. Modern hypercars are faster, but none demand quite the same level of respect. 8. Porsche 918 Spyder (2013-2015) "The Hybrid That Made Petrolheads Believe" Launch Price: $845,000 (2013)Current Market Value: $1,800,000 - $2,500,000 Technical Specifications: Engine: 4.6L NA V8 + Two Electric MotorsCombined Power: 887 hp (608 hp V8 + 279 hp electric)Combined Torque: 944 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm0-60: 2.6 seconds0-124 mph: 7.2 secondsTop Speed: 214 mphElectric Range: 12 miles (yes, really)Weight: 3,715 lbsTransmission: 7-speed PDKProduction Numbers: 918 units (see what they did there?) This was the car that made hybrid technology cool. Before the 918, hybrids were what your environmentally conscious neighbor drove while telling you about their composting hobby. After the 918, hybrid powertrains became the must-have accessory for any self-respecting hypercar. The 918 wasn't just fast; it was clever. The V8 engine is derived from the RS Spyder LMP2 race car, and when combined with its electric motors, it could do things that seemed to defy physics. It could run on pure electricity (briefly), be a hybrid (efficiently), or combine everything to pull a "it's here, it's there, it's gone!". Notable Achievements: First production car to break the 7-minute barrier at the Nürburgring (6:57)Can run in pure electric mode up to 93 mph (perfect for silent getaways)First hybrid to make Ferrari and McLaren scramble to catch up Ownership: Battery replacement costs about the same as a new Porsche CaymanSurprisingly reliable for a hypercarCan actually be used as a daily driver (if you're absolutely mad)Service intervals are every 7,500 miles or one year (reasonable for a hypercar) Values have remained strong, but not as explosive as its spiritual predecessor, the Carrera GT. Perhaps because it's more usable, which somehow makes it less exotic? It's like dating someone who's both beautiful and stable - impressive, but where's the drama? Yes, I know, this one's an SVJ. It's all we had in stock. 7. Lamborghini Aventador SV Roadster (2016) "The Last of the Old-School Mad Bulls" Launch Price: $530,075 (2016)Current Market Value: $800,000 - $1,200,000 Technical Specifications: Engine: 6.5L Naturally Aspirated V12Power: 740 hp @ 8,400 rpmTorque: 507 lb-ft @ 5,500 rpm0-62: 2.9 secondsTop Speed: 217 mphWeight: 4,085 lbsTransmission: 7-speed ISR automated manualProduction Numbers: 500 unitsFuel Economy: Yes, it does use fuel (lots of it) The SV Roadster was Lamborghini doing what Lamborghini does best: taking an already insane car and making it more insane. It's 110 pounds lighter than the standard Aventador Roadster (which is like losing a shoe when you're already carrying a piano), 50 hp more powerful, and has enough wings and vents to make a stealth fighter feel inadequate. This was one of the last naturally aspirated V12s before hybridization became mandatory. The sound it makes at 8,400 rpm with the roof off is probably what Pavarotti heard in his dreams. It's a mechanical opera. Ownership: Single-clutch transmission is about as smooth as a teenager learning to drive stickRunning costs are astronomical (no surprise)Visibility is theoreticalNeeds a front axle lift system unless you enjoy expensive scraping soundsWill make you a celebrity everywhere you go (whether you want to be or not) The fuel consumption is so astronomical it makes OPEC executives smile; you can actually see the fuel gauge moving while you're sitting at a traffic light contemplating your life choices. Attempting any sort of tight maneuver will quickly teach you that this car has the turning circle of a small moon. You'll become intimately familiar with every three-point turn opportunity in your city, and you'll start planning routes based on turning radius rather than traffic. And then there's the insurance. The premiums are so high they could fund a small space program, which makes sense considering you're essentially insuring a fighter jet that's been squashed into road-car shape. But here's the thing: none of that matters. The SV Roadster represents the end of an era - the last of the pure, unfiltered, naturally aspirated V12 Lamborghini convertibles before hybrid assistance and turbocharging became the norm. It's not perfect, but it's perfectly Lamborghini, and that's exactly what it should be. 6. Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster "When Italy Goes Full Theater" Launch Price: $1,850,000 (2009)Current Market Value: $5,000,000+ (when they rarely surface) Technical Specifications: Engine: 7.3L NA V12 Mercedes-AMGPower: 678 hp @ 6,400 rpmTorque: 575 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm0-62: 3.4 secondsTop Speed: 217+ mphWeight: 2,667 lbsProduction: Just 5 units The gearbox is like a well-trained doberman. Lightning quick when it needs to be, but occasionally it'll bite you for no reason. Fuel economy? Pagani didn't bother measuring it. So then, how much is the fuel economy? No. The carbon-titanium body is so stiff you could probably drive it upside down. Not that anyone's tried. Yet. Each car was hand-built by people who treat carbon fibre like Renaissance artists treated marble. It shows. Even the bolts are titanium and cost more than a decent watch. 5. Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss "The Windscreen? What Windscreen?" Launch Price: $1,000,000 (2009)Current Market Value: $2,500,000 - $3,000,000 Technical Specifications: Engine: 5.4L Supercharged V8Power: 650 hp @ 6,500 rpmTorque: 604 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm0-60: 3.5 secondsTop Speed: 217 mphWeight: 3,400 lbsProduction: 75 unitsRequirement: Already own a regular SLR The side exhausts are louder than a rock concert. They're also right next to your ears. Mercedes calls this "driver engagement." Everyone else calls it "what?" No windscreen means bugs become a protein supplement at high speeds. Pack goggles. And maybe a helmet. And definitely life insurance. The trunk space is measured in credit cards, not golf bags. Pack light or send your luggage ahead in your other car. Every drive feels like you're in a 1950s race car. Until it rains. Then it feels like you're making a very expensive mistake. 4. Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution Roadster “Texas Does Europe” Launch Price: $3,000,000 (2024)Current Market Value: Too new to tell, but probably more than your house. And your neighbour's house. Combined. Technical Specifications: Engine: 6.6L Twin-Turbo V8 "Fury"Power: 1,817 hp @ 8,000 rpmTorque: 1,193 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm0-60: "Yes"Top Speed: 250+ mphWeight: 3,098 lbsProduction: 30 units The engine's called "Fury." Not "Bob" or "Steve." That tells you everything you need to know. It makes so much power that Hennessey had to invent new ways to measure it because the dyno probably just started crying. The carbon fibre roof is removable. Most owners remove it once, take a photo, then never touch it again. Built in Texas, which means it's probably armed. And if it isn't, it's powerful enough to not need weapons anyway. 3. Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse "How To Spend Oil Money, The Manual" Launch Price: $2,500,000 (2012)Current Market Value: $2,800,000 - $3,500,000 Technical Specifications: Engine: 8.0L Quad-Turbo W16Power: 1,200 hp @ 6,400 rpmTorque: 1,106 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm0-62: 2.6 secondsTop Speed: 254 mphWeight: 4,387 lbsProduction: 92 unitsTire Cost: Your firstborn's college fund The fuel gauge moves so fast you'll think it's broken. It's not. That's just what 1,200 hp does to petrol. Each tire costs more than a new Toyota Corolla. And you need to change them every 2,500 miles. Top speed mode requires a special key. Without it, you're limited to a peasantly 233 mph. At full throttle, it drinks more fuel than a small aircraft. Difference is, the aircraft's going higher, not just faster. 'MURICA! 2. Hennessey Venom GT Spyder "America's Middle Finger to European Hypercars" Launch Price: Lots.Current Price: Lots more. Technical Specifications: Engine: 7.0L Twin-Turbo V8Power: 1,451 hp @ 7,200 rpmTorque: 1,287 lb-ft @ 4,200 rpm0-60: 2.4 secondsTop Speed: 265.8 mphWeight: 2,743 lbsProduction: 7 units (yes, seven)Based on: Lotus Elise (technically) It's a Lotus Elise that went to Texas and discovered steroids. The waiting list was shorter than the production run. Because there wasn't one. You either knew someone, or you didn't.Hit the throttle and everything behind you becomes a distant memory. Including your stomach. Insurance companies need therapy after calculating premiums for this car. 1. Bugatti Mistral "The W16's Last Dance" Launch Price: $5 million.Current Price: To be seen. Technical Specifications: Engine: 8.0L Quad-Turbo W16Power: 1,577 hp @ 6,900 rpmTorque: 1,180 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm0-60: 2.5 secondsTop Speed: 282 mphWeight: Approx. 4,400 lbsProduction: 99 unitsPrice: $5,000,000 (if you can get one) The Mistral isn't just fast - it's the automotive equivalent of a Norse god's farewell party. Named after a cold north wind in France, it's Bugatti's way of saying goodbye to the mighty W16 engine. And what a goodbye it is. Each radiator grille is made up of 3D-printed parts. Not because it's necessary, but because Bugatti can. And will. The interior has more leather than a cow sanctuary. Each piece is hand-stitched by someone who probably has better eyesight than an eagle. At full speed, it burns through enough fuel to make OPEC consider naming a holiday after it. The range at top speed can be measured in minutes, not miles. This isn't just Bugatti's fastest convertible - it's their last chance to prove that internal combustion engines can still shock and awe. The W16 era ends here, not with a whimper, but with a 282 mph bang. Speaking of that speed - imagine driving through the air at 282 mph with no roof. It's like sticking your head out of an airplane window, except the airplane is on the ground, and you're controlling it. Each car costs $5,000,000 before options. And yes, people are still asking "but what options can I add?" Because when you're spending that much on a car, what's another million between friends? They're only building 99 of them. All sold out before most people even knew it existed. And on that bombshell, we've reached the end of our list. From "merely fast" to "questioning the laws of physics," these cars represent the pinnacle of what's possible when engineers stop asking "why?" and start asking "why not?"
