2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK Cabriolet

The CLK Cabriolet has been Mercedes' license to print money in recent years. The previous-generation car was so hot that dealers still have little or no inventory, even with the much-improved replacement car arriving imminently. The new CLK's fluid SL- inspired styling, spacious interior, and pumped-up powerplants should accelerate demand for the 10,000 convertibles Mercedes expects to sell in the U.S. each year.

The niftiest new feature could be the remote-controlled convertible top. Now, drivers can lower the roof as they approach the car, using the key fob. The top stows itself under the Batmobilesque hard-tonneau cover in 17 seconds and goes up in 20. Inch-thick padding and slippery aerodynamics (0.30 Cd) make the convertible nearly coupe-quiet inside at speed, and reinforcements boost chassis stiffness 12 percent over the previous model.

While hustling along sinuous roads, we detected no hint of cowl shake, the bane of convertibles with sporting pretensions. A low-tech lead weight on a spring mounted behind the front bumper contributes to the luxurious ride by damping vibrations. The CLK packs the expected array of Mercedes safety technology, such as side airbags to protect against head injuries and automatic pop-up rollbars in the back seat.

The top reason for enthusiasts to pick the convertible over the coupe? The sonorous exhaust note of the muscular 367-horsepower CLK55 AMG, while cruising with the top down.