22 Mar 07
Two key features make this possible. The V8, be it open or closed, is a compact car with a short wheelbase. And the V8 range was designed from the start with an open version in mind, so removing the roof doesn't destroy the stiffness of the bonded and riveted aluminium structure. Comparing the figures for this is revealing: the coupe's shell needs 19,900lb-ft of effort to twist it by one degree, the Roadster's needs 15,500. That's still a hefty amount, sufficient for you not immediately to wish for more.
Yet there's little in the way of special strengthening. There's a stronger cross-brace behind the dashboard, but the coupe is going to get this as well. And instead of having a thin aluminium undertray at one end and a plastic one at the other, the Roadster gets thicker aluminium both ends which is attached to the chassis with more fixings.
The powered hood has been integrated beautifully. When raised, it's smooth and rounded, sealing very effectively against wind noise. Lowered - you can open or close it when driving at up to 30mph, with the hinged hood cover acting like an air brake - it disappears beneath that cover to leave a completely smooth line disturbed only by a pair of leather-covered fairings behind the headrests that contain the pop-up rollover protection bars. The engine must be running before you can alter the hood's state.
As for the boot, one of the joys of a fabric hood is that it takes up much less space than a folding coupe-cabriolet hard top, so there's as much room in here as in the coupe.
A fabric roof is also lighter, so the Roadster's weight penalty over the coupe isn't too hefty at 80kg, 14kg of which is in the structure. So performance suffers little, the key figures being a 175mph top speed and a 4.9-second 0-60mph time. And with the roof down, you can hear the rev-happy, 4,280cc, 380bhp V8 better than ever.
