Ford Mustang Convertible is the leading automotive cause of skin cancer.

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Top 10 Convertibles on MSN Autos



The Ford Mustang continues to be a hit in both coupe and convertible forms after a redesign for the 2005 model year.

These convertibles attracted the most attention on MSN Autos during the first three months of 2006.



With the convertible weighing just 20 pounds more than the coupe, this Chevrolet Corvette goes 0 to 60 mph in less than five seconds.



Sharing the same platform as the Saturn Sky, the Solstice is the first two-seat convertible from Pontiac since 1940.



Known as Saturn's first "halo" car, the Sky convertible has distinctive looks that are sure to turn heads.




Powered by a 490-horsepower 4.3-liter V8 engine, the Ferrari F430 has a top speed around 200 mph.



The MINI Cooper Convertible features a unique roof that can also be opened like a sunroof.



Debuting 16 years ago, the Mazda MX-5 Miata has become the best-selling 2-seat sports car in the world, according to the Guiness Book of World Records.

Arguably the one type of car that can stir human emotions like no other, a convertible is probably the quintessential vehicle that pops into people's heads when they think of the open road. Convertibles provide a sense of freedom and driving exhilaration that can justify their existence during frigid winter months, from Maine to Montana and Seattle to Scarsdale.

And for those lucky enough to live in locales that have "convertible weather" all the time, then all the more reason to let freedom and adventure prevail.

There are about 30 convertible models available in the U.S., ranging from the Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible starting just under $20,000 to the Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster that tops out above $300,000.

Photo Gallery: Popular Convertibles

The most popular models on MSN fall between these two extremes, as one would expect, and they include four models from U.S. automakers, two from Japan and four from Europe.

Here are the 10 most popular open-top cars on MSN Autos, based on visits to vehicle information pages during the first three months of 2006.

1. Ford Mustang Convertible
When Ford debuted the new Mustang for the 2005 model year, it was an instant hit in both coupe and convertible versions. The convertible rides on the same platform and uses the same engines and transmissions as the Mustang coupe, including the 300-horsepower V8. The convertible has nearly the same roofline shape as the coupe and is the first Mustang drop-top that folds in Z fashion, allowing the fabric to sit lower in its storage area behind the rear seats than in previous Mustangs.

2. Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
One of the leaders in the high-performance convertible niche, the Corvette was all new for 2005. With fresh styling, improved suspension and powerful brakes, this sixth-generation 'Vette sports a 400-horsepower V8 engine. Weighing only 20 pounds more than the coupe, the convertible can reach 60 mph in less than five seconds. The convertible can be equipped with either a manual top or, for the first time, a power-operated five-layer fabric top.

3. Pontiac Solstice
First shown in concept form at the North American International Auto Show 2002, the Pontiac Solstice has gone from concept to production in four years. The Solstice features simple, subtle styling characterized by a smooth, solid shape and a low, wide stance. Classic sporty touches include cowls behind driver and passenger, motorcycle-style deep-sunk instruments, and a wraparound instrument panel. Powered by a 177-horsepower engine, the Solstice is the first two-seat convertible from Pontiac since 1940.

4. Saturn Sky
The Sky roadster is the first "halo" car that the Saturn brand has ever had, and it has done its job of attracting a lot of attention. Sky shares its front-engine, rear-wheel-drive platform with the Pontiac Solstice but features its own distinctive look that shows the new face of Saturn, with a pronounced fender peak and a chrome bar that carries an integrated Saturn badge. A high-performance Sky Red Line will be available later in the year.

5. Nissan 350Z Roadster
The 350Z is Nissan's modern re-creation of the legendary Z-car, with styling cues from the original 240Z of the 1970s. The current 350Z coupe debuted for the 2003 model year with the Roadster joining the lineup for 2004. For 2006, the 350Z gets its first major update since its introduction, including revised front styling, new LED taillights and an upgraded interior. In addition to the new look, the Z roadster gets a boost up to 300 horsepower.

6. Ferrari F430 Spider
The F430 is Ferrari's latest mid-engine V8-powered sports car, available as both a coupe and an open-top Spider. The convertible mechanism folds the top into a seemingly tiny space between the cockpit and the engine, hidden completely with a hard cover. With a 490-horsepower V8 mounted directly behind the driver, the sound with the top down is intoxicating. A top speed around 200 mph makes this one of the fastest convertibles available in North America.

7. MINI Cooper Convertible
A popular car from the moment it was launched, MINI added fuel to the Cooper fire in 2005 with the fun-to-drive MINI Cooper Convertible. The top on the convertible version is quite unique—the front section of the canvas roof has a rigid panel underneath that can be slid back 16 inches to create a sunroof. When lowered, the top folds compactly behind the rear seats. The rigid panel used for the sunroof sits on the top, eliminating the need for a tonneau cover.

8. Porsche 911 Cabriolet
A model introduced back in 1964 that has become one of the most recognizable sports cars in the world, the Porsche 911 evolved into its current generation last year. The 911 Carrera Cabriolet is available with rear- or all-wheel drive, and can be had in base or S trims, the latter equipped with a 3.8-liter 355-horsepower boxer engine. The convertible top on the 911 is power operated and can be opened or closed at speeds up to 30 mph.

9. Mazda MX-5 Miata
Sixteen years ago Mazda changed the face of the 2-seat roadster market when it introduced the sporty little MX-5 Miata. Now the best-selling 2-seat sports car in the world (according to the Guinness Book of World Records), the MX-5 has been completely redesigned for 2006. Styling is more aggressive than in the past, and the 170-horsepower engine has a considerable power jump over the previous generation. The MX-5 still features a very simple manual top that can be raised or lowered without leaving the driver's seat.

10. Mercedes-Benz SLK
The SLK is the German automaker's small two-seat roadster with a power retractable hardtop. The SLK was an immediate hit when it debuted as a concept car at the 1994 Turin Auto Show and went on sale as a 1998 model. SLK received its first redesign for the 2005 model year with exterior styling cues drawn from the SLR McLaren supercar. A number of high-performance powerplants are available for the SLK, including a 355-horsepower V8 in the SLK55 AMG.

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