2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible & 2013 Mazda MX-5

HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !

GRAB YOUR SHADES AND A LITTLE SUNSCREEN, WE'RE READY FOR A CONVERTIBLE SUMMER WITH THIS SEASON'S MUST-HAVE DROP TOPS.

BRIAN ROBINSON SOAKS UP EVEN MORE SUN ON A PAIR OF BMW SCOOTERS.

PAT GOSS DOES HIS PART TO KEEP THINGS COOL.

AND EVEN OUR FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS SPEAK TO A TRIO OF SUN WORSHIPERS' DREAMS!

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

JESSICA, THERE'S SOMETHING I WANT TO ASK YOU...

YES?

WHEN I'M SWITCHING TO WINTER TIRES DO I HAVE TO CHANGE ALL FOUR OR CAN I JUST PUT TWO ON THE FRONT AXLE?

I DON'T KNOW.

Announcer: THERE'S A BETTER PLACE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR TIRES.

GET SOME WINGS?

Announcer: TIRERACK.COM CAN HELP YOU GET THE ANSWERS YOU NEED AND HELP YOU FIND WHICH TIRES ARE BEST FOR YOU.

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

AND BY... ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS.

NO MATTER WHAT CUSTOMERS DRIVE, THEY CAN PURCHASE ONLINE FROM A COMPREHENSIVE SELECTION OF BRANDS, PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS.

ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.

AND BY... 3M, MAKER OF INNOVATIVE AUTO CARE PRODUCTS.

AGED OR YELLOWED LENSES REDUCE BRIGHTNESS OF HEAD, TAIL AND DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS.

THE 3M HEADLIGHT RESTORATION SYSTEM HELPS RESTORE LENS CLARITY FOR SAFER DRIVING.

John Davis: AFTER WHAT HAS BEEN VERY LONG WINTER FOR MOST OF THE COUNTRY, WARM WEATHER IS FINALLY HERE.

AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO FULLY ENJOY IT THAN DROPPING THE TOP IN A CONVERTIBLE AND FINDING THAT LESS TRAVELED ROAD TO NOWHERE.

WELL, OPEN AIR MOTORING IS WHAT THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF MOTORWEEK IS ALL ABOUT.

SO, LET'S START OFF WITH A NEAR PERFECT CURE FOR THE WINTER BLUES, THE ALL-NEW VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE.

FOLLOWING LAST YEAR'S INTRO OF A MORE MASCULINE 3RD GENERATION BEETLE COUPE, COMES THE 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE.

BUT EVEN AFTER THE MANLY MAKEOVER, THE BEETLE REMAINS WHAT IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN; A CUTE LITTLE CAR THAT TURNS HEADS WHEREVER YOU GO.

IMPRESSIVELY ENOUGH, ALL OF THE COUPE'S POWERTRAIN OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE, INCLUDING THE TDI CLEAN DIESEL, WHICH WAS OUR CHOICE FOR THIS TEST.

AND AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF WHEEL TIME, WE HAD MIXED FEELINGS ON THE 140-HORSEPOWER OIL BURNER AND ITS 236 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

WHILE YOU'VE GOTTA LOVE THE TORQUE, IT MAY NOT BE AS IMPRESSIVE AS YOU'RE EXPECTING, AND WE HATE PAYING EXTRA FOR BOTH THE ENGINE AND THE FUEL TO PUT IN IT.

ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER ENGINE OPTIONS.

STILL, WE DID ENJOY WATCHING THE RANGE INDICATOR DECLINE VERY SLOWLY.

THE NEW BEETLE DROP-TOP'S HANDLING IS STILL ON THE SOFT SIDE, BUT THAT'S JUST FINE, AS THIS BUG IS AT ITS BEST ON GENTLE HIGHWAY CURVES AND STRAIGHTAWAYS WHILE RUNNING THE TANK DRY.

WHEN DRIVEN AT A MODERATE CLIP, IT FEELS ENTERTAINING, IF NOT ROADSTER FUN.

PUSHED HARDER, THIS CONVERTIBLE STARTS TO FEEL OVERWEIGHT; CURB WEIGHT IS UP ABOUT 120 POUNDS OVER THE TDI COUPE; AND THE SUNNY BUG JUST DOESN'T DART IN AND OUT OF CONES OR TRAFFIC AS EAGERLY AS YOU THINK IT SHOULD.

IN A STRAIGHT LINE, IT HAS NO PROBLEM LAUNCHING WITH A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF GRUNT; BUT SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE DIESEL SETTLES INTO A RELAXED PROCESSION DOWN THE TRACK.

NO MATTER WHAT YOU TRY, THIS BEETLE JUST WANTS YOU TO TAKE YOUR TIME AND ENJOY THE RIDE.

OUR TDI'S DSG WAS A-OK WITH MANAGING ITS SIX GEARS ALL BY ITSELF SMOOTHLY, IF A LITTLE SLOWLY, TAKING US 9.3-SECONDS TO HIT 60 AND 17.3-SECONDS TO HIT 82 AND THE END OF THE QUARTER.

THE INTERIOR OF THE BEETLE CONVERTIBLE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE SAME WIDE DASH AND GOOD GERMAN FIT-AND-FINISH AS THE COUPE.

REAR SEATS ARE ACTUALLY EASY TO GET INTO, AND EVEN WHEN THE TOP'S UP THERE'S A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF HEADROOM, BUT UNLESS THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS SCOOCH FAIRLY FAR FORWARD, THERE'S LITTLE LEGROOM.

SIMILAR TO THE COUPE, TRUNK SPACE IS THE SAME WHETHER THE TOP IS STORED OR NOT, AND IS ACTUALLY GOOD FOR A COMPACT DROP TOP, DOWN FROM THE COUPE'S 15.4 CUBIC-FEET TO 7.1.

THE OPENING IS FAIRLY SMALL, BUT THE REAR SEATS BACKS DO STILL FOLD FOR GOOD PRACTICALITY.

TOP OPERATION IS SMOOTH, QUIET, AND QUICK -- TAKING ABOUT 10-SECONDS AT SPEEDS UP TO 30 MILES-PER-HOUR.

WE DROVE IN A VARIETY OF WEATHER CONDITIONS, INCLUDING VERY HARD RAIN, AND FOUND THE 3-LAYER TOP TO BE SO WELL INSULATED, IT WAS HARD TO TELL YOU WERE IN A CONVERTIBLE.

AND WHEN THE TOP IS STORED, IT DOES SO MORE COMPACTLY THAN BEFORE, INCREASING REAR VISIBILITY AND GIVING THIS BUG A TRIMMED DOWN LOOK.

THE EXTRA CURB WEIGHT COMES MOSTLY FROM CHASSIS REINFORCEMENTS.

A-PILLAR AND WINDSHIELD HEADER SUPPORTS ARE THICKER, THERE'S ADDITIONAL BRACING UNDER THE B-PILLARS, AND THERE'S A NEW STRUCTURE FOR MOUNTING THE AUTOMATIC ROLLOVER SUPPORT SYSTEM.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE QUITE GOOD AS YOU WOULD EXPECT FOR A DIESEL, COMING IN AT 28-CITY, 41-HIGHWAY, AND 32-COMBINED.

WE TOPPED OFF THE TANK AND HIT THE ROAD FOR A LONG WEEKEND ROAD TRIP AND AVERAGED A FINE 36 MILES-PER-GALLON.

THERE ARE RELATIVELY FEW AFFORDABLE DROP-TOPS ON THE MARKET TODAY AND THE BEETLE'S $25,790 ENTRY POINT CERTAINLY MAKES IT ONE OF THEM.

TDI PRICING BEGINS AT $28,690.

IT'S A TRUE TESTAMENT TO THE BEETLE'S NEAR UNIVERSAL APPEAL AND LONGEVITY THAT YOU STILL SEE PLENTY OF THE ORIGINAL OPEN TOP BEETLES TROLLING THE STREETS.

BUT THE 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE OFFERS MORE THAN JUST RETRO STYLE.

IT PACKS GOOD COMFORT, DECENT PRACTICALITY, AND EVERYDAY LIVABILITY INTO AN ENJOYABLE, FUN-LOOKING PACKAGE THAT PUTS SMILES ON OUR FACES EVERY TIME WE GET BEHIND THE WHEEL.

AND THAT'S WHAT A CONVERTIBLE IS ALL ABOUT.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK STOPS IN SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, WHERE THIS VIBRANT COLLEGE TOWN IS ALL ABUZZ OVER ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

ALREADY A NETWORK OF 68 CHARGING STATIONS HAS BEEN INSTALLED THROUGHOUT CENTRAL NEW YORK.

THIS STRATEGIC EV INFRASTRUCTURE - IMPLEMENTED BY SYRACUSE SYNAPSE SUSTAINABILITY TRUST - MAKES EV COMMUTING TO NEARBY CITIES EASY AND CONVENIENT.

A 22-KILOWATT ROOF-TOP SOLAR PANEL SYSTEM HELPS POWER THE 9 BLINK STATIONS OUTSIDE SST'S HEADQUARTERS.

THE PROJECT IS PARTIALLY FUNDED BY A D.O.E.

GRANT THROUGH THE CLEAN COMMUNITIES OF CTRAL NEW YORK COALITION.

Barry Carr: PEOPLE WILL WANT TO ENJOY THE LOWER COST BENEFITS OF USING ELECTRICITY AS A MOTOR FUEL BECAUSE THE COST IS ABOUT 1/5 THE COST OF GASOLINE.

John: OTHER LOCAL ALT-FUEL EFFORTS INCLUDE THIS PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ACCESS COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FILLING STATION.

THE NATIONAL GRID UTILITIES COMPANY FILLS THEIR FLEET OF NEARLY 30 MIXED USE CNG VEHICLES HERE, DISPLACING NEARLY 100,000 GALLONS OF GASOLINE IN THE PAST YEAR.

TWO GREAT EXAMPLES OF THE "HEART OF NEW YORK'S" DEDICATION TO CLEAN ENERGY.

WHILE MOTORCYCLE SALES HAVEN'T RECOVERED AS QUICKLY AS CARS AND TRUCKS HAVE, SALES ARE DEFINITELY ON THE UP SWING.

ONE REASON IS THAT CONSUMERS ARE LOOKING HIGH AND LOW FOR WAYS TO SAVE ON GAS.

NOW, MOTORCYCLES ARE CERTAINLY AN OPEN AIR OPTION, BUT MANY ARE WARY OF THEIR LOUD NOISE AND AWKWARD RIDING POSITION.

SO WHAT ABOUT A SCOOTER?

YOU KNOW, IT JUST MIGHT DO THE TRICK.

Brian Robinson: SPEND ANY TIME AT ALL IN A MAJOR EUROPEAN CITY AND YOU'LL SEE LOADS OF SCOOTERS BUZZING AROUND TRAFFIC LIKE BEES IN A HIVE.

AND WHILE THE REASONS ARE MANY, IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO THEM BEING EASY TO DRIVE, EASY TO PARK, AND VERY FUEL EFFICIENT.

WHILE IT'S DOUBTFUL WE'LL SEE EUROPEAN LEVELS OF SCOOTERS SWARMING OUR CITIES ANYTIME SOON, IF MORE MAXI-SCOOTERS LIKE THE 2013 BMW C 600 SPORT AND C 650 GT REACH OUR SHORES, CHANCES ARE GOOD THEIR POPULARITY WILL INCREASE.

DESPITE BIG SIZE AND BIG POWER, THESE BABIES ARE TRUE SCOOTERS, NOT MOTORCYCLES, AS ALL THE USUAL SCOOTER COMPONENTS ARE THERE: LIKE THE STEP THROUGH DESIGN, INTEGRATED FLOORBOARDS, LOTS OF BUILT-IN STORAGE SPACE, CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH WITH CVT TRANSMISSION, AND SO ON.

THESE Cs DIFFER SLIGHTLY IN THEIR DESIGN APPROACH.

THE C 600 SPORT, WITH ITS MORE AGGRESSIVE LOOK, IS READY TO GET YOU TO WORK AND BACK EVERY DAY, AND IS EVEN UP FOR A QUICK WEEKEND JAUNT DOWN TO THE COFFEE SHOP TO MEET SOME FRIENDS FOR A CAPPUCCINO.

THE C 650 GT HAS A FEW ADDITIONAL COMFORT-ORIENTED FEATURES: LIKE A TALLER, ELECTRONICALLY ADJUSTABLE WINDSCREEN, LARGER SEAT WITH RIDER'S BACKREST, AND ROOMIER ERGONOMICS THAT MAKE IT MORE SUITABLE FOR LONGER DISTANCE RIDING.

BUT BOTH SCOOTS SHARE THE SAME 647CC INLINE-TWIN 4-STROKE ENGINE THAT PUTS OUT AN IMPRESSIVE 60-HORSEPOWER AND 49 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT'S MOUNTED DOWN LOW IN TYPICAL SCOOTER FASHION WHICH OF COURSE LEAVES PLENTY OF ROOM FOR ALL OF THAT STORAGE SPACE UNDER THE SEAT.

THE 600 SPORT ALSO FEATURES "FLEX CASE" STORAGE THAT EXPANDS WHEN THE BIKE IS PARKED TO ALLOW YOU TO SAFELY STORE YOUR HELMET ALONG WITH WHATEVER ELSE YOU'RE ALREADY PACKING.

BOTH HEATED SEAT AND HAND GRIPS ARE AVAILABLE TO EXTEND THE RIDING SEASON A LITTLE FARTHER INTO THE FALL.

WHILE THESE MAY INDEED BE TRUE SCOOTERS, DON'T THINK YOU CAN JUST HOP ON THEM AND TAKE OFF LIKE THAT 49CC JOB YOU RENTED ONE TIME IN JAMAICA.

THESE MAXI-SCOOTS WILL CRUISE AT OVER 100 MILES PER HOUR AND WON'T TAKE LONG TO GET YOU THERE.

STANDARD ABS WILL HELP YOU SLOW DOWN.

BOTH HANDLE CITY TRAFFIC AND COUNTY ROADS WITH EQUAL DEXTERITY, WITH A RIDE THAT'S BOTH SPORTIER AND MORE COMFORTABLE THAN YOUR TYPICAL SCOOTER THANKS TO BIG 15-INCH WHEELS.

AS TO THE FUEL ECONOMY, AFTER PUTTING IN A COUPLE WEEKS OF PASSIVELY AGGRESSIVE COMMUTING TIME, I AVERAGED 53 MILES-PER-GALLON.

I'M SURE YOU COULD DO BETTER WITH A MORE CONCERTED EFFORT.

BUT AS NICE AS THESE SCOOTERS ARE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY ARE STILL SCOOTERS, FOR WHICH PRICING IS BMW STEEP; STARTING AT $9,590 FOR THE C 600 SPORT AND $9,990 FOR THE C 650 GT.

STILL, THEY ARE BOTH EASY TO DRIVE, VERY FUEL EFFICIENT, AND DOWNRIGHT FUN WAYS TO GET TO WORK EVERY DAY FOR SOMEONE WHO'S NOT QUITE READY FOR A TRUE MOTORCYCLE.

THAT SHOULD MAKE THEM VERY APPEALING TO A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND ON A WARM SUNNY DAY, I'M SURE MORE THAN A FEW OF THEM WOULD RATHER SCOOT ALONG TO WORK IN THE OPEN AIR THAN "PLUG" ALONG IN A PRIUS.

John: THOUGH WE LOVE THAT OPEN AIR CONVERTIBLE FEELING, SOMETIMES THE WEATHER'S JUST TOO HOT TO HANDLE.

SO LET'S HEAD OVER TO GOSS' GARAGE FOR A QUICK A/C CHECKUP.

Pat Goss: AS THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE CLIMBS, WE WANT COLD AIR CONDITIONING INSIDE OUR CARS.

AND THAT MEANS EVERYTHING HAS TO WORK PERFECTLY.

NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S FREQUENTLY OVERLOOKED IS SOMETHING THAT MOST, NOT ALL, BUT MOST CARS HAVE, AND THAT IS A CABIN AIR FILTER.

IT FILTERS ALL OF THE AIR THAT COMES IN TO THE INSIDE OF THE CAR.

WELL, AS THEY GET DIRTY, THEY BLOCK THE AMOUNT OF AIR THAT CAN CIRCULATE THROUGH THE CAR, AND THAT REDUCES THE COOLING EFFICIENCY OF THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM.

SO IF YOUR CAR HAS A CABIN AIR FILTER, AND THE A/C'S NOT WORKING PROPERLY, WELL, CHECK THE CABIN AIR FILTER FIRST.

THE NEXT THING IS SOMETHING THAT WE SEE ALL THE TIME: THIS IS A CONDENSER.

IT IS MOUNTED UP HERE AHEAD OF THE RADIATOR, RIGHT IN THE VERY FRONT OF THE CAR.

AND IT GETS RID OF THE HEAT THAT'S PICKED UP BY THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM INSIDE OF THE CAR.

NOW, LET'S TAKE A PEEK AT THIS ONE.

WE'LL PUT THIS LITTLE LIGHT BEHIND IT.

AND AS WE MOVE THE LIGHT DOWN, WE SEE THAT WHEN WE GET DOWN HERE IN THE MIDDLE, THE LIGHT GOES AWAY.

NOTHING IS COMING THROUGH.

THAT MEANS THAT THE CENTER OF THIS CONDENSER IS BLOCKED.

NOW WHY DOES THAT HAPPEN?

WELL, IT HAPPENS BECAUSE THERE'S AN ELECTRIC COOLING FAN THAT'S PUSHING STUFF RIGHT THROUGH THIS SPOT, AND IT ALL COLLECTS THERE AND BLOCKS AIR FLOW OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

NOW, THE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENS IS THAT THIS IS VERY CLOSE TO THE RADIATOR, AND LEAVES AND DEBRIS PILE UP BETWEEN THE CONDENSER AND THE RADIATOR.

HOW DO YOU KEEP IT CLEAN?

EVERY TIME YOU WASH THE CAR, WASH YOUR CONDENSER WITH YOUR GARDEN HOSE.

NOW, YOU ALSO MAY HAVE SEEN ADS ON TV OR IN PRINT THAT TELL YOU THAT IT'S REALLY, REALLY EASY TO RECHARGE YOUR OWN AIR CONDITIONING.

WELL, IF YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE.

BUT, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU COULD DAMAGE THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IN YOUR CAR.

NOW THESE COME WITH INSTRUCTIONS, AND THEY HAVE A GAUGE ON THEM.

BUT IN A PRO SHOP, YOU FIND THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ONE GAUGE, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TWO GAUGES.

A LOW SIDE, OR LOW PRESSURE GAUGE, AND A HIGH SIDE, OR HIGH PRESSURE GAUGE.

AND IT'S THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THESE TWO THAT TELL YOU HOW THE SYSTEM IS WORKING.

NOW, ANOTHER THING IS THAT YOU HAVE NO WAY TO MEASURE HOW MUCH REFRIGERANT YOU'RE PUTTING IN TO THE SYSTEM.

AND THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF REFRIGERANT IN AN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM THESE DAYS IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SCALES LIKE THIS ONE.

VERY, VERY PRECISE.

SO PRECISE, THAT IF WE PUT THIS QUARTER ON HERE, WE CAN ACTUALLY MEASURE THE WEIGHT OF A QUARTER.

NOW, WE USE THIS TO MEASURE THE WEIGHT OF THE REFRIGERANT THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM.

AND ON MANY CARS, IT HAS TO BE ACCURATE, PLUS OR MINUS ONE OUNCE OF REFRIGERANT.

PRETTY HARD TO DO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THIS EQUIPMENT.

SO, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL ABOUT DO IT YOURSELF, YOU'D BE BETTER OFF TO HAVE A PRO DO IT.

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

NOW LET'S GRAB SOME CAR KEYS AND GET THE LOWDOWN ON SOME OF THIS SUMMER'S OTHER TOP DOWN STARS.

ANY TIME OF YEAR IS GOOD FOR US BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A BENTLEY, BUT AS THE SKIES TURN BLUE, WE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE 2013 CONTINENTAL GT SPEED CONVERTIBLE FOR A MOST PROPER TOP DOWN THRILL.

AND INDEED, THERE IS NOTHING QUITE AS THRILLING AS THE 6.0 LITER TWIN-TURBO W12 AND ITS OUTRAGEOUS 616 HORSEPOWER.

SPEEDS CLIMB QUICKLY AS THE SLIGHTEST JAB OF THE THROTTLE CAN HAVE YOU NEARING TRIPLE DIGITS BEFORE YOUR HAIR IS MUSSED-UPPED.

TOP SPEED IS A WIND TUNNEL-LIKE 202 MILES PER HOUR.

EIGHT GEARS DO KEEP THE GT SPEED IN CHECK, AND IT CAN BE QUITE THE SEDATE CRUISER WHEN LEFT TO SHIFT FOR ITSELF.

AVAILABLE CARBON/SILICON/ CARBIDE BRAKES DO THEIR BEST TO SLOW THIS 5,500 POUND BEHEMOTH, AND WE DO RECOMMEND THEM, AS IT'S TEMPTING TO EXPLORE THE GT SPEED LIMITS.

STYLING IS PURE MODERN "FLYING B".

THE VERY POWERED MULTI-LAYER TOP WORKS EFFORTLESSLY AND SOLIDLY SEALS THE INTERIOR WHICH IS EXPERTLY CRAFTED AND DOWNRIGHT BEAUTIFUL.

WHEN YOU'VE BEEN MAKING CARS FOR ALMOST A CENTURY, YOU'RE BOUND TO GET A FEW THINGS RIGHT.

AND BENTLEY SEEMS TO HAVE FOUND THEIR WINNING FORMULA, AS THE CONTINENTAL GT SPEED CONVERTIBLE IS ELEGANT, POWERFUL, AND FAST.

THE ONLY THING IT ISN'T IS AFFORDABLE.

EXPECT TO PAY UPWARDS OF $235,000 WHEN THIS CAR HITS DEALERS THIS SUMMER.

FOR MORE ACCESSIBLE WARM WEATHER DRIVING FUN, WE DON'T THINK YOU CAN GO WRONG WITH THE 2013 FIAT 500 ABARTH CABRIO.

WHILE NOT A TRUE CONVERTIBLE, THE CABRIO FEATURES THE "OPEN ROOF" DESIGN OF THE STANDARD 500C.

SO SOAK UP SOME RAYS AND THAT LOVELY ABARTH EXHAUST NOTE.

CHASSIS STRENGTH AND BALANCE ARE MAINTAINED AS WELL, ADDING ONLY 33 POUNDS OVER THE HARDTOP ABARTH.

PERFORMANCE BITS ARE FAMILIAR: A 1.4 LITER MULTIAIR TURBO MAKING 160 HORSEPOWER AND 5-SPEED HEAVY DUTY MANUAL TRANSMISSION.

A DEDICATED SPORT MODE INCREASES TORQUE OUTPUT, WHILE A THREE-WAY ADJUSTABLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM LETS YOU DIAL BACK THE ELECTRONIC NANNY.

ALL SAID, THE CABRIO MATCHES THE BITE OF ITS HARDTOP VARIANT TO A TEE, EVERYTHING FROM ITS CORNERING ABILITY TO FLAT OUT POWER.

STYLING IS DEAD-ON, TOO.

BADGING AND ACCENTS LEND THEIR ABARTH FLAIR, WHILE THE INTERIOR GETS THE SAME STYLISH MAKEOVER.

WITH A STARTING PRICE AROUND $26,000, THE FIAT 500 ABARTH CABRIO IS FOUR GRAND MORE THAN THE HARDTOP, BUT WITH THE ADDED VERSATILITY AND PURE DRIVING ENJOYMENT OF AN OPEN TOP DESIGN, WE THINK IT IS JUSTIFIABLE.

AND IT'S ON SALE NOW.

BUT FOR THOSE FEW URBANITES DESPERATE TO SQUEEZE A LITTLE SUNSHINE INTO THEIR SHORT CITY JAUNTS, THERE'S THE 2013 SMART FORTWO PASSION CABRIOLET.

THE LOOK IS ONE OF, "YOU KNOW IT WHEN YOU SEE IT."

WITH VIRTUALLY NO FRONT OR REAR OVERHANG, AND ITS TALL, BOXY BODY, THE SMART IS A TRUE CITY CAR AT LESS THAN 9 FEET LONG.

ITS 1.0 LITER, 3 CYLINDER, 70 HORSE ENGINE IS FINE FOR SCOOTING ACROSS THE CITY, ALL WITH 36 MPG FUEL ECONOMY.

BUT WHILE WE DID LOG SOME HIGHWAY MILES, BIGGER TRAFFIC WILL BLOW YOU AROUND.

THE 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC MANUAL GEARBOX CONTINUES AS SMART'S LOW POINT.

LURCHING LIKE A PURE MANUAL WITH A FIRST TIME DRIVER.

FORTUNATELY, PRACTICE WITH THE SHIFT PADDLES AND THROTTLE CAN SMOOTH IT OUT.

MUCH LIKE OTHER MICRO AND MINI CABRIOLETS, THE SMART FEATURES MORE OF AN OPEN TOP THAN A TRUE CONVERTIBLE SETUP.

WE LIKED HAVING A LITTLE OPEN AIR AT TIMES.

IT HELPS MAKE THE INTERIOR FEEL LESS TIGHT AND MORE INVITING.

Patrick Lucas: THE SMART CABRIO DEFINITELY ISN'T FOR EVERYONE.

IT'S GOT A VERY SPECIFIC PURPOSE; THAT'S MAINLY TO BE A QUICK CITY RUNABOUT THAT YOU CAN OCCASIONALLY DROP THE TOP IF YOU WANT TO.

IF YOU HAVE A SHORT CITY COMMUTE, OR IF YOU LIVE DOWNTOWN LIKE I DO, I CAN SEE THE APPEAL.

John: AVAILABLE FOR AROUND $18,000, THE 2013 SMART FORTWO PASSION CABRIOLET DELIVERS SOME HIGH STYLE, HIGH FUEL ECONOMY, AND THE SATISFACTION THAT YOU'LL ALWAYS FIND A PLACE TO PARK IT.

AND WE'LL SHED LIGHT ON A FEW MORE CAR KEYS FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS, SOON!

SINCE ITS DEBUT FOR 1990, THE AFFORDABLE MAZDA MX-5 MIATA HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST FUN TO DRIVE SPORTS CARS AVAILABLE AT ANY PRICE.

AND WHILE MANY ROADSTER IMITATORS HAVE TRIED; LIKE THE MR2 SPYDER, S2000, SOLSTICE, AND SKY, NONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE MIATA'S SUCCESS.

WELL, IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD, THERE'S AN ALL-NEW MIATA ON THE HORIZON BEING CO-DEVELOPED WITH ALFA ROMEO.

SO BEFORE WE MOVE ON, WE WANTED ONE MORE FLING WITH A DEAR OLD FRIEND.

MORE THAN ANY OTHER CAR, WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF THE PORSCHE BOXSTER, THE MAZDA MX-5 MIATA HAS ALWAYS FELT LIKE A CAR YOU WEAR MORE THAN DRIVE.

AND WHILE WE CAN'T PREDICT WHETHER THAT READY-TO-WEAR STYLE WILL REMAIN EN VOGUE COME THE NEXT GENERATION, IT STILL HOLDS TRUE FOR THE 2013 MAZDA MX-5.

THIS TIDY TWO-SEAT DROP TOP REMAINS ONE OF THE SWEETEST CARS WE'VE EVER DRIVEN.

SOME OF OUR NEWER STAFFERS WHO HAVEN'T HAD THE PLEASURE OF DRIVING A MIATA WERE INSTANT BELIEVERS; AND FOR THOSE OF US THAT HAVE DRIVEN PLENTY OF MX-5'S AROUND THE BLOCK, NOT TO MENTION OWNED A FEW, CLIMBING INSIDE THIS ONE FELT RIGHT AT HOME.

THE SNUG CONFINES THAT WE REMEMBER ARE STILL THERE, WITH BOTH GEAR SHIFT AND STEERING WHEEL RIGHT WHERE YOU WANT THEM TO BE.

AND IT'S A GOOD THING, AS THE STEERING WHEEL STILL ONLY TILTS FOR ADJUSTMENT.

THE MX-5 IS NOT A CAR THAT YOU HAVE TO DRIVE FAST TO GET GREAT ENJOYMENT OUT OF, THIS IS ALSO A GOOD THING AS THERE'S ONLY ADEQUATE POWER COMING FROM THE MZR 2.0-LITER I4; WHICH ODDLY ENOUGH RECOMMENDS PREMIUM FUEL TO PRODUCE ITS 187-HORSEPOWER, ACCOMPANIED BY A MEAGER 140 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

GETTING REACQUAINTED ON OUR FAVORITE BACK ROADS, WE FOUND THIS LATEST MX-5 TO FEEL A LITTLE MORE REFINED, BUT THAT'S OKAY AS WE REALIZE SOME THINGS HAVE TO CHANGE.

AND THOUGH IT HAS LOST A LITTLE OF ITS BACK-TO-BASICS FEEL OF THE ORIGINAL, WITH THINGS LIKE AN OPTIONAL POWER FOLDING HARD TOP, THE QUIRKY WINDOW SWITCHES AND THE HIDDEN FUEL RELEASE ARE REMINDERS THAT YOU ARE IN A UNIQUE VEHICLE.

TAKING IN A FEW MORE CURVES HAD US PONDERING WHY MAZDA EVEN FEELS THE NEED TO REDO IT FOR 2014, AS IT DOESN'T REALLY NEED IT.

I GUESS NEW COMPETITION FROM THE SUBARU BRZ AND SCION FRS IS A CONCERN.

THE MX-5 HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT DROPPING THE TOP, BOTH HARD AND SOFT, AND GETTING OUT INTO THE ELEMENTS.

AND WE WERE SO EAGER TO DO JUST THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN WAIT FOR WARM WEATHER.

FORTUNATELY, OUR CAR CAME EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAKS.

AND WHILE THEY DIDN'T GRIP AS WELL THROUGH THE CONES AT OUR TRACK, THEY HAD NO EFFECT ON THE MX-5'S RAZOR SHARP STEERING WITH DEAD-ON TURN-INS.

THE TIRES DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP ACCELERATION EFFORTS EITHER.

NEVER A STRAIGHT LINE ROCKET, THE MX-5 DOES SNAP OFF THE LINE SPRITELY, BUT HERE IT TOOK US A FULL 8.0-SECONDS TO CLIMB TO 60, OVER A SECOND SLOWER THAN THE LAST MIATA WE TESTED.

THE QUARTER MILE WAS ALSO SLOWER, TAKING 16.2-SECONDS TO TRIP THE LIGHTS AT 89 MILES-PER-HOUR.

FOR THIS LAST GO-AROUND FOR THE CURRENT GEN, THE LOOKS HAVEN'T CHANGED MUCH, BUT THERE IS A NEW FRONT FASCIA, AND A NEW CLUB TRIM THAT REPLACES THE TOURING TRIM IN THE LINE-UP AND INCLUDES 17-INCH GRAY ALLOY WHEELS, BLACK SIDE MIRRORS, AND CLUB BADGES.

INSIDE, CLUB TRIM ADDS A BODY-COLORED DASH PANEL AND RED STITCHING THROUGHOUT THE CABIN.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS COME IN AT 21-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 24-COMBINED.

WE TOPPED ALL OF THOSE NUMBERS, EVEN WITH SOME BACK ROAD BLASTING, NETTING A GREAT AVERAGE OF 28.6 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM.

CLOTH TOP DOWN SUMMER FUN IN A MIATA IS ONLY $24,515 AWAY.

CLUB TRIM COMES IN AT $27,500.

A POWER RETRACTABLE HARD TOP WILL ADD $1,760 MORE, AND WHILE IT ALSO ADDS A LITTLE QUIETNESS, YOU REALLY DON'T NEED IT.

WE SAY BUY THE CHEAPEST ONE YOU CAN FIND, DROP THE TOP AND HIT THE ROAD.

IF WE MADE A LIST OF THE MOST ENJOYABLE CARS THAT WE'VE DRIVEN IN OUR GENERATION ON THE AIR, THE MAZDA MIATA WOULD BE A SERIOUS CONTENDER FOR THE TOP SPOT, AND OUR TIME SPENT WITH THE 2013 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA JUST REINFORCES THAT.

LET'S JUST HOPE THAT CONTINUES AS THE MX-5 ZOOM-ZOOMS ITS WAY INTO THE FUTURE.

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHEN WE'LL HAUL UP A ROAD TEST REVIEW OF THE ALL NEW CHEVROLET SILVERADO PICKUP.

THEN, PICK UP THE FAMILY IN NISSAN'S REDESIGNED SENTRA COMPACT.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, I'M JOHN DAVIS.

WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK .

Announcer: TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE, VISIT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY TIRE RACK.

AND BY... ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS.

NO MATTER WHAT CUSTOMERS DRIVE, THEY CAN PURCHASE ONLINE FROM A COMPREHENSIVE SELECTION OF BRANDS, PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS.

ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.

AND BY... 3M, MAKER OF INNOVATIVE AUTO CARE PRODUCTS.

AGED OR YELLOWED LENSES REDUCE BRIGHTNESS OF HEAD, TAIL AND DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS.

THE 3M HEADLIGHT RESTORATION SYSTEM HELPS RESTORE LENS CLARITY FOR SAFER DRIVING.