BERLIN: When a road winds its way up a mountainside in tight bends and hairpin turns, many drivers take a deep breath and try their best to steady their nerves. But not roadster drivers - they are suddenly in their element, rejoicing not only in every sharp curve along the road, but also the feeling of cool wind blowing in their hair.

Cars were initially designed purely for transporting passengers or goods, not to offer their owners enjoyment through driving.

But the earliest roadsters, like the first Ford Thunderbird, changed that: They offered far more driving pleasure than actual utility.

"With open roadsters, owners can enjoy the ride, but they also like to show off," says design professor Paolo Tumminelli from the Technical University of Cologne.



Unlike most convertibles, roadsters have only two seats and are minimally equipped. "A convertible is based on a comfortable coupe, with a folding roof that can be opened," says Tumminelli. In contrast, a roadster is an open sports car with a fabric roof.

Particularly in early models, roadsters were "sports cars that were driven open," explains Tumminelli. Their drivers were tough: Hats and lambskin jackets offered only cursory protection from rain or cold.

Today's roadsters, however, offer the comfort of convertibles and hardly differ from them when it comes to features, with insulated folding roofs in many models protecting occupants from the elements. The only difference? Roadsters still only offer seating for two, as compared to convertibles, which have four or five seats.

"Many customers treat a roadster like the BMW Z4 as a reward, as a driving machine for pure pleasure," says Andreas Ederer, product manager for the car. "Roadster owners usually have multiples cars."



For these owners, it's really about driving. For them, the road is the goal rather than the destination. "No other car is as close to its surroundings – it's like a motorcycle," says Ederer.

Stefan Bratzel from the FHDW University of Applied Sciences in western Germany also sees the roadster's distinct driving behaviour as a special characteristic.

"Small, lightweight roadsters, with their low seating position, convey an especially sporty driving experience," says Bratzel.

On the whole, roadster sales are relatively low. "In this small segment, manufacturers have to carefully calculate whether there are enough customers and determine exactly how to position their vehicles," explains Bratzel.

For example, the Mazda MX-5 is considered an affordable roadster, while the BMW Z4 is designed for the premium segment.

Keywords