Topless in Miami
SEE ALSO: Convertibles Sold In North America - Specs, Comparisons, Prices and Reviews
Topless in Miami, Cars that is...
By Larry Nutson
Senior Editor and Bureau Chief
Chicago Bureau
The Auto Channel

2015 Porsche Boxster GTS
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With plenty of sun and a cool sea breeze the east coast of Florida is
one of the best places to drive convertibles. The Southern Automotive Media
Association (SAMA) recently awarded the
2015 Porsche Boxster GTS top honors
as the Convertible of the Year at their Topless in Miami Presented by
Haartz event. This was the fifth annual convertible competition held by
SAMA.
With a base price of $73,500, the Boxster received more first-place
votes than any of the other class winners to win top honor. The Boxster was
also the winner in the Performance Convertible competition.

2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe
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The
2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe was recognized as the
winner of the Super Luxury/Extoic Trophy as the only entrant in the Class.
Priced around $550,000 the Drophead surely deserved the win.

2015 Maserati GranTurismo
Convertible
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Other class winners were the $146,000
2015 Maserati GranTurismo
Convertible in the Luxury Class and the $62,250 Mercedes-Benz E400
Cabriolet was scored the winner in the Full-Size Class.

2016 Mazda MX-5
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The all-new
2016 Mazda MX-5 with a $24,915 base price captured the
Small Convertible Class, having also won this class last year with the
outgoing model.

Mercedes-Benz E400
Cabriolet
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In accepting the award, Mazda representative Tamara
Mlynarczyk said this This was the first ever award given to the all-new MX-5
that goes on sale later this year.
I expect there will be many more awards
to come for this delightful and fun two-seater.
More than 60 members of SAMA spent the day scoring 17 vehicles from
14 manufacturers on various aspects of the world’s top droptops at
the event, which
was headquartered once again at the Ritz-Carlton Key
Biscayne Resort.
It was tough duty but someone had to do it. We drove convertibles
both with the top down and the top up. Evaluations included quietness with
the top up, ease of top operation, trunk space with the top down, fit of
the top and how well the top enhanced the overall design of the vehicle.

2016 Buick Cascada
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Also on display for viewing only was the
2016 Buick Cascada. An
all-new entry from Buick in the U.S. market, the four-seat Cascada will go
on sale for 2016.
“As a longtime customer, we congratulate Porsche on earning
top honors this year. The Boxster features our high-performance acoustic
topping material, which enhances the sporty feel of the vehicle," said Matt
Williams, director of business development for the Haartz Corporation.
"There was a great selection of vehicles this year showcasing some of the
best technology in soft-top convertibles."

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The Haartz Corporation (Haartz) is a world leader in highly
engineered and uniquely designed convertible toppings and interior surface
materials. The company’s world headquarters and North American
manufacturing operations are located in Acton, Massachusetts, with
additional manufacturing in Mannheim, Germany and coming soon to Pune,
India. Beyond these manufacturing locations, Haartz
maintains offices in
Detroit, Munich, Tokyo, Delhi, Irapuato, Mexico, Shanghai and Chongqing,
China. Employing over 400 people worldwide, Haartz has been a trusted
automotive supplier since 1907, and continues to be privately owned and
operated by the Haartz family.
SAMA is an organization of automotive journalists, representatives
of media organizations, corporate communications specialists, marketing and
advertising representatives, and auto manufacturers related to South
Florida’s dynamic automotive industry. Based in Miami, it was formed
in March 2007 and has grown to include more than 140 members from the South
and around the country.
I hope you get to enjoy top-down driving and don’t forget to
apply your sunblock.
© 2015 Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy