A retractable hardtop, also known as coup������© convertible or coup������© cabriolet, is a type of convertible that forgoes a folding textile roof in favor of an automatically operated, multi-part, self-storing hardtop where the rigid roof sections are opaque, translucent or independently operable.
The retractable hardtop solves some issues with the convertible, but has its own compromises, namely mechanical complexity, expense and more often than not, reduced luggage capacity. A 2006 New York Times article suggested the retractable hardtop may herald the demise of the textile-roofed convertible,[9] and a 2007 Wall Street Journal article suggested "more and more convertibles are eschewing soft cloth tops in favor of sophisticated folding metal roofs, making them practical in all climates, year-round."[10]
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Retractable hardtops can vary in material (steel, plastic or aluminum), can vary from two to five in the number of rigid sections and often rely on complex dual-hinged trunk (British: boot) lids that enable the trunk lid to both receive the retracting top from the front and also receive parcels or luggage from the rear ���¢�¯�¿�½�¯�¿�½ along with complex trunk divider mechanisms to prevent loading of luggage that would conflict with the operation of the hardtop.
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* The Volkswagen Eos features a five-segment retractable roof where one section is itself an independently sliding transparent sunroof.[10]
* The Cadillac XLR features a retractable hardtop of aluminum (i.e.,lightweight) requiring 6'-10������½" of vertical clearance during retraction, and manufactured by a supplier joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.[11]
* The Mercedes SL hardtop features a glass section that rotates during retraction to provide a more compact "stack."
* The Mazda MX-5 retractable hardtop is manufactured by the German firm Webasto[12] and is marketed alongside a largely identical folding-textile convertible, with an increase of 77 lb (35 kg)[13] and no reduction in cargo capacity ���¢�¯�¿�½�¯�¿�½ the hardtop is constructed of polycarbonate.[13]
* Daihatsu marketed the Copen in the ultra-compact Japanese Kei class.
* The Chrysler Sebring's retractable hardtop is marketed also alongside a softop. According to development engineer Dave Lauzun, during construction, the Karmann-made tops are dropped into a body that is largely identical: both softop and retractable feature the same automatic tonneau cover, luggage divider and luggage space.[14] The retractable does feature an underbody cross-brace not included in the softop.
* The Volvo C70, its retractable hardtop manufactured by Webasto[12] includes a global window switch that allows simultanious raising or lowering of all windows,[15] and a button to power-activate the raising of the folded top stack within the trunk to access cargo below.[15]
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