Newport Convertible Engineering founder brings open-air fun to almost anything
BY PATRICK C. PATERNIE AUTOWEEK January 2012
Al Zadeh enrolled in the University of Southern California with the idea of becoming a surgeon, but he never expected that instead of a scalpel and forceps, his instruments would include chop saws and welding torches.
Zadeh is president of Newport Convertible Engineering in Placentia, Calif., a company he founded 28 years ago to design, engineer and build open-air editions of everything from SUVs and limos to sporty hardtops and sedans. His clients include car companies seeking prototypes and concepts, dealers looking to boost sales and individuals wanting to make a fashion statement.
“I have done just about every vehicle from A to Z,” he said.,
Actually, that would start with “Z,” as Nissan’s famous sports car was one of his first conversions. “A” came later, with Aston Martin Vanquish convertible creations, along with Porsche 928 and others. Zadeh’s first big seller was the Nissan 300ZX.
All of this won him the attention of carmakers to meet their convertible needs. Volkswagen had him handle the initial design and engineering of the New Beetle in 1998, and soon after, he worked on the PT Cruiser for Chrysler. Toyota approached him to do a convertible version of the FJ Cruiser a few years ago. He also offered a Camaro convertible a year before Chevrolet did.
On the more fanciful front, Zadeh’s 1990-99 Mercedes-Benz S-class conversions are longtime favorites in Dubai, and his latest best sellers have been ragtop versions of the last-generation Chrysler 300C and the Cadillac CTS. The inspiration for these convertibles was the MG he owned while going to college.
“I wanted to be a doctor, until we went on a field trip to a hospital and I found out I’m not too good with seeing blood,” he said. Zadeh switched to engineering with a concentration to another vital fluid, petroleum. But when the oil business went through a lean period in 1981, he searched for an industry in which his mechanical-engineering studies would come into play. His MG provided a clue.
“I got tired of carrying towels and having wet pants every time I drove my MG in the rain or through the car wash,” he said. “I started thinking about how I could improve the design of the convertible top.”
Zadeh relies on sketches, computer design and Photoshop-altered images to carry out his development – plus the “secret formula” he developed to mount the top mechanism as low as possible and still have it operate smoothly and quickly. “My knowledge base is strong because of all the cars I’ve done over the years. I respect the manufacturer’s original design and try not to deviate from that,” he said.
He strives to increase stiffness without adding excess weight. His recent Jaguar XJ drop-top gains only 40 pounds. He considers that car his greatest challenge because of its unique bonded and riveted aluminum construction. But the operation that really excited him is the convertible surgery he did to the 2011 Chrysler 300, which debuted at SEMA.
AUTO WEEK
NSC in Huntington Beach, Calif., has been chopping the tops of perfectly good cars since 1983. Now, with summer up on the Northern Hemisphere, they’ve taken to chopping the tops off SUVs, too, including the Toyota FJ Cruiser, the Hummer H3 and Hummer H2. The premise of a convertible SUV would raise hundreds of red flags for anyone who has ever heard the phrase “torsional rigidity.” We’ve seen homemade Cabriolets where the windshields cracked after three locks of driving because what is left of therm twists like a pair of plastic salad tongs. But Newport does a solid engineering job on every project, and the SUVs are not exception. With welded-in reinforcement round the window frames and behind the back seats, as well as roll hoops welded into the right places, both FJ, H3, H2 are stiff that you won’t have to worry about anything breaking on them. The unibody FJ felt much stiffer than he H3, but even the H3 seemed sound over speed bumps and across water drains. The power tops are hydraulically tuated via a single button, with the final latch done by hand at the windshield header.
by Mark Vaughn
Edmunds-Inside Line
Driving the 2011 NCE Jaguar XJL Convertible
Sedan Roominess in a Convertible Package
By Patrick Paternie, Contributor
Odds are the person who coined the phrase “relegated to the backseat” spent more than a few miles riding in the back of a convertible. It’s often a miserable place thanks to incessant wind, constant noise and typically cramped quarters.
Then there’s the backseat of Newport Convertible Engineering’s (NCE) Jaguar XJ convertible. It’s still wind-blown and loud in back, but in this convertible there’s plenty of room to stretch out. So even if you don’t necessarily feel comfortable, you’ll look as if you are.
An Interesting Perspective
The first time we take a good look at this soft-top 2011 NCE Jaguar XJL it’s from the rear. It’s not the most flattering angle to begin with, given the already controversial shape of the standard taillights, which are usually mitigated somewhat by the sweeping C-pillars.
Replacing those metal C-pillars and sloping rear glass with a convertible top only exaggerates the height of the rear end. The result is a not very flattering bustlelike rear quarters, reminiscent of the Murano CrossCabriolet, or Kim Kardashian depending on your preferred frame of reference.
The view improves dramatically from the side. Newport’s Al Zadeh definitely got his sums right with the secret formula he has devised over the years to make the top sit as low as possible without interfering with its ease of operation. Zadeh fabricated an aluminum header to allow the top to mate seamlessly with the stock windshield frame. From there, a gentle arch maintains headroom as the top flows smoothly into the car’s rear flanks. From a distance, it almost looks like a vinyl-covered roof, for better or worse.
Top down, the side view remains pretty sleek, marred somewhat by the protrusion of the B-pillars and attendant roll bar. Even if you were willing to sacrifice safety for appearance’s sake, the B-pillars are still a necessity because they carry the tracks for the power windows.
Given the pedigree of our ride, we chose to cruise along some of Orange County’s most affluent waterfront communities to assess the Jag’s impression on the area’s automotive fashionistas. The car drew admiring looks and comments. What surprised us, however, was that almost no one recognized it as a Jaguar. Most thought it was a concept car.
Cruising Vessel
And what was it like to drive? About how you would think a Jaguar XJL with a convertible top would drive. On rough surfaces, there was some vibration transmitted through the steering column but no cowl shake, top up or down. When raised, the top structure exhibited some shake when we passed over larger bumps. Overall the ride was smooth and quiet with no creaks, groans or wind whistling.
Zadeh considered its conversion the biggest challenge of his nearly 30-year career.
Our biggest issue was coping with limited rear vision through the small oval-shaped glass rear window. Still, that was better than peering over the bulge of the top when lowered. Given the top’s overall length, we don’t think Zadeh could have mounted it any lower, but it still protrudes enough to impede rear vision, including the rear three-quarters view.
With such limited vision from the driver seat, we decided to try out the backseat. Thanks to the unchanged rear doors and the abundant legroom, getting in and out was a breeze. Headroom is not compromised at all with the top raised either. It features three-layer construction that consists of a soft suede headliner, foam insulation and an exterior covering of German canvas.
Lower the top and the experience feels absolutely regal. Just settle back and cruise elegantly along as the rest of the world rolls past. From the backseat, the XJL provides one of the best convertible rides on the planet.
The 99 Percent Solution
“My objective was to keep the car as original as possible,” Zadeh had told us. “Ninety-nine percent of the cars need some alteration of the rear seats; not on this car, it is all intact,” he declared.
Most of the trunk is intact as well, leaving a generous amount of space even when the top is lowered.
Because of the Jaguar’s unique aerospace-style construction of bonded and riveted aluminum, Zadeh considered its conversion the biggest challenge of his nearly 30-year career. He used aluminum sheeting and tubing to build up a box frame that runs along the rocker panels to maintain stiffness after removing the car’s huge panoramic roof.
At the rear he added an aluminum platform that bolts into the trunk to support the base of the top along with its operating hardware and hydraulics. And of course the big roll bar that lines up with the B-pillars. According to Newport, the convertible conversion weighs a mere 40 pounds more than the stock sedan.
Chauffeur Not Included
The 2011 NCE Jaguar XJL Convertible will run you $49,000 plus the cost of the stock sedan. So you’re talking $130,000 to start. That includes a three-year warranty that can also be extended to five years.
To enjoy it fully, though, you should also consider a driver. It’s the only way to fully appreciate how enjoyable it is to ride in the backseat of this convertible. Yeah, there’s still some wind and considerable noise, but you can’t match the view.
Newport Convertible Engineering provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.
Edmunds.com
First Impressions:
Once the top goes down, the Toyota FJ Cruiser becomes the best four-wheel-drive beach transportation money can buy.
Power-operated fabric top
Glass rear window
Lightweight conversion
Four-wheel drive
Once I Was Blind, but Now I Can See
Toyota does have a sense of humor. All it takes to see it is a look at the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser, a cartoon version of the old FJ40 Land Cruiser. It makes your daily commute feel like a trip to the beach.
Until, that is, the FJ Cruiser’s double-wide C-pillar blots out your ability to make a quick lane change during the crush-hour traffic. There must be some kind of comic irony to be found in a retro vehicle with severely impaired rearward vision.
Someone should do something about this. In fact, why not just cut off the whole top altogether?
Is Placentia Anywhere Near Newport Beach?
Apparently someone at Toyota had similar thoughts, because last year the company commissioned a convertible concept for the SEMA show from Al Zadeh of Newport Convertible Engineering in Placentia, California. Actually, Zadeh did much better than just slice off the FJ’s roof; he went ahead and built a power-operated fabric top to replace it.
This is not the first time an automaker has come to Zadeh to produce a convertible version of one of its vehicles. The FJ represents only a small portion of the alphabet soup of vehicle tops he has engineered during his 24 years in business.
“I have done just about every vehicle from A to Z,” he says, only half joking. Under the letter “A” you will find conversions of the Aston Martin Vanquish for individual customers. He handled the design and engineering of the first convertible version of the Volkswagen New Beetle in 1998. Soon after, he worked on the PT Cruiser for Chrysler. His conversion of the 1990-’99 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is still popular with customers in Dubai. Recently, he’s been meeting a big demand for ragtop versions of the Cadillac CTS and Chrysler 300C. And don’t forget his Nissan Z, which was popular in Japan through the 1980s.
For all Zadeh’s popular successes with convertible versions of exotic modern cars, he got the inspiration for his vocation from an MGB while a student at USC.
“I got tired of carrying towels and having wet pants every time I drove my MG in the rain or the car wash,” Zadeh recalls. “I started thinking about how I could improve the design of the convertible top.”
When work in the oil business began to disappear in 1981, Zadeh changed his engineering career and began to build convertible versions of the Nissan 300ZX, Porsche 928 and even Roll-Royce sedans.
Measure Twice, Cut Once
Zadeh relies on a combination of sketches, computer design and Photoshop-altered images to carry out his development.
“My knowledge base is strong because of all the cars I’ve done over the years,” he explains. “I respect the manufacturer’s original design and try not to deviate from it. Safety is most important, so the mounting points for the seatbelts and backseat points stay in place.”
Zadeh personally carries out the initial conversion to get a feel for the way the car is built and where it needs structural reinforcement. He says that a four-door vehicle usually takes up to three or four months to design.
The four-door Toyota FJ Cruiser posed an additional problem because its unique B-pillar swings out to afford access to the rear seat, so once the top is removed, the upper latch points for the front seatbelts go with it. As a solution, Zadeh has fabricated a roll cage of 1.25-inch tubing over the passenger area to locate the door mount, plus he’s added structural integrity, safety and a dash of Hummer-like off-road machismo.
What Zadeh didn’t add was a lot of weight. “I try to keep the weight within 50-100 pounds of the original vehicle,” he declares. His FJ convertible weighs about 80 pounds more than a stock version.
Because the FJ has body-on-frame construction, there was no need to further stiffen the chassis. The body, however, gets additional bracing at the rear via extensions from the side of the roll cage, a rectangular bar just forward of the rear wheelwells and two similarly sized bars across the back near the tailgate.
The fully lined power top includes a heated glass rear window. A switch on the lower left of the dash raises and lowers it. Securing it to the windshield is easily done by a pair of latches borrowed from the Toyota Solara convertible.
Sparks Fly
As eager as we were to do some al fresco beach cruising in the FJ, it was hard not to resist the opportunity to watch one of NCE’s workers wield an electric saw in an attack on the FJ Cruiser’s offensive C-pillar along with the rest of the roof.
The whole spark-scattering, eardrum-shattering process (much like a fireworks display during a demolition derby) takes about 30 minutes. This is done after the interior has been stripped and the exterior covered in 3M Welding and Spark Deflection paper. It takes three workers to lift off the amputated roof.
What follows is the more exacting task of fitting the roll cage, bracing, top mechanism and then the reinstallation of the interior.
Great Big Beach Cruiser
With the top down and the windows raised, the FJ convertible is nearly as temperate and draft-free as the hardtop FJ. Judging by the stares we get (well, except for the guy in the Wrangler straining to avoid eye contact), it’s even cooler on the outside.
Some people might like the humpback styling of the stock FJ Cruiser, but the general populace definitely feels the convertible vibe, especially the closer you get to the beach.
Zadeh’s engineering skill and the general sturdiness of the FJ convertible are verified when two sets of railroad tracks fail to induce a hint of cowl shake or vibration. While vehicle performance hasn’t been upgraded, the airy cockpit makes the FJ feel sprightlier. Being able to hear the V6’s raspy little exhaust note adds to the illusion of power.
Although the top retracts almost completely, it still rests above the FJ’s already high beltline, so visibility directly behind the driver remains compromised. Once it’s raised, the top seals well, with no annoying squeaks or rattles. But we must admit that there is only a slight improvement, if any, in terms of the dreaded blind spot.
But who cares when you know the remedy is only a button-push away?
So Good, Toyota Wants One
The success of Newport Convertible Engineering’s FJ Cruiser Convertible has made Toyota think seriously about putting something similar into production itself, and we anticipate a factory-authorized version in the fall of 2009. For the time being, plenty of Toyota dealers are sold on the idea. To meet demand, Zadeh has had to employ two 12-man shifts to pump out 20-25 FJ Cruiser Convertibles a month.
About 90 percent of Zadeh’s sales are new models sold through dealers. The remaining sales are to individual FJ owners who deal directly with NCE. The convertible conversion costs $10,000 and includes NCE’s warranty for three years or 36,000 miles. Just as important, the conversion does not affect Toyota’s warranty on the rest of the FJ.
You know, there are times when you really enjoy driving a life-size cartoon, especially if it’s a big, yellow convertible.
Toyota does have a sense of humor. All it takes to see it is a look at the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser, a cartoon version of the old FJ40 Land Cruiser. It makes your daily commute feel like a trip to the beach.
Until, that is, the FJ Cruiser’s double-wide C-pillar blots out your ability to make a quick lane change during the crush-hour traffic. There must be some kind of comic irony to be found in a retro vehicle with severely impaired rearward vision.
Someone should do something about this. In fact, why not just cut off the whole top altogether?
Is Placentia Anywhere Near Newport Beach?
Apparently someone at Toyota had similar thoughts, because last year the company commissioned a convertible concept for the SEMA show from Al Zadeh of Newport Convertible Engineering in Placentia, California. Actually, Zadeh did much better than just slice off the FJ’s roof; he went ahead and built a power-operated fabric top to replace it.
This is not the first time an automaker has come to Zadeh to produce a convertible version of one of its vehicles. The FJ represents only a small portion of the alphabet soup of vehicle tops he has engineered during his 24 years in business.
“I have done just about every vehicle from A to Z,” he says, only half joking. Under the letter “A” you will find conversions of the Aston Martin Vanquish for individual customers. He handled the design and engineering of the first convertible version of the Volkswagen New Beetle in 1998. Soon after, he worked on the PT Cruiser for Chrysler. His conversion of the 1990-’99 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is still popular with customers in Dubai. Recently, he’s been meeting a big demand for ragtop versions of the Cadillac CTS and Chrysler 300C. And don’t forget his Nissan Z, which was popular in Japan through the 1980s.
For all Zadeh’s popular successes with convertible versions of exotic modern cars, he got the inspiration for his vocation from an MGB while a student at USC.
“I got tired of carrying towels and having wet pants every time I drove my MG in the rain or the car wash,” Zadeh recalls. “I started thinking about how I could improve the design of the convertible top.”
When work in the oil business began to disappear in 1981, Zadeh changed his engineering career and began to build convertible versions of the Nissan 300ZX, Porsche 928 and even Roll-Royce sedans.
Measure Twice, Cut Once
Zadeh relies on a combination of sketches, computer design and Photoshop-altered images to carry out his development.
“My knowledge base is strong because of all the cars I’ve done over the years,” he explains. “I respect the manufacturer’s original design and try not to deviate from it. Safety is most important, so the mounting points for the seatbelts and backseat points stay in place.”
Zadeh personally carries out the initial conversion to get a feel for the way the car is built and where it needs structural reinforcement. He says that a four-door vehicle usually takes up to three or four months to design.
The four-door Toyota FJ Cruiser posed an additional problem because its unique B-pillar swings out to afford access to the rear seat, so once the top is removed, the upper latch points for the front seatbelts go with it. As a solution, Zadeh has fabricated a roll cage of 1.25-inch tubing over the passenger area to locate the door mount, plus he’s added structural integrity, safety and a dash of Hummer-like off-road machismo.
What Zadeh didn’t add was a lot of weight. “I try to keep the weight within 50-100 pounds of the original vehicle,” he declares. His FJ convertible weighs about 80 pounds more than a stock version.
Because the FJ has body-on-frame construction, there was no need to further stiffen the chassis. The body, however, gets additional bracing at the rear via extensions from the side of the roll cage, a rectangular bar just forward of the rear wheelwells and two similarly sized bars across the back near the tailgate.
The fully lined power top includes a heated glass rear window. A switch on the lower left of the dash raises and lowers it. Securing it to the windshield is easily done by a pair of latches borrowed from the Toyota Solara convertible.
Sparks Fly
As eager as we were to do some al fresco beach cruising in the FJ, it was hard not to resist the opportunity to watch one of NCE’s workers wield an electric saw in an attack on the FJ Cruiser’s offensive C-pillar along with the rest of the roof.
The whole spark-scattering, eardrum-shattering process (much like a fireworks display during a demolition derby) takes about 30 minutes. This is done after the interior has been stripped and the exterior covered in 3M Welding and Spark Deflection paper. It takes three workers to lift off the amputated roof.
What follows is the more exacting task of fitting the roll cage, bracing, top mechanism and then the reinstallation of the interior.
Great Big Beach Cruiser
With the top down and the windows raised, the FJ convertible is nearly as temperate and draft-free as the hardtop FJ. Judging by the stares we get (well, except for the guy in the Wrangler straining to avoid eye contact), it’s even cooler on the outside.
Some people might like the humpback styling of the stock FJ Cruiser, but the general populace definitely feels the convertible vibe, especially the closer you get to the beach.
Zadeh’s engineering skill and the general sturdiness of the FJ convertible are verified when two sets of railroad tracks fail to induce a hint of cowl shake or vibration. While vehicle performance hasn’t been upgraded, the airy cockpit makes the FJ feel sprightlier. Being able to hear the V6’s raspy little exhaust note adds to the illusion of power.
Although the top retracts almost completely, it still rests above the FJ’s already high beltline, so visibility directly behind the driver remains compromised. Once it’s raised, the top seals well, with no annoying squeaks or rattles. But we must admit that there is only a slight improvement, if any, in terms of the dreaded blind spot.
But who cares when you know the remedy is only a button-push away?
So Good, Toyota Wants One
The success of Newport Convertible Engineering’s FJ Cruiser Convertible has made Toyota think seriously about putting something similar into production itself, and we anticipate a factory-authorized version in the fall of 2009. For the time being, plenty of Toyota dealers are sold on the idea. To meet demand, Zadeh has had to employ two 12-man shifts to pump out 20-25 FJ Cruiser Convertibles a month.
About 90 percent of Zadeh’s sales are new models sold through dealers. The remaining sales are to individual FJ owners who deal directly with NSC. The convertible conversion costs $10,000 and includes NSC’s warranty for three years or 36,000 miles. Just as important, the conversion does not affect Toyota’s warranty on the rest of the FJ.
You know, there are times when you really enjoy driving a life-size cartoon, especially if it’s a big, yellow convertible.
Just add sunshine and the Toyota FJ Cruiser is transformed into the world’s best beach cruiser.
Newport Specialty Cars has created a full-size, power-operated fabric top for the FJ.
When the top is in place, the FJ Cruiser still retains its familiar profile.
Because the FJ Cruiser has truck-style body-on-frame construction, NCE’s FJ convertible feels solid and secure even without a roof.
No more blind spots, as the NSC FJ convertible lets you enjoy the view.
Watching NSC’s specialists fire up the cutting torch gets us fired up for the mayhem about to ensue.
You have to wonder: What becomes of all the hardtops that have been removed?
The FJ Cruiser’s interior is completely removed during the conversion process.
An interior superstructure of steel tubing reinforces the suddenly topless bodywork and locates the seatbelts.
Some tricky engineering goes into the design of the top and its power mechanism.
Bracing across the bodywork helps resist the flex that causes creaks and groans.
The fabric top is stitched together right on the premises in Placentia.
Once the fabric top is in place, the FJ Cruiser still has an attractive profile.
The top features a glass rear window to enhance visibility in all kinds of weather.
A Toyota FJ Cruiser Convertible is not the sort of thing you see every day.
Once the sunshine comes in, the artful design details of the FJ Cruiser can be fully appreciated.
The FJ’s unique door arrangement means the new steel superstructure now locates the front seatbelt mounts.
Notice the dramatic increase in headroom for rear-seat occupants.
arge tonneau cover prevents the inside of the top from becoming greasy, but naturally it’s unwieldy.
The convertible top reduces cargo area, but how much room do you need for a couple of beach towels and a Frisbee?
Once the top is down, the NCE FJ Cruiser Convertible feels light-footed and free.
Naturally people will stare, especially envious Jeep Wrangler drivers.
When you’re at the wheel of the NCE FJ Cruiser Convertible, every day is a beach day.
by Patrick C Paternie
Edmunds.com
If you’re looking for the perfect parade car for Earth Day, Toyota Prius Convertible from NCE is it.
Imagine gliding silently behind the Precision Hemp Weaving Society’s float and just in front of the Marching Compost Band, while the Recycling Queen waves to the crowd. It’s almost too politically correct and too environmentally responsible. It is, however, too perfect.
If you’re a fiend for clean air, then the match between the Toyota Prius and open-air motoring is just what you want. Even better, NSC’s drop-top conversion even works pretty well when you’re not in an Earth Day parade.
Clever in Yet Another Way
As the flagship of Hybrid Synergy Drive, the Toyota Prius represents some pretty clever engineering on the part of Toyota. Yet it’s taken another dimension of cleverness by NSC in California, to transform the five-door Prius hatchback into a four-door convertible.
Al Zadeh, President and chief engineer of NSC has a degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Southern California, but for the last 30 years he’s chosen instead to turn cars, trucks and SUVs into convertibles. Some of the decapitated machinery he’s produced has been dang near brilliant, and his convertible conversion of the Acura NSX is so sweet it’s hard to believe that Honda didn’t intend for the midengine sports car to be built that way. Meanwhile, some of the conversions are just plain bizarre, as he’s built a full-size Chevy Express van convertible that is awkward in ways it would take Isaac Asimov to imagine. But by now, NCE’s Zadeh knows every trick in the beheading book.
We drove NCE’s flip-top Toyota FJ Cruiser last year and found it to be generally sturdy and heinously fun. But the FJ is basically a truck, a body-on-frame vehicle that requires only straightforward reinforcement to retain its structural integrity. The Prius, on the other hand, is a front-wheel-drive package built within a sardine-shape unibody that could implode if not judiciously reinforced once the roof is removed.
Considering how much amperage runs through the Prius, that act of lopping off the roof isn’t something to be done lightly. But cut it Zadeh does, taking the roof off completely from aft of the rear doors right up to the windshield header. He retains the window frames around the side glass, however, and then neatly incorporates a stub of the excised hatchback to form a trunk lid. He also builds up a reinforced hoop out of two sections of 1-by-2-inch steel to brace the sides of the body.
Keeping the window frames intact does mean that there’s a lot of structure visible above the beltline of the Prius even with the top down. But this design also means the windows seal securely, and that means a lot less wind noise when the top is up.
Tops in Tops
While the rage in production convertibles these days is retractable hardtops, Zadeh still has faith in the classic fabric soft top. Not only is it more straightforward to design a soft roof that stacks behind a car’s seats, but also there’s much less in the way of expensive hardware and labor.
The Prius convertible’s power-operated top is a five-bow design that incorporates the windshield-header latches from a Toyota Solaraconvertible. It’s covered in three layers of material — German-made canvas, 0.75 inch of insulating foam and a conventional headliner. The heated rear window comes straight out of an Audi TT.
NCE has done a remarkable job of retaining the original shape of the Prius roof line. At first glance, the NSC Prius might be mistaken for an example of the Toyota hybrid that has been inexplicably “blessed” with some kind of dealer-installed canvas-trimmed landau roof. And don’t think there aren’t Toyota dealers out there selling Priuses so equipped (and perhaps further enhanced with Vogue whitewalls).
Tops in Top-up
Once the top is up, this NCE conversion proves to be a relatively taut and rattle-free Prius. Yes, there’s some cowl shudder when you go over railroad tracks and a slight rustle along the top as the wind travels over it, but it doesn’t feel like the car is about to shake itself apart. Think second-generation Chrysler Sebring convertible, and you’re just about where the NSC Prius is when it comes to top-up structure.
Visibility is compromised somewhat by both the excision of the rear quarter windows normally embedded in the C-pillars of the Prius sedan and the replacement of the rear hatch window with that Audi-sourced porthole. Even so, Zadeh has retained the small window that runs across the Prius’ butt between the upper portion of the taillights, and this makes for better rearward visibility than you might expect.
Because part of NSC’s reinforcement is that hoop made from box-section steel, the rear seat no longer flops forward for additional storage. What’s left is a small-ish trunk, and it gets even small-ishier when the top goes down into it.
Tops in Topless
Press and hold a small button installed just to the left of the steering wheel and the NCE fabric top elegantly folds back in just about 30 seconds. The top takes some wrestling to get under its tonneau cover, but it doesn’t stack very high and looks well finished when it’s down.
Toyota expended a lot of effort to make the current Prius aerodynamically friendly and the car’s large, extravagantly raked windshield does a wonderful job of keeping turbulence out of the convertible’s cockpit when the top is down. This NSC Prius is an exceptionally quiet convertible even when the 1.5-liter internal combustion engine is whirring away. It’s especially quiet for an aftermarket conversion; the lack of wind noise is close to astonishing. Let’s call it “astonishing adjacent.”
But despite NSC-added reinforcement down each rocker panel, the structure does feel more loosey goosey when the Prius’ top is down. Again it’s no worse than in some production convertibles of recent vintage, but it’s no better as well.
NSC claims that its conversion doesn’t add any net weight to the Prius, and during our time with the car it felt as quick and maneuverable as any Prius we’ve ever driven. That means not-that-quick and not-that-nimble, but not-that-bad.
In Character
We have to admit that we failed to arrange a rainstorm (or a car wash) to test the water-tightness of the top, and we didn’t drive the NCE Prius far enough to make any generalizations about the impact of open-air motoring on fuel economy. But it does feel tight and we can’t think of any reason why fuel mileage should suffer terribly.
No one has ever confused the Prius with a car that’s thrilling to drive — at least not in the conventional manner. It’s mild-mannered and ultimately a bit distant in the way it responds to you. Of course it does offer terrific utility and clearly superior fuel economy. If only Prius owners weren’t so smug about the politically correct virtues they presume their cars to have.
It turns out, however, that those virtues match up quite well with a convertible top’s sun-worshipping indulgence. Think of NCE’s Prius as a hybrid with the addition of solar power.
By John Pearley Huffman
Motorward > Tesla > NCE Receives 100 Orders for Tesla Model S Convertible
NCE Receives 100 Orders for Tesla Model S Convertible
Wednesday, April 9, 2014 9:19 by Arman Barari
Newport Convertible Engineering started out in this business chopping off the roof of SUVs like Range Rover and Porsche Cayenne. They gained a name for themselves due to the utter horridness of their products. These days, however, they are more focused on projects that make a bit of sense, and it shows in the number of orders they are receiving.
The American firm announced they have received 100 orders for their finest creation yet, the Tesla Model S Convertible. And they are all placed by the same customer! There is, apparently, a Chinese gentleman who thinks there is a market for the drop-top Tesla, and he wants to dominate it. In his defense, NCE has done a good job of turning the Model S into an open-top car.
Turning a four-door, four-seater into a convertible is a challenge both in terms of design and structure. They are too long and have too many pillars, and they usually end up looking quite dreadful. We’re not sure about the structural rigidity of NCE Model S Cabrio, but it sure is easy on the eyes.
Tesla Model S Convertible by NCE is quite a pricey proposition, as the conversion alone costs $29,000. That is if you want a soft-top. NCE can also supplies a removable hardtop, but that will set you back nearly 50 grand. The production of the 100 convertibles will soon get underway at NCE’s headquarters.
engadget
Tesla Model S gets not-quite-official makeover as a convertible
BY TIMOTHY J. SEPPALA @TIMSEPPALAAPRIL 15TH 2014, AT 2:46:00 AM ET 50
Let’s say you love everything about the Tesla Model S except its static roof. Well, Newport Convertible Engineering wants to help fix that. The aftermarket company has announced that it’s received an order for 100 of its new droptop conversions from a Chinese investor, and tells Autoblog that it’s reached out to Tesla to put an additional 5,000 units into production to help meet expected demand. The conversion kit isn’t cheap, however. A soft-top convertible will run you $29,000 and, if you’d prefer a rigid version, that’ll be $49,000. You still have to supply your own Model S, too. But hey, $100,000 (or more) is a small price to pay for having the possibly greenest — and safest — rag-top on the road, right?
The Daily Caller
The Daily Caller
Tech
Tesla Model S CONVERTIBLE arrives in time for summer
Giuseppe Macri 3:14 PM 04/15/2014
The world’s hottest-selling electric car just got cool upgrade just in time for summer thanks to Newport Convertible Engineering, which is offering both soft and hard-top convertible conversions for the Tesla Model S.
Neither mod comes cheap, with the soft-top conversion priced at $29,000 and the hard-top for $49,000, but if you can swing even a base-Model S at more than $76,000, that might not be a huge deterrent.
Interested parties have to supply their own Model S, for which there’s been a lengthy waiting list since the car’s debut, but NCE recently announced it’s requested assistance from Tesla to pick up 5,000 units to meet demand.
According to NCE the company’s been working with Tesla directly to perfect the mod for the last six months, and an investor from China has already placed an order for 100 converted models. An official partnership announcement is expected Friday.
While the modification will no doubt be perfect for green freaks cruising the highway with mother nature’s breath in their hair, nuts beware – according to TechCrunch, such mods often require extensive body work resulting in extra weight, which could put a bit of a drag on Tesla’s notable speed, acceleration, and significant battery-pack weight.
Production is slated to begin July 2014 at NCE locations in California, Dubai and Barcelona.
First for Electric & Hybrid CarsNEW: Buyer’s guide
Convertible Tesla Model S revealed by aftermarket tuner
– Richard Lane | In: Tesla
A California-based company that will build almost anything you ask of it has released renderings of a convertible Tesla Model S.
Newport Convertible Engineering, which has taken the top off everything from a Range Rover to a Mercedes S-Class, says it has taken a number of orders for a convertible Tesla Model S, including 100 from a single Chinese investor, reports Car Scoops.
Two versions of the modified electric sedan will be offered. A fabric soft-top is set to cost $29,000 while a hard tonneau cover will command $49,000. Given the base 60kWh Model S’ price tag of $63,570, those wanting a convertible version will have to pay at least $90,000.
“Newport Convertible Engineering has officially requested Tesla Motors in a joint effort to build another 5000 Tesla Model S convertible for a worldwide demand. [An] Announcement will be made in April 18 2014,” said NCE.
It is difficult to say whether Tesla will acquiesce to a collaboration, as it values the Model S’impeccable safety record highly and won’t risk compromising it. The Palo Alto automaker’s flagship vehicle even broke the device used for measuring ‘roof crush’ during NHTSA safety tests last year – a boast that any convertible version of the car would lack.
There is clearly demand to for such a car, however, and it would add yet another class-leading string to Tesla’s bow as there are currently no electric convertible vehicles on sale.
NCE anticipates such high demand that it has requested 5,000 examples of the Model S from Tesla. Work is due to begin in July with the necessary modifications undertaken in California, Dubai, and Barcelona.
This isn’t NCE’s first foray into electric cars. The tuner recently unveiled plans to modify the new Cadillac ELR Range Extender. With a starting price of $75,000 for the donor car, however, ELR Convertibles are likely to be few and far between.
NCE Receives 100 Convert…
NCE Receives 100 Convertible Tesla Model S Orders; Looking For Tesla Collab
When we look at it, the last thing we think about is wanting a convertible version of the Tesla Model S. After all, how many convertible sedans are out there. Nevertheless, Newport Convertible Engineering reports that it has received 100 orders for Model Ss to have their roofs cut off. Amazingly, all 100 orders have come from a single Chinese investor.
Newport Convertible Engineering claims that it took six months to develop the convertible Tesla Model S and plans on putting it into production in July this year. It will be made in California, Dubai and Barcelona. Interestingly, it isn’t yet known of NCE will simply convert Model Ss from these regions into convertibles or if it will buy 100 examples from Tesla themselves and then begin the conversions.
However, NCE has confirmed that it is looking for Tesla Motors to join it in creating 5,000 Tesla Model S Convertibles “for a worldwide demand”. A complete announcement is set for April 18th.
Newport Convertible Engineering will offer two convertible variants of the Model S. The first, set to cost around $29,000 will feature a traditional soft top while a hardtop convertible variant will also be made available for $49,000.
It is unclear if Newport Convertible Engineering has actually created any Model S Convertibles just yet but expect to see the first in coming months!
Tesla Motors Inc Model S Convertible Demand Rising
by Aman Jain
NCE, which offers a convertible version of Tesla’s Model S, confirms the order of 100 units from a Chinese investor
Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)’sModel S convertible version is in high demand, so it’s too bad the company does not offer one. Newport Convertible Engineering (NCE), which offers a convertible Tesla Model S, claims to have received huge pre-orders for the version. NCE stated that it received an order of 100 Tesla Motors convertibles from an investor in China, says a report from Carscoops.
NCE orders for 5000 Model S
The firm is popular for delivering convertibles, and has already asked Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) to deliver around 5,000 units of the Model S.
“Newport Convertible Engineering has officially requested Tesla Motors in a joint effort to build another 5,000 Tesla Model S convertible for a worldwide demand. Announcement will be made in April 18 2014,” said theCalifornia-based aftermarket convertible specialist.
NCE is gearing up to start working on the Tesla Model S convertibles from this July. All 100 convertible Model S units will be delivered in China. The process of conversion will take place in 3 NCE sites, including California, Dubai and Barcelona. NCE has decided to offer two variants of a convertible Tesla Model S: a rag top conversion priced at $29,000 and a Hard tonneau cover conversion priced at $49,000, on top of the cost of the Tesla Model S.
To date, NCE has not showcased any conversion models and the images doing the rounds on the web are Photoshopped ones.
Tesla outperforms in Norway
Separately, the Wall Street Journal reported last week that Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) has broken all the records set by any electric car in Norway. According to the report, Tesla sold 1,493 Model S vehicles in March. The number seems to be small, but considering that Norway is a sparsely populated country with just under 5 million people, the sales number is impressive.
Nissan sold a total of 484 Leafs in February compared to the Volkswagen Golf, which garnered a sales number of 555 units. Golf clinched the second position in March with a total of 624 deliveries.
Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) broke the record set by Ford back in 1986. Ford sold 1,454 units of its Sierra Sedan, the marque midsize offering in Europe at the time. Tesla Motors has a total of four dealerships in Norway. The car maker is trying to generate profits by selling more cars in the country. In Norway, over the past couple of months, electric vehicles have outperformed other cars in sales.
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100 Tesla Model S Convertibles Ordered By Chinese Investor
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There isn’t yet a convertible version of the Tesla Model S, but Newport Convertible Engineering will turn your Tesla into a droptop for $29,000. And according to NCE, a wealthy Chinese investor has ordered 100 Model S convertibles, lending credence to Elon Musk’s claim that China could becomeTesla’s biggest market.
Newport Convertible Engineering is no stranger to hybrids, offering convertible versions of just about every car on the market, including the Cadillac ELR. But taking a Tesla and chopping off the roof is an entirely different story, and it took NCE six months to develop soft top ($29,900) and hardtop ($49,900) versions of the Tesla Model S. Keep in mind that is in addition to the cost of a Model S, which starts at $70,000 in America but $121,000 in China.
So far, Tesla hasn’t offered any variant on the Model S besides the sedan, though renderings of a coupe have caused quite a stir on the internet. If you want a Tesla convertible, your only option is the out-of-production Tesla Roadster. However, NCE claims to have orders for 100 of their droptop conversions from China, where the first Tesla store has also become the busiest in the world. Renewed interest in EVs in China has orders are reportedly pouring for companies like BYD, and there is obviously a demand for convertible models as well.
This has NCE calling on Tesla to join them in producing some 5,000 Tesla convertibles to meet demand, though Musk hasn’t mentioned anything of the sort. NCE is saying a big announcement will be coming on April 18th though, which happens to be the opening day of the New York Auto Show. Perhaps we’ll get more than just photoshopped images of a Tesla Model S convertible, though this is perhaps the best argument for a two-door variant.
