First Drive: 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet is a smooth Spanish Fly(er)

Convertibles have long been something of an acquired taste. Devotees steadfastly defend the unique sensation of elemental motoring that can only come when plugged in to one's surrounding breezes, noises and smells. Conversely, detractors have traditionally lambasted droptops for their lackluster foul weather performance, added weight, vulnerability, and creaky, ill-handling platforms. And while the naysayers may have had a point in the era of tonneau-covered British roadster pilots with their tepid heaters, dubious structural rigidity and leaky, masochistic roof mechanisms, modern topless numbers like this 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet give lie to the idea that convertibles make lousy year-round companions. Firstly, in an age where many luxury marques are forsaking the cloth in favor of Rube Goldbergian retractable hardtops, we applaud Mercedes for not fully succumbing to the trend it actually kickstarted with the SL roadster back in 1990. Not only does E-Cab's 'acoustic' softtop seal out the weather and din of the outside world just fine, it looks much better while doing it. Four-place tin roofs like those on the Lexus ISC and BMW 3 Series tend to have awkwardly prominent panel seams and the spatial requirements of filing away their tops often has a nasty effect on body proportions (to say nothing of trunk space). The Benz suffers no such injustices, and it looks quite striking regardless of whether or not it's wearing a cap. Admittedly, some of us on staff still haven't warmed to the new E's rectilinear headlamps and H-E-double-hockey-stick LED running lamps, but the car's profile remains quite rakish, with ample visual thrust provided by the swollen rear fenders and angled character line. The rear taillamps are perhaps a bit generic in form, but the trunklid 'point' is a nice extension of the character line on the hood and the dual rear exhaust tips are well integrated into a blacked-out recess thatcurbs visual bulk.