There's no great mystery to evaluating a convertible, at least not a convertible with a saloon or coupe sibling. Other than niggling details like how well the drop-top roof seals and how well the outside world - rain and noise - is isolated by the removable top, you're basically searching for what performance compromises have been made to satiate the quest for al fresco motoring.
Such compromises used to - and still often do - come in the form of reduced body control. Lopping off the roof of a perfectly good automobile is much like cracking the top off a soft-boiled egg. What was once an incredibly rigid structure is now but - pardon the bad pun - a shell of its former self. As for the egg, you had better be careful with the decapped version or else you'll be wearing the slimy yolk. Similarly, an automobile's chassis - now sans roof - becomes a much more flimsy framework, the loss of the roof allowing the body to twist and shake like Jerry Lee Lewis in full Great Balls of Fire form.
Manufacturers construct all manner of reinforcements to compensate. There are strengthening beams below the chassis, suspension tower struts atop and all manner of thicker steel throughout the body to try to compensate for Humpty Dumpty's more fragile state. Despite the extra metal, however, it's almost impossible for a convertible to match its coupe sibling's stiffness (usually referred to as torsional rigidity). Rarer still are the convertibles that try to do so with the same stiff suspension as its more rigid sibling (stiff suspension, as you can imagine, will upset a limper chassis more easily, hence the reason so many soft-tops have more compliant suspension than their rigid-roofed cousins).
No wonder, then, that Chevrolet is making much of the fact that the suspension of its newly decapitated Camaro is exactly the same as the hardtop version. "To compensate for the reduced structure of an open car, engineers often will make the suspension softer, making the convertible a boulevard cruiser," says Al Oppenheiser, the Camaro's chief engineer. "Instead, we took the more difficult but better path of bolstering structure rather than softening the suspension. We didn't change a strut, bushing or spring rate from the Camaro coupe."
Said bolstering takes the form of a tower-to-tower suspension brace under the hood, additional bracing for the transmission tunnel and further "V" bracing under the front and rear underbodies. It's nothing fancy. Indeed, these are fairly straightforward changes, yet according to Chevy's engineers the chassis is stiffer than the comparable Ford Mustang and equal to the much-vaunted BMW 328 Cabriolet.
And although it's less rigid than the hardtop version, the difference goes largely unnoticed. For better or worse, the convertible version's ride and handling is pretty much the same as the coupe's. In other words, on a smooth road the handling is precise without the ride being overly stiff, and the steering well weighted if a little numb. Even on bumpy roads the Camaro Convertible is superior to the Mustang, thanks to its more modern independent rear suspension. (Opposed to the Ford's refined, but still archaic, solid rear axle.) The only surface on which the Camaro Convertible feels out of place is on very tight roads, where rapid changes in direction belie its heft (even the lightest version weighs 1,808kg).
The one disappointment resulting from the changes are the brakes on the base V6 version. Because the V6 models are intended for a less-enthusiastic audience, the LS and LT are saddled with single-piston brakes front and rear (the monster-motored SS gets four-pot Brembos up front) and smallish 321mm ventilated discs. The result is a wooden feeling I thought GM had banished from its fleet. Or at least its sports-car fleet. Here, the extra metal - 112kg of it - that GM added to boost that stiffness exacts a penalty.
GM's bean counters contend the V6 version of the Convertible is less about performance and more about style. But the V6 model deserves better, if for no other reason than the fact that the V6 is plenty sporty indeed. Its 312hp would have been the equal of the V8-powered Mustang GT but a few years ago, and more important than just the numbers (it also pumps out 377Nm of torque and accelerates the LS to 100kph in just 6.2 seconds, only 0.2 behind the hardtop) is that it feels sporty.
Indeed, I am going to commit a sacrilege here and say that the 3.6L actually sounds better than its mega-horsepower V8 alternative. Maybe it's because I'm a motorcyclist at heart, but I like the sound of the V6 more than that of the muscular V8. Where the V8 is the traditional eight-piston Nascar rumble that we all know and love (and the lower-horsepowered automatic-equipped SS has barely a whisper of that), the V6 has a rasp that turns into a superbike howl when the revs start climbing. It's more noticeable with the top down, and it's quite amusing to be motoring around in a V6 (an engine design not normally associated with rorty exhaust notes) romping up and down the rev range just to hear the combustion.
The V8, of course, is sportier still. Indeed, with 426hp on tap (400 in the L99 automatic version), the LS3 V8-powered SS has more than enough moxie to warrant the SS nameplate. Traditionalists need not fret that General Motors has watered down the Camaro nameplate, as even the heavier convertible version of the SS blasts to 100kph in five seconds. I would, however, recommend sticking with the manual-equipped SS. Not only does it boast 26 more horsepower and a noticeably more evocative exhaust note, but the V8's six-speed autobox is not nearly as sophisticated as the V6's automatic.
The last part of the equation, for any convertible, is styling. Here, the Camaro, I think, impresses. Unlike the interior, which is somewhat bland, the Camaro's exterior is always striking, whether in hardtop or convertible format. Indeed, with its roof up, the Convertible looks every bit as menacing as the hardtop. Top down, it's a little more feminine; probably a good thing, since females are a large part of the prospective market, particularly for the V6 version.
The drop-top roof may be stylish, but it is not as convenient as it could be. Yes, it's electrically powered, but it does require manual removal of the tonneau cover, as well as manual connection to the windshield's header. And though it's quick to stow - less than 20 seconds - it takes longer to install.
These, I suspect, will be minor details. In the United States, the Camaro already outsells all the variants of the Mustang - hardtop, convertible and even the Shelby variants - with just one model. Chevrolet marketing mavens estimate that the convertible will result in an additional 20 per cent sales increase. There's little reason to doubt them.
The Camaro Convertible will arrive in the UAE in April, though the price is yet to be confirmed.
MATCH INFO
League Cup, last 16
Manchester City v Southampton, Tuesday, 11.45pm (UAE)
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
UAE SQUAD
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Ahmed Raza, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Chirag Suri , Zahoor Khan
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Harry%20%26%20Meghan
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'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
De De Pyaar De
Produced: Luv Films, YRF Films
Directed: Akiv Ali
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Rakul Preet Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jaaved Jaffrey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
The specs
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Transmission: CVT auto
Power: 181bhp
Torque: 244Nm
Price: Dh122,900
Asia%20Cup%202022
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DUNE%3A%20PART%20TWO
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Denis%20Villeneuve%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Timothee%20Chamalet%2C%20Zendaya%2C%20Austin%20Butler%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The specs: McLaren 600LT
Price, base: Dh914,000
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm
Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km
World Cup final
Who: France v Croatia
When: Sunday, July 15, 7pm (UAE)
TV: Game will be shown live on BeIN Sports for viewers in the Mena region
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
US Industrial Market figures, Q1 2017
Vacancy Rate 5.4%
Markets With Positive Absorption 85.7 per cent
New Supply 55 million sq ft
New Supply to Inventory 0.4 per cent
Under Construction 198.2 million sq ft
(Source: Colliers)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Huroob Ezterari
Director: Ahmed Moussa
Starring: Ahmed El Sakka, Amir Karara, Ghada Adel and Moustafa Mohammed
Three stars
