Summer, sunshine, … soft top? The new luxury convertibles!
In 2019 we recommended three fresh luxury convertibles: the BMW 8 Series, the Mercedes SL Grand Edition, and the Bentley Continental GT. A few summers later, things have changed. Two of them no longer exist in their original form, while one has reinvented itself completely. Time for a top-down retrospective.
Open roof, sun on your face, the first balmy evening after winter: the convertible remains the most honest status symbol the car world has to offer. In 2019, three models topped our fresh-air list. We checked back to see what became of them, and the result is a mini masterclass in how quickly luxury in car-making is shifting right now.
- The BMW 8 Series is gone: BMW will stop producing the coupé, Gran Coupé and convertible in April 2026; no direct successor is planned.
- The Mercedes SL Grand Edition came from the old R231 generation. Today, the SL exists only as the completely reimagined Mercedes-AMG model.
- The Bentley Continental GTC has made the biggest leap: fourth generation, the legendary W12 is gone, replaced by a plug-in hybrid with 771 hp.
- Open-air luxury in 2026 increasingly means an electric motor on board, not just a dozen cylinders under the bonnet.
- If you wanted a classic V8 or V12 convertible in 2019, you had a narrow window of opportunity-and it’s closing fast.
Back then the rule was simple: fresh air plus double-digit temperatures equals roof down. That hasn’t changed. What has changed is which cars deliver that moment. Three models, three very different trajectories.
BMW 8 Series Convertible: from newcomer to discontinued model
2019 marked BMW’s grand return to the grand-touring segment with the 8 Series. The convertible arrived with a soft top, a 530-hp V8 petrol engine or a 320-hp six-cylinder diesel, and the coupé’s elegant design. The diesel started at around €108,000, the petrol at just under €134,000. A confident debut, timed for the convertible season.
Seven years later, the curtain has fallen. BMW has announced that the entire 8 Series range will be discontinued without a successor. Coupé, Gran Coupé and the convertible will roll off the Dingolfing line by April 2026; the top M8 model was already laid to rest in 2025. Once again, BMW finds itself without a flagship grand tourer or an open-top icon-just as it was after the first 8 Series ended in the 1990s.
If you wanted the 8 Series as BMW’s open flagship, you had a seven-year window. It’s now closing.
For collectors, that’s precisely the appeal. A single-generation model without a direct heir stands a strong chance of holding its value. Buyers in 2019 are now cruising in a discontinued car with instant rarity.
Mercedes SL: the Grand Edition was the final bow of an era
The ultra-luxurious Grand Edition of the SL arrived in 2019 as the SL 400 and SL 500, offered in four metallic hues and at prices that left no room for doubt. The SL 400, with 367 hp, started at just under €115,000; the SL 500 with its V8 and 455 hp commanded a proud €136,000. What few saw clearly at the time was that this Grand Edition was a farewell performance.
The R231 generation that spawned the SL 400 and SL 500 is now history. Mercedes has completely reimagined the SL and placed it under the AMG banner. The once-placid Mercedes SL from the comfort segment is gone; today’s SL is a sharper, sportier car with its own distinct character. The Grand Edition wasn’t merely a special series-it was the final curtain for an entire SL generation.
If you cherish the quiet, dignified SL experience-the polished cruising rather than racetrack attitude-you’ll find it only on the used market. Again, the last year of an era often ages especially gracefully.
Bentley Continental GTC: from twelve cylinders to a hybrid
The third contender has undergone the most radical transformation. In 2019 the Continental GT convertible debuted in its third generation, sporting bold styling, seemingly endless personalisation options and 635 hp from a W12. Back then the sticker read €228,480. A car that practically demanded you tuck your hair back before the open-road adventure began.
Now the fourth generation is here, and Bentley has retired the W12. The Continental GTC is now a high-performance hybrid: a twin-supercharged 4.0-litre V8 plus electric motor, delivering 771 hp in total. That’s 121 hp more than before, and the 0-100 km/h sprint drops to 3.9 s. The convertible can cover up to about 80 km purely on electric power-gliding silently through city centres before the V8 takes over.
Perhaps the most exciting twist: Bentley proves that open-air luxury and electrification aren’t mutually exclusive. To see where this vision may lead, check out our retrospective on the Grand Touring concept EXP 100 GT for 2035. And if you love convertible design as a playground for bold ideas, take a look at the Jaguar Type 00 in Miami Pink.
What the three convertibles reveal about luxury in 2026
Three models, three lessons. The 8 Series shows how swiftly a flagship can vanish when demand for large petrol coupés declines. The SL demonstrates that even an icon can completely redefine its identity. Bentley proves that hybrids have arrived in the premium segment without sacrificing performance.
For you as a convertible enthusiast, the message is clear: the open roof stays, but what’s underneath is diversifying. If you crave the unfiltered growl of a V8 or W12, act fast-those engines are becoming scarce. If you’re open to quiet elegance, the new Bentley offers a convertible that glides electrically through city streets yet still roars on the open road.
Hair back, sunglasses on, let the road trip begin. The adventure continues; the cars beneath you have simply been rearranged.
Quick Answers
▸Is the BMW 8 Series convertible still available?
Not for much longer. BMW has announced that the entire 8 Series range will be discontinued with no successor. The coupé, Gran Coupé and convertible will roll off the production line in Dingolfing by the end of April 2026, while the M8 top model was already discontinued in 2025. New cars are only available as remaining stock.
▸What happened to the Mercedes SL Grand Edition?
The Grand Edition came from the SL R231 series and was a special edition of the SL 400 and SL 500 models. That generation has now ended. Mercedes then completely reimagined the SL and placed it under the AMG sports brand. The classic comfort SL from 2019 is now only available used.
▸Does the Bentley Continental GTC still have a W12?
No. In the fourth generation, Bentley replaced the W12. The Continental GTC now runs as a plug-in hybrid with a 4.0-litre V8 and electric motor, delivering a combined 771 hp. It sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and can cover around 80 kilometres on electric power alone.
▸Is a luxury convertible a good investment?
Rare limited-run models can hold their value. A series like the BMW 8 Series, which only ran for one generation and has no direct successor, can maintain stable pricing. But there are no guarantees-condition, mileage and specification all play a role. As a collector’s piece with residual value, the final model years of these three cars are certainly worth considering.
