Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
If last summer was all about hunkering down, staying safe and social distancing, 2021 sunshine season will see us reconnecting with friends and getting back out into the world. What better way to embark on new adventures than in a convertible? The decision to buy a new drop-top might be easy to make, but selecting from the wide range of models is a bit more difficult. The experts at Edmunds are here to help you narrow your selection by naming the top convertibles for 2021.
2021 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA
The original Mazda MX-5 Miata from the 1990s bowled over buyers by expertly combining the driving dynamics of classic British sports cars with the reliability offered by a modern Japanese automaker. Today's Miata is still a classic two-seat convertible with an easy-to-lower manual top, but Mazda has also seen to keep it up-to-date with a sufficient number of technology features.
The Miata is one of the smallest cars on sale, and taller passengers will feel cramped. But the benefits of its petite design pays dividends in the areas of vehicle balance and fun. The Miata boasts quick acceleration and a sublimely nimble feel when going around turns. It's impressive stuff for such a modestly priced roadster.
Starting price (including destination): $27,825
Fuel economy: 29-30 mpg combined
2021 FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE
The vehicle that started the pony car craze is also Edmunds' favorite drop-top muscle car. The Ford Mustang convertible isn't as lithe as the Miata, but its four-seat layout is more practical and its trunk is more than twice the size of the Miata's. If you're looking to take a road trip up the coast with friends, the Mustang is hard to beat.
The Mustang's standard engine is a turbocharged four-cylinder that returns a 0-60 mph time in the low 6-second range. Even more enticing is the V8 motor, which makes the same run in 4.6 seconds. Other Mustang highlights include a composed ride and a nicely trimmed interior, but we're not fans of the slow-to-shift automatic transmission.
Starting price (including destination): $33,900
Fuel economy: 18-23 mpg combined
2021 BMW Z4
If you want a roadster that places a premium on refinement, the BMW Z4 might be the one. The Z4 is a two-seat convertible that deftly switches between relaxed cruiser and corner-carving sports car with a prod of the throttle. It's also one of the most luxurious vehicles in its class, with excellent noise control with the top up and a simple but richly appointed interior. On the downside, the Z4 doesn't have much in-cabin storage space, so finding places to hold small items can be challenging.
Two models are available. The standard sDrive30i uses a punchy turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while the M40i is driven by an impressively powerful turbocharged six-cylinder. The BMW Z4 is perfect for shoppers looking to step up their convertible game without breaking the bank.
Starting price (including destination): $50,695
Fuel economy: 25-28 mpg combined
2021 LEXUS LC 500 CONVERTIBLE
From its expressive exterior design to a cabin replete in rich leather and racy faux suede, the Lexus LC 500 convertible is a stunner inside and out. This Lexus is at its best cruising along endless stretches of highway rather than tackling a race circuit. Even so, the LC 500 retains the sprightly handling you'd expect of a six-figure sports car.
The LC 500 convertible has a standard 471-horsepower V8, and its intoxicating exhaust note is almost worth the price of admission alone. But its infotainment system is frustrating enough that we recommend a thorough test drive before you commit.
Starting price (including destination): $102,125
Fuel economy: 18 mpg combined
2021 PORSCHE 911 CABRIOLET
The Porsche 911 has long served as the gold standard against which all other sports cars are judged. The same is true of the Cabriolet, which shows no signs of excessive vibration or other classic convertible drawbacks that can manifest when you lop off a coupe's roof. Instead, the 911 remains totally poised when navigating tight mountain switchbacks. It's also eminently comfortable on the road.
The 911 comes in many flavors, all of which feature a turbocharged six-cylinder engine. While Porsche is (in)famous for its extensive options list, you don't have to dip into the kids' college fund to get superlative performance. For instance, the Carrera S is just one step up from the base model and rips from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds. It isn't cheap, but the 911 Cabriolet is practically peerless.
Starting price (including destination): $115,350
Fuel economy: 17-20 mpg combined
EDMUNDS SAYS:
From the Mazda MX-5 Miata to the Porsche 911, there are plenty of highly regarded convertibles for you to consider as we head into drop-top weather.
This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds.
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
"It's a bit of a complicated pattern; we've got a lot going on," said Jennifer Smith of the Meteorological Service of Canada in an interview with CTVNews.ca on Wednesday. "[As is] typical with weather, all of these things are related."
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
A property tax bill is perplexing a small townhouse community in Fergus, Ont.
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
A local Oilers fan is hoping to see his team cut through the postseason, so he can cut his hair.
A family from Laval, Que. is looking for answers... and their father's body. He died on vacation in Cuba and authorities sent someone else's body back to Canada.
A former educational assistant is calling attention to the rising violence in Alberta's classrooms.
The federal government says its plan to increase taxes on capital gains is aimed at wealthy Canadians to achieve “tax fairness.”
At 6'8" and 350 pounds, there is nothing typical about UBC offensive lineman Giovanni Manu, who was born in Tonga and went to high school in Pitt Meadows.
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.