Hamburg  - Despite all the reports of gloom in the car industry, niche cars remain in vogue with a host of elegant cabriolets planned for 2009 emphasizing all the fun of open-top driving with more space, technical features, lighter and efficient engines.

Among the stars are the new Audi A5 four door Roadster, the new BMW Z4 and the Mercedes E-Class Convertible that is hitting the roads later in the year.

The A5 Cabriolet comes with a range of high-end options and seven powerful engines. The lightweight fabric top opens in 15 seconds and closes in 17 seconds. An acoustic top is optionally available, which reduces wind noise almost to the hardtop level.

"We deliberately chose the soft-top because people driving a convertible don't have a problem showing it off," said Audi design chief Stefan Sielaff.

Neck-level heating is also available as an option for the front seats. Ducts on the seat top emit warm air that keeps the back of the head and neck warm. The optional leather seats are coated with a special layer to reduce heat in hot sunny conditions.

Part of the technology package is the Audi drive select vehicle dynamics system, which enables the driver to chose among three different engine maps controlling the characteristics of the fuel feed, the shifting points of the seven-speed S tronic and multitronic, and the mode of operation of the servotronic steering system.

Top of the line is the open-air S5 that will be available in Europe from May with the three-litre V6 engine transmitting 333 horsepower to the four-wheel quattro drive system. Special seat upholstery, door sill trims and inlays in matt brushed aluminium underscore high quality. A multi-functional sports steering wheel is standard.

Mercedes is expected to debut the E-Class Convertible, formerly the CLK, at the Geneva Motor Show. Like the Audi A5 it also comes as a four-seater with a soft-top, a drive-select system with adaptive dampers, dynamic steering and sports differential for the quattro version. It is fitted with an armada of safety systems including night vision and blind-spot alarm. The soft-top is fitted with a sunroof so that drivers can utilise those small moments of sunshine between cloudy weather so common in Europe.

Looking at the mini vehicle segment, Fiat is planning for the early part of the year a convertible of the new Fiat 500. Harking back to the days of its old predecessor it will also come out with a roll-down soft-top. The small four-seater based on the Panda chassis will start at prices of around 22,500 euros (31,554 dollars). The sportier Cooper S with a 175 hp engine is expected to sell for 26,500 euros (37,149 dollars).

Peugeot, the pioneer of the folding down metal roof, maintains the tradition with the new 308 CC. The car is turned into a convertible within 20 seconds. The windscreen of the new model has chromed frame. The taillights come in LED lighting. It is bigger than its predecessor offering more space for passengers. It is one of the top scorers in the Euro NCAP safety test in terms of adult occupant protection, receiving a five star rating for side and front impact.

Optimal open-air protection is provided by the airbags integrated into the seats that protect the head, upper and lower body parts. BMW is unveiling its complete makeover of the Z4 at the Detroit Motor Show in January.

It remains true to the styling tradition of the long bonnet and short rear, but has more accentuated shoulders and side-lines, giving it a more powerful appearance. Three, six cylinder engines will be available initially in the range of between 204 and 306 horsepower with improved acceleration and better fuel economy.

The two-piece electro hydraulically retractable hardtop opens and closes within 20 seconds, the roof elements coming to rest in the roof compartment, giving the car a low-slung rear-end design. Like most of its competitors it features a glass rear window for optimised all-round visibility.

Further down the road Nissan is planning to launch in 2010 the new 370 Z Roadster, the successor to the 350 Z. It is also expected to come with an automatic fold-down soft top and many new features such as lightweight body materials and more powerful and economical engine. Gearbox options will include a six-speed manual with what is expected as the world's first "SynchroRev Match" function, as well as a seven-speed automatic with paddle shifters. (dpa)