Tesla doesn't currently produce any convertibles, which is why Italian design house Ares has created a convertible Model S. The firm was commissioned to modify a Model S for a private client. The modifications go beyond just the roof, though, and the results are pretty special.
The Model S luxury Sedan went into production in 2012 and is the longest-produced vehicle on Tesla's roster. It's arguably the car that proved Tesla really had something going on and that set the tone for it rising to become the world's most valuable car company. The Model S is at once a sensible family five-door with ample storage space and a cutting-edge electric vehicle with a top speed of 163mph and 0-60mph acceleration of 2.3 seconds.
Of course, the scales tilt a little further away from the 'sensible' side when you chop the roof off, remove the rear doors, and add a body kit. As part of the Model S conversion, Ares says it tinkered with the body, chassis, aerodynamics, and interior. Ares co-founder and CEO Dany Bahar called the commission "a pure coachbuilding project."
How Did Ares Convert The Model S?
The most significant work that was carried out was the removal of the roof and the B-pillars. The hardtop was replaced with a retractable fabric roof that is stowed in a new and specially designed rear bonnet when down. The rear seats don't look to have lost too much room, so this suggests most of the space found for the roof stowage has come from the trunk. New, longer front doors were able to be added too with the rear doors having been removed. The side members, cockpit undercarriage, and rear seating area were all strengthened to ensure the structural integrity of the vehicle.
As must be caveated with all vehicle modifications of this ilk, the impact on the performance of the Model S is not likely to be positive, but that's not really the point here. This is about the look and lifestyle. That's backed up by the addition of an Ares carbon fiber aero kit. Custom-made rear seats with hand-stitched white leather and orange detailing, meanwhile, match the white exterior finish of the Model S. Unsurprisingly, the cost of the project is not disclosed, but suffice to say it will have been a little more than the standard Tesla upgrades, which themselves don't always come cheap.
Source: Ares