Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

The AutoWeek list: Top all-time convertibles for driving fun

With the first few days of summer behind us, we got to thinking about our favorite summer pastimes. Clearly they include barbecue grilling, eating ice cream and taking long drives with the top down (the cars', not ours). It's time to contemplate the top convertible rides of all time might be.

New Honda Civic Type R Concept previews production Type R

The new Honda Civic Type R Concept previews production Type R We had a concept Civic Type R at Geneva earlier this year, but this latest Honda Civic Type R Concept – heading for a debut this week at the Paris Motor Show – almost certainly preview the full production Civic Type R due to arrive in Honda showrooms in 2015. Honda has made sure this Type R Concept is anything but a shrinking violet, giving it a startling blue paintjob with red highlights and keeping the statement massive rear wing intact, complete with quad tail pipes, aggressive rear diffuser and butch body kit. Under the skin of the front-wheel-drive Type R will be a new 2.0-litre i-VTEC which offers more than 278bhp – enough, it’s expected, for a sub-6 second 0-62mph – mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox with a new steer axis control at the front which minimises torque steer so you can get the power down properly.

MINI Paceman debuts in Detroit

The MINI Paceman debuts in Detroit The MINI Paceman debuts in Detroit   The fact that MINI has put together yet another concept – the MINI Pacemen –  comes as no surprise (especially as MINI sent us details of the MINI Paceman last month). In fact, the launch of the MINI Countryman last year arguably gives MINI the ability to double their range over time by making more versions of the supersized MINI to add to the seemingly endless versions of the original BMW MINI which litter the roads. And that’s exactly what the MINI Paceman is – a concept based on the MINI Countryman.