Drop the Top: 5 ways to drive roofless in Bangladesh
Bangladesh's sports-car market has plenty of fast cars, but for buyers who want the theatre of open-air driving, the choices become considerably more interesting
Bangladesh's sports-car market has expanded well beyond the Japanese performance cars that once dominated it. Today, there are hot hatches, German performance sedans and serious sports cars. But not every buyer wants the fastest car or the sharpest handling. Some want a proper convertible: something that looks special, performs well and, most importantly, lets them drop the roof.
That helps explain the almost cult-like popularity of the ND-generation Mazda MX-5 in Bangladesh. Its two-seat, rear-wheel-drive formula offers the traditional roadster experience without entering German luxury-car territory. But the MX-5 is far from the only option. Depending on the budget, buyers can choose from a tiny 660cc roadster to a near 400 horsepower Mercedes-AMG.
Honda S660
At around Tk25–35 lakh, the Honda S660 offers one of the most unusual packages in the market.
Built around Japan's kei-car regulations, it uses a 660cc turbocharged three-cylinder producing 64PS and 104Nm. More importantly, it is a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive roadster, with the engine mounted behind the driver and ahead of the rear axle.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Weighing around 850kg and measuring just 3.4 metres long, the S660 is tiny, making its low seating position and compact dimensions particularly useful for an engaging drive. For transmission, Honda offers a six-speed manual gearbox alongside a continuously variable transmission.
Its manually removable fabric roof keeps things simple, but practicality is the obvious compromise. The cabin is extremely tight, luggage space is virtually nonexistent and 64PS will never make it a straight-line performer.
Price: Tk25–35 lakh
Mazda MX-5
The ND-generation MX-5 has become a cult favourite among Bangladesh's sports-car enthusiasts, with the 1.5-litre version being the most common locally.
Its naturally aspirated Skyactiv-G engine produces around 132hp and 152Nm, but the car weighs roughly 1.1 tonnes and sends its power to the rear wheels. That low weight makes the MX-5 feel much quicker and more agile than its numbers suggest. A six-speed manual further reinforces its driver's-car character.
The soft-top can be opened manually in seconds, while the RF gets a powered retractable hardtop. Higher-spec cars can also offer heated seats, cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
The drawbacks are familiar: only two seats, a tiny boot and a relatively basic cabin. The naturally aspirated 1.5 also lacks the effortless torque of modern turbocharged rivals.
Price: Tk35–55 lakh
MG Cyberster
The MG Cyberster takes the convertible formula in a completely different direction. It is fully electric, dramatically styled and features electrically operated scissor doors.
The dual-motor version produces around 503hp and 725Nm, the highest power figures in this list, with all-wheel drive and a claimed 0–100km/h time of around 3.2 seconds. Its powered fabric roof and high-tech cabin, with multiple digital displays and electrically adjustable sports seats, add to its theatre.
The problem is weight. At more than two tonnes, the Cyberster is almost twice as heavy as the MX-5. It is brutally quick, but cannot replicate the lightweight, delicate handling of a traditional roadster.
As an EV, it also brings considerations around charging infrastructure and long-term battery ownership, particularly for a relatively niche sports car.
Price: Around Tk1.2 crore
BMW Z4 sDrive20i
The sDrive20i trim of the BMW Z4, which jointly shares its platform with the highly sought after MK5 Toyota Supra, combines a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. A powered fabric roof opens electronically, while the cabin brings equipment such as electrically adjustable seats, automatic climate control, keyless entry, parking assistance and connected infotainment, depending on specification.
Compared with the MX-5, the Z4 is larger, more refined and better suited to long-distance cruising. It also feels substantially more luxurious.
But that comes with a significant price premium. It costs several times more than an ND Miata without offering several times the performance, while its larger dimensions take away some of the Mazda's playful character.
Price: Tk1.2–1.5 crore
Mercedes-AMG SL 43
The Mercedes-AMG SL 43 serves as the entry-level model in the modern SL lineup, standing apart from its more expensive siblings by prioritizing a lightweight, agile setup over raw muscle.
Its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder uses electrically assisted turbocharging to produce around 381hp and 480Nm, with a nine-speed automatic transmission. AMG also equips it with adaptive suspension and rear-wheel steering.
The technology and theatre are substantial. There is a powered fabric roof, large portrait-oriented touchscreen, digital instrumentation and AMG-specific displays. Rear-wheel steering helps make the large roadster more manageable at low speeds while improving stability at higher speeds.
But the SL 43's four-cylinder engine can feel underwhelming for a car costing almost Tk4 crore and wearing an AMG badge. It is also considerably heavier and larger than the MX-5, sacrificing some of the lightweight immediacy associated with traditional roadsters.
What it does offer is a combination of luxury, presence and performance that none of the cheaper cars here can quite match.
Price: Around Tk3.8 crore
