Journalists select
Audi RS5 as best convertible at SAMA’s Topless in Miami competition.
by Paul Borden - Pictures and
videos by Pepe Delfino.
KEY BISCAYNE (June 12, 2014) — The 2014 Audi RS5 earned top honors as
“Convertible of the Year” in the Southern Automotive Media Association’s
fourth annual “Topless in Miami” convertible competition here June 12.
It was the second time the German luxury automaker has claimed top
honors in the competition that draws the best drop-tops manufacturers
from around the world have to offer. The Audi R8 Spyder won the initial
competition as Convertible of the Year in 2011.
“The driving experience the RS5 offers in an overall luxurious package
won over the judges,” said SAMA Vice President Paul Borden, who served
as coordinator of the event. “Certainly any one of the class winners
could have won and nobody would have questioned it. The competition was
that close.”
The RS5 also was recognized as the Luxury Convertible of the Year among
the class winners.
Earning top honors in the other classes were the Bentley Continental GT
in the Super Luxury/Exotic class, the Ford Mustang GT in the Full-size
competition, Chevrolet Corvette in Performance/Roadster, and the Mazda
MX5 Miata in Small Convertible.
Other
past winners of the Convertible of the Year award were the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S in 2013 and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster in 2012.
In all 15 manufacturers entered 17 vehicles in the competition that drew
over 70 automotive journalists, including SAMA members from Atlanta, to
the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, which served as event headquarters.
In addition to Audi, Bentley, Chevrolet, Ford, and Mazda, participating
manufacturers were BMW, Fiat, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Lexus,
Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Volkswagen.
A special exhibit at the Miami International Auto Show will feature the
convertibles at a special Topless in Miami Display. The 2014 show will
run Nov. 7-16 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
Based in Miami, SAMA is an organization made up of journalists, media
organizations, corporate communication specialists, marketing and
advertising specialists, and auto manufacturers specializing in the
automotive industry. Formed in 2007, the organization now has more than
100 members throughout Florida and the southeastern United States.
Each year, SAMA hosts a luncheon at the Miami International Auto Show
and recognizes the outstanding vehicles in the show, including the
coveted “Star of the Show.” Many of the SAMA selections have gone on to
win national honors in the automotive media industry.
SAMA also sponsors the annual Rides-N-Smiles event in conjunction with
the Homestead-Miami Speedway and the support of many auto manufacturers.
The event is intended to bring smiles to patients and families in
programs at Baptist Children’s Hospital and Miami Children’s Hospital as
well as Wounded Warriors by giving them rides in “dream cars” around the
speedway’s road course.
Topless in Miami previous contests:
2011 -
2012 -
2013
