There was once a time when open-topped cars were associated very closely with sports cars, but that nexus has been long broken by cars such as the Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet. ‘Sports’ is one thing and ‘convertible’ now quite another. Renault, which claims to have invented the folding glass roof, has given the new model a longer one, now in black tinted glass to contrast with the body colour. Extensive engineering work has gone into stiffening the underbody in the interests of much-needed torsional rigidity and the roof mechanism itself is brilliant, even better than on the previous model. The CC is powered by the same rather dated 2.0-litre four-cylinder used in the hatch and the only transmission offered is the CVT, which further detracts from driving pleasure. But the Megane Coupe-Cabriolet is safe, stylish, well-equipped at $45,990 and will accept four occupants at a pinch, with a little more space to offer than its predecessor.