Second Annual SAMA Topless competition picks five of the best droptops available in 2012.
When it comes to cars, nothing says South Florida like convertibles, and for a second straight year the Southern Automotive Media Association (SAMA) has recognized five of the best at its Topless in Miami drive event. More than 70 members of the association spent yesterday driving and scoring 17 convertibles in four different categories.
When the winners were announced at a banquet at the event headquarters hotel, the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, SAMA members had selected the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster as the 2012 Convertible of the Year. It beat such outstanding competitors as the Jaguar XKR-S and M-B SL550. The Fiat 500C, above, won in the Small category.
“The styling, the power, the comfort features all made the SLS AMG Roadster, above, an outstanding choice at our second annual event,” said SAMA President Jaime Florez.
Category winners were the Jaguar XKR-S (Luxury), Chevrolet Camaro (Family), Audi TT S-Tronic roadster (Sports Car), and the Fiat 500C Gucci Edition (Small). The Fiat 500 Cabrio was a repeat winner in the Small category, also taking home the gold in 2011.
Jaguar XKR-S
“We are honored by SAMA’s recognition, particularly because SAMA members really know everything about cabrios,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of FIAT Brand North America. “By partnering with Gucci, we brought something truly unique into the marketplace, demonstrating that exquisite Italian style, features and technology could convene in a small-car formula. Proof of this success is that we have almost immediately sold out every single model of this special edition.”
Chevrolet Camaro
The field of entrants for the 2012 Topless competition also included Mercedes-Benz SL550 and Infiniti G37 (Luxury); Ford Mustang, Chrysler 200, Jeep Wrangler, and Nissan CrossCabriolet (Family), Mercedes SLK 55 AMG, Nissan 370Z, and Mazda Miata MX-5 (Sports Cars), and Mini Cooper S, Volkswagen Eos, and Smart Fortwo (Small).
Audi TT S-Tronic
The Southern Automotive Media Association (SAMA) was formed in 2007 to provide a platform for South Florida’s automotive media community. Its mission: To strengthen their voice and representation in the industry. SAMA membership, which includes electronic and print journalists and public relations representatives of global automotive manufacturers, has grown to more than 100 in five years.
2012 Topless in Miami Winners
In addition to Topless in Miami, SAMA also conducts an awards event recognizing outstanding vehicles at the annual South Florida International Auto Show in Miami Beach. A third signature SAMA event is Rides-N-Smiles, for pediatric patients from Baptist Children’s and Miami Children’s hospitals who suffer from chronic childhood illness, including Cancer, Diabetes, Crohn’s Disease, Colitis, and brain injuries. They are treated to a day of rides in luxury performance cars around Homestead-Miami Speedway’s road course.
For more information about SAMA and Topless In Miami, please visit www.samaonline.org
www.toplessinmiami.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVcHgbDDJso
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