Automotive

Ares Design turns up the air with Tesla Model S convertible

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Ares Design creates a one-off Tesla Model S two-door convertible
Ares Design
Same face, new top hat
Ares Design
Ares Design creates a one-off Tesla Model S two-door convertible
Ares Design
The Ares Model S convertible includes a custom-built rear deck over top the retractable canvas top
Ares Design
Ares makes four doors into two in creating a Model S convertible
Ares Design
To compensate for the loss of roof, side pillars and rear doors, Ares reinforces parts of the chassis structure
Ares Design
Orange trim adds some color to the otherwise white, black and gray theme
Ares Design
Ares adds in custom rear seats and covers the interior in hand-stitched leather
Ares Design
"At Ares, our co-create philosophy allows clients to work side by side with our designers and engineers to create their very own bespoke vehicle; this Tesla project is a superb example of this" – Ares Design cofounder and CEO Dany Bahar
Ares Design
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Not willing to wait for the new Tesla Roadster, one car enthusiast demanded a Tesla convertible, immediately. And Italian design house Ares Design was more than happy to take on the challenge. Slicing the roof and rear doors off the Model S, it turned sedan into Model S convertible. The new car packages Tesla's unrivaled electric performance in a breezy open-top 2+2.

Being that the Model S is a four-door, Ares' work wasn't quite as simple as peeling the roof off. It could have converted the sedan into an awkward four-door convertible, but it instead chose to remove the rear doors and create a cleaner two-door drop-top. After removing the roof, this involved cutting away the B pillars to make room for a longer pair of front doors. To compensate for the loss of the structural components, Ares reinforced the chassis below the cockpit and rear seating and at the sides.

Ares makes four doors into two in creating a Model S convertible
Ares Design

The rear and profile views of the Ares Model S convertible show some considerable bulging of the rear deck, and this is where Ares added in custom-built paneling to accommodate the retractable fabric roof when open.

Beyond the drop-top-related transformation work, Ares added on its carbon fiber aero kit and customized the interior with an ice white and gray leather package and custom rear seats. Orange accents leap out against the neutral backdrop, helping to fulfill the customer's interior vision.

Orange trim adds some color to the otherwise white, black and gray theme
Ares Design

It's not quite as effortlessly gorgeous as Ares' De Tomaso Pantera revival, but few cars are. Take a look at the new Ares convertible from all angles in the photo gallery and decide for yourself: success or waste of a Model S?

Source: Ares Design

View gallery - 8 images
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5 comments
guzmanchinky
Love it. I've always said it's a shame Elon didn't just slap a coupe/convertible body onto the Model S floorpan. Seems easy to do, and Tesla would do it properly with all the stiffness and safety of the original car.
Username
Not a single picture with the roof up?
Gregg Eshelman
Chrysler based their Sebring 2 door convertible on the Sebring sedan rather than the 2 door. A 4 door convertible isn't "awkward" (usually) it's called a Phaeton. If there's a body panel across behind the front seats it's a dual cowl phaeton. What isn't a phaeton is the Volkswagen Phaeton, because it's a 4 door sedan.

Then there are all the fastbacks, hatchbacks, semi-fastbacks, 2+2 half doors, and in one case a flat out 4 door fastback sedan (a brougham) that various manufacturers have the gall to call "coupes".
Daishi
Beautiful car. The Model S is probably hands down the most significant automobile released in my lifetime.
WB
very simple why no pic with roof up.. these after market builds all look like S#!$ with the roof up... because they always have to use some off the shelf product.... and since you are mostly driving with roof up.. the entire thing is probably a bad idea....