We Left Convertibles Sitting in the Sun to Test How Hot the Seats Get
BY MAXWELL B. MORTIMER | CarAndDriver.Com Troy Warren for CNT With Mercedes and BMW claiming that their sun-reflective materials help keep the upholstery cooler, we compared E450 and M440i droptops to the cloth seats in an old Miata. Mercedes claims that a new coating reduces seat temperatures when the E-class convertible is left in the sun with the top down. We tested an E450 against a BMW M440i convertible and a first-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata. The results show that the treated surfaces do reduce temperatures, but the seats still get plenty hot when left in the sun. Most of us have…