Jalopnik, henceforth referred to as “The J”, is all aflutter about the new Renault Wind. As you can see from this video, the hoopla is surrounding the folding roof mechanism. Ok, it is different from most of the systems we see on cars like the BMW 335i or the Volvo C70, but different is not a synonym for clever. At least not this time, because the Wind is not as clever as the marketing mavens would have you believe. 12 seconds? Not really that fast when compared to the founder of the 180˚ folding hard-top mechanism: the 2005 Ferrari 575M Superamerica.

By my estimation, that wasn’t much more than 5 seconds. Less than half the time of the “clever” Renault. Who’s clever now?

I actually saw a 575M Superamerica once. The year was 2006 and the flip-topped wonder was in the Ferrari showroom in Hong Kong, literally across the street from where we were staying. Despite going past the showroom several times over that rainy week, I will guiltily admit that I didn’t think much of the car, mainly because it wasn’t an F430, yet somehow cost much, much more. Clearly, I didn’t understand the rarity of what I was looking at, as only 599 were made. Now I wish I had taken a picture.

[via YouTube]