If car companies had middle names, that little hyphen between Mercedes and Benz would instead be the word “innovative”. Indeed, since the founders of the company invented the car back in 1886, each new generation of their automobiles offer some heretofore-unknown convenience. In the case of the 2011 E-class Cabriolet, the engineers at Mercedes-Benz have invented a convertible with a virtually turbulence-free cabin.

That funky-looking appendage mounted above the windshield frame, dubbed “AIRCAP” by the brilliant marketing minds at MBZ is the primary component that makes this work. Deployable by a button on the center console, it diverts airflow to the rear deck of the car to be deflected by the screen between the rear headrests before it can enter the passenger compartment.

This creates a pocket of high-pressure inside the car (when the side windows are raised), which can be temperature controlled.

AIRCAP, employed in conjunction with “AIRSCARF” made my brisk top-down drive on a 50-degree spring morning quite pleasant. Originally introduced on the SLK models, AIRSCARF forces air through the seat where it is emitted via a vent just below the headrest to keep a constant flow of warm (or cooled, on hot days) air on your neck.

In the E-class Cabriolet, the vent is adjustable through a range of 36 degrees (up or down) so the air can be directed more effectively. The innovative (hey, there’s that word again!) people at Mercedes have also made AIRSCARF speed sensitive. As you drive faster, more air is forced through the system.

Another benefit of AIRCAP is the reduced noise level when running the car open. One can easily carry on a Bluetooth enabled phone conversation. Thanks to AIRCAP and AIRSCARF, Mercedes is calling the E-class Cabriolet the first true four-season convertible.

The new soft top on the E-Cab employs three layers of insulation against noise and the elements. In even the most extreme climate conditions the top competently defends the interior of the car. Now capable of being stowed or unfurled on the fly at speeds up to 25 miles per hour, the top saves time and fuel as well. You no longer have to wait for the roof to do its thing after you park––or before you set out. For added convenience, the roof can also be raised or lowered using the remote embedded in the ignition key.

On the safety front, MBZ has outfitted the Cabriolet with what it calls a plug-in B-pillar to add stiffness in side impacts. A head airbag is mounted in the top of the doorframe now to protect the driver and front seat passenger. Additionally, strategic combinations of high and ultra high-strength steel are employed to add toughness without significantly increasing weight.

Electronic innovations (yeah, I know, but there’s really no other word that fits) include a system that first warns you, and then if you don’t respond, applies the brakes, to mitigate the effects of an imminent crash. Another system monitors your behavior behind the wheel and suggests you pull over for a nap when it detects drowsiness on your part. Smart hi-beams dim gradually as another car approaches, so you always have the maximum throw possible from the headlights to illuminate your path.

Of course, all this without an engaging driving experience would basically make the E-class Cab the world’s most comprehensively equipped boring car. Happily, the Mercedes-Benz penchant for balance in this regard is well represented.

Two engines are available, a 382-horsepower. 5.5-liter V8 that spins out 391-ft-lbs of torque and a 3.5-liter V6 that generates 268 horsepower and 258 ft-lbs.

Both engines are more than adequate for the task of motivating the Cabrio, although the lack of the 6.3-liter AMG V8 is an issue for me. The chassis is so well sorted, the look of the car just cries for it, and the thrill of piloting that crackling high-performance V8 in an open car is so obvious; I just gotta wonder why Mercedes doesn’t get it.

But that’s about the only complaint I can muster against the car. Its chiseled lines are absolutely arresting. A six-hour drive in the car aptly demonstrated the interior is the very definition of both comfort and luxuriousness.

The E-Cab can even be said to be reasonably priced––starting at $57,725 for the 350 and $65,675 for the 550.

That is, considering of course––all its innovations.