What the Helios is going on at Mercedes?

Edward Lapham is the executive editor of Automotive News. He writes commentaries for Automotive News online every business day. His commentaries also can be found here.

Edward Lapham | | Automotive News - - In January, we're going to see a couple of very pricey new convertibles at the Detroit auto show, although there may be a sense of déjà vu to each.

Rolls-Royce plans to show the topless version of its ultraluxury Phantom, which will have features and styling cues that were on the 100EX concept car shown a couple of years ago as a tie-in to the brand's centennial.

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz will pull the cover off a convertible version of its new S-class sedan.

If the V-12-powered S class goes into production -- and it probably will -- it would be the first true four-door convertible sold in North America since the 1967 Lincoln Continental. I don't count the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited because it's a truck, the rear doors are smaller and look like an afterthought, and the soft top rolls up like the lid on a can of sardines. It may be suitable for a romp in the boonies, but not a cruise on the boulevard.

The open-air S class also would be the first four-door convertible built by Mercedes since the 1950s.

But there's a touch of irony.

Two years ago at the Detroit show, U.S. coachbuilder ASC Inc. displayed the Helios concept vehicle, which was a convertible version of the Chrysler 300C four-door sedan.

It was so attractive that Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm spent time admiring it during her tour of the show. She even sat in the rear seat -- without a photographer around!

ASC pitched the Helios idea to Auburn Hills, but the Chrysler group took a pass on a 300C convertible.

Dieter Zetsche, the top guy in Auburn Hills back then, is now the top guy in Stuttgart and responsible for Mercedes-Benz and -- voila! -- along comes a four-door convertible version of the S class.

Hmmm.

Apparently the idea that didn't work for Chrysler makes more sense as a Mercedes-Benz.