So they'll stiffen up the roof (and possibly the body structure) a bit, that's bad? Doesn't bother me any more than being required to have a catalytic convertor. A well designed performance car will incorporate that design element to make it better. Save your indignation for something that deserves it. Its not like the feds are limiting tire with to 4 inches to improve gas mileage.

 

Does anyone know how the new roof strength standards will affect open top designs such as convertibles, sunroofs, targas, and t-tops?

 

I'm not sure what these new standards entail for cars. But I was talking about this very thing to an engineer friend recently.

He said that from a technical aspect, they'd be no sweat. But they would add weight, substantial amounts of weight.