A CONVERTIBLE version of the Nissan Silvia sports coupe is to go on sale in Japan in July. The Varietta has an electric foldaway metal hood which raises and lowers in about 20 seconds.

There are no plans to bring either of the 2.0-litre-engined Silvias to the UK, but features such as the stowable hard-top are likely to be featured in a global Nissan coupe, code-named Z-car, planned for 2002.