Audi lifts lid on A5 Cabriolet 04 | 11 | 2016

    FOUR MONTHS BEFORE it reaches Scottish showrooms next March, Audi has revealed its second-generation A5 Cabriolet. The four-seater — which is expected to start around £44,000 — shares its exterior styling with the latest A5 Coupé, but features a newly-developed roof with one-touch automatic operation.

    Capable of opening in 15secs and closing again in 18sec at speeds up to 31mph, it promises to be perfect for the variable Scottish weather. (Related: Audi reveals 2017 Q5)

    According to Audi, a new manufacturing process endows the multi-layered structure with vastly improved aeroacoustic properties in a development claimed to reduce interior noise levels at motorway speeds.

    Audi-A5-Cabriolet-2--1-.jpg

    The new A5 Cabriolet also promises more agile handling and greater levels of comfort than before thanks to increased use of hot-formed high-strength steel in the MLB Evolution structure, which is claimed to provide a significant improvement in overall rigidity compared to the earlier platform.

    Audi says the new A5 Cabriolet is the lightest car in its segment, with the front-wheel drive A5 Cabriolet 2.0TDI boasting a 40kg reduction in kerb weight over its direct predecessor at 1690kg.

    The new cabrio — which will follow the same SE, Sport and S line spec trims as the Coupé — is 47mm longer than its predecessor, at 4673mm in length. The newcomer also has a 14mm longer wheelbase, at 2809mm, which contributes to an additional 18mm rear-seat knee room.

    Audi-A5-Cabriolet-3.jpg

    The growth in wheelbase has further boosted all-round interior packaging, and has resulted in an extra 60 litres of boot space when the roof is closed at 380 litres. There’s also a standard 50/50 split-fold rear seat.

    Also standard on the new A5 Cabriolet is an automatic opening bootlid which can be operated either via the remote button on the key fob or a button on the driver’s door. Theres also the option of a gesture control function that opens the boot lid when a sensor detects the movement of your foot underneath the rear bumper.

    Power plants will be the same as across the A5 Coupé range, with three different gearboxes and either front or four-wheel drive.

    At launch there will be two diesels — a turbocharged 2.0-litre TDI four-cylinder with 187bhp and turbocharged 215bhp 3.0-litre TDI V6 — and one petrol, the 248bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder TFSI.

    Audi-A5-Cabriolet-5.jpg

    Soon after, the range will be further supplemented by a 187bhp version of the 2.0TFSI petrol unit and a more powerful 282bhp 3.0TDI V6.

    Across the new range, and depending on the engine, buyers will be able to choose between either a standard six-speed manual, seven-speed dual clutch or eight-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.  All models save the more powerful 3.0-litre TDI and S5, which both receive quattro four wheel, are sold as standard with front-wheel drive.

    The range-topping S5 Cabriolet will get Audi’s newly-developed 349bhp 3.0-litre V6 engine, mated to an eight-speed torque converter automatic with Tiptronic shift controls and the latest evolution of Audi’s Torsen torque-sensing quattro four-wheel drive system fitted as standard. Audi claims it will hit 62mph from standstill in 5.1sec and have a limited top speed of 155mph.  

    Audi-A5-Cabriolet-8.jpg

    Inside, the A5 Cabriolet, there’s the same dashboard and many of the same interior appointments featured on the latest A5 Coupé. Buyers can specify the new car with Audi’s optional 12.3in high-definition Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display as well as a head up display unit.

    Standard seatbelt microphones for the driver and front seat passenger are claimed to improve voice quality during phone conversations.

    The smartphone interface integrates iOS and Android systems, while Audi Phonebox connects smartphones to the car's antenna for improved reception quality. Wireless smartphone charging is also included.

    Audi-A5-Cabriolet-6.jpg

    An optional LTE module provides access to online services, while a wi-fi hotspot provides connectivity to the internet.  The top of the range MMI (multimedia interface) touch connectivity package gets an 8.3in monitor with a resolution of 1024x480 pixels. It comes with a DVD drive, 10GB of flash memory, two car readers, and aux-in and USB connections.

    A top-of-the-line Bang & Olufsen sound system features a 755 watt amplifier, 19 speakers, 3D surround sound and claimed improvement in bass owing to the adoption of a second subwoofer.

    Related: Audi Q2 first Scottish deliveries on November 12

    Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/Scotcars

    Jim McGill

     

User Comments

Login or register to post comments.