Audi’s handsome A5 and S5 cabrios bare all in new images

Nelson Ireson February 23rd, 2009

By Nelson Ireson Author February 23rd, 2009

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December 31st, 1969 The new A5 and S5 Cabriolet range was quietly revealed late last year during the holiday period between the Los Angeles and Detroit Auto Shows, but with production of the handsome duo kicking off in Germany this month Audi has released a flood of new images and details. The most exciting variant, the S5 Cabriolet, gets a new supercharged 3.0L TFSI V6 engine with direct injection, good for 333hp (245kW) and 324lb-ft (440Nm) of torque. Quattro all-wheel drive, a sport suspension and 18in wheels plus a range of special equipment features peg the S5 Cabrio as the clear head of the new range. The car vaults from a stop to 62mph (100km/h) in just 5.6 seconds, carries on to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph (250km/h) and still manages fuel efficiency of 24.5mpg (9.6L/100km). Pricing for the S5 variant hasn't yet been released. Base A5 Cabrios will feature a 1.8L TFSI engine rated at 160hp (118kW) and will come with a manual transmission as standard, for a base price of €37,500 ($47,625) in Europe. There's no word yet on when the first models will arrive in U.S. showrooms. Performance figures for the mid-range 265hp (195kW) 3.2L FSI V6 rate at 6.9 seconds for the 0-62mph (100km/h) sprint, with a top speed of 153mph (246km/h). The standard 2.0L TFSI manages 8.9 seconds 0-62mph with its 180hp (132kW) engine and a top speed of 136mph (219km/h), while the uprated 2.0L TFSI unit, rated at 211hp (155kW) cuts acceleration time by 1.4 seconds and raises top speed to 150mph (241km/h). Fuel efficiency of the petrol range is respectable, starting at 27.3mpg (8.6L/100km) for the standard 3.2L V6 FSI, rising to 31.8mpg (7.4L/100km) for the standard 2.0L TFSI and - somewhat counterintuitively - 34.5mpg (6.8L/100km) for the more powerful variant. A pair of V6 TDIs are also available, featuring 240hp (176kW) in 3.0L guise and 190hp (140kW) in 2.7L form, and both are suitably efficient, rating 34.6mpg (6.8L/100km) for the larger of the two, and 37.3mpg (6.3L/100km) for the smaller. Unlike many of its competitors, the A5/S5 cabrio won't come with a folding hard top, instead favoring the traditional Audi soft top, which requires just 15 seconds to open and 17 seconds to close. An acoustic top, which reduces wind noise to near-hardtop levels is available as an option. The automatic raising or lowering functions can be triggered whether moving or stopped as long as speeds are below 31mph (50km/h), obviating the need to pull over to change between open and closed modes. When the top is down, it folds into an area at the top of the rear luggage area, absorbing 2.12cu ft (60L) of the 13.4cu ft (380L) available space, leaving 11.3cu ft (320L) for gear, placing near the front of the class of its competitors. Other standard features of the A5 cabrio include 17in alloy wheels, automatic climate control, and CD stereo system with the third-generation MMI operating system, offering a range of navigation and entertainment functions. In terms of exterior design, the new A5 Cabriolet gets most of the familiar cues of the hardtop sister car, plus a slightly redesigned rear deck to accommodate the folding top. The overall length of the car is 15.2ft (4.6m) and width is 6.1ft (1.85m) while it sits satisfyingly low at 4.5ft (1.4m) tall. A trunklid spoiler lip is standard. Rigidity has been preserved, though likely at the cost of some additional weight, as is usually the case with open-top cars made from hardtops. A range of three transmissions are available: the six-speed manual, which can be had with the 211hp 2.0 TFSI; the multitronic continuously variable automatic available as an option on 2.0L and 3.2L FSI variants; and the seven-speed S tronic which is standard on the 3.0L TDI model, and optional on the 2.0L TFSI and 3.2L V6 FSI.2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet2010 Audi A5 Cabrio driving footage

The new prices on Audi's mid-sized range start from $31,450 and range up to $48,850

Enlarge Photo

The new A5 and S5 Cabriolet range was quietly revealed late last year during the holiday period between the Los Angeles and Detroit Auto Shows, but with production of the handsome duo kicking off in Germany this month Audi has released a flood of new images and details.

The most exciting variant, the S5 Cabriolet, gets a new supercharged 3.0L TFSI V6 engine with direct injection, good for 333hp (245kW) and 324lb-ft (440Nm) of torque. Quattro all-wheel drive, a sport suspension and 18in wheels plus a range of special equipment features peg the S5 Cabrio as the clear head of the new range. The car vaults from a stop to 62mph (100km/h) in just 5.6 seconds, carries on to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph (250km/h) and still manages fuel efficiency of 24.5mpg (9.6L/100km). Pricing for the S5 variant hasn't yet been released.

Base A5 Cabrios will feature a 1.8L TFSI engine rated at 160hp (118kW) and will come with a manual transmission as standard, for a base price of €37,500 ($47,625) in Europe. There's no word yet on when the first models will arrive in U.S. showrooms.

Performance figures for the mid-range 265hp (195kW) 3.2L FSI V6 rate at 6.9 seconds for the 0-62mph (100km/h) sprint, with a top speed of 153mph (246km/h). The standard 2.0L TFSI manages 8.9 seconds 0-62mph with its 180hp (132kW) engine and a top speed of 136mph (219km/h), while the uprated 2.0L TFSI unit, rated at 211hp (155kW) cuts acceleration time by 1.4 seconds and raises top speed to 150mph (241km/h).

Fuel efficiency of the petrol range is respectable, starting at 27.3mpg (8.6L/100km) for the standard 3.2L V6 FSI, rising to 31.8mpg (7.4L/100km) for the standard 2.0L TFSI and - somewhat counterintuitively - 34.5mpg (6.8L/100km) for the more powerful variant.

A pair of V6 TDIs are also available, featuring 240hp (176kW) in 3.0L guise and 190hp (140kW) in 2.7L form, and both are suitably efficient, rating 34.6mpg (6.8L/100km) for the larger of the two, and 37.3mpg (6.3L/100km) for the smaller.

Unlike many of its competitors, the A5/S5 cabrio won't come with a folding hard top, instead favoring the traditional Audi soft top, which requires just 15 seconds to open and 17 seconds to close. An acoustic top, which reduces wind noise to near-hardtop levels is available as an option. The automatic raising or lowering functions can be triggered whether moving or stopped as long as speeds are below 31mph (50km/h), obviating the need to pull over to change between open and closed modes.

When the top is down, it folds into an area at the top of the rear luggage area, absorbing 2.12cu ft (60L) of the 13.4cu ft (380L) available space, leaving 11.3cu ft (320L) for gear, placing near the front of the class of its competitors.

Other standard features of the A5 cabrio include 17in alloy wheels, automatic climate control, and CD stereo system with the third-generation MMI operating system, offering a range of navigation and entertainment functions.

In terms of exterior design, the new A5 Cabriolet gets most of the familiar cues of the hardtop sister car, plus a slightly redesigned rear deck to accommodate the folding top. The overall length of the car is 15.2ft (4.6m) and width is 6.1ft (1.85m) while it sits satisfyingly low at 4.5ft (1.4m) tall. A trunklid spoiler lip is standard.

Rigidity has been preserved, though likely at the cost of some additional weight, as is usually the case with open-top cars made from hardtops.

A range of three transmissions are available: the six-speed manual, which can be had with the 211hp 2.0 TFSI; the multitronic continuously variable automatic available as an option on 2.0L and 3.2L FSI variants; and the seven-speed S tronic which is standard on the 3.0L TDI model, and optional on the 2.0L TFSI and 3.2L V6 FSI.

2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet

Gallery

2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet

Gallery

2010 Audi A5 Cabrio driving footage

Tags: Soft Top

Posted in: 2002, Volkswagen, Audi, News, Convertible, Cabrio, A5, Cabriolet, S5

by NoNameDenton #1, Posted: 12/2/2008

I would like to get the diesel her, but I like the supercharged V6
by Gus Chyba #2, Posted: 12/2/2008

What a great looking car. But my Mustang GT gets 24 mpg with a 4.6 V8 and similar power numbers, seems like a lot of tech and pressure to get the same results?
by NoNameDenton #3, Posted: 12/2/2008

Less emissions
by HECTOR #4, Posted: 12/3/2008

I was on my way to the Florida Keys the other day and saw an A5 from behind. You don't see that many, so I followed it with my eyes.

Imagine my shock at noticing it doesn't have independent turn signals in the back but, rather like a Crown Victoria, uses the break light instead.

Thanks Audi. You just f*cked it up for me. And also the A8 and A6 by the way. Bunch of underachieving pricks...
by Gus Chyba #5, Posted: 12/3/2008

Oh my God, Hector, you slay me.
I thought I was hard on cars, but man you have a headlight/taillight fetish like no one I have ever known!!! :)
by Gus Chyba #6, Posted: 12/3/2008

Denton, are you sure? Usually when a motor is pushing that hard it creates a lot of emissions (more revs for the same result, that sort of thing)...
Plus it requires Premium fuel, which costs more to produce, both in energy and oil...
by NaBUru38 #7, Posted: 12/4/2008

Hector, perhaps that unit had an electrical fault.
by HECTOR #8, Posted: 12/4/2008

I'm a purist my friend, what can I say? I think if you don't bother to differentiate your brake lights from your turn signals you don't care enough to do a good job. And if you don't care about something so simple, what else didn't you care about?

Have you ever noticed that most cars that have no independent turn signals are ranked unreliable by consumer products magazine? Audi is a desirable car but their reliability is sub par. And this doesn't help in my opinion.
by Gus Chyba #9, Posted: 2/23/2009

Oh Lord.
Ok, well, turn signals aren't that important to me, but being able to go on a trip with the top down AND luggage is.

"When the top is down, it folds into an area at the top of the rear luggage area, absorbing 2.12cu ft (60L) of the 13.4cu ft (380L) available space, leaving 11.3cu ft (320L) for gear, placing near the front of the class of its competitors."

Which is why I don't like folding hardtops.

I can't imagine driving along at 30 mph and foling the roof, my Mustang has to be below 5 mph to do that. Amazing.

That said, this is an excellent looking car, and will probably be fun to drive as well.
by NoNameDenton #10, Posted: 2/23/2009

Denton, are you sure? Usually when a motor is pushing that hard it creates a lot of emissions (more revs for the same result, that sort of thing)...
Plus it requires Premium fuel, which costs more to produce, both in energy and oil...

The supercharged V6 was designed for lower emissions then the V8 it replaces, lower emissions and better fuel economy.
by Siddarth Raja #11, Posted: 2/23/2009

Anyone notice EVERY image for this car has a woman driving it?
by Gus Chyba #12, Posted: 2/23/2009

Better than looking at some dude driving a car... :)