Review of the new Audi S5 Cabriolet

Audi has revelled in its reputation for manufacturing the coolest four-seat convertibles you can get for vaguely sensible money and shows no intention of letting the mantle slip. The Audi Cabriolet morphed into the A4 Cabriolet and following the arrival of the A5 coupe, the baton now rests with the A5 Cabriolet. The recipe has changed little throughout the car's evolution and is still based around a four-seater layout with a folding canvas roof but there have been numerous detail changes along the way. One of the most salient in the A5 Cabriolet is the introduction of a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 to power the range-topping S5 Cabriolet version.

The Audi 4.2-litre V8 was great fun and never lacking in brute force but engines like that are a dying breed as emissions regulations tighten and we all pay closer attention to the whirling digits on the filling station fuel pumps. There's no denying the fun factor that's attached to a mid-sized car with an out-sized engine, especially one as charismatic as the Audi eight-pot, but the manufacturer is confident that it can achieve much the same effect with its advanced 3.0-litre V6 and a spot of supercharging.

The 3.0-litre V6 TFSI engine has become the default powerplant for Audi's S4 and S5 models. These reside at the high performance end of the A4 and A5 model ranges and are just one step shy of the hallowed RS models on Audi's potency thermometer. That means that the S5 Cabriolet should be very, very quick.

There's 328bhp being generated when the engine is fully on song and with the supercharger force-feeding it air, the unit's maximum torque is available from 2,500 to 4,850rpm. Together with Audi's latest quattro four-wheel-drive system and the 7-speed S tronic twin-clutch gearbox, the engine should ensure that the S5 Cabriolet is as hot as it is cool.

"The A5 Cabriolet is the latest in a lengthening line of impressive four-seat convertibles that have emanated from Audi"

Any hats should be securely fastened because while the S5 Cabriolet is idling at the traffic lights, 62mph is only 5.6s away and such performance will be more easily replicated by mere mortals thanks to the idiot proof S tronic paddle shift transmission. As ever, the top speed is restricted to 155mph by which point, all but the most tightly held headgear will be long gone.

The standard A5 Cabriolet is a slick piece of design, an example of Audi sticking to its tried and tested convertible formula. In S5 form, the car's performance credentials are more obviously highlighted with sports suspension bringing the bodywork closer to the 19" alloy wheels. Xenon headlamps are standard, as are sportier designs for the front and rear ends of the car and black brake callipers that peep out from between the spokes.

The longer wheelbase the A5 Coupe has over the A4 saloon really helps in the conversion to Cabriolet form. It boosts passenger space in the rear and creates a sizable 380-litre luggage capacity when the hood is up which falls by just 60 litres when the roof is down. The hood itself is made of fabric with Audi having decided to buck the trend for hefty folding hardtop arrangements. It lowers in a super fast 15 seconds and takes just 17 seconds to reinstate itself again if a shower hits. With both operations capable of taking place at speeds of up to 31mph, owners will be left with little excuse for not making the most of what sunshine the British weather affords.

The latest quattro all-wheel-drive system deserves special mention for the way it increases the sporting prowess of Audi's latest performance models. They get the quattro in its asymmetrical form with a 40/60 rear-biased torque split. Keen drivers will also be intrigued by the optional sport differential which can distribute torque between the front and rear axles as well as between the two rear wheels if it detects a lack of grip. Particularly beneficial when accelerating the car through a corner, the system brings an increase in stability and control.

The pricing for the S5 Cabriolet looks fairly hefty but the car is only £2,000 more than the 3.2-litre V6 model from the A5 Cabriolet range and looks a tempting proposition as a result. In the wider market, a key rival would be the BMW 335i Convertible in M Sport trim which is slightly cheaper. Other convertibles with similar capacity and performance aren't too thick on the ground.

Audi has developed a special neck level heating system built into the seat backs that will keep occupants warm on chilly days when the roof is down. Then, should the weather warm up, there's special solar reflective leather upholstery so you don't burn your backside when you get in after the car's been parked in the sun with the roof lowered.

The V8 may have been winched up to the engine testing bed in the sky but is the 328bhp 3.0-litre TFSI supercharged engine really that more careful with the earth's resources? The bald statistics tell us that the V8 would just about sneak over the 20mpg barrier and emit 331g/km of CO2 in the old S4 Cabriolet. The supercharged V6 in the A5 Cabriolet is quicker to 62mph by 0.3s and achieves 29mpg coupled with 224g/km CO2 emissions. We'll all miss the V8 rumble but you can't deny that's progress.

The A5 Cabriolet is the latest in a lengthening line of impressive four-seat convertibles that have emanated from Audi in recent years. In S5 guise, the car gains even more street cred with a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine yielding sports saloon performance. It's undoubtedly a desirable proposition and although it has a price tag to match, it looks competitive against what is a very select group of alternatives.

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