2009 Audi A5 and S5 Convertible range
December 3, 2008 by George Skentzos
Audi has extended its open-top driving experience to the A5 line-up with the new Cabriolet model range.
The four-seat Audi A5 Cabriolet range features a folding fabric top roof, with a choice of seven engines and a wide range of high-end options.
The top-of-the-line S5 model also gains a convertible variant, boasting a newly developed, supercharged 3.0-litre V6 engine with direct injection.
Like all open-top Audi’s, the A5 uses a classic fabric top which opens in just 15 seconds – and closes in 17 seconds.
The fully automatic open/close system is standard on all A5 Convertibles, although an acoustic top is optionally available which reduces wind noise and is comparable to a hardtop roof.
A clever folding design means that even when the roof is down very little boot space is lost – maintaining 320 litres of usable storage space.
In addition to this, the rear-seat backrest can be folded down creating a pass-through between the luggage space and the interior, which increases the storage volume to a generous 750 litres.
The A5 Cabriolet is being launched with three petrol engines and two diesel engines, with power outputs ranging from 132 kW to 195 kW – all featuring direct injection technology.
High-powered models also benefit from Audi quattro all-wheel drive with an optional sports differential which distributes power between the rear wheels.
A choice of three transmissions is also on offer: a six-speed manual transmission, the continuously variable multitronic, and the seven-speed S tronic.
Delivery of the first A5 Cabriolet models will begin in the second quarter of 2009.
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Awesome even better then the hard top version!
Nice. Thank god one will still be able to buy a premium convertible with a soft top. I don’t want a hard top convertible because no matter how good the engineering, one day it’ll start raining, you’ll press the button and it will jam half way up. I’ve already seen a Megane and once a 206 cc just driving around with all the pieces out, boot closed as much as it could be. It was funny but the owners looked less than impressed.
Alex.
You’ve never seen a BMW soft top stuck half way? Expensive and time consuming to fix to say the least. The benifit of a hard top over a soft top is structural stability and added security. This just looks like another car to add to my hairdresser’s christmas list.
^Well with all due respect, french cars are prone to questionable relability, I see it less likely happening to a BMW or Volkswagen. Personally I think Audi should have opted for a hardtop, for the price they are asking for and everything, I don’t see the benefit over a 3-series convertible. Dynamically too, it is expected to trail the BMW.
I currently have a SLK 350 and have previosly owned a SLK 230 and over the I have never had a problem with the folding roof at all.
I have only seen one occasions of the rooof failing to close due to dirty sensors.
The Audi looks tits and is tempting purchase especially the S5
Also the MB’s come with a manual lever that screws into the roof so if you have a flat battery for exampe you can still close & seal the roof.
I’d rather one of these to the 3 Series convertible because most reviewers have already determined that the 3 Series convertible is kind of heavy which dulls the drive and the 3 Series doesn’t work as a coupe cabriolet because when the roof is up on a 3 Series, it isn’t exactly the same as the coupe in looks, it just doesn’t flow as nicely.
It is true though about the extra security and structural benefits. I would have said a hard top convertible was far more hairdresser than soft top B Man and this is hardly a hairdressers car.
Soft top convertible are just so much classier and dignified somehow. The Phantom DHC is a soft top and the Bentley Azure is a soft top and I don’t see that changing any time soon. And of course you don’t end up with a fat arse problem. I love the Ferrari California but dear god, the back is just so much higher than the front!
Some hardtops suffer from high arse boot, but the 3 series doesn’t. Anyway, if I was looking at the 3 series, I’d get the coupe. Audi’s, apart from the R8, they are too conservative and generic. IMO outclassed by their German RWD competitors.
Doesn’t matter if its an Audi Convertible; Merc-Benz Convertible; Porsche Convertible; BMW Convertible; or even a Holden Convertible…. fact of the matter is despite the owners saying “I bought a convertible because I love the sense of freedom and the wind in my hair” – it will still spend up to 90% of its life with the roof up even when its 25-30 degrees and clear blue skies.
Which virtually negates the reason for buying a convertible in the first place.. Not to mention that all the extra weight and reinforcement takes away from the performance it once had as a coupe….soft-tops are for softc–ks!
Wheelnut, you appear to have rather outdated views. Are the Jaguar XKR, Aston Martin Vantage Roadster, Aston Martin DB9 Volant, Rolls Royce Phantom DHC, Bentley Azure for softcocks? Well actually, no because it’s rather easy to pull girls with cars like that, even if they are mindless gold diggers.
I also disagree with your comments about the roof being up. There is nothing wrong with having the roof up on a convertible because basically, the roof going up and down is just another feature. I have a television built into the sat nav in a couple of my cars but you can bet I hardly ever use it.
The new Audi A5 in a winner and gets my vote. Just wonder when it will be launched so I can order one.
I have had ywo convertibles in the last four years. One was the Saab Aero with sofyt top the onther a BMW335i convertible with hardtop. A convertible has to have a soft top. It looks better, is cheaper and takes in a lot less space. I live on the Gold Coast where it never rains so my roof is open most of the time. On a colder day, put on the heated seats. There is no better feeling than to drive a powerful convertible on a sunny day ( especialy in winter on the Gold Coast). Even my cocker Spaniel loves it.