2014 Audi RS 5 Cabriolet Review
2014 AUDI A5 REVIEW
What’s Hot: Wonderful engine, excellent interior, stupendous grip
What’s Not: Lacking torsional rigidity, overly stiff suspension
X-FACTOR: A technological masterpiece and stylish cruiser, but let down by soft architecture.
Vehicle Style: High performance convertible
Engine/trans: 331kW/430Nm 4.2 naturally aspirated petrol 8cyl / 7sp auto
Price: $175,900 (plus on-roads), $196,090 (as tested)
Fuel Economy claimed: 10.7 l/100km
OVERVIEW
Let’s be honest now: drop-top versions of performance cars aren’t created for enthusiasts.
There are some notable exceptions to this rule like the Porsche Boxster and Mazda MX-5, but odds are that when a car company decides to scalp one of its hi-po two-doors, it’s got drivers who value style and 'wind in the hair' over track-day performance.
And that brings us to the Audi RS 5 Cabriolet. Effectively the replacement for the long-departed RS 4 Cabriolet, the RS 5 Cab has the kind of outward beauty that will have your neighbours green with envy.
And that’s with the roof up or down. Audi’s engineers have crafted a hood that closely follows the roofline of the RS 5 coupe, which is one of the best-proportioned big two-doors out there.
But what price, beauty? In the RS 5 Cabrio’s case its aesthetic appeal has come at the cost of chassis rigidity. In fact, I can’t recall another convertible that I’ve driven in recent times that’s quite so flexible.
We’ll get to that later, but first, let’s venture into the cabin.