Audi picked a peculiar time during which to bring its new cabriolet models to America because even the sunniest of states are seeing stormy weather, the likes of which is rarely seen this time of year. Nevertheless, the 2017 Detroit Auto Show saw the the topless Audi A5 and its more powerful cousin, the S5 Cabriolet come to America so impending customers could take a peak. The Cabriolet is the final puzzle piece that completes the new A5 lineup, which includes the Coupeand Sportback.
The new cabrio retains many of the coupe’s striking lines including the creases on the hood. Clean headlight lines serve to complement the wide grille, but it is the silver Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead-like A-pillars that make the cabriolet stand out by defining the only solid structure above the main body on the vehicle. Unlike the BMW 4 Series convertible, the A5 Cabrio and S5 Cabrio feature a fabric soft top that’s sure to help cut down on weight but does a worse job of keeping the outside elements from permeating through the fabric. Acoustic insulation should help remedy some of the added noise. Aside from weight, another benefit of the top is a folding time of 15 seconds after the one touch down button is pressed at a max speed of 31 mph.
While the outside looks to have only changed marginally, the structure itself is 55 pounds lighter on the A5 and 99 pounds lighter on the S5 than on the previous models. The “penalty” for this is a structure that’s 40 percent more rigid than the last A5. Lesser A5 trims are stuck with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. When mated to its resident seven-speed dual clutch automatic, it can hit 60 mph from standstill in only 6.0 seconds. S5 buyers will be treated to Audi’s turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine making 354 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, which is then mated to an eight-speed automatic that can launch the car from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds.
Both models come standard with Quattro all-wheel drive. Some of the problems that come with losing a roof are small, such as where does the Bluetooth microphone go? To solve that, Audi placed it inside of the seat belts to make for easy conversations with the top down. The wait for this gorgeous drop top won’t be long, with the end of 2017 being set for release of one of the best interiors on the market.
