Open day
Audi A5 cabriolet £45,630
WE SAY: IT’S NEARLY SUMMER... TIME FOR A NEW CABRIO, MAYBE?
Increased performance( improved efficiency( greater dynamism2 the latest iteration of Audi’s svelte four$seater A* cabriolet aims to square the circle" An aluminium$steel hybrid body shaves up to **kg off its dry weight and boosts torsional rigidity by '# per cent( there’s reworked multi$link front and rear suspension( and the stop/start system works during coasting as well as at a standstill"
No fat$arse$inducing folding metal roof here( either2 the multi$layered acoustic hood opens with one button push in &* seconds and closes in &3 at speeds up to !&mph" There are no fewer than !# assistance systems( but Audi’s brilliant Virtual Cockpit is an option( and seven different technology ‘packs’ threaten to rocket the cost into the stratosphere" The new A* also sees the debut of Audi’s car$to$X software( in which a pre$installed SIM collects data( bounces it into a cloud$based server for collation and analysis( before relaying to other similarly specified Audis"
Sixteen different versions are available( from entry$level &34bhp %"#$litre manual TFSI ,5!*(%!*/ to the !')bhp( !"# TFSI quattro S* ,5*&(3!*/( via a variety of diesels" The !"#$litre V. turbo deploys its !')bhp with a cultured efficiency( and the chassis is typically unflappable" At &(3'#kg( though( it’s no featherweight( and despite the various modes available in Drive Select( the BMW ''#i and Mercedes C'! remain sharper overall"
The !"#$litre TDI makes %&'bhp and emits &!' CO s( but it feels nose$heavy( % and is happiest at a steady state on the motorway" We’d argue that the clever %')bhp( %"#$litre TFSI synthesises the A* cabrio’s qualities to the best effect" It’s easily quick enough ,#-.%mph in ."! seconds( &')mph top speed( EU.$ compliant/( and is a better match for the car’s restrained character" The &)#bhp %"# TDI is good( too( reworked engine mounts and beefier bulkhead insulation ensuring enviable refinement" All three ride with impressive fluency( and are impeccably refined with the hood up" There’s some kerfuffle roof down( although a seatbelt microphone means you can talk on the phone without sounding like Dom Joly"
Audi’s interior build quality and the overall ergonomic experience continue to eclipse its rivals" Not the most fun( then( but arguably the best to own"