Sporty and sleek new Audi A5 Cabriolet

AHEAD of its launch later this month, Audi Ireland has announced pricing and spec. of the innovative Audi A5 Cabriolet, the model completing the new generation of the A5 family.

With room for four people and a fully automatic soft top, the redesigned model is kitted out with the latest technology, including driver assistance systems and seat belt microphones.

The new Audi A5 Cabriolet is characterised by sleek lines and a flatter, sportier look, including a wider three-dimensional Singleframe grille and wave-shaped shoulder line.

The soft top fits perfectly and delivers outstanding aeroacoustics thanks to effective insulation. The new onetouch opening function makes operating the standard acoustic hood much easier: the top fully opens in 15 seconds and closes in 18 seconds, even while driving up to 50 km/h.

LED rear lights and optional LED or Matrix LED headlights with dynamic turn signals at the front and rear make high-end technology visible even after dark.

Two trim lines will be made available for the new A5 Cabriolet in Ireland – SE and S Line. The Audi A5 Cabriolet comes with a wide range of equipment. Standard features include xenon headlights, Audi drive select and partial leather seats. Intuitive ergonomic operation comes courtesy of the Audi MMI radio plus with 7-inch colour display, seat belt microphones and the one-touch opening function for the soft top. The new lines concept with various equipment packages enhances the scope for individual design expression.

The body of the new Audi A5 Cabriolet is the strongest in its class and yet is among the lightest in the segment. Thanks to a smart mix of materials and lightweight design, compared to its predecessor model, engineers have increased the car’s torsional rigidity by another 40 percent and reduced its weight by up to 40 kilograms, making the Cabriolet even more agile.

The Cabriolet’s additional body struts and reinforced sills make up for the absence of a fixed roof. In the event of a crash and/or rollover, head and torso airbags and automatically extending aluminium profiles ensure the occupants’ safety.

On launching, the new Audi A5 Cabriolet will offer a choice of three engines– a 2.0 TFSI with 252 BHP, a 2.0 TDI with 190 BHP and a 3.0 TDI with 218 BHP – each of which offers up to 17 percent more power while consuming as much as 22 percent less fuel combining high efficiency with sporty power development and smooth running. The wide track and the long wheelbase measuring 2,765 millimetres are key features of the balanced, sporty suspension tuning while the newly developed electromechanical power steering offers good feedback from the road and greater steering precision.

The increased dimensions, the wheelbase extended by 14 millimetres and more compact seats, increase the space for the driver and passengers. As an option the ambient lighting with thirty adjustable colours creates a fitting mood for the interior.

With the hood closed, the luggage compartment has a capacity of 380 litres. As standard, the bootlid on the A5 Cabriolet now opens automatically using the remote control key or the button in the driver’s door. Gesture control for the bootlid is also available as an option: A proximity sensor in the bumper responds to a kicking movement with the foot and the bootlid will open automatically once the optional convenience key is detected.

Thanks to the all-new operating and display concept including natural language voice control and free-text search, the driver can control all functions effortlessly and intuitively. Standard seat belt microphones for driver and front passenger improve voice quality even with the hood open.

As an alternative to the analogue instrument dials, the large, high-resolution TFT monitor of the Audi virtual cockpit, measuring 12.3 inches, presents richly detailed graphics. The optional head-up display projects all relevant information onto the windshield in the driver’s direct field of vision as easily comprehensible symbols and digits, enabling the driver to keep their eyes on the road.

MMI navigation plus with MMI touch tops the infotainment range. The high-end system features an 8.3inch monitor, DVD drive, 10 GB flash memory and a USB connection with charging function.

An LTE module provides access to Audi connect online services – free of charge for three years. The media hub also comes with a Wi-Fi hotspot which connects passengers’ mobile devices to the internet.

The Audi smartphone interface integrates iOS and Android devices, with the Audi phone box connecting smartphones to the on-board antenna in order to provide superior reception quality. It also charges the smartphone inductively, without any wires. The Bang & Olufsen Sound System features innovative 3D sound. It opens up the spatial dimension of height and gives the driver the sense of sitting in a concert hall.

The new Audi A5 Cabriolet offers up to thirty ground-breaking driver assistance systems, enhancing safety, comfort and efficiency.

The adaptive cruise control (ACC) and ‘Stop&Go’ system, including traffic jam assist, relieves drivers in slow-moving traffic (up to speeds of 65 km/h) by assuming the tasks of braking and accelerating the car, and also temporarily takes charge of steering on better roads. The predictive efficiency assistant evaluates GPS information from the car’s immediate surroundings and helps to save fuel by giving specific driving advice – a unique feature in this segment.

Collision avoidance assist intervenes in a fraction of the second if the car needs to drive around an obstacle to avoid an accident. The line-up is rounded out by other assistance systems such as turn assist, park assist, rear cross traffic assist, exit warning, camera-based recognition of traffic signs, Audi active lane assist and Audi side assist.

On the road prices start at €61,580 for the 2.0 TDI 190BHP S-Tronic SE.