A pair of class acts
Smart-looking convertibles offer lighter, stiffer chassis for dynamic driving experience
It takes a certain kind of person to want a convertible.
Unapologetic, extrovert, Thelma and Louise types hell bent on getting noticed and having adventures that will make killer stories later. Ripping through the Spanish countryside driving the all-new 2018 Audi A5 and S5 Cabriolets, people try to sneak photos of our convertibles while cheering us on. And this isn’t even a supercar. It’s amazing what lopping the roof off a coupe can do.
The 2018 Audi A5 and S5 Cabriolets are classy, yet still know they are brawlers underneath their conservative new suits. Where the old A5 had the proportions and poise of an American muscle car, the new ones are distinctly European — leaner and more stylish, if a bit less brash. This generation of A5 is all-new from bumper to bumper and this redesign brings a lighter yet stiffer chassis, which results in a more direct and balanced drive, as well as all the fantastic technology we’ve come to expect from Audi. More importantly for the Cabriolets, Audi has taken notice of the common complaints drivers have about owning convertibles and fixed them. Amore convenient convertible Audi has applied some real engineering solutions to make the Cabriolets more convenient, addressing many negative traits that used to make driving them not as practical as their coupe counterparts. Starting with the star of the show, the fully automatic soft top now has better sound, heat and cold insulation. With the top up, the Cabrio is now far quieter inside, and even with the top down, it’s easy to carry a conversation with your passengers without having to shout, especially with the wind screen in place.
New microphones built into the seatbelt right where it hits your shoulder make it easier to have a phone conversation over Bluetooth or use the voice commands for Audi’s infotainment system even with the top down
The fully automatic soft top takes just 15 seconds to open and 18 seconds to close and can be operated at speeds up to 50 km/h. New to the Cabrios are one-touch buttons that drivers can use while in motion so they don’t have to keep their finger on the switch to open or close the top.
The new generation Cabrios are 50.8 millimetres longer, which results in more shoulder and leg room for passengers. Cargo capacity is rated at 380 litres with the top closed and 320 litres with the top open, both higher figures than the previous A5 and S5 Cabrios and more than the BMW 4 Series Convertible.
Blind spots are usually a big issue when convertible tops are up, but the Cabrios seem to have even better visibility than their coupe counterparts. New side mirrors also make blind spots even smaller. Awhole new personality Giving the A5 a convertible roof gives the car a whole new personality, almost even more so than the new chassis it rides on. Although the Cabrios are about 40 kilograms lighter than they used to be, Audi says they are the stiffest in their class. Torsional stiffness is also up by 40 per cent.
The new engine options help give the car more precise driving dynamics and a more athletic feel. Both the Cabrios feel poised and unflappable when driven hard, handling corners with surprising ease, while I was also able to navigate parking garages, tight Spanish roundabouts and little towns without getting nervous.
North Americans get two engine options for the Cabriolets while Europeans get two additional diesel models. With the A5 Cabrio, frontwheel drive is standard, while Quattro with Ultra technology and permanent four-wheel drive are available. The A5 Cabriolet is powered by Audi’s ubiquitous 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder with 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. That engine can be paired to a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Although 252 horsepower might not seem substantial, the generous torque and snappy, smooth transmission make it a non-issue. Accelerating to pass slower traffic or merging onto the highway is easy.
The S5 Cabriolet, however, has more urgency and standard allwheel drive makes acceleration even more effortless. Powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6, it outputs an ample 354 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque while being paired exclusively to an eight-speed tiptronic transmission. In normal driving, it has a rear-drive bias, sending 60 per cent of the torque to the rear wheels and 40 to the front. Up to 70 per cent can be routed to the front wheels, and up to 85 per cent can go to the rear. Torque vectoring also increases stability in corners and makes the handling more direct.
Both the A5 and S5 Cabrio feel much more balanced than they used to and their lighter weight really helps the convertibles feel more alive. Although steering feel isn’t sports-car engaging, the heavier setup is precise and intuitive. Both engines have broader, more linear power bands and pull strongly throughout the rev range, displaying just a hint of turbo lag when you put your foot down. Both engines are more powerful and more fuel efficient than the ones they replace and the torque doesn’t drop off as sharply higher in the rev range. Terrific tech Of course, the Cabriolets are now available with all the latest technology Audi has to offer. Starting with the customizable Virtual Cockpit digital dashboard, the display is crisp, re- sponsive and pretty easy to use with the steering wheel-mounted controls. A useful head-up display and traffic sign recognition are also available.
The MMI infotainment system, although simplified and more streamlined than before, is more userfriendly, but still requires a bit of a learning curve. A touchpad on the rotary dial allows drivers to draw in letters to input addresses and contact names, so you can keep your eyes on the road. The system is also compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and wireless charging. The electronic shifter that springs back to centre after making a selection is quite annoying to use, but drivers will get used to it.
The Cabrios are also connected to the Internet, meaning they can communicate with other Audis and infrastructure such as traffic lights to get traffic updates, warnings about road hazards and speed limits. The verdict The A5 and S5 Cabriolets benefit the most from their new-found lightness and tighter, more precise driving dynamics. Many convertible diehards, however, will really come to appreciate how Audi engineered some real solutions that fix some of the nagging downsides of having a convertible.
Thelma and Louise would be pretty proud to trade their old Ford Thunderbird for the Audi A5 or S5 Cabriolet, and it’s just as up for adventure as they were. Wearing all the bug splatter we acquired driving through the Spanish countryside proudly like badges of honour, the Cabriolets still look smart, their sense of adventure still shining brightly through the grime.