New Audi A5 Cabriolet revealed

The Audi A5 Cabriolet has been revealed prior to its debut on November 14, 2016 at the Los Angeles auto show.

Set to launch globally in 2017, the four-seat drop-top adopts the same platform as its fixed-roof sibling, the recently-introduced A5 Coupe. With increased use of hot-formed high-strength steel, the so-called MLB (Modularer Längsbaukasten, German for Modular Longitudinal Matrix) Evolution structure is claimed to provide a significant improvement in overall rigidity compared to the earlier platform. This leads to a new soft top with more agile handling and greater levels of comfort than before, says Audi.

Sharing its exterior styling with A5 Coupe, the A5 cabriolet features a newly developed roof with one-touch automatic operation. It opens in a claimed 15 sec and closes in 18 sec at speeds up to 50kph. A new manufacturing process is said to endow the multi-layered structure with vastly improved aero-acoustic properties in a development claimed to reduce cabin noise levels at motorway speeds.

With a length of 4673mm, the new A5 Cabriolet is 47mm longer than its predecessor. It also rides on a wheelbase extended by 14mm over the old A5 Cabriolet at 2795mm. This has led to an 18mm increase in rear seat kneeroom. It also contributes to an improvement in interior packaging that has helped liberate extra boot space as well. Among the standard features for the new Audi is an automatically opening boot lid. It is operated either via the remote button on the key fob or a button within the driver’s door. Alternatively, the new A5 Cabriolet gets a gesture control function for the boot lid as an option.

Audi claims, the body of its latest open-top model is the stiffest in its class with torsional rigidity up by 40 per cent over the old A5 Cabriolet. Among the measures brought to the structure to offset the lack of a fixed roof structure are reinforced sills and additional strengthening within the bulkheads. Safety is enhanced by the inclusion of rollover beams that deploy from behind the cabin in the event of a rollover as well as so-called head-thorax side airbags within the door linings. Audi claims that the new A5 Cabriolet is also the lightest car in its segment.

The new Cabriolet will be sold with the same engine line-up as the new A5 Coupe, together with three different gearboxes and either front- or four-wheel drive. Also joining the range will be a range-topping S5 Cabriolet powered by a 354hp 3.0-litre V6 petrol motor. The motor will be paired with an eight-speed torque converter automatic with Tiptronic shift controls and the latest evolution of Audi’s Torsen torque sensing quattro four-wheel drive system. The S5 Cabriolet is claimed to hit 100kph from standstill in 5.1sec and reach a top speed limited to 250kph. 

Also under development at Audi’s Sport division, but yet to be officially confirmed, is a headlining RS5 Cabriolet. Planned for launch during 2017, it is earmarked to run a twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 developed in partnership with Porsche in place of the naturally-aspirated 5.2-litre V8 used by the old RS5 Cabriolet.

Inside, the A5 Cabriolet adopts the same dashboard and many of the same interior appointments featured on the latest A5 Coupe. As an alternative to standard analogue instruments, buyers can specify the new car with an optional 12.3-inch high definition digital instrument display as well as a head-up display unit. Standard seatbelt microphones for the driver and front seat passenger are claimed to improve voice quality during phone conversations. The smartphone interface integrates iOS and Android systems, while a so-called Audi phone box connects smartphones to the on-board antenna for improved reception quality. It also allows smartphones to be charged inductively via the Qi standard.

An optional LTE module provides access to online services, while a Wi-Fi hotspot provides connectivity to the internet. The top-of-the-range MMI (multimedia interface) touch connectivity package uses an 8.3-inch monitor and comes with a DVD drive, 10GB flash memory, two card readers as well as AUX-in and USB connections.