Audi’s undercover mission:Heavily disguised A5 Cabrio spotted near Audi’s HQ

There’s a cover-up at Audi – but our spies have seen through it! This disguised prototype is the firm’s new A5 Cabriolet, which we’ve snapped testing near the firm’s HQ in Germany. Going on sale next year, the model will strengthen the A5 range and is set to compete directly with the current best-selling executive drop-top – BMW’s 3-Series Convertible.Unlike that car, the A5 Cabriolet will not get a folding metal roof. Instead it will continue Audi’s tradition of fabric hoods, which the company believes is the best compromise bet-ween styling, packaging and cost.

The fully electric top will offer excellent refinement, thanks to its multi-layered construction. And even though the hood folds into the boot, the A5 Cabriolet should still be practical, with plenty of luggage space.

It will also drive well. The hard-top version has been praised for its handling, and the Cabriolet promises to match this. Under the bonnet will be the same line-up of engines as the coupé – a 3.2-litre V6 petrol, plus 2.7-litre and 3.0-litre TDI diesels. The range will be topped off by the S5 Cabriolet, which will have a 4.2-litre V8 and quattro four-wheel drive.

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Alec - 10/20/2007 1:54:23 AM

+3 Boost

Ill take one hard top convertible S5 in black please. Line forms behind me :D

DieselRules - 10/20/2007 2:31:40 AM

+6 Boost

Sorry Alec, but the convertibles are soft-tops. You'll be waiting a long time........

TauronB2G - 10/20/2007 2:23:46 AM

+4 Boost

I like convertibles but I hate hardtops. Give me a rag top any day.
T

S4cabriofoxone - 10/20/2007 10:41:08 AM

+1 Boost

Yes, I agree!

Threepoint1415926 - 10/22/2007 2:16:22 AM

+1 Boost

Ugh! The only reason I've never bought a convertible was because of the awfulness that is the rag top. Give me a convertible hard top any day!

DaHarder - 10/20/2007 3:22:15 AM

+3 Boost

Not a fan of convertibles that are nothing but decapitated coupes, and as far as retractable/hard-tops go, so far ONLY Mercedes seems to understand how to get just the right aesthetic balance.

All others, especially the Lexus SC430 and (new) 3-Series retractable hardtops are simply atrocious looking!

S4cabriofoxone - 10/20/2007 10:42:17 AM

+1 Boost

My soft top has never been slashed, there have been no bird droppings and the trunks of soft tops are much larger than those of ragtops--I can fit a set of golf clubs in mine with the top down.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/20/2007 10:42:53 AM

+1 Boost

*Sorry, they're much larger than those of HARDTOPS...

bmwdrvr - 10/20/2007 11:55:30 AM

+1 Boost

well i think the Cadillac XLR looks good as a hardtop, its sharp edges look good with the rest of the body, top up or down. but i agree a hardtop has alot of pracitcal uses over a ragtop, i personally would rather have a hardtop, than a ragtop, but in alot of cases the convertible is ugly with the top up with a hard top or rag top, very few cases its not, like the XLR, OR SL, Xk the DB9 is another good looking one top up or down. but not to many others.

DaHarder - 10/20/2007 5:19:48 PM

+1 Boost

I still fail to see how anyone could look at the SC430 (an easy front-runner for the ugliest vehicle of all time), and see any aesthetic similarity to Mercedes' beautiful SL-Series or the stunning SLK... WOW!

Note: To each their (visually impaired) own.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/20/2007 5:45:25 PM

0 Boost

bmwdrvr, in what way are hardtops more practical? If taking up much more trunk space is practical, then okay, but in the winter they provide virtually no advantage. Modern soft tops are so well-padded and insulated that I could drive my S4 every day of the winter without a problem.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/21/2007 1:03:52 AM

0 Boost

My car has a bigger trunk than the LS600hL. LOL.

DaHarder - 10/20/2007 5:16:14 PM

0 Boost

I'll agree that it's very well engineered, but -

That Profile is just so... Wrong and Ill-Proportioned.

Eweeee!

printhan - 10/20/2007 9:55:45 AM

-1 Boost

We already have a winner: 3 Series convertible

rg12345 - 10/20/2007 11:07:02 AM

+2 Boost

For now, maybe. The A5 conv is not out yet, didn't you read the article?

Although the best conv is made by MB.

theoptimisticpessimist - 10/20/2007 12:30:37 PM

0 Boost

Not having a hardtop convertible as this price point is a mistake. Unfortunately no matter how good a soft top is, noise makes all the difference. Not only a test drive but on long trips.

After spending considerable time in both hard and soft tops, I can tell you I have no qualms about owning a soft top in fact plan to, but I would prefer the hard top option.Unlike most people I drive with the top down most of the time, (my rule;if its dry and 50 degrees the top goes down)most people do not. Most people want a coupe with a convertible option.

With the Audi being priced not to far away from the BMW 3er, the soft top may be a hard sell.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/20/2007 5:47:18 PM

-1 Boost

How do you think the Mercedes-Benz CLK and Saab 9-3 Convertible sell? The A5 isn't alone with its soft top. I don't see Mercedes giving the CLK one any time soon, either. They just don't make much sense on four-seat convertibles and look ungainly when up.

610looper - 10/20/2007 3:35:19 PM

+2 Boost

Was never a hard sell for the Saab 9-3 conv or the Cabriolet, the A4, the Corvette, etc...and hell BMW has been doing ragtop 3's for decades...so all of a sudden BMW stops and the world as we know it ends, please..

theoptimisticpessimist - 10/20/2007 4:51:01 PM

0 Boost

Not just BMW, Volvo,Lexus and Mercedes, yes the soft tops did well in the past when the competition didn't offer the hard tops as they do now. Trend or fad, the luxury industry is embracing the hardtops over the traditional rag top.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/20/2007 5:48:28 PM

-1 Boost

Like I said, Mercedes isn't going to put a hardtop on the CLK. Mark my words!

As for the SC430... it's a joke.

I'll give you the C70, that looks very nice with the top up. But I would find the 3 Series more attractive (to buy and to look at) if it were a ragtop.

DaHarder - 10/21/2007 7:57:27 PM

+1 Boost

The SC460 is (allegedly) to be replaced by a retractable hardtop based on the Is platform, I only hope that it looks nothing like that rolling joke they christened the LF-C.

Yikes!

DaHarder - 10/21/2007 7:59:18 PM

+1 Boost

I meant the SC430, though they'll probably do a limited 'Special Edition' 4.6 liter version before a replacement comes along.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/22/2007 12:36:25 AM

+1 Boost

No, they won't.

Ventura - 10/22/2007 3:50:48 AM

+1 Boost

Perhaps it is because of the camouflage but doesn't it seem to you guys that this car is rather small to be an A5?? Because the A5 is really a big car!!

S4cabriofoxone - 10/22/2007 6:05:10 PM

+1 Boost

NO, it's not... I had thought that this had been established by now, but it's not, I guess. THE A5 IS TWO INCHES LONGER THAN THE BMW 3 SERIES COUPE. Remember that! It's WAY smaller than the 6 Series, though it has a bigger rear seat.