When the Audi A5 Coupé was launched in April 2008 it was, and still is, admired for being an athletic, elegant, handsome and stylish grand tourer. So when the cabriolet version arrived just shy of 18 months later, we were keen to discover what the new model’s effect would be on these adjectives.

Interior
Stylish and elegant are two adjectives that are certainly applicable to Audi’s current interiors, no matter which car in their range you refer to. This means you’ll find four very comfortable leather covered seats and steering wheel, ergonomic layout for driver controls and instrumentation, as well as everything you’d expect to find in terms of convenience such as climate control, cruise control, multi-function steering wheel and Audi’s MMI system with colour screen, to name but a few. Additional features are electronically adjustable front seats that move forward to provide easy entry and exit for rear passengers, as well as a seatbelt extender that moves forward from the B-pillar to ‘hand’ you the seatbelt and save you from having to search for it over your shoulder. With the canvas roof up, adult passengers will still find enough headroom in the rear, although legroom is lacking and is likely to result in some shuffling after an hour or so of travel time.

This car’s party trick is of course its fabric roof with glass rear window that can be folded away in just 15 seconds, or closed again in an extra two. Being able to open or close the roof while on the move, at speeds of up to 50 km/h, adds an element of practicality more useful than one may think. A one-touch button on the centre console lowers all four windows to give you true ‘wind in your hair’ motoring. Alternatively, Audi provide a wind deflector that covers the rear seats while keeping your precious hairdo in place and that can be folded and stored in the boot when not in use. Speaking of the boot and luggage space, the A5 Cabriolet has 380-litres on offer, which shrinks to 320 with the roof down, enough space to store luggage for a couples weekend getaway.

Whether the top is up or down, it’s a feel-good cockpit and one which can be enjoyed for hours on end.

Exterior
Audi has taken away none of the A5′s appeal in choosing to remove the roof. In fact, the A5 Cabriolet looks even better with the top down. With the now traditional Audi single-frame grille and eye-catching daytime LED running lights, crowned by the aluminium look windscreen frame, the A5 forges ahead with confidence. A taut and sweeping shoulder line, together with bold wheel arches, housing optional 19-inch wheels on our test car, make for a solid and elegant profile. The cabriolet is rounded off at the rear with a subtle integrated lip spoiler that differs from the hardtop with an integrated third brake light. Distinctive LED tail-lights and sleek diffuser framed by exhausts on either side complete the muscular yet elegant appeal of the car.

The Drive
An easy car to drive and a pleasure to live with, the A5 Cabriolet exudes class. The seating position is low, offering a sense of sportiness and security, with the car still wrapping itself around you even with the top down. We experienced some fierce south-easterly winds with the topless A5, certainly no conditions for top down motoring. However, the car always felt planted on the road and the fabric roof performed well to fend off the relentless wind, conceding a slight whistle only on rare occasions. A 15 mm thick insulating foam layer is also available to further reduce wind noise. When the weather plays along however, the A5 Cabriolet is best enjoyed with the roof neatly tucked away in the boot and the supplied wind-deflector in position, which works well even at high-speed.

Handling from the cabriolet is positive and the car tackled corners with alacrity, thanks to accurate steering, quattro permanent four-wheel drive and the optional low profile 19-inch tyres. The ride was firmer than expected partly due to the large 19′s, but they add to the car’s sex appeal and we’d have no regrets in adding them to our list of options.

Although there are no obvious signs of scuttle shake with the A5 Cab, the torsional rigidity of a car with no roof is always an issue and they’re prone to chassis flex when compared to their hardtop counterparts. Audi has done a commendable job of remedying this by strengthening strategic points of the chassis, in particular the walls of the side sills, transmission tunnel, front and rear cross members as well as the A-pillars. As a result the cabriolet weighs a hefty 250 kg’s over its coupé counterpart, which takes the edge off the 3.2 FSI’s sprinting performance. However, cruising is the cabrio’s forté and as such, the added weight and associated performance penalty are not too much of an issue.

Performance
The 3,2-litre V6 in the A5 Cabriolet 3.2 FSI produces 195 kW and 330 N.m of torque from 3 000 rpm to 5 000 rpm. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is 0.5 seconds slower than the lighter coupé model at a claimed 6.9 seconds, but the car doesn’t feel this quick. In reality this cabrio is not going to blow off any hot hatches, but then that’s not a game this car cares to play. Mated to Audi’s 7-speed S tronic gearbox, progress in the 3.2 FSI cabrio is swift and wonderfully smooth. However, the 7th gear does not make as much sense matched with this petrol engine as it does with Audi’s 3,0-litre diesel, which has 170 N.m more torque that saves you having to shift down as often. As a result we preferred using the S tronic’s sport mode, which made use of only 6 gears and is more responsive. With a top speed of 246 km/h the cabrio is no slouch and covers distance quickly and comfortably. Our pick of the range would be the diesel though, as it is quicker off the mark, has lower fuel consumption and works better with the 7-speed S tronic box.

What we like…

• Great looking, classy 2-door cabriolet makes for superb drop-top motoring.
• Solid and well-built feel in every aspect.
• Good handling and road manners mean grace with sufficient pace.

What we would like…

• Better sound quality from the standard sound system – it lacked a bit of depth.
• Slightly more vocal exhausts to hear the great sounding V6 more often.