The twins took their tops off this week in preparation for the Geneva Motor Show. Click inside to see the new 2010 Audi A5 Convertible and its high-po sibling, the 2010 Audi S5 Convertible.
We showed you some leaked photos back in December, but Audi has now released official high-res images of both the 2010 A5 Cabriolet and the 2010 S5 Cabriolet, as they're known in Europe, just prior to their public debut at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. The obvious difference here is the lack of a roof, but Audi has made sure the chassis is up to snuff by stiffening it in all the right places in case you want to take your new boulevard cruiser onto some curvy back roads.
The new convertible top folds down with extreme efficiency leaving 11.3 cubic feet of usable trunk space when stowed, placing the new A5/S5 Cabriolet at the forefront of its competitors. The rear seats can also be folded down to create a large pass-through from the trunk to the interior, allowing for 26.49 cubic feet of total storage area.
The engines and drivetrain of the 2010 Audi A5/S5 Cabriolets will remain the same as their 2010 model year, helmet-mounted siblings, but in case you've forgotten we'll reiterate the plan. The 2010 A5 Cabriolet will be offered in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive variations and will come with a range of engines starting with two four cylinder options: The base TFSI 2.0-liter comes with 180 horsepower and the higher powered 2.0-liter with 211 horsepower. The top dog in the 2010 A5 Cabriolet lineup is the 3.2-liter FSI V6 which produces 265 horsepower. The 2010 S5 Cabriolet, on the other hand, offers the baddest powertrain in the lineup - A new supercharged, 3.0-liter V6 that pumps out 333 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. That's enough to get you to 60 in 5.6 seconds, just .5 seconds slower than the S5 coupe.
The 2010 Audi A5/S5 Cabriolets will go on sale during the second quarter of this year and while we don't know exact prices at this point, we do know that the bottom of the bucket, base, non-U.S.-bound 1.8-liter European 2010 Audi A5 will start at $47,490. If you're dying for more, check out Audi's official press release below.
Audi Press Release:
Audi A5 and S5 Cabriolet – the joy of open-top driving
Dynamic, confident and stunning – the new A5 Cabriolet from Audi is emotionally evocative. The four-seater with the fabric top combines a distinctly sporty character with the fascination of open-top driving, refined comfort and a great everyday utility. Five efficient engines, an agile suspension and a wide range of high-end options make the new Audi the most attractive convertible in the mid-sized segment.
Delivery will begin in the second quarter of 2009. Prices start at 37,300 euros for the entry-level 1.8 TFSI model with 118 kW (160 hp), which will follow somewhat later.
Crowning the new model series is the S5 Cabriolet. The letter "S" traditionally stands for supreme sportiness – for dynamics, performance and power, but also for amazing efficiency. Powering the S5 Cabriolet is a newly developed, supercharged three-liter V6 that pumps out 245 kW (333 hp) for superior performance.
Like all Audi convertibles, the open-top A5 also has a lightweight fabric top that endows it with a silhouette of dynamic elegance. The fully automatic top opens in just 15 seconds. Audi also offers an optional acoustic top with an intermediate layer of insulating foam that reduces wind noise almost to the sedan level.
When opened, the Audi A5 Cabriolet top folds down so effectively that very little trunk space is used up – leaving 320 liters (11.30 cubic ft) of unused storage volume, clearly the best value in its field of competitors. The soft top compartment lowers automatically when the top is opened. Equally useful is the fold-down rear seat backrest and the large pass-through between the luggage compartment and the interior, which increases the storage volume to a generous 750 liters (26.49 cubic ft).
Rounding out the comfortable character of the four-seater's interior are automatic seatbelt extenders for the front seats and the optionally available head-level heating. A special coating on the optional leather seats reduces solar heating. The A5 Cabriolet seats four comfortably. The refined ambience combines with perfect ergonomics to convey an atmosphere of sporty elegance. Ultra-high-strength steels and selective reinforcements of the body ensure high rigidity and crash safety.
The A5 Cabriolet is being launched with three gasoline engines and two diesel engines ranging between 132 kW (180 hp) and 195 kW (265 hp). All five power plants are fueled via direct fuel injection; four of them use turbocharging. Available powertrains include a six-speed manual, the continuously variable multitronic and the new, lightning-fast seven-speed S tronic. In addition to front-wheel drive, Audi also offers quattro permanent all-wheel drive for the higher-power engines. The innovative sport differential, which variably distributes power between the rear wheels, is optionally available for even greater dynamics and driving pleasure.
Fascinating dynamics: Audi drive select
The perfect addition to this technology package is the Audi drive select vehicle dynamics system, which enables the driver to chose among three different engine maps controlling the characteristics of the fuel feed, the shifting points of the seven-speed S tronic or the multitronic, and the boost provided by the servotronic steering system. If the car is equipped with the MMI operating interface, a fourth, freely programmable map is available. Additional technologies available include adaptive control of the shock absorbers and variable-ratio dynamic steering.The new Audi A5 Cabriolet features a rich array of equipment in addition to the fully automatic top, including an automatic climate-control system and a CD audio system. Highlights from the long list of options include the innovative driver assist systems and the latest generation MMI operating interface, which offers many attractive navigation and entertainment features.
As the dynamic top-of-the-line model of the new production series, the S5 Cabriolet occupies a very special position. Its three-liter TFSI – a V6 with mechanical supercharger – unfolds its 245 kW (333 hp) and 440 Nm (324.53 lb-ft) of torque with impressive results: It responds tenaciously to the throttle and delivers excellent driving performance. The quattro drivetrain, a sport suspension with 18-inch wheels and a number of special equipment details underscore the athletic character of the Audi S5 Cabriolet.
The equipment, specifications, and prices stated herein refer to the model range offered for sale in Germany. Subject to change without notice; errors and omissions excepted.
[via Audi]