Audi launches the new A5 and S5 Cabriolet in the UK with deliveries starting in April.

Cut from the same cloth as the Coupé and Sportback, the new Audi A5 Cabriolet will usher in spring in a completely new form

• Open for order now, with first deliveries starting in late April
• SE, Sport and S line specification 
• Petrol engine line-up comprises 190PS 2.0 TFSI manual and S tronic, 252PS 2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic and flagship 354PS S5 V6 TFSI quattro
• 190PS 2.0 TDI S tronic with front-wheel drive or quattro all-wheel drive and 218PS quattro S tronic also available
• 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds and 155mph top speed for S5 Cabriolet
• Fully automatic acoustic hood opens and closes in 15 seconds, at up to 31mph 
• Standard specification includes heated front seats, Audi smartphone interface, pre-sense city, seatbelt microphones and the Audi parking system plus
• Matrix LED lights, Audi Virtual Cockpit, MMI Navigation Plus with MMI Touch, Bang & Olufsen sound system, head-up display and Audi Phone Box optionally available
• Assistance systems range from adaptive cruise control with stop&go, predictive efficiency assistant, collision avoidance assistant, active lane assist and turn assist

As a symbolic reminder that spring is just around the corner Audi is reintroducing an open-air option to its comprehensively reworked A5 range this week. 

Bearing all the new, state-of-the-art design, engineering and technology hallmarks already associated with the elegant A5 Coupé and versatile Sportback, the all-new A5 Cabriolet has just become available to order priced from £35,235 OTR, meaning that there should be plenty of wind-in-hair opportunities remaining in 2017 for the first customers taking delivery in April. 

At the same time, the S5 Cabriolet also joins the range with a new 3.0 V6 TFSI producing 354PS and 500Nm of torque from 1,370rpm. Priced at £51,835 OTR, its special status is subtly defined by customary S-specific body detailing and dynamic enhancements. 

In keeping with tradition, a fabric hood that is fully automatic and acoustically optimised is fitted as standard. The four hood colours red, black, dark grey and brown are available to complement the exterior paint finishes, one of which - the crystal effect Tofana white -  is reserved exclusively for the Cabriolet.

A new one-touch opening function makes operation much easier, as a flick of the switch is all it takes to open the soft top fully automatically in 15 seconds or close it in 18 seconds. Both can be done at speeds of up to 31mph. It is stowed in a fully automatic hood tray that moves down when opening the soft top and up again when the soft top is closed, thus providing the easiest possible access to the 380-litre total luggage capacity at all times. The rear seats have a 40/20/40 split and can be easily folded forward using levers in the luggage compartment.

A number of other highlights specific to the soft-top A5 variant are available, including a wind deflector and the option of a head-level heating system for front seat occupants, ensuring opportunities to lower the roof are fully exploited, even in the coldest of climes. Heated front seats are also fitted as standard across the board.

Working in harmony with the standard Audi smartphone interface, seat belt microphones are fitted to all Cabriolet models to amplify call quality with the roof down. Entry-level SE specification also gains Twin leather upholstery, Audi drive select, Audi parking system plus front and rear sensors, pre sense city and 17-inch alloy wheels sporting a fifteen-spoke design.

In addition to the above, Sport models also come equipped with MMI Navigation and a three-month trial of the Audi connect portfolio. Front Sport seats that are electrically adjustable also include four-way electric lumbar support. Rounding off the enhancements is an LED interior lighting package.

In top-flight S line guise, wheel size increases from 17 to 18 inches with a five-spoke Twin star design, and LED headlights with LED rear lights and dynamic rear indicators are complemented by a host of signature S line styling details. Inside, S line sport seats upholstered in leather/Alcantara with S embossing lend a suitably sporting air. 

Lowered and stiffened Sport suspension is the automatic factory fit for S line versions, but Audi offers the option to deselect to a ‘comfort dynamic’ suspension set-up biased more heavily in favour of ride suppleness at no extra charge if preferred.

Alternatively, all models can be specified with adaptive comfort suspension with damping control. The electronically regulated system works in tandem with Audi drive select to provide a choice between a firmer setup or maximum ride comfort based on the driver’s preference. 

Varied engine line-up

Two TFSI and TDI engines with differing outputs are offered for the Audi A5 Cabriolet. For those with a preference for petrol power two versions of the popular 2.0 TFSI are available. The first offers 190PS and is available in conjunction with front-wheel-drive and manual or S tronic transmission. The standard 62mph sprint time takes 7.9 seconds regardless of which transmission is fitted. Top speed is 147mph (148mph for manual models) and combined MPG peaks at 50.4 (manual: 47.9mpg). CO2 output is 127g/km for S tronic and 136g/km for manual models.  

The second version offers 252PS and is paired with S tronic transmission and quattro drive exclusively. It enables the A5 Cabriolet to touch 62mph from rest in 6.3 seconds and to reach a 149mph top speed. In terms of efficiency, up to 44.8mpg combined is possible, with a CO2 output of 144g/km on 17-inch wheels. 

In the TDI camp, a four-cylinder 2.0-litre with 190PS is the current lead-in unit, and is available with front-wheel drive or quattro drive, both combined with S tronic transmission. It is packed with clever technical solutions that facilitate low emissions of 118g/km and a high of 62.8mpg in the front-drive version and 60.1mpg and 122g/km in the quattro.

Above the 2.0 TDI is a 3.0-litre, 218PS V6 TDI mated exclusively to quattro drive and S tronic transmission. Weighing only around 190 kilograms, this advanced engine gives the A5 Cabriolet an impressive 0-62mph sprint time of 6.8 seconds, ahead of a 149mph top speed. It also enables it to return up to 57.6mpg combined, in conjunction with a low of 128g/km.

‘S’ is for spearhead

The Audi S5 Cabriolet moves into a whole new league with its newly developed 3.0 TFSI. From its 2,995 cc of displacement, the boosted six-cylinder engine produces 354PS of power – 21PS more than the engine in the previous model. Despite this, its combined fuel consumption is up to 36.2mpg, in line with 177g/km of CO2. The top model accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 5.1 seconds, and on up to an electronically governed top speed of 155mph. It features quattro permanent all-wheel drive and the eight-speed tiptronic transmission as standard.

Dynamic upgrades for the Audi S5 Cabriolet

19-inch wheels and S sport suspension are factory fitted, and for even greater composure suspension with damping control that is specifically tuned for the S model can be specified from the options list. This can also be supplemented by a sport differential capable of finely metering torque between the rear wheels to complement the quattro all-wheel drive and maximise cornering adjustability. The operating characteristics of both systems can be fine-tuned via the standard Audi drive select adaptive dynamics system.

Abundant support: the driver assistance systems

With up to 30 driver assistance systems, the new Audi A5 Cabriolet offers a broad range of support. An intelligent combination of different technologies enhances safety, comfort and efficiency. Meanwhile Audi is also taking the next step toward piloted driving.

Playing a central role here is the adaptive cruise control (ACC) Stop&Go system including traffic jam assist. It relieves drivers in slow-moving traffic up to speeds of 40mph by assuming the tasks of braking and accelerating the car, and it also temporarily takes charge of steering on better roads. The predictive efficiency assistant evaluates GPS information from the car’s immediate surroundings and helps to save fuel by giving specific driving advice – a unique feature in this segment.

Collision avoidance assist intervenes if the car needs to drive around an obstacle to avoid an accident. Based on data from the front camera, ACC and radar sensors, it computes a recommended driving line within a fraction of a second. The line-up is rounded out by other assistance systems such as turn assist, park assist, rear cross traffic assist, exit warning, camera-based recognition of traffic signs, Audi active lane assist and Audi side assist.

Other cornerstones of the Audi technology range are also available for the Audi A5 and S5 Cabriolet, from the virtual cockpit, head-up display and Audi Phone Box with wireless charging to the Bang & Olufsen 3D Sound System and Matrix LED headlights.

Engine	Power	Transmission	Specification	Recommended OTR
A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TFSI	190PS	6-speed manual	SE	£35,235
A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TFSI	190PS	7-speed S tronic	SE	£36,725
A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TDI	190PS	7-speed S tronic	SE	£39,075
A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TFSI	190PS	6-speed manual	Sport	£37,175
A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TFSI	190PS	7-speed S tronic	Sport	£38,625
A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TFSI quattro	252PS	7-speed S tronic	Sport	£43,980
A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TDI	190PS	7-speed S tronic	Sport	£40,975
A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TDI quattro	190PS	7-speed S tronic	Sport	£42,500
A5 Cabriolet 3.0 TDI quattro	218PS	7-speed S tronic	Sport	£44,220
A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TFSI	190PS	6-speed manual	S line	£38,785
A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TFSI	190PS	7-speed S tronic	S line	£40,315
A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TFSI quattro	252PS	7-speed S tronic	S line	£45,630
A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TDI	190PS	7-speed S tronic	S line	£42,625
A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TDI quattro	190PS	7-speed S tronic	S line	£44,150
A5 Cabriolet 3.0 TDI quattro	218PS	7-speed S tronic	S line	£45,910
S5 Cabriolet 3.0 TFSI quattro	354PS	8-speed tiptronic	-	£51,835

Latest SQ5 with 354PS V6 TFSI joins UK Audi range following its recent world debut.

Latest SQ5 with 354PS V6 TFSI joins UK Audi range following its recent world debut at the NAIAS in Detroit

• All-new SQ5 TFSI now available to order priced from £51,200 OTR – first UK deliveries expected in June
• Newly adopted 3.0 TFSI petrol engine with 354PS and 500Nm (368.8 lb-ft), 0 to 62mph in 5.4 seconds
• S-specific styling enhancements and a high level of standard equipment, including 'S' suspension with electronic damper control
• MMI Navigation Plus, Audi connect, electric seats, Fine Nappa leather, 20-inch alloy wheels and Audi drive select as standard
• Matrix LED lights, virtual cockpit, head-up display and predictive efficiency assistant among the key options

Part high-achieving performance car,  part resilient and family-ready SUV – the Audi SQ5 is already a firm UK favourite on the strength of its impressively well-rounded skillset, and from this week its all-new successor retakes its rightful place at the head of the Q5 range offering an even more concentrated dose of that successful formula. 

Based around a new and highly sophisticated powertrain incorporating TFSI petrol power for the first time, and enhanced by the many design and technology advances from which the entire Q5 range has benefited, the SQ5 returns with an OTR price of £51,200, and is expected with its first UK customers in June.

Charged with propelling 35kg less weight thanks in part to sophisticated new body architecture, the more powerful 354PS TFSI promises 5.4-second 0-62mph pace in the quattro all-wheel-driven figurehead without ruling out real world fuel efficiency.

The new 3.0-litre TFSI is the successor to the unit first used by the S4 and S5 performance flagships, and replaces its supercharger with a new twin-scroll turbocharger located within the 90-degree V of the cylinder banks that delivers even keener and stronger response. This is evident not only in the healthy 354PS power peak but also in the 500Nm of torque which remains available from 1,370rpm right through to 4,500rpm.  

Thanks to super-efficient new Audi-developed combustion technology based on the so-called ‘B cycle’ process the advanced new six-cylinder is also able to deliver up to 34mpg according to the NEDC test, equating to CO₂output of 189 grams per km with the standard 20-inch ‘5 twin-spoke star’ alloy wheels on board. The engine’s 14kg weight advantage over its predecessor also works in favour of overall efficiency.

An eight-speed tiptronic transmission complements the powerful yet impressively linear delivery of the V6 with inherently smooth yet fittingly sporting shifts. The lower gears feature short ratios, while the upper gears are long in the interest of fuel conservation. 

If required the transmission can freewheel as soon as the driver lifts off the accelerator at speeds of between 34mph and 99mph for even greater fuel efficiency.

Being both a Q5 and a member of the Audi ‘S’ series, the SQ5 is naturally quattro all-wheel-drive-equipped. 

During normal driving, the system distributes power with a slight rear-axle bias, but when necessary it can divert the majority to whichever axle has better traction. It is backed up by wheel-selective torque control, which slightly brakes the inside wheels during faster cornering to tuck the SQ5 into the bend, and then helps to prolong handling neutrality and precision once the car is committed.

For even greater adjustability and agility a sport differential is also available on the options list. It actively distributes torque between the rear wheels via two superposition stages, helping to literally push the car into bends and to contain understeer. Its management is integrated into the Audi drive select control system.

Also controllable via Audi drive select is the electronically regulated ‘S’ suspension, using an adaptive CDC damping (continuous damping control) setup. 

This system allows the driver to adapt damper response to suit the driving situation, offering a more compliant setting for everyday cruising and a tauter and more dynamic mode for faster, more challenging driving.

Body and exterior design

Even when stationary, an array of details underlines the dynamic characteristics of the new Audi SQ5. The bumpers up front and in the rear are complemented by more strongly contoured, S-specific air inlets and a diffuser with a honeycomb grille. 

Another S-specific feature is the radiator grille with double aluminium slats and contrasting trim elements in matt twilight grey. The S logo with red rhombus is used in numerous locations to set additional accents.

LED technology is standard for all lighting functions, including the Audi Beam which projects the four rings logo onto the floor using LEDs when the doors are opened. Illuminated door sills also bear exclusive S logos. High beam assist is also factory fitted. The dynamic indicators ensure a high recognition factor.

Matrix LED headlights are optionally available, featuring a special Q signature and adding dynamic indicators at the front.  In profile, aluminium-look exterior mirrors and door trim strips finished in the body colour underscore the model’s exclusivity. The rear bumper houses the S-specific twin exhaust tailpipes of the dual-branch exhaust system and an aluminium diffuser clasp.

Interior

Contrasting stitching on the leather steering wheel and sport seats create a dynamic and elegant ambiance. The S sport seats are upholstered in fine Nappa leather with diamond stitching and are electrically adjustable. Matt brushed aluminium inlays are standard and an exclusive carbon inlay is optionally available. 

Aluminium-look shift paddles enable the driver to quickly shift the tiptronic’s gears. The pedals and footrest are finished in stainless steel.

The standard rear seat bench plus in the new Audi SQ5 is split into three segments. Depending on the position of the rear seat bench, the luggage compartment has a standard capacity of 500 to 610 litres. When the rear bench is folded down, this volume grows to 1,550 litres.

Infotainment and Audi connect

As standard, the SQ5 TFSI is fitted with the top-of-the-line MMI navigation plus infotainment system with MMI all-in-touch and an 8.3-inch display. The system recognises handwritten input as well as touch gestures familiar from consumer electronics, such as zoom. 

It also provides haptic feedback to input. One element is Audi connect, which connects the new SQ5 to the internet via LTE. 

Audi connect enables convenient roaming in Europe for many connected infotainment services with its permanently installed SIM card – the Audi connect SIM with a flat data rate. A 36-month subscription is included as standard.

With the package “Audi connect safety & Service”, customers receive help automatically or at the push of a button via the emergency call and online roadside assistance services in the event of an accident or breakdown.

Furthermore, users can easily lock and unlock the SQ5 via the MMI connect app on their smartphones. Customers can also check vehicle’s status and use additional services such as Car Finder and information about the next service appointments or warning messages.

The MMI operating logic is based on the flat hierarchies used in today’s smartphones, and it offers such features as intelligent free-text search. The natural-language voice control function also recognises inputs from everyday speech.

Serving as an additional third operating level in the new Audi SQ5 is the leather-covered multifunction steering wheel. Audi can deliver a newly developed head-up display as an option. It projects relevant information onto the windshield – including from driver assistance systems – as symbols and numbers that can be perceived quickly.

One highlight of the display and control concept is the optional Audi virtual cockpit. It displays all key information in razor-sharp graphics on its 12.3-inch monitor. Views available to the driver include an S-specific sport mode centred around the rev counter.

The Audi phone box, another optional feature, connects the smartphone to the on-board antenna by near-field coupling and simultaneously charges it inductively using the Qi standard. 

The Bang & Olufsen Sound System with new 3D sound is available for hi-fi fans. The Audi smartphone interface brings Apple CarPlay and Android Auto into the car.

Driver assistance systems

The new Audi SQ5 also picks up the driver assistance systems from the broad, high-tech portfolio of the Audi Q5.

The predictive efficiency assistant provides specific driving tips to helps the driver save fuel. Adaptive cruise control (ACC) including traffic jam assist can handle some of the steering work in slow-moving traffic. Audi active lane assist makes it easier to stay in lane. Distance warning alerts the driver when the distance to a vehicle drops below a safe distance.

Cross traffic assist rear, the exit warning system, collision avoidance assist and turn assist are other new features for safety in everyday traffic. 

The same is true for the pre-sense systems: Audi pre sense city is standard. The system warns the driver about pedestrians and vehicles, and initiates automatic emergency braking within system limits. Park assist, the camera-based recognition of traffic signs and hill descent control round out the features.