2018 Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet: Wide Open

We’ve already seen the new 2018 Audi A5 and S5 as two-door coupes and four-door Sportbacks. Now come the fifth and sixth members of Audi's expanded A5/S5 family, the A5 and S5 cabriolets. Like the redesigned coupe, the new convertibles are lighter, quicker, and more technologically advanced than their predecessors (which are still on sale in the U.S. as 2017 models).

The new A5 cabriolet will be offered here with a 252-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, while the S5 will have a 354-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 and an eight-speed torque-converter automatic. Both models will have Quattro all-wheel drive. We’ve already described what these powertrains are like to drive in our reviews of the A5 coupe and the A5 and S5 Sportback models, and we expect similar performance from the open-roofed versions.

Audi said the convertibles weigh up to 88 pounds less than their predecessors, in large part due to the new MLB Evo architecture, which places an emphasis on shedding pounds. This, despite the fact that the cars are larger: The wheelbase has grown fractionally, by 0.6 inch, while overall length is up by 1.9 inches. Inside, there’s more front shoulder room and rear legroom. The fabric top can be lowered in 15 seconds and closed in 18 seconds while the car is moving at speeds of up to 31 mph. All versions get a standard “acoustic” fabric top, which utilizes several layers to reduce noise. The 13-cubic-foot trunk is expandable via the folding rear seatbacks. As is the fashion nowadays, the trunklid can be opened via a wave of a foot under the rear bumper.

The interior carries over from the other A5 models and therefore is largely identical to the A4 inside. Expect top-notch materials, precise assembly, and Audi’s Virtual Cockpit configurable gauge cluster as an option. Wireless device charging can be spec’d, and the cars gain fancy new seatbelted microphones for carrying on Bluetooth phone conversations—handy for making calls with the top down.

When the A5 and S5 cabrios arrive in the States this spring, they will face competitors—including the BMW 4-series retractable-hardtop convertible and the Mercedes-Benz C-class convertible—at prices likely to parallel those of the current models.